Henry I - 50% Complete

Recently announced project, Henry I, is currently under construction and is halfway completed, so far, the runningplate, cab and boiler have all been made and added to the model. So far it is looking promising, i am currently still fiddling with the running plate to make it sit right on the chassis, but, it will get there eventually.

I have already cut the templates for the tender, so these will be played about with once the main body is completed. Check back soon for new pics.

Next new project - Henry II (TV Style)

I've already started the plans for my next new project, i've placed Douglas on hold for a short while till i can order a new funnel and dome for him, so for now, i will be working on building Henry II. I know that Hornby has already made a RWS version of Henry, and Bachmann has also made a TV series version of Henry, but, i have chosen to model Henry from the Tv Series also, seeing as Hornby did not.

Although i like the Bachmann version, the tender is somewhat abit short of Henry's cab roof, so, i'm going to build my own Henry II from scratch, using a suitable donor 4-6-0 chassis, this model i hope will be just like the tv model. I'm deciding to model Henry II, but, i will also make a second body so i can switch them from Henry I to Henry II, one will have the firebox similar to Gordon's and the second will have the belpair firebox like that on the TV Henry II model.

I cannot say at the moment what chassis i will be using to build Henry II, but, announcements will be made via the Thomas Modeller Forum and soon will be posted here, so check back soon for new updates and latest pics.

Donald the Scottish Twin - Complete!

After alot of careful work and planning, from a dull looking plastic tube and plastikard shaped locomotive parts on wheels, Donald, is complete and ready for work.

Many say that i rush these models or that i produce them to quickly, but, when you know what you are doing and how you want it to look, it really comes from experience and having great patience. I don't make my models to make other modellers jealous or think that they have not done alot to their own models, i've scratchbuilt models for quite a while now, and although i enjoy building the models, sometimes, i even doubt myself. But in all honesty, the models arn't better than others, like all modellers out there in this world, they are just as equal in detail and scructure, it's not about being the best at modelling, it's mainly about enjoying the hobby and being able to help and share the magic of creating the models with others, as i always try to do and have done.

Donald, is one of the most fave models i have done so far this year, i know there are alot of people out there who love the Railway Series, and would prefere the models to be in the RWS blue that the Rev .W. Awdry depicted them in, in his book series, and i must admit, i like them in the RWS blue also, but, i adore the tv series (the classic series 1-7, not the new series 8-9).

So, i chose to paint him in a Satin Black, which matches the tv series model, and it looks grand, i like some malechite paints and satin paints, i'm not a huge fan or user of Gloss or Tan paints.

The chassis he runs on came from a S/Hand Hornby 'Thomas' Diesel model, the tender was scratchbuilt and uses the tender wheels from a Dapol 'Castle' Class 4-6-0 tender. there is no chassis underneath the tender like on other RTR tenders, the wheels are held in place with some whitemetal axle boxes, glued into the plastikard frames. The buffers are sprung and the couplings used on the model are Screw-link, like on a real locomotive, with an additional Universal hook and loop coupler, which is already attatched to the RTR chassis.

The whole body and tender were scratchbuilt using some helpful scale drawings that were printed off and used as a template, these were them drawn on the plastikard sheets and carefully cut out using a hobby knife, the plastikard was them filed down and carefully glued together using Slaters Mek-Pak liquid 'Polystyrene' Cement.

It has taken a while, but the model is finally finished, and i announced that once Donald was completed, i would then make a start on his twin, Douglas. ;)

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© 2009 by The Thomas Modeller