Another side to MMB. (When not making boats)

Hi Guys, I thought it might be an idea to show what else I get up to when I am not making and sending out my model boat accessories..

First up is a late 50s Austin Loadstar articulated lorry kit which I made for a model company in Dorset. The kit is 1/43.5 (O gauge) and is just over 9" long. All the masters were made from styrene sheet & profiles...

The first Photo shows the masters almost finished, the cab is in primer but the rest of the vehicle is bare..




This photo shows the finished model painted in British Road Services red. 



Here is another one in BRS green




Finally here is the fleet. 




All the models were painted by my daughter Hannah who is now in the process of starting her own business specialising in bespoke O & OO railway accessories.


Mark

very nice indeed mark.......lovely jobs..........now get back to those model boats, lol

Very nice Mark. Hope you enjoyed the match last night - even if you didn't get the right result ( or did you?)

Barrie

Hi Neil, fat chance at the moment mate,these models are part of the reason I didn't do the Blackpool show last year. At the moment I am working on an O gauge 1950s Smiths NCB milk float, the masters are nearly finished, I am also working on a fuel tanker trailer & a flat bed for the Loadstar.. That is just the thin edge of the wedge, the list of models I have to do will keep me busy for over a year. I will be working tomorrow so if I get time I will take a couple photos of them & post them up here...

Barrie, yes I did enjoy the match last night but it wasn't the result I was hoping for  Now the chances of Wales winning are disappearing I reckon Ireland will win it now...

Mark..

Hi All, still no boats yet!!!

This is an O gauge resin kit for a 1950's NCB Smiths milk float I have been working on over the last few weeks.... The masters were scratch built from styrene sheet & profiles... The model is just over 3" long..


Resin kit parts.
















Mark..

brilliant mark..........so damned good i'd be tempted to buy one if it was at the right scale for my ferry, and a nutter of a country bumpkin milkman who delivers round her didn't drive one and cause havoc everywhere he goes, lol

Thanks Neil, high praise indeed... One of the next projects is sort of boat related, I have to make masters for 6 canal barges, one powered & one horse-drawn in O, OO & N gauge. The other one is a 1959/60 Thames Trader artic in O gauge with a fuel tanker trailer & flat bed. 

Mark..

sounds good matey......especially the little narrow boats......used to own a 56footer...ex hire boat.....had some brilliant times on it.

When I was a kid we had a holiday on a narrow boat, great fun!!

Anyway here is the model finished (I had to wait for the paint to dry on the mirrors before I could fit them)






Mark..

that reminds me of my childhood where we'd hop on the side for a quick free ride lol........you wanna have another go on a narrow boat......so much more fun.....pubs take on a whole new aspect when you can have a few tied up at the bottom of the beer garden n not worry about drink driving lol

Hi all, here is a couple of photos of the Hunslett narrow gauge steam loco body I am casting at the moment. It is just under 6 inches long & is made up of 6 castings. The tank body is hollow so this is designed to be fully operational.







Mark..

man!!!! that is a little sweety.............it's gorgeous.

Thanks guys, this one is a real pain to cast, they don't really show up in the pics that well but there are hundreds of tiny rivet heads plus the cab & the bunker are just under 1mm thick... 

Still, I do like a challenge!!!

Mark..

Hi guys, here is a real "work in Progress"!!! This is an O gauge long wheelbase rigid Mk2 Thames Trader tanker (or it will be when it is finished!!!) I will also be making a short wheelbase rigid & articulated chassis for this cab along with 6 different body types for each chassis (tanker, tipper, box van, flat bed, drop side & cattle truck)

Well it does keep me out of the pub








Mark..

they are superb mark.................they remind me of my young days driving in the late 60's and early 70's when these vehicles were plentiful on the road....

but what made you made the transition from boats to vehicles and railway artifacts..................is there more work in this venture or do you just enjoy it more...........

it's all very interesting by the way.

neil

Thanks Neil, it is a bit of both really. This is another commission I am building for a model railway company based in Dorset. It will eventually be a resin kit the same as the Loadstar & Smiths milk float.

I am not giving up on the boat side of the business but the railway stuff pays quite well & I do enjoy the challenge!!

Mark..

Hi Guys, I knocked this up yesterday while I was waiting for some glue to set on the Trader, an OO gauge corrugated iron shed. I will be making an O gauge one soon as well.....




Mark.

Well I have been distracted with work & my dad passing away a couple of weeks ago but I have finally managed to get back work on the Trader. I have made the wheels, leaf springs, the front beam axle & rear diffs, they are temporarily tacked together with a small spot of superglue just to hold everything in place & to make sure it all fits.

Nice to see the Thames Trader, reminds me of my first job, ours was a breakdown truck with jib on the back, memories...........Oh happy days....

Love the detail Mark.

Sorry to hear about your dad mark.the passing of a loved one and especially a mum or dad is always very hard.i do hope the good memories help to elliviate the pain a little for you and yourloved ones.

Thanks Neil, my dad has not been well for quite a while, doesn't make it any easier when the call comes though...


Mark..

I know how you feel mate.my mum suffered for 8 years with ahlziemers and although we all blessed the day she passed away i still miss her 10 years on..........hope my kids miss me when i fall off the pearch lol.

Hi all, finally here is the finished kit... 













Mark...

I did some boaty stuff

Windy wrote:

I did some boaty stuff

'Bout time too   

Barrie

Yay!!! About time too!!! Plenty of projects in our line you still can do!!!
Mick F

I know I know!!! I had to have a bit of a break from the trucks, making these models so that they can be cast relatively easily & the kits need to go together without using filler or creating too many problems is a bit of a headache. You need to think about what is going on 2 or 3 steps ahead of what you are actually making at the time...

Still I do like a challenge... Flat bed body & a Leyland Comet cab next...

Mark..

I like the trucks and the trains mark.......keep at em mate...............but I have a project for you that might test your experience when I finish the ferry...............it's a centrifugal pump housing which will take a brushless motor and valves for forward and reverse directional thrust. but can't really explain till I have a hull moulded later this year.

neil.

Hi All, I have got 2 on trucks on the go at the moment using the Thames Trader cab. One is  LWB flatbed & the other is a SWB tipper truck...








Mark...

MORE CRACKING STUFF MARK.........was looking on your site today for a couple of Halls anchors for the Jupiter.......but am going to have to measure up next time i'm in the workshop as you have so many sizes, lol.

Thanks guys, I must admit I really like the challenge of making these models.... Glad you like them (even if they aren't boats)


Mark..

nhp651 wrote:

MORE CRACKING STUFF MARK.........was looking on your site today for a couple of Halls anchors for the Jupiter.......but am going to have to measure up next time i'm in the workshop as you have so many sizes, lol.

Yes great stuff,   any chance of the link to your site please.

Here you go 

www.marksmodelbits.com

Barrie

Thanks Barrie

I am slowly progressing, just a few small pieces to finish off & then I can make the moulds.






Mark..

happy birthday mark.............hope you've had a good day. neil.

Hi Neil, thanks mate but i'm still 49 for another 3 & a bit hours   


Mark..

Everything is growing out of all proportion, or I'm shrinking!!

How about a 7 1/4" gauge class 08 shunter








Mark..

Never mind all this railway stuff - whats that nice little hull under the bench?

Barrie

PS The Shunter looks pretty good as well

Hi Barrie, the hull is a 1960s/70s north sea fishing trawler at 1/48th I built years ago loosely based on the Navena which is just under 3' long. I was planning to use it as a plug but not had the time....



Mark..

Excellent more photos of the shunter!!!

Here you go... 

Very nice Mark. 

Thanks Damien, glad you like it...

Mark..

Awesome, i'm a train fanatic more so then boats ( they just take up less room!) look forward to detailing photos as you progress, what lively are you doing for it? Looks like an 70-80's British rail diesel at present?