Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Merry Christmas to all on Western Thunder
Thanks @Godders53 for the image of Skeetsmere out of season
The Chronicles of Canary Sidings - Eastern Eccentricity in EM
- Thread starter Herb Garden
- Start date
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- 4mm scale em gauge ger pre-grouping
Merry Christmas to all on Western Thunder
Thanks @Godders53 for the image of Skeetsmere out of season
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
As one can imagine with all the festivities and families there hasn't been much progress in the last week.
The main focus has been finishing these hero's form the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic video game for Christmas present for a family member. They went down a treat and as I enjoyed the build so much I've made myself a set featured here.
Life at Skeetsmere continues at a leisurely place
Well that's it for another year.... So wishing at WT members and readers a prosperous 2026.
The main focus has been finishing these hero's form the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic video game for Christmas present for a family member. They went down a treat and as I enjoyed the build so much I've made myself a set featured here.
Life at Skeetsmere continues at a leisurely place
Well that's it for another year.... So wishing at WT members and readers a prosperous 2026.
Willl
Western Thunderer
Lovely work. I've just got my hands on the GER liveried Hornby J15, and was wondering whether it is possible to remove the smokebox door. I see that you've previously taken these models completely back to the metal and sanded off the washout plugs, smokebox door etc. but I'm wondering if a halfway house might be possible with a new 3D printed smokebox door whilst turning a blind eye to some of the tricker to remove inaccuracies.
Will
Will
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Will,
Yes it's easy enough to knock the smoke box door out. Take the body off and a couple of sharp taps with a drift from the inside and it should come out.... Although I'm not sure I can advise on how to remove the incorrect handrails, tender coal rails and the other mistakes without damage to the paintwork.
Its not a great model for a GER purist....
Willl
Western Thunderer
Certainly not for the purist, but I'm ignorant enough to not notice the handrails, washout plugs etc. the coal rails may be a trickier proposition though...
I don't suppose you know of a suitable drawing for the GER pattern smokebox door?
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Drawings of the Y14 on the GERS website have the necessary details.... At least that's where I got my info to scratch build mine from
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Last edited:
Willl
Western Thunderer
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Oops! Link now fixedThanks George, although the link took me to an LED dimmer strip
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Well first post of the new year and we start with chaos!
I found out over the holidays that the brackets supporting Skeetsmere on its shelf were starting to sag so a drastic measure has been to move the layout to the other side of the room before the whole thing fell down.... It's not a vast room so as you can imagine everything else has had to move as well! A week later this is the current state of play. I'm currently designing a new framework to support the layout at home more on that in due course.
Apart from that I've started the year painting more rolling stock.
Giving me the chance to experiment with the GEs more exotic liveries
Complete the lining on 227
And swear uncontrollably at pow sides press fix transfers. Had to cut these in half as they wouldn't go over the strapping for love nor money.
Easy enough to paint in the gaps but if there is anyone out there who would be willing to take a commission to develop a waterslide transfer for GER wagons please do PM me....
Btw the balsa wood is a former for the tarpaulin on this wagon not a modelled load
On with 2026
I found out over the holidays that the brackets supporting Skeetsmere on its shelf were starting to sag so a drastic measure has been to move the layout to the other side of the room before the whole thing fell down.... It's not a vast room so as you can imagine everything else has had to move as well! A week later this is the current state of play. I'm currently designing a new framework to support the layout at home more on that in due course.
Apart from that I've started the year painting more rolling stock.
Giving me the chance to experiment with the GEs more exotic liveries
Complete the lining on 227
And swear uncontrollably at pow sides press fix transfers. Had to cut these in half as they wouldn't go over the strapping for love nor money.
Easy enough to paint in the gaps but if there is anyone out there who would be willing to take a commission to develop a waterslide transfer for GER wagons please do PM me....
Btw the balsa wood is a former for the tarpaulin on this wagon not a modelled load
On with 2026
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Well the first working week of the year is done... Not going to consider how many left there are though.
We continue where we left off with the lining of 227 complete is was on with lettering
It's was cosy getting the buffer beams numbers in place
Weathering is the usual shade of muck washed over
Followed by more muck
And some more obvious muck
And some blending and detail muck.
And I hope you don't mind me Indulging in a few posed shots on Skeetsmere. 227 needs a crew and decoder still and a minor repair to the motion that got bent during the painting process and she will be running on Skeetsmere. Pity I don't have an east London goods yard for her but Suffolk will have to do
We continue where we left off with the lining of 227 complete is was on with lettering
It's was cosy getting the buffer beams numbers in place
Weathering is the usual shade of muck washed over
Followed by more muck
And some more obvious muck
And some blending and detail muck.
And I hope you don't mind me Indulging in a few posed shots on Skeetsmere. 227 needs a crew and decoder still and a minor repair to the motion that got bent during the painting process and she will be running on Skeetsmere. Pity I don't have an east London goods yard for her but Suffolk will have to do
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Actually is a new innovation to allow the engine man to do pull-ups
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Some weeks I can demonstrate visible progress some there is very little to show.
The problem is the return crank came loose on 227 so the valve gear had to be partially stripped down to be fixed.
All fixed after a couple of attempts.... But now the paint needs touching in. Any one remember that Flanders & Swann song 'The Gas Man Cometh'? Well it's a bit like that.
The next job is to fit a decoder. I used to use a zimo MX617 decoder on locos of this size but due to availability I've had to opt for the more awkward MX600 which means to use the stay alive feature I have to solder a wire onto the pad marked by the arrow in this picture.... Yikes!
Success.... I hope but I need to connect it to the loco before I know it works.... There must be an easier way to test decoders surely?
227 has been joined on the work bench by 407 which also needs a new decoder as it's died at Workington for no reason.
The problem is the return crank came loose on 227 so the valve gear had to be partially stripped down to be fixed.
All fixed after a couple of attempts.... But now the paint needs touching in. Any one remember that Flanders & Swann song 'The Gas Man Cometh'? Well it's a bit like that.
The next job is to fit a decoder. I used to use a zimo MX617 decoder on locos of this size but due to availability I've had to opt for the more awkward MX600 which means to use the stay alive feature I have to solder a wire onto the pad marked by the arrow in this picture.... Yikes!
Success.... I hope but I need to connect it to the loco before I know it works.... There must be an easier way to test decoders surely?
227 has been joined on the work bench by 407 which also needs a new decoder as it's died at Workington for no reason.
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
A slow week of trial and error...
Decoder fitting always is and then there's the testing that goes with. I had saved all the settings from 407s last decoder but as that model has gone obsolete I've had to use something different.... In the theory the same CVs should create the same profile but do they? Not a chance!
But good news is she is back on shed!
And has done lots of running in.
I know I know you are bored of buckjumper pictures..... But I like them. Next week 227 goes digital!
Decoder fitting always is and then there's the testing that goes with. I had saved all the settings from 407s last decoder but as that model has gone obsolete I've had to use something different.... In the theory the same CVs should create the same profile but do they? Not a chance!
But good news is she is back on shed!
And has done lots of running in.
I know I know you are bored of buckjumper pictures..... But I like them. Next week 227 goes digital!
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
This week it's been all about 227
Due to its low current draw Ive been able to go with a very small decoder.
A bit of tuning later and it's running around the layout quite happily
Yep that was mainly a week of playing trains... With 4 working locos now my attention does need to focus on other aspects.
PS in answer to the question @Willl I believe John just used plasticard strip and scribed it
Due to its low current draw Ive been able to go with a very small decoder.
A bit of tuning later and it's running around the layout quite happily
Yep that was mainly a week of playing trains... With 4 working locos now my attention does need to focus on other aspects.
PS in answer to the question @Willl I believe John just used plasticard strip and scribed it