An Old Friend.

On the workbench recently has been another 009 locomotive, who's story goes way back to 2012 when I originally started it! Visiting the Wigan Show that year I picked up a Five79 white metal body kit for 'Beddgelert' which I proceeded to butcher to turn into the dreaded Kato Chassis based tram engine....

From these basic beginnings I was quite pleased with the lines of the engine and thought it gave quite a credible Hunslet look. The tram skirts could have been considered a cop out but been a school student at the time the price of a Kato chassis was quite appealing!

The model was finished in a light blue livery, although I forget the actual shade, paving the way for the Ford Wedgwood Blue I use today for my models! 

To finish the model off I fitted some Narrow Planet nameplates and work plates, as well as some A1 Models numbers, from the same packet I still use today. A friend finished it off for me with some weathering, and bar some crew figures in the cab I called it finished.

Unfortunately not long after that the model was dropped resulting in the 3D puzzle that can be seen above. Although perfectly repairable the model stay sat in its box as I had lost enthusiasm, both for the model and 009 in general at the time. 

Some months later, in 2013, I stuck the model back together before selling it on eBay to gain some spending money for my relatively new found interest of 16mm scale.

Fast forward to March 2020 and a very familiar looking locomotive appeared on eBay! Still in the exact same condition as when I sold it seven years previous I placed a bid and the model ended up back in my hands. I had intended to just keep the model as a momento to my earlier modelling, but sat there in a shelf it kept nagging me, so out came the paint stripper, the result been a kit of parts again....

The kit of parts was reassembled, with more care and filler this time, resulting in better joints and a cleaner finish. New RT Models couplings were fitted (They're simply lovely!!!) before a fresh coat of paint, blue again of course!

Details were picked out with a brush, including a cream cab interior, before I set to with my first attempt at lining a model! Using HMRS General Purpose White Lining I am quite pleased with the result. Its original plates were then reattached.

Feeling more confident with my own modelling I bit the bullet and weathered the model myself this time round, using various AK interactive enamel washes, and dry brushing Humbrol acrylics. 

A set of Bachmann figures were used as a crew, once suitably butchered and weathered, before a coat of matt varnished sealed everything in.

And that is how, 8 years after starting it, I finally finished a simple 009 tram bash....