http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/(c) G Scale Central Forum30A feature of many steam railcars is the relatively short length of the steam 'tractor' unit. With this in mind, the donor Stainz was simply too long. I removed a 25mm section from the boiler moulding and moved the cab forward. Thehttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194244Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:15:37 GMTThanks for the suggestions! After dithering for about 12 hours, I finally decided to bite the bullet and butcher the tender. The B'mann frame could only get just under 3/4" removed. The flanges just barely touch on r-1 curves now... and yes, those aihttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194221Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:26:25 GMTUnless you can get trucks with a shorter wheelbase you're not going to save much in length. Can you do anything to make the tender look less monolithic, like "daylighting" the front of the footplate as in the prototype picture? That and a slight rehttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194156Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:28:11 GMTWhat a great build Mik! I think it is the tender that broke the camel's back :rolf:http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194067Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:47:46 GMTOnly a mother could love it :love:http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194054Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:58:26 GMT Dean, I didn't get to ask, but what did you use to paint the railcars, the paint job is possibly the best I've seen. :) Oh NO, my secret has to be revealed!!! The basic painting was done using an air brushhttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194048Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:08:23 GMTYears ago, my dad had a bumper sticker (He got it at Strasburg, I think) that said "Steam Locomotives have a tender behind".... well, this one has a serious case of "ghetto booty". http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j371/AlleghenyValley/2012/P2080http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=194026Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:01:21 GMTDean, I didn't get to ask, but what did you use to paint the railcars, the paint job is possibly the best I've seen. :)http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193882Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:06 GMTMini update! Front cab wall went in the lazy way. I cut a bit of cd jewel case to fit the hole, then glued coffee stirrers and basswood to look like doors.... I think I want at least one back door open, so it will be more work. http://i1082.photobhttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193817Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:55:45 GMTAnd maybe this photo as well.... http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193762Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:15:26 GMT This might be of use to you Mel.... http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/4-rstock/5-tank.htm Oh yus, nice one. Thanks mate.http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193761Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:13:26 GMTThis might be of use to you Mel.... http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/4-rstock/5-tank.htmhttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193760Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:09:34 GMTSo, in the search for a set of buffers for the black pudding project, I bought a set of sprung buffers off Matt. They turned up this morning and they're absolutely superb - so good in fact that I decided to fit them to my brakevan in place of it's previohttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193756Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:41:42 GMTJohn The major problem I had was that I had to remove the wheels in order to fit them to a new axle. I believe that I have now got that aspect right. The jerking was totally unexpected. It will be v interesting to learn if yours has only thhttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193709Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:18:57 GMTWow - saw these on a post of JR's recently, fantastic work!!!http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193666Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:09:49 GMTFurther to my previous thread, I have now made and fitted six bogie side pieces as well as other detail parts. The side pieces are vacuum formed using the plug as shown from 0.5mm thick styrene. http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/app_themes/Orighttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193650Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:42:48 GMTI'll pop a cover plate of one of mine when I get home but I'm pretty sure mine only have the rear thrust bearing. I had a bit of "fun" getting the quatering right after slipping on the belt after some modification's on my diesel (same motor block).http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193649Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:26:04 GMTNeil Thanks for the link in fact I ordered from them earlier this afternoon! It will be the worlds most expensive mini ball bearing at £2,35? although for that i get a pack of 10 - anyone need 9 2mm ball bearings? I am pretty certain I havehttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193634Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:40:07 GMTP.S. - the Army painter range does some useful colours and a very good matt varnish. Not cheap at £8 post free on ebay and have spurious "lord of the rings" names. Used with a primer they last for ages (big cans)....I like big cans of goblinhttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193633Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:38:15 GMT This stuff works great, though as others said a quick rub with some 800 grade wet and dry might help too. [link=http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeIhttp://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/fb.ashx?m=193631Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:20:20 GMT