Max Stafford's Kennel

I’ve mentioned the new project that is hatching here at the moment already.
I don’t want to elaborate just yet as i want to illustrate the feature with some nice images I have found.
Meantime, some suitable vehicles have been taking form on the workbench in the shape of the LNER 20 ton Plate wagon, the LMS Diagram 1674 double bolster and the LMS Diagram 2069 Long Low, pretty much the equivalent of the LNER vehicle.
I’ve already commented on the building but now we move on to the painting and finishing stage.

On many Parkside Dundas kits you will find a moulded tiebar linking the axleguards and the Plate is no exception. However, the plastic is prone to distortion and breakage so it’s best to replace it. I do so with a fine brass L section strip; not prototypical and slightly overscale in this instance, but sometimes Form has to dance to Function’s tune and this is an acceptable compromise bearing in mind that when weathered in it won’t really be noticeable to most.
I’ve also started to work on the timber effect for the wagon deck. My technique for this involves hand brushed acrylic to a method pretty identical to that outlined in the Fifteen Minute Heroes section of Paul Marshall Potter’s Bawdsey/Albion Yard blog.
I recommend a look at that.
Essentially you can combine and blend shades (I use Lifecolor’s ‘Weathered Wood’ shades) in random combination. Here I have then applied some Mig Productions Dark Wash as a blending agent. More work will be done but you can see we are already on the way here.
No commercially available decals exist for the LMS vehicles so I will need to improvise from existing sources when it comes to numbering those.
Meanwhile the 782 has received primer now that running is satisfactory and an effort will now be made to tidy up any surface imperfections before detailing and painting take place.