The MLV's are done now so they'll be off to the painters over the next week or so to get a coat of gunmetal grey and muck. I'm reasonably happy with them except for the wagon code panel on the side. For the '30's, it should be on the louvres closest to the corner pillar but unfortunately, it's too difficult to remedy so I'll just have to live with it.
One of the MLV's
Here's all 11 of them
I've been contemplating how to scratch build the earlier 28 ton cantilever framed MLV's but haven't come up with a solution yet to replicate the louvres. I've got some spare LV van sides left over from converting some Lima vans to the short LV's so I might get some plans soon and see if I can use them instead. If that fails, then it's scratch build for sure. If anyone has some ideas or techniques, I'm all ears as I've been looking around for methods but nothing has turned up. Also, there's the Andian Models BLV coming plus I've got a couple of the Redfern Models BCV's.....shudder. I love what James McInerney did with his, turning a sows ear into a silk purse as he describes it, but the louvre panels are wrong for my era so it may be better to scratch build some of these as well.
Since building the layout, I had to get rid of the cardboard spray booth as it wouldn't fit under the bench work. So I splashed out on a proper spray booth from Runway 13 that vents outside the train cave.
I reckon it might get a work out soon.
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G'day Rob,
ReplyDeleteEleven detailed MLVs! Wow. They look great. I wish I had the motivation to achieve such a feat.
I would love to hear how the spray booth performs. I have never used a spray booth but have wondered if the fan can suck dust onto the model?
Stonequarry Creek has taken a huge step backwards with new baseboards in the pipeline. The aluminium and timber combination has proven more trouble than it's worth.
Anyway, looking forward to the painted MLV pictures. By the way the weathering on the completed model in your photos looks great. I think I will give mine a little touch up.
Linton
Hi Linton,
DeleteThanks for kind words on the MLV's....I'll let you know how the Spray booth goes. I assume they don't suck dust but if you hear a whole bunch of expletives, you'll know it's wrecked some painting! What is it with our Pictons and baseboards? What's gone wrong with yours? That must be pretty annoying seeing you were a lot more progressed than I was when I pulled mine apart.
Cheers,
Rob
Hi,
DeleteReply is a bit late....but the spray cabinet is the same as i use & i find it brilliant...turntable is a dream but you have to position the cabinet so as to pick up available light bcause of the roof overhang...i have thought about installing a mini fleuro in the roof of the thing but flammable vapours have to be considered...Anyway have fun & look forward to your experiences
Rod
Hi Rob,
ReplyDeleteImpressive work! I see the MLV's have extended (or 'double') parallel shank buffers.
Did these come with the kits or are they a separate casting (and who makes them)?
They look to be spot on to use with a backdated Andian Models LWW.
Tom.
Hi Tom,
DeleteThanks for your comments!!! The buffers I made myself using Kerroby Models parallel shank goods buffers glued to Evergreen Styrene tube which is cut to length using a NWSL Chopper. The tube is then glued to some .010" Evergreen sheet cut to size to represent the base plates and then glued to the buffer beam. A bit fiddly but worth it in the end. I can get you the Evergreen tube part number next time I go out to the train cave if you like.
Cheers
Rob
G,day Rob, If you going to buy another Air brush
ReplyDeletesteer clear of Aztek premium A470 airbrush or any of the air brush kits from Testors I bought
one at over $300 and it,s went back under warranty twice! I was then told the lifetime warranty is no longer valid. It failed again last week...A costly regret.
Cheers
Dean
Hi Dean,
DeleteThanks for the heads up on the Aztek and Testors. I'll steer clear of them. It's funny but I thought Paasche was one of the better airbrush manufacturers around but this one has been a piece of crap....the badger excrements all over it!
Cheers,
Rob