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

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Can't believe its been over a month since I last updated this thread. Not a lot going on at the moment, lack of motivation, but hopefully get few bits done this weekend. A little job that has progressed over the last few weeks (and after getting some new red paint at the weekend) is now pretty much ready is a 'Smart Models' postman & post box.

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Now I have never painted any figures before, maybe a little dirt on the postman and bag at some point but I am quite happy with this.
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Now I have never painted any figures before, maybe a little dirt on the postman and bag at some point but I am quite happy with this.

A good first attempt :thumbs: - we all have to start somewhere :).

A interesting model - isn't there usually a cage inside this type of postbox.
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Hopefully some more progress on a few bits this week. Some parts have arrived for some wagons so these are moving on and I have just sat and soldered up the ends for my second PXA, a job i Have been putting off for weeks, so I should be able to start putting the body for this one together now.

4a PXA End Platform.jpg
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Modern 1/43 buses are somewhat hard to come by, but this is a Hachette models Bova Futura re-worked to UK spec (right hand drive, left hand doors) and re-painted in National Express livery with bespoke transfers, should look quite the part. Still a little way to go, but nearly there. Satin Varnish later and re-instate the windows etc tomorrow then it will just be the interior. Will hopefully put an appearance on the layout this week.

BUS 1.jpg

BUS 2.jpg

BUS 3.jpg

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BUS 6.jpg
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Modern 1/43 buses are somewhat hard to come by, but this is a Hachette models Bova Futura re-worked to UK spec (right hand drive, left hand doors) and re-painted in National Express livery with bespoke transfers, should look quite the part. Still a little way to go, but nearly there. Satin Varnish later and re-instate the windows etc tomorrow then it will just be the interior. Will hopefully put an appearance on the layout this week.

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I approve! Partly because I quite like the fishbowl front end, a very elegant bus and that’s a nice rendition. Aren’t 1/43 buses of *any* era a bit thin on the ground though?

Adam
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
I approve! Partly because I quite like the fishbowl front end, a very elegant bus and that’s a nice rendition. Aren’t 1/43 buses of *any* era a bit thin on the ground though?

Adam

Thin yes, but anything post c1970 is pretty much non existent. The best I had found previous to this was an RT, but even that would only be suitable as a 'tourist' vehicle.
 
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Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Can I ask Al what masking tape do you use for things like the Intercity stripes?

Richie

Richie, the IC 08 is just the Dapol RTR version so I've not re-painted the stripe. However saying that I always use Tamiya masking tape around edges then fill any gaps between the Tamiya tape with whatever I have available.

Glazing now done. Just interior and reg plates to sort. Planned to get a shot on the layout tonight but Train Club has been cancelled to to excessive heat!!!

BUS 9.jpg
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Hopefully it wasn't just me who had an accident this week with Hattons O gauge sale. I have been thinking about picking up a RR 37/4 for a while to do as 37427 but had been putting it off. Seems other than Hattons they're getting a bit scarce. So as I doubt Heljan will be in a rush to re-run these I figured I had best bite the bullet.

37427a.jpg

It has already started to go through the works. That horrible bracket that the ETH jumper is fitted to has been removed and a couple of smaller brackets knocked up out of platicard, WR lamp brackets fitted, then the noses re-painted to get rid of the mascara around the marker lights. Cant rail stripes around the bonnet touched in with black (427's only went over the cab), most of the buffer beam detail fitted and transferred up.

37427b.jpg

Multi jumpers will have the cable replaced with wire then both these and the ETH jumpers will be re-fitted. Also needs some blue stars before satin varnish and fitting of nameplates. I have a sound chip kicking around earmarked for a 37/0, but it can go into this and get re-blown at some point, it will do for now so it'll be off to Cam for sound fitting this week. At some point (when I have sourced some) it will also get the high central lamp bracket above the nose.
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Does the "lady" on the right go behind a bedroom or bathroom window ? :cool:

She will more than likely be stood by a classic car in front of one of Phil's new garage's, I've a MK1 Escort tucked away somewhere.

And the chap next to her, is that Howard form the Halifax adverts ?

The thought was more Morpheus from the Matrix, but now you mention it, maybe part of the street scene needs to be a bank now.............
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
This morning's little job. 37427 is intended to be a fairly quick job so rather than buy another sound chip I have robbed the 37/0 chip I had rucked away, but the loco for this is a more long term project. Not the tidiest but its done. Just need to finish a couple of bits on the body and put it all back together, then it will want weathering. My wife thought there was something wrong with the heating (not that its on atm) when I kicked this up earlier and gave it a bit of thrash!

37427c.jpg

37427d.jpg
 

paulc

Western Thunderer
Hi Al , have Heljan changed the chassis on the 37 or did you chop the legs that the factory fitted pcb normally sit on . I see the tanks are one piece now so its easier to put something in there as well . I used to chop the two seperate tanks up and convert them into one .
Cheers Paul
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Hi Al , have Heljan changed the chassis on the 37 or did you chop the legs that the factory fitted pcb normally sit on . I see the tanks are one piece now so its easier to put something in there as well . I used to chop the two seperate tanks up and convert them into one .
Cheers Paul

Hi Paul, no they have not changed the chassis I have just hopped the pillars off with a razor saw to make more space for the speaker. The chip has gone in the fuel tanks. I planned to sit the chip in the cavity under the speaker but it doesn't quite fit and I didn't want to cut it down even though it should be ok as its only 1mm either side and it would fit.
 

pricei

Western Thunderer
Now that's a clever idea! I've been trying to work out the biggest speaker I could squeeze into the tanks of a class 37 but never thought about putting the decoder there instead. Mind if I ask what speaker you've used?
Regards, Ian
 

Al Tait

Western Thunderer
Now that's a clever idea! I've been trying to work out the biggest speaker I could squeeze into the tanks of a class 37 but never thought about putting the decoder there instead. Mind if I ask what speaker you've used?
Regards, Ian

They're 8W/8ohm TV/computer speakers off ebay. I can't find them now so might not be available anymore, but I am sure there are others that would suit. They're very noisy!!!
 
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