A hive is forming

I have pursued the construction and restoration of my GEM model bug box carriages. Today, I completed another two examples. The first being the Quarrymans coach that I have been restoring for some time and the second being an Ashbury style compartment coach.

The Quarryman's coach has been an exceptionally involved process. Considering that I started the restoration about four/five weeks ago, it has taken me much more effort than I first thought it would. 

After stripping back the first layer, I discovered that a second layer of orange/ brown paint lay below. I attacked it with the paint stripper today in order to properly relivery it and complete it. 

The Quarryman coach with the final layer of orange underneath.

 I have also taken the liberty of adding some adhoc seats for passengers to sit on. I wasnt too fussed about the detail of these seats as the windows are so small on this carriage. To that end I made use of some spare carriage steps from one of the Dundas carriages and glued them into position as make shift benches.

The next step was to basecoat it in red and then apply the coat of Indian Red that is prevalent on much of my rolling stock.

The Ashbury coach was a different proposition for me. It had not been built and I was amazed at the level of detail that lay on such an old kit. I decided that this carriage was going to be marked out differently to the rest of the stock and so I have painted it in a lined version of the green and cream livery on the VoR rake. It is only the first coat but I feel that it adds a certain ornate charm to the carriage and will thus be set out as the first of my 'First Class' Carriages. More on that later.

All that remains for these new items of rolling stock is for them to be given their final coat of paint to cover any mistakes that I may have made with my lining brush, of which there are many, and to glaze these lovely looking carriages.

I must confess that these small kits are really stretching my imagination and forcing me to think about what I am doing. I just hope that I am doing them justice.

The Ashbury coach in its undercoat.

The Ashbury in basecoat and the Quarryman coach with the other bug box carriages.

The two newest additions to the fleet.