Windcutter Workbench

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
After a period in which various circumstances dictated I didnt get too much useful modelling done, a wee project I set myself a year or so back was to start to build up a reasonable number of 16T minerals that could eventually be run as a rake. The thing of course with the pocket money prices of models in these smaller scales is that it's easy to end up with more than you planned...

mins 5.11.jpg

This is about half of the contents of the visible box; there are more boxes... most are Bachmann but a few kitbuilds are also involved, principally to produce the sort of variations that RTR doesnt cater for. And very few of them are actually finished :) : - working on these is something I dip into as and when.

Another recent project, again largely motivated by changing circumstances, was to set up some sort of Internet home for not just the assorted and transient ramblings that are the norm for such things, but something that could act as a convenient and accessible repository for certain reference material I've generated and that's been proven to have some sort of lasting relevance.

Having been impressed with the look of the Wordpress blogs used by PMP of the parish in connection with his own projects, with his encouragement I gave the software a go and have been quietly impressed with its usability. Windcutter was actually started back in May but I deliberately kept it low key with just a few 'controlled leaks' until I'd built up a fair amount of reading. Links in forum signatures (as below) and on friends' blogs went live a month or so ago, but it's probably time I brought it to more prominence if only to at least give some impression of making a useful contribution here...

The name is also thanks to Paul, I'd been floating assorted semi-serious suggestions past him but when I gave him a selection including Windcutter, it became obvious to both of us that that was the one to use. I shouldnt really be perpetuating the myth that the real life Annesley - Woodford 'runners' were all about coal, but as the name has been given so much currency by the Great Central mob ... well, worse things have been done in the name of art :cool:

The main angle on 16 tonners on the blog is demystifying the basic strands of the build variations but here, I'll show a small selection of the contents of those boxes.

One of the things that draws me into buying the Bachy wagons is the standard of lettering, which I often preserve or add to with transfers. I usually overpaint the factory grey though; it's not actually 'wrong' but I feel it's a tad dark for most 1960s wagons:

p3260179-e1308519131723.jpg

The next wagon is completely relettered in the post-'64 style. Typical of the way I work, the chassis hasnt been touched yet - if I'm feeling all artistic and creative, I like to crack on with the more interesting bits:

p3260177-e1308518854990.jpg
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
This wagon also retains the Bachy lettering but with one digit altered; it's great fun seeking out transfer numerals the same size :-\ It's also been finished to represent an early build wagon that's been extensively replated:

p3260178-e1308518913113.jpg

And to close with, I'm not normally keen on hawking the same stuff around from one forum to another but this older shot of an Airfix kit-based wagon is one of my favourites. It's one of my oldest models (the body parts possibly go back to my teens) and was revisited several times until I was happy with it. Again it's a replated one, but the metric tare weight is more applicable to the mid '70s:

99505b.jpg
 

7mmMick

Western Thunderer
Pennine MC,

In a word fantastic  :drool: :bowdown: :bowdown:, I especially love the last shot, the weathering is simply brilliant. I like the texture of rust on the replating. how is this acheived?

ATB Mick :thumbs:
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Like it, like it, like it  ;D

There's something rather wonderful about a layout where it's 'all the same, but different'.  Building in batches/volume is the way to go.

Actually the same thing applies to locos too; I really enjoy seeing layouts where they've got more than one of a type...

Steph
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Steph Dale said:
Like it, like it, like it  ;D

There's something rather wonderful about a layout where it's 'all the same, but different'.  Building in batches/volume is the way to go.

Steph
The shot of them together shows the advantage of 4mm and the possibility of having a decent block working, they just look so right in colour and texture.
Obvious question, is the 'rust' going on before a coat of grey or is it all applied over the grey?
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
Thanks chaps :)

Steph Dale said:
There's something rather wonderful about a layout where it's 'all the same, but different'.  Building in batches/volume is the way to go.

Oh, I didnt say there was a layout :D 

The more detailed finishes do take time because of the relatively small amounts of paint being applied, but whenever I have the paints out for whatever I'm on with, I always have more than one model in front of me, so it's offset by the number of wagons being progressed in a session.

Actually the same thing applies to locos too; I really enjoy seeing layouts where they've got more than one of a type...

It's the portrayal of the mundane, isnt it, the real railways didnt usually stock a depot with 'one of everything'

7mmMick said:
I like the texture of rust on the replating. how is this acheived?

There are a few ways really, Mick.  99505 was quite an early usage of powders, of which I applied several dustings over a sound base of Humbrol enamels (very probably the late lamented Track Colour).  The wagon has been handled a reasonable amount but they've stayed put, I think because of the matt texture of the base coat.  Nowadays I tend to build up a 'solid rust' finish from multiple applications of paint, working and blending them together in various ways including dry brushing and rubbing with wet and dry paper; I also make a lot of use of gouaches for streaking and shading.  I have a pic, if I can find it, of one done like that.  The main thing is to get plenty of subtle variation into what (at first) appears to be a large area of one colour.

28ten said:
Obvious question, is the 'rust' going on before a coat of grey or is it all applied over the grey?

I work both ways really, Cynric, depending on what I'm planning to achieve  and how it pans out in reality (which is not always the same thing) ::) - on the models here, the grey will have come first, but on  a serious multi-stage effort, some daubs of livery grey applied over the rust, then washed or smeared again will give the look of a patch painting job that's deteriorated even further.  There are very few rules really, it's largely observation and experimentation and I've picked up a hell of a lot of inspiration from Paul Bartlett's mineral galleries.
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Pennine MC said:
Thanks chaps :)

Oh, I didnt say there was a layout :D  ....

I rather think you should; I imagine it could be a bit tasty. Splendid models are nice to behold in their own right but they do come alive when trundling round a layout. It's like the difference between looking at caged animals in the zoo and seeing them roaming wild.
 

28ten

Guv'nor
That's interesting, gouache seems to have fallen out of favour with the AFV modellers, but it obviously works for you. I am just in the early stages of experimenting with the hairspray technique which seems to work well with acrylics
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
Neil said:
I rather think you should; ... models ... come alive when trundling round a layout. It's like the difference between looking at caged animals in the zoo and seeing them roaming wild.

I rather think I should as well Neil; as I've mentioned before, now that I have more space than I could have hoped for a few years ago, it'd be very remiss of me not to use it.

28ten said:
That's interesting, gouache seems to have fallen out of favour with the AFV modellers, but it obviously works for you. I am just in the early stages of experimenting with the hairspray technique which seems to work well with acrylics

Yeah, I've looked at that but as with Maskol, the salt technique and other similar 'barrier' methods, there's still an inherent element of randomness  that I'm not entirely comfortable with in the smaller scale.  I've also used sponges and wire wool to apply a lot of paint quickly, but I still end up using other methods to refine the finish.  FWIW the flecks and flakes of various sizes on the models above are mostly built up with  small brushes.

I love working with gouache; I came across it on the recently demised 'Model Trains Weathered' US forum but it was its use by Martin (Pugsley) that really got me started.  Is there any particular reason why it's become unfashionable in military modelling?
 

Pugsley

Western Thunderer
Pennine MC said:
Is there any particular reason why it's become unfashionable in military modelling?
I expect they've found something new to play with - they're a fickle bunch!  Seriously though, and I might be wrong, but military modellers seem to be quite susceptible to trends, where something becomes the next big thing, until something else comes along, although I never noticed much in the way of the AFV guys using gouache in the first place.

I must confess, since discovering the oils, my use of gouache has declined slightly, but it is still best for streaky rust effects, IMO.  It has the advantage of drying matter than the oils, which can have an unwanted sheen at times.

I'm interested to hear your opinion of the randomness of the hairspray and salt techniques, for me that is part of their appeal!

Love the minerals, that is some quality rust.  i sometimes wish I modelled that period, as I'd love to have a go at one or two one day.
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Pugsley said:
Love the minerals, that is some quality rust.  i sometimes wish I modelled that period, as I'd love to have a go at one or two one day.
Well, if either of you fancy a crack at a Lionheart mineral it can be arranged  :))

Yes the AFV crowd do seem susceptible to  marketing, although having said that there is some stunning modelling as well.
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
Pugsley said:
... military modellers seem to be quite susceptible to trends, where something becomes the next big thing, until something else comes along, ...
That would never happen to Railway Modellers, now, would it...??!!  :)) ;) ;D

Pennine your weathered Minerals are fanastic! I was on that Model Trains Weathered Forum too (as "SundayShunter") - there was some incredible stuff on there - yes a great pity it has gone. :(
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
Thanks again guys :)

Pugsley said:
.  i sometimes wish I modelled that period, as I'd love to have a go at one or two one day.

Didnt you have plans for some to go behind that 9F Martin, wasnt it for your Dad?

28ten said:
Yes the AFV crowd do seem susceptible to  marketing, although having said that there is some stunning modelling as well.

I've also found inspiration in military modelling, although I've not studied it in any great depth. It's more that (as with when I first came across Mellow Mike), I've been motivated by it to up my own game and have done so largely by finding my own ways, or at least refining the methods I already used.  I've never been particularly technique-led and by comparison with what you say about the AFV guys, it often seems to me that railway modellers see the next 'wonder technique' as a substitute for experimentation and perseverance.
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
This is the shot I mentioned earlier, where an overall rust effect has been built up by serial applications of different shades. Some of the texture actually looks overdone in the pic but it's not like that in the flesh:

P3260180 edit.jpg

and this is one of my RTR faves, the old Airfix N32 'Felix Pole' 21 tonner. The latest work on this was to add some subtle streaking and staining with gouache - you've got to look fairly hard for some of it:

P6200244.JPG

It's probably worth mentioning that I didnt set out with the intention of either of these being long term projects. The 21 tonner is an old model that I've kept going back to (I think I should call it finished now though :)) ) and the top model was a classic case of a model that went through several cycles of experimentation, dissatisfaction and further experimentation before it finally 'spoke' to me.

Edit - Chris, yes they are. If I ever do a 7mm one, it'll probably take me into retirement :'(
 

Pugsley

Western Thunderer
Pennine MC said:
Didn't you have plans for some to go behind that 9F Martin, wasnt it for your Dad?
Yeah, that was going to be the plan, but he's not bought any so far!  The 9F currently sits in front of a few Bachmann SR green coaches as a representation of the Pines Express  :D
 

ceejaydee

Western Thunderer
I neglected to say how much I enjoyed looking at your mineral wagons Ian.

I started a mineral wagon project in 4mm scale some years back - mainly Parkside 16 tonners and a few re-built 21 tonners with the odd Airfix/Dapol for good measure.

One of the better pieces of modelling from my late teen years (when I could see the smaller scales without magnification)
They are all still extant in varying states of construction but can't see them ever getting finished now.
 
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