Test Etches

Last updated: 5 August 2011

The following 3mm scale test etches in 0.010" nickel silver are currently being evaluated. If you are interested in any of these please email me as below.

Maunsell Ducket

There are some problems with this test etch. Not least the window does not have a hole in it!

LMS Axlebox

The test etch includes parts for 6 axleboxes. The 2nd picture shows an axlebox assembled on to an Andrew Thomas chassis.

Instanter Coupling Links

The test etch included 2 sizes. The 2nd picture shows the larger size fitted to a Parkside BR van using Andrew Thomas' hook and home-made links.

Continuous Draw Gear

Tiebar

This etch is still under development. It is designed to be pegged and soldered to a dummy PCB tiebar which can be hidden within 1/8" cork underlay. The dummy tiebar can then be covered with a piece of card which is ballasted to match the surrounding track. As John Bateman has demonstrated on Wadebridge you don't notice that the ballast actually moves when the point is changed! The slot in the brackets is designed to take a strip of 0.005" plasticard to represent the prototype bar. The trial assembly was done by John.

I am also experimenting with a 7mm scale version of this etch as follows.

V Etch

This etch is still under development. It is designed to be fitted under the V and wing rails of a common crossing. The half etch fits under the rails and the full etch cross pieces represent the baseplates on the point timbers and the cast blocks used to maintain the gaps between the rails. The timber spacing is based on Templot templates. Some adjustments are needed to this trial. The test assembly uses the etch upside down because I didn't leave sufficient clearance between the full etch pieces for the foot of the rail.

SR Ground Signal

This etch is designed to fit the lost wax cast ground signal post which is under development by John Bateman. There are several parts to be added to the etch.

Here is the latest version of this etch:

with test builds by Peter Bossom:

Kits should be available soon.

Brickwork

We have started to play with etched brickwork. The corner below has a fold line on the back.

I am pleased with this result.

I washed it with Flash All Purpose cleaner and then sprayed it with Teroson Etch Primer which is available from Just Like The Real Thing. The brick colour was applied as described in The Art of Weathering by Martyn Welch. I found that the cement colour was washed out when applying the brick colour but maybe that was because I didn't wait long enough for it to dry. However the method for applying the cement colour after the brick worked a treat. This was followed by a light coat of Humbrol Dirty Black (142) to produce this.

Having proved the technique I have started to produce bespoke artwork for etching my brick buildings in 3mm scale.

29 January 2017

The experiments with brickwork continue here.