Fowler Finished - Nystrup Gravel no 8

Finally a finished Fowler F 30 on the Nystrup Gravel layout! It has been a long drawn out proces, and over the last couple of years the loco has played the role of the project that could always be set aside when something easier or more enjoyable came along. But now the long suffering loco is on track to be the main source of motive power on the line in the coming years.

Bonkers! Having lined up for a perfect shot of Nystrup Gravel's recently arrived Fowler another photographer forces his way into the image. And wearing a bright yellow pullover!

First job, picking up where I left, was to fit the scratch built sandboxes in the cab. The sanding pipes were adjusted to fit and pencil marks added to aid in placing the sand boxes in equal height above the floor. The boxes were glued in place with AC-glue.

Inside the cab I repaired a tiny amount of overspray, where green paint had crept under the masking tape during painting of the exterior, before I weathered the cab interior. Minor details were also added to the cab floor: two whitemetal wrenches and an oil can. Once the cab was painted I could also fit glazing to the front window openings.

Sand boxes glued in place in the cab and some flaking paint on the company name on the cab rear wall as first stage in weathering.

Moving closer to the finish line!

The previously tested front and rear LEDs were unsoldered from the circuit and the tiny LEDs fitted into the lamps, AC-glued, tested and once I was convinced everything worked I passed the thin wires along the inside roof line of the cab and glued them down with AC-glue. Through a hole drilled in the cab front wall the wires reached the Loco Remote unit in the engine compartement, where they were resoldered and protected from short circuits with heat shrink. I couldn't wait getting the bonnet in place, and the loco was tested on the layout a late evening. It worked!

My wiring probably wasn't the prettiest but I got it all jumbled into a 'bird's nest' and crammed away under the bonnet. Everything was tested once more before I fitted the resin lenses in the lamps. I used Humbrol Clearfix to glue the lenses.

Front lamp glued on (for the second time). The tiny LED is just visible a yellow rectangle in front of the reflector.

Late night testing on the layout because I just couldn't wait! Despite dangling wires all worked fine and nothing on the layout got caught in the wires.

Daylight testing. Wires rolled up the best I could and hidden under the bonnet. Exhaust pipe (chminey) fitted and the Fowler is ready for a little weathering.

With the wires tucked away under the bonnet, I fitted the cab and fastened it with the two small screws through the rear buffer plate. From here it was plain sailing with small details painted, scratches and wear applied with fine brush, sharp pencil and graphite powder, oil washes, rust painting and getting some track dust on the lower part of the loco with the air brush. Finally I could fit the driver figure in the cab and take the loco on a tour of the layout. In no time loco no 8 gathered quite a crowd!

Close up of the loco's rear end. I could get tired of the standard screw heads used to attach the buffer plank. They may be replaced with proper bolts in the futore. Other than that I'm quite pleased with the busy look of the cab interior showing.

'Looks solid and sound good' says Thorleif Petersen, chief mechanic and workshop manager at Nystrup Gravel while another employee stands ready if more oil is needed. The driver seems quite relaxed despite all the hype...

I managed to get a good shot of the loco pulling skips through the red wooden building, once the other enthusiast had left.

It's being said that a model railway is never finished, and I guess the same is true for any model I build. There is always something that can be improved. I've already found a few things on loco no 8 and more will probably show up. But now it's time for a new project!