Christmas Train - Present Storage Chest Truck

This truck began life as a £2 wooden jewelry box from The Works and, after addition of some strapping, paint and running gear, it is now ready to join the train along with the sleigh on its flat truck.

The box as initially purchased. It has some nice, tarnished brass fittings.

The fittings were removed and the lid separated from the base to aid adding the strapping and painting them.

The strapping was made from thin card

The strapping all added. A coat of sanding sealer over everything prepared it for paint.

The paint going on. the strapping will get a coat or two of gold.

Paint done, not sure if I will paint the inside yet.

Fittings all re-fitted and we have a rather nice treasure chest

Blocks to support the buffer beam are glued in place and the coupling blocks have been shaped and drilled.

The buffer beams are fitted

Followed by the axle box support beams

On go the wheels and axle boxes followed by the coupling blocks

Completed truck almost ready for service, just a coat of matt black to the bare wooden parts and it is finished.

The complete Christmas train (so far) posed ready for service. Sam T. Claus seems happy with it.

Next truck, probably for next Christmas, will be a reindeer carrier.

Christmas Train - Santas Sleigh

The Sleigh kit was built just before last Christmas but it has taken me until now (October) to mount it onto its flat truck. This is the process including a recap of the builds of the sleigh and flat truck.

Both the Sleigh and flat truck came in this same form

The sleigh under construction

The flat truck under construction

Both vehicles completed and ready for paint.

Both complete and being checked out by one of Santa's helpers

The sleigh has been glued on the flat truck ready for the chain to be fitted.

Chain hooks are added

And then the chain. Coupling hooks have also been added.

The rest of the Christmas train will follow soon.

Change to updates

The current update frequency is leading to long posts with many pictures that are not that easy to read. I have decided to go forward with a smaller weekly update with longer posts detailing individual projects once the projects are complete.

New Page added

I have added a new page to this blog detailing the lines characters including passengers, staff and residents. Just click on the characters tab at the right hand side of the page.

September Update

September has seen less work being done in the workshop due to lots of DIY and family business. The IP Railcars have had lots of work done on them and will hopefully be in service soon.

IP Railcars

Work to be done on the Railcars includes the interior and the control system.

The seats have gained a coat of red paint

The floor in the power car has had its coat of grey paint, the other floor will soon be cut out and painted.

The seats fixed in place.

The drivers cab dividers are under construction. the glazing will be sandwiched between them.

The control panel's have received their control arms.

The seat back rests are held in place whilst they dry.

Work being done on the control system.

The edges of the cab dividers are tidied up using wood strip.

The dividers ready for painting.

Fendyke Brake Van

This model is nearly complete and just needs me to order the couplings for it and add the handles and hand rails.

The step boards are fabricated from some scrap wood strip.

The step boards fitted and ready for painting.

All painted with just couplings and handrails to add.

Critter

More paint has gone on the Critter and now thoughts turn to how to power it.

The chevrons on the buffer beams are complete.

Other Jobs...

A water top-up bottle has been purchased for the Brunel.

A multi-tool for use with my steam locos.

A tidy up in the workshop plus this new shelf to hold my paints.

August Update

Several projects have been completed this month and a couple of sessions operating the line have also happened. Weather and work have got in the way and running on the line has been at a minimum. Hopefully we will have an Indian Summer and I will get to play trains a bit more.

Houston Gate Locomotive No. 8

The new loco has been completed to operating condition although more detail and a remote control system will be added later.

The body is complete apart from its roof

The chassis is fitted and the loco gets a test run

The roof going on

Ready for paint which was initially grey

I didnt like the grey roof so I masked up the loco and sprayed the roof black to match the body.

With the window glass and surrounds in place the loco is now ready for service.

Another test run with the new van's shows that the loco is smooth and runs well.

Fenor Type Locomotive no. 7

This freelance locomotive is slowly coming together although it tends to get pushed to one side when other jobs fill up the workbench.

The 4 wheel drive Andel chassis has been fitted and is getting a test run with my usual lash up.

The underframe and buffer beams are going on.

More underframe parts are added. I am not sure if I like it.

Fendyke Brake Van Kit

The kit is rapidly taking shape and will hopefully be in service very soon.

The main body is complete and ready for paint

The body colour is on and its looking good

The underframe is taking shape. This is where materials I have in my spares box come into play as the parts were not delivered to me before Fendyke went bust.

The axle boxes and their support bar goes on. 

'Critter' Locomotive No. 9

This locomotive was created by Mr Bruce Bates of the USA and was originally a 7/8ths model but as it is roughly the right size for 16mm that is what it will be.

The kit of parts as delivered to me by Houston Gate Locomotive Works to a pattern supplied by Bruce Bates.

Yet another pile of wood to be coaxed into being a railway locomotive

The chassis complete.

The cab going together

Chassis, cab and bonnet all ready for the next phase of creating a bonnet cover and then painting.

As you can see the locomotive is big but not stupidly big when compared with a 16mm scale loco. Its an American loco and they always do things bigger :-)

The primer goes on

The bonnet gets its silver finish

A smart red for the cab and a black underframe

The buffer beams are painted white and then masked to receive the red stripes 

Once the red is dry the masking tape will be removed.

One end done, now for the other one.

Father Christmas

To go with the Sleigh built last Christmas I purchased an unpainted Santa figure from Houston Gate to go with it.

The figure as supplied

First the red goes on. I was going to paint the trousers black but decided to do therm red

With the red in place the skin tone for his face is added

The black is added along with the white and the buckle painted gold

Finished.

The population

I bought several figures that will make up the start of the population of the line. Painting will start once the current projects are complete.

Other Projects

The IP railcars will be worked on now that several other projects have been completed plus I have had an operating session a video of which is YouTube.