Hornby Dublo restoration project

[Ancientmariner]

Nice to see a Deltic in your collection, I was lucky enough to work on one for over 10 years in preservation, a real beast of a loco.

Soon to be another Deltic in there, in a slightly off piste scheme.....

[Ancientmariner]

So a long break, though there's been work behind the scenes.
A lot on the bench loco wise and have started finding old chassis to make locos complete before finding new homes for them.
A few shots of what's in progress and of two I have just completed below.

[Ancientmariner]

So after looking at the pictures of the previous A4 the chassis annoyed me somewhat as it is looking tired next to a brand new looking body.
So, I got some running chassis of eBay and tore them to bits. Some bits in the ultrasonic currently but chassis was stripped to the basic block, repainted and varnished and now reassembling. Motor runs much smoother now.

All that remains to be done is the decals and refit wheels and coupling rods once wheels are painted same colour as the body.

[Ancientmariner]

So progress has been hammered by the lack of a new ultrasonic cleaner as the old one died a death. Could probably continue however I think I it would niggle at me if I did.
New lining tools arrived yesterday so playing about with those as I want to do some experiments.

[Ancientmariner]

So playing about today I have finally done away with lining decals.
This tender has been hand lined using a lining pen. Corners aren't spot on but were free hand and acceptable for a first attempt.

[Tim Marlow]

What lining pen did you use? I’ve used a mapping pen, OK but not great on long runs like that, a bow pen (fiddly and prone to blobs using paint) and a Bob Moore lining pen I borrowed from my brother in law. The Moore pen was good, but only worked with Humbrol paint and was a bit clumsy in use. Your results look really good, better than I ever managed :thumb2:

[Mini Me]

James, I agree with Tim, that is an excellent result for a first attempt! :thumb2: :thumb2:

[Ancientmariner]

That's a bob Moore pen with standard head.
Paint I am using in it is thinned Mr Colour actually as I hadn't meant to do anymore than practice. It's a fantastic bit of kit, I am really getting on well with it.

[Ancientmariner]

Though oddly enough the green there is actually LNER green, since adding the orange lining it's made it appear darker, almost like BR green.

[Tim Marlow]

Good stuff. Glad to know the Bob Moore stuff is still available actually. I last used one a good twenty years ago now :flushed:

[Ancientmariner]

Good stuff. Glad to know the Bob Moore stuff is still available actually. I last used one a good twenty years ago now :flushed:

It's was an eBay purchase as I saved a few quid but the are available from Phoenix paints new. I have some brass carriages and a steam motor rail coach to build and paint still which the lining pen really elevates the paint work I think.

[Tim Marlow]

PS, I found it best to make a plasticard template to do some of the more complex designs. Easy just to run the pen around it then.

[Tim Marlow]

It's was an eBay purchase as I saved a few quid but the are available from Phoenix paints new. I have some brass carriages and a steam motor rail coach to build and paint still which the lining pen really elevates the paint work I think.

Interesting. The one I used came from a model engineering sales stand :smiling: Not made brass carriages for an age. Sold the last of my unmade kits during lockdown actually. Steam rail motor will look great. Who is it by? Agreed, good lining makes the model.
For black lining I found tubular pens (Rotring etc) very good as well. I believe the business end of the Bob Moore pen was originally made from them.

[Ancientmariner]

So trialled a new stripping method (a few stages) but in summary by far the best strip I've ever achieved. 100% paint removal and about 10 mins to complete.
Latest project is a Dublo Castle relivery.

Primed and already applied top coat BR green which is drying.


The Phoenix precision gloss gives an exceptional finish when applied by airbrush.

[Ancientmariner]

Bit more done, very nearly ready for clear coat and decals.