Ruston & Hornsby 48DS turns blue

With the December issue of Model Rail magazine going on sale last week, it felt like a good time to post on this blog for the first time in a while. Time... that precious commodity, of which there doesn't seem to be enough recently.

Anyway, one of my most enjoyable modelling projects of recent months has been the repainting of this wonderful little Heljan Ruston & Hornsby 48DS which, for various reasons, ended up being achieved with a good old-fashioned paintbrush and a pot of Humbrol paint. The whole project was completed in less than a day, although I wouldn't normally recommend such haste. But needs must, as they say. 

It was actually good to remind myself how to brush-paint models, after many years of relying on an airbrush or aerosols for such a task. Using well-stirred paint, of an even consistency, and a good quality flat brush with soft bristles made the task easier, while a light rub-down between coats managed to remove most of the brush strokes. A coat of clear gloss (from an aerosol) improved the appearance considerably, producing a more even sheen and deeper lustre. 

As you may have guessed, an airbrush did see some use for the weathering stage, which added the final touches, courtesy of a single shade of dark brown/grey Lifecolor acrylic paint (I forget the exact shade). The contrast between the matt weathering shade and the glossy blue livery really brings the model to life.

Despite this being an 'O' gauge model, a set of 'OO' number and name plates were installed, suiting the proportions of the 48DS well. The plates were custom-made for me years ago by PH Designs for my 'OO' fleet of National Coal Board locomotives, these being spare. Hetty Pit, incidentally, was part of the Great Western Colliery, near Pontypridd, which was a rich source of steam coal, back in the day.

Other additions to the 48DS included a pair of spare tail lamps, plus a homemade set of wheel chocks and the obligatory shunting pole. The lovely figures are from the Modelu range, which I also enjoyed painting.

A full demo of this project, plus a detailed history of the Ruston & Hornsby locomotives, can be found in the December issue of Model Rail, so grab yourself a paper or digital copy today.

Here's the Heljan model in its original livery - a rather lurid shade of green!