Al's late 80's/early 90's 7mm work bench

[Al Tait]

Well, I am calling this done. Its been fitted into the layout this evening so I'll drop some pix in our layout thread later on. In between the rain and snow we had some bright moments today so I dived out and got a couple of shots in the sun. It might get some more weathering as things are built up around it but I am pretty happy with how its turned out.





Now this is off the WB I might get some work done on the MK1's over the next week or so. Cam is doing a first coat of blue brick on the arches for me with his air brush so I'll probably have that back next week to start detailing up.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

So you'll be making some of these with the respective height for the bridge? assuming it's rail over road.



Or even this...!

 

[Al Tait]

So you'll be making some of these with the respective height for the bridge? assuming it's rail over road.

Dave, it is a rail over road bridge, however it is quite tall. I probably won't bother with height markings as the bridge it is based on doesn't have any. This picture I posted in our layout thread gives you an idea of its height with a couple of vehicles underneath it. If only I could find some suitable Double Decker buses!

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

If only I could find some suitable Double Decker buses!

If only... depending on the time period - Leyland Titan or Olympian; Volvo Wright....

Like the Ford Escort.... Mexico? .

 

[BrushType4]

Dave, it is a rail over road bridge, however it is quite tall. I probably won't bother with height markings as the bridge it is based on doesn't have any.

Isn’t it based on this bridge?

 

[LarryG]

I should think normal height 14' 6" buses would have a job passing under the outer limits of the arch, or maybe it is just an illusion.

 

[Al Tait]

I should think normal height 14' 6" buses would have a job passing under the outer limits of the arch, or maybe it is just an illusion.

The intention is that there will be pavements as per Phil's picture above so the extremities should be ok.

Isn’t it based on this bridge?

I suspect you know better than I! Where about's is your picture? Certainly an interesting image and maybe I do need to add some height markers. I have been working off this bridge, all be it not square on as per the kit:

 

[BrushType4]

Albion Street, Manchester. Probably just down the line from your picture.

 

[Al Tait]

Albion Street, Manchester. Probably just down the line from your picture.

My image is from Cambridge Street, the next bridge along!! This is what Albion Street Bridge looks like now, just a bit different!! Though had it still been the same would have been my inspiration for the pub!

 

[Al Tait]

I've been trying to get a decent picture of the now pretty much finished MEA for weeks, yes it needs a data panel (I'll find one at some point, but I might be building a few more!) but it is basically done. It will also be getting weathered at some point, but for now it is going back in the box.


This is the write up on our website Buzz Models MEA if anyone wants a short read.

 

[Al Tait]

I am really struggling with motivation at the moment, with everything going on in the world work is going nuts, but weirdly not in a busy way! Although I usually work from home a number of days per week I am now WFH UFN which means I've no reason bar sustenance to venture far from home.

I've made a little progress on the MK1 underframes this evening and will hopefully make some more progress over the next few days, tomorrow I should have more Engineering brick paint so will try and crack on with the arches for our new layout and some of the other walls. It also shouldn't be too long before I have the next building for the layout which I am looking forward too, I will post more on that when it is in my greasy mits, but what I have seen of it I am looking forward to getting it built.

Anyway the main reason for this post. I was going to keep these under wraps until I had finished them but this post might just give me the kick I need! I have been building and doing a write up for two of Paul Rolley scrap wagon kits, the POA Blackadder and JNA GERS, they're t a point where I am painting the yellow raves and should be able to mask and spray some black towards the end of the week, transfers are sat here ready so you never know I might have the POA done and the JNA body ready over the weekend. JNA bogies still need building but I am waiting a mate of mine to drill out the bolsters. Full write ups and a selection of photo's will follow once they're done.


That's all for now!

 

[Al Tait]

Black went on yesterday & this morning, gloss gone on tonight so fingers crossed transfers over the weekend!!

 

[Al Tait]

Well this social distancing lark is getting a few odd's and sod's done. After a few hours work in the garden I've spent a couple of hours sat in the kitchen (light was better than the office) putting the transfers on these. Now sat in the garage with a first coat of Satin varnish. Should get the POS done tomorrow all being well but the JNA will take a bit longer as I need the bolster for the bogies drilling out.




Steve's transfers for these are spot on but man do I hate dealing with chevrons!!!

 

[Al Tait]

I have had an hour this evening after work and wanted something fairly simple to throw together. In the stash I've got a second Buzz models IWA that I had prepped some time ago but not done anything further with. So I've taken a different tact to the last one I built and put the basic body together first, tomorrow I'll start adding the brass bits.



For info here is the write up of the last one I built.
Buzz Models IWA Kit

 

[Al Tait]

No real update as such, hopefully get he IWA build finished over the weekend then it'll get primed and put back in its box until we have some trasfers. This evening however I have finally got some sunny shots of my 26, posed here on the MIOG display board along with the POA pictured above.

 

[Al Tait]

NO massive progress this week, all I have managed is painting random bricks on the retaining walls which you don't really want to see. I'll drop some pictures in the layout thread at some point. However as alluded to above the POA Blackadder is done & today the write up for it has gone live on the MIOG website. Paul has some of these in stock if anyone is interested, there are a few extras coming my way now, I might as well use the transfers!!!

Impressionist Models POA Blacckadder

 

[john lewsey]

Some really nice models

 

[Al Tait]

Some really nice models

Thanks John, really appreciated. There is plenty more to come through the works over the next few weeks/months, three more different wagons kits arrived this morning. Just got to keep my motivation up!

 

[Al Tait]

This afternoon's been spent on bogies, JNA bogies are now complete, just need a clean up and paint now. Second bogie is for the IWA, mix of brass and white metal brake shoes. The third is one of the last Easybuild Commonwealth bogies for my MK1 rake.


I did the IWA bogies slightly differently this time fitting the brake shoes before building the rest of the bogie. These now run nice and freely, they will get the cosmetic fronts fitted tomorrow then just a few bits on the body to do and that'll be my second IWA ready for paint. Cam will be busy painting once the current fiasco is over with!

 

[Al Tait]

I've been somewhat lax updating this thread the last couple of weeks, most progress being made on a building for the layout over in my layout thread. That doesn't mean nothing has been happening on the rolling stock front, just that its been slow! I ma very close to finishing the build on the IWA, just a few bits to do when I can find motivation, then it goes back in the box until we can get transfers (they are coming). The JNA is finished, but I'll do a proper update on that when the webpage for the build goes live probably sometime this weekend or next. And I have been cracking on with the next of Pauls wagons all be it transfers aren't ready for these yet and I need to work the correct colours and acquire paint for it. As they run as inners and outers I should probably grab at least one more (maybe 2/3) to make up a short set. Anyway, here is the PXA so far sat on accommodation bogies:



I also just made it to the bottom of the garden last night as 26024 tootled past on the scrap train, now consisting of two wagons!