TFW’s workshop

[Tim Watson]

The three Gate Stock cars are now fully illuminated, with the Tramfabriek magnetic switches working well.

A start has been made on the interiors. The 3DP seats from Graham Roberts had a good deal taken off the bottom to accommodate the false floor hiding the battery, but when painted no one will know the difference - any people in the cars will probably need below knee amputations. The other carriages will be simpler because they don’t have the live pick up bogie and so the interior flooring can be made entirely of styrene and the 3DP seats. The ‘holy’ arm rests are visible, as in the prototype:

And even on the model: thank you Graham.

The LED lights are currently illuminating in five directions: I may blank out some of the side lighting a bit, but that can wait until they get tried on the layout.
The glazing is now also fitted and the whole ensemble is beginning to look quite comfy, probably more so when it’s painted. The rear bogie needs some dummy black styrene frames, although it is virtually invisible when on the track.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

Now all I have to do is make (& fit) the transfers.





Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

The home-made signs have been fitted.



Does anyone know what colour the lamps would be on the front of the motor car and control trailer?


I suspect the cab interiors could have been the blue green colour of later sets?

Will probably get the crew and passengers finish painted tomorrow evening.

Tim

 

[Giles]

I believe the two smaller lamps on the left - one above the other - would both be white. Later stock also showed multiple white to one side. As to the larger on the other. I don't know..... logic would suggest red, but......
Info on marker lights below.

Marker Lights

 

[Tim Watson]

Many thanks for that Giles. Every day is a school day for me when modelling tube trains!

Tim

 

[Bigjohn]

I can’t spot the contractors loco……………….please tell………..

 

[Peter Insole]

Tim, I have been trying to reply this morning, but keep repeatedly losing my internet connection!

There is no evidence of tube stock cab colours - other than the reasonably reliable suggestion that the motor compartments were commonly painted silver (allover). Bearing in mind that on the gate stock there were never any bulkheads between the compartment and motorman's position, the boundary is difficult to determine. I cannot be sure that the later (LER/LPTB) "Cerulean" (grey/green) shade would have been applied before the standard livery on the exteriors anyway?! It is even vaguely possible that a scumble - or flat equivalent brown was employed?

It also appears more likely that the doors and window frames were varnished on the interior as well exterior, leaving relatively small areas to paint - so it is even possible that the main livery shade could have been used?!

Available images are rare and unfortunately unclear though:



The GNP&B did not use marker lights to identify trains - and simply had a pair, one above the other, (or sometimes a third one on the opposite side) of white lights. However, one, either the upper or lower was usually covered with an externally fitted red filter:




Some, evidently were later even fitted with smaller, permanent, bullseye lenses!



As the last two images clearly reveal; you could even "mix and match" to your hearts content, should you be so inclined!!

Pete.

 

[Tim Watson]

Thanks for that info, Pete.
Piers Connor was also fairly convinced they weren’t cerulean, but could be body colour. Your observation about the varnished window surrounds would definitely fit with some of the images of the cab fronts and a a pale scumbled / flat brown interior would be much more subtle. I have a cunning plan for the bulls eye lenses.

In other news, I have more than enough projects without taking on the battery electric contractors loco, thank you…

Tim

 

[Giles]

(....... sorry about that, Tim!)

 

[Tim Watson]

Not at all Giles.
I have asked many sources about tube matters. Not at all unusual to have differing info: at least three variations on these lights alone. I think that the whole system changed with the introduction of the standard stock in the late 20s. These were a hark back to earlier pre-war operating conditions; the more you find out the more you ‘see’ in pictures.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

We had an excellent two days exhibiting York Road at Railex, Stoke Mandeville, over the weekend. The elevated layout presentation is a great way for people to get a view of the details and to see into the tube station.; especially when I suggested they sit down. Almost universally it was ‘Oh!’ as they got a good view of the platform with Jim & Graham’s gate stock running faultlessly into the station.

I was talking virtually continuously for the weekend; no real hardship as that is what I go for a living…


The train was finally assembled with passengers and crew on the Wednesday before and Rob Stewart & I spent a day getting it running well with the Arduino computer control. This is overkill for the current operation, but will come into its own when the layout is extended with loops and signals.


Only one person noticed the lack of numbers; anyone any ideas for the best source for custom transfers?

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to let the Raven 4-6-2 class feel at home at York Station, courtesy of Peter Kirmond.





It will forever be banished to the south…

Tim

 

[Fitzroy]

Just lovely! That would put a lot of museums to shame!

 

[D869Zest]

Only one person noticed the lack of numbers; anyone any ideas for the best source for custom transfers?

I've used John Peck's Precision Labels several times. Usually the challenge with 2mm stuff is accumulating enough things to make good use of a sheet (say 1/4 of A4). My next shopping list is still well short of being enough for a sheet. How soon do you need them? Happy to help, PM me if you want to avoid taking your thread off at a tangent.

 

[Tim Watson]

This is entirely appropriate to post in the ‘TFW’s workshop’ thread, but it might also be more appropriate to be in a new ‘What’s under your workbench?’ thread.

In this case it is Queen Mary 2 and the mid Atlantic. Shame not to take the modelling kit with me…

Tim

P.S. Amazing what satellite communications can provide.

 

[DavidB]

That is what is called dedication!

 

[DavidB]

Your demonstration of silver soldering at Missenden in March has got me going - a useful additional soldering skill. Thank you.

During the demonstration you mentioned pickle to clean oxidation. Jeweller's pickle is sodium bisulphite and acidic which is fine for silver and gold but reacts with nickel silver and brass, our constructional metals. What do you use as a pickle with these metals? I should have asked at the time!

 

[Tim Watson]

Your demonstration of silver soldering at Missenden in March has got me going - a useful additional soldering skill. Thank you.

During the demonstration you mentioned pickle to clean oxidation. Jeweller's pickle is sodium bisulphite and acidic which is fine for silver and gold but reacts with nickel silver and brass, our constructional metals. What do you use as a pickle with these metals? I should have asked at the time!

I use citric acid, which helps a bit, but quite often it is a case of cleaning up with scrapers, burs and polishing rubber points / discs.

Perhaps others have recipes for our use?

Tim

 

[Fitzroy]

I use citric acid, which helps a bit, but quite often it is a case of cleaning up with scrapers, burs and polishing rubber points / discs.

Perhaps others have recipes for our use?

Tim

I use acetic acid 5% SOLUTION ie white vinegar or cleaning vinegar 75% with 25% fresh hydrogen peroxide 6% solution from the chemist shop or industrial supplier. It's a standard brassworker's pickle, the h202 takes out the pink copper look. Take care when mixing/using, gloves/eye protection etc. Only mix enough to use immediately as the peroxide devolves into water and loses its strength.

 

[garethashenden]

I use acetic acid 75% with 25% fresh hydrogen peroxide 6% solution from the chemist shop or industrial supplier. It's a standard brassworker's pickle, the h202 takes out the pink copper look. Take care when mixing/using, gloves/eye protection etc. Only mix enough to use immediately as the peroxide devolves into water and loses its strength.

What concentration of acetic acid do you use?

 

[Fitzroy]

What concentration of acetic acid do you use?

Oops- actually I use white vinegar or cleaning vinegar which is about 5% acetic acid. Post edited to reflect that!