Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Appreciate that, thank you!
Liver & Fry's workbench
- Thread starter Liver & Fry
- Start date
Appreciate that, thank you!
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Nice model but as discussed on this thread earlier the shade of grey is too light and the buffer beams should be grey on this type of vehicle
@simond s point is well prooved
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Well, somewhat appropriately, as is tradition when a new or updated tooling appears in this hobby, I've finished rebuilding the doors on both vans!
That said, kudos to @Marc Dobson for amending the kit design going forward.
This brings me back up to where I was previously, insofar as it's back to lettering the earlier van; a task I'll likely tackle in the coming days...
- James
That said, kudos to @Marc Dobson for amending the kit design going forward.
This brings me back up to where I was previously, insofar as it's back to lettering the earlier van; a task I'll likely tackle in the coming days...
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
One side of the early van has been lettered. I've resorted to Fox transfers again due to a lack of an appropriate GE alphabet on the market. That said, they arent far off!
This works, in part, due to the fact that pre-1895, the GE stopped using a compressed font, and so a standard font can be used. I have opted for 1mm high on the descriptive text and 2mm for 'GER 1513', the latter being in keeping with the standard used on other stock at the time.
The 2mm G is a C with a full stop overlaid, as previously done on my Dia.31 open (see post #315), and I have since added a small full stop after 'Lynn'.
Now to do the other side...
- James
This works, in part, due to the fact that pre-1895, the GE stopped using a compressed font, and so a standard font can be used. I have opted for 1mm high on the descriptive text and 2mm for 'GER 1513', the latter being in keeping with the standard used on other stock at the time.
The 2mm G is a C with a full stop overlaid, as previously done on my Dia.31 open (see post #315), and I have since added a small full stop after 'Lynn'.
Now to do the other side...
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Life very much got in the way of modelling this month, hence the silence on this thread.
However, I'd still like to take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Wherever you are, and whatever you do today, I hope you have a wonderful day!
Best wishes,
James
However, I'd still like to take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Wherever you are, and whatever you do today, I hope you have a wonderful day!
Best wishes,
James
2025 - A Year Review
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
As another year comes to an end, it's time for another review post.
This one is notably shorter than last year, starting with a reasonably good turnover before life got in the way and, sadly, motivation waned. That said, seven projects made it off the bench and five are in progress.
The year started with another GNR open, in the earlier style of lettering. It feels like a lifetime ago since I did this one, despite 2025 feeling like it's flown by!
After this, things took a decidedly L&Y turn, with the next five projects being of that nature.
First up was the Dia.3, made by re-purposing a Triang van. This was a fun project and one I'd recommend for those wanting something different.
Next was another conversion job, turning the Rapido L&Y "not-quite-mink" into a slightly more representative example, but in the contested/controversial red livery.
Continuing the colourful theme, I finally built the wagon that had sent me down the L&Y route in the first place; a Dia 72 fish van!
So attractive did I find this green, that it actually inspired a DIY project in the summer!
After green comes blue, so naturally I built a Dia.64 butter van!
And of course, every goods train requires a brake van, so a Dia.21 'Tin Tab' followed:
From here on in, things become a bit muddled. Having built a brake van, it seemed sensible to keep with that theme and finally build my GE Dia.1 kits. These have been frustrating to work on and sapped my motivation. I found myself putting off nights of modelling because I didn't want to work on them, but I also dislike starting new projects whilst I have something on the go. As it stands, the vans are lettered, and simply require handrails to complete, but sadly they won't be finished within 2025.
The final project that made it off the bench in 2025 continued the GE theme, that being the Dia.55 open:
That leaves the unfinished projects which, despite my better judgement, were all started at a similar time to meet deadlines for Workshop Wise.
First up are the cattle vans for @Herb Garden (see the Canary Sidings thread). These are awaiting new solebars before work can continue.
Finally we have a scratch build for an L&Y Dia.49 meat van, which I intend to be the next project to reach completion once the GE brake vans are done:
And that's brings us up to date! It's certainly been a year of two halves, and I'd very much like to find my stride again in 2026, but I know better than to make promises!
As always, thank you to everyone who has followed, read and commented on my progress this year - It is most appreciated!
With that, all that is left to say is Happy New Year!
- James
This one is notably shorter than last year, starting with a reasonably good turnover before life got in the way and, sadly, motivation waned. That said, seven projects made it off the bench and five are in progress.
The year started with another GNR open, in the earlier style of lettering. It feels like a lifetime ago since I did this one, despite 2025 feeling like it's flown by!
After this, things took a decidedly L&Y turn, with the next five projects being of that nature.
First up was the Dia.3, made by re-purposing a Triang van. This was a fun project and one I'd recommend for those wanting something different.
Next was another conversion job, turning the Rapido L&Y "not-quite-mink" into a slightly more representative example, but in the contested/controversial red livery.
Continuing the colourful theme, I finally built the wagon that had sent me down the L&Y route in the first place; a Dia 72 fish van!
So attractive did I find this green, that it actually inspired a DIY project in the summer!
After green comes blue, so naturally I built a Dia.64 butter van!
And of course, every goods train requires a brake van, so a Dia.21 'Tin Tab' followed:
From here on in, things become a bit muddled. Having built a brake van, it seemed sensible to keep with that theme and finally build my GE Dia.1 kits. These have been frustrating to work on and sapped my motivation. I found myself putting off nights of modelling because I didn't want to work on them, but I also dislike starting new projects whilst I have something on the go. As it stands, the vans are lettered, and simply require handrails to complete, but sadly they won't be finished within 2025.
The final project that made it off the bench in 2025 continued the GE theme, that being the Dia.55 open:
That leaves the unfinished projects which, despite my better judgement, were all started at a similar time to meet deadlines for Workshop Wise.
First up are the cattle vans for @Herb Garden (see the Canary Sidings thread). These are awaiting new solebars before work can continue.
Finally we have a scratch build for an L&Y Dia.49 meat van, which I intend to be the next project to reach completion once the GE brake vans are done:
And that's brings us up to date! It's certainly been a year of two halves, and I'd very much like to find my stride again in 2026, but I know better than to make promises!
As always, thank you to everyone who has followed, read and commented on my progress this year - It is most appreciated!
With that, all that is left to say is Happy New Year!
- James
Marc Dobson
Western Thunderer
Very controversial on the red LYR GPV. Only known photo is grey.
Marc
Marc
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Oh aye, if red (or vermillion) was used, it was for a very short period of time, but as I'm doing the other special traffic liveries, I figured I'd include this too!
- James
Ian@StEnochs
Western Thunderer
How much paint did you buy for the fish van if you had enough to paint a whole room left?
Ian.
Ian.
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
"Today's fish is Trout à la crème"
GER Dia.1 Brake Vans
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
How are we halfway through January already?!
I'd hoped to start the year strong and crack on with some modelling but I've found motivation to be lacking until now.
That said, I've made a big step with both brake vans, getting all the handrails and lamp irons fitted!
All that remains is to paint them. The question is, what colour?
- James
I'd hoped to start the year strong and crack on with some modelling but I've found motivation to be lacking until now.
That said, I've made a big step with both brake vans, getting all the handrails and lamp irons fitted!
All that remains is to paint them. The question is, what colour?
- James
Marc Dobson
Western Thunderer
Looking at the photos either white or body grey would match with the running boards in plain wood.
Marc
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Following several discussions and people reaching out to provide information (thank you!) the general consensus is that pre-war, ironwork on the body was likely the same grey as the body, with handrails becoming white either during or after the war.
As such, mine have both gone grey:
I may well repaint the footboards into a wood colour at a future date, but for now, these are done/coming off the workbench and I'm moving on with (finishing) my next project.
- James
As such, mine have both gone grey:
I may well repaint the footboards into a wood colour at a future date, but for now, these are done/coming off the workbench and I'm moving on with (finishing) my next project.
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
A little bit of housekeeping!
I've always treated threadmarks as titles for a post specific to a project, and with the intended use of being able to find where a particular build was in the back catalogue.
However, when you've got 8 threadmarks in a row for the same thing, its less helpful to those trying to navigate the thread!
So, I've tidied up a bit by removing follow up threadmarks. A new (or repeated) threadmark will now be used when the focus of the bench changes. I'm hoping this makes it a little easier!
Modelling posts will resume shortly...
- James
I've always treated threadmarks as titles for a post specific to a project, and with the intended use of being able to find where a particular build was in the back catalogue.
However, when you've got 8 threadmarks in a row for the same thing, its less helpful to those trying to navigate the thread!
So, I've tidied up a bit by removing follow up threadmarks. A new (or repeated) threadmark will now be used when the focus of the bench changes. I'm hoping this makes it a little easier!
Modelling posts will resume shortly...
- James
L&Y Dia.49 Meat Van
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Resurrecting the project I started at Workshop Wise in October, as a recap, my intention has been to scratch build an L&Y Dia.49 meat van, to had to the colourful array of special traffic vehicles I'd already amassed.
Where we'd left off, I had essentially made up both sides and (partial) ends, and designed them to go together like one may build a kit.
Well, after a day or so of re-familiarisation with what I had done (note to self: leave clearer notes on things!) I finally tackled getting the body and floor together!
I made a point of adding additional bracing internally as I went and the resultant body is surprisingly sturdy!
I'm feeling enthused to get back into the hobby again, so stay tuned for more updates!
- James
Where we'd left off, I had essentially made up both sides and (partial) ends, and designed them to go together like one may build a kit.
Well, after a day or so of re-familiarisation with what I had done (note to self: leave clearer notes on things!) I finally tackled getting the body and floor together!
I made a point of adding additional bracing internally as I went and the resultant body is surprisingly sturdy!
I'm feeling enthused to get back into the hobby again, so stay tuned for more updates!
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Whilst I did make some progress last week, there wasnt enough to warrant an update, but tonight has been rather forthcoming so I figured it was time to show you what has been going on!
Last week I cut and fitted some bufferbeams to the ends of the meat van, followed this week by solebars, w-irons and end stanchions:
The solebars had to be quite thin (0.5mm) to fit inside the lip of the body and outside of the w-irons. The sections either side of the w-irons will be built up in time to a more prototypical thickness.
Meanwhile the stanchions are a one-piece component, using square rod, sanded down at the top to incorporate the step of the upper body. I cut and fitted these longer than required before cutting down and shaping where required:
There's still a way to go, but it really feels like it's coming together now!
- James
Last week I cut and fitted some bufferbeams to the ends of the meat van, followed this week by solebars, w-irons and end stanchions:
The solebars had to be quite thin (0.5mm) to fit inside the lip of the body and outside of the w-irons. The sections either side of the w-irons will be built up in time to a more prototypical thickness.
Meanwhile the stanchions are a one-piece component, using square rod, sanded down at the top to incorporate the step of the upper body. I cut and fitted these longer than required before cutting down and shaping where required:
There's still a way to go, but it really feels like it's coming together now!
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Schrodingers update now, for it is both lengthly, and yet small in the grand scheme of things!
The Dia.49 vans had the same brake and underframe arrangement as the Dia.72 fish vans (see below) meaning that all I have to do I copy what I did when I built the David Geen kit:
However, this means trying to replicate the parts supplied in that kit. Vacuum cylinders are easy enough to source, but could I find a matching westinghouse cylinder? No chance! So, I had to find a work around...
This is a SR coach dynamo, as produced by Comet Models (sold via Wizard Models). It came in a pack of SR coach underframe parts (UCS1) which included a vacuum cylinder.
Now, I can clearly see it's not a match, but, the shape is 'kind of' correct and I figured it would make a good starting point.
Well, today I came up with a solution!
I started by filing off the raised details because, I realised, the thicker end would then be the perfect diameter to sit within a cut segment of a plastic drinking straw:
I then sealed the back end with model filler:
And cut off the framework underneath, but keeping the brackets and adding a rod between to match the part used on the Dia.72:
And voilà! Here is how it compares to the real deal:
Is it a perfect copy? No. Will it reasonably represent what I need it to when painted black and stuck underneath the Dia.49? Hopefully!
With this predicament resolved, I should be able to push on with detailing the underframe with little drama now. I plan to be back at the bench Tuesday so hopefully I'll have something to show for it!
- James
The Dia.49 vans had the same brake and underframe arrangement as the Dia.72 fish vans (see below) meaning that all I have to do I copy what I did when I built the David Geen kit:
However, this means trying to replicate the parts supplied in that kit. Vacuum cylinders are easy enough to source, but could I find a matching westinghouse cylinder? No chance! So, I had to find a work around...
This is a SR coach dynamo, as produced by Comet Models (sold via Wizard Models). It came in a pack of SR coach underframe parts (UCS1) which included a vacuum cylinder.
Now, I can clearly see it's not a match, but, the shape is 'kind of' correct and I figured it would make a good starting point.
Well, today I came up with a solution!
I started by filing off the raised details because, I realised, the thicker end would then be the perfect diameter to sit within a cut segment of a plastic drinking straw:
I then sealed the back end with model filler:
And cut off the framework underneath, but keeping the brackets and adding a rod between to match the part used on the Dia.72:
And voilà! Here is how it compares to the real deal:
Is it a perfect copy? No. Will it reasonably represent what I need it to when painted black and stuck underneath the Dia.49? Hopefully!
With this predicament resolved, I should be able to push on with detailing the underframe with little drama now. I plan to be back at the bench Tuesday so hopefully I'll have something to show for it!
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
I managed to squeeze in some time at the bench this evening, successfully fitting the double V-hangers ahead of tomorrow's planned session:
- James
- James
Liver & Fry
Western Thunderer
Tonight felt like my first proper night of modelling in a while, and whilst some parts were fiddly, I successfully achieved what I set out to!
The Dia.49 now has it's brake rigging in place - a process made much smoother by copying the Dia.72 sat in front of me!
I'm also quite chuffed with how the Westinghouse cylinder has turned out, I must admit.
There's still plenty to do but this feels like a big step towards getting this one over the line.
- James
The Dia.49 now has it's brake rigging in place - a process made much smoother by copying the Dia.72 sat in front of me!
I'm also quite chuffed with how the Westinghouse cylinder has turned out, I must admit.
There's still plenty to do but this feels like a big step towards getting this one over the line.
- James