Stacks of containers provide a simple but effective backdrop to the layout. At present there are approximately 200 containers used on the layout which have taken many evenings work to complete. When I first started dabbling with containers there were only Bachmann 20ft and 45ft versions available. Thankfully, the situation has improved greatly, due in the main to C=Rail Intermodal. Kits are now offered for 40ft containers, 30ft Bulktainers and 20ft Tanktainers along with a variety of accurate transfers.

Because of the large number of containers required, a small production line was set up with Halfords aerosol car paints used for the main painting process. These were carefully colour-matched and the resulting speed and simplicity allowed me to produce up to five different containers in a evening. Having been built, painted, had transfers applied and weathered, the completed kits were sealed with a coat of matt varnish, again from a aerosol.

Attention to detail pays dividends, as there are plenty of container experts around! Hundreds of photographs were studied to provide accurate livery information and weathering styles. It must be remembered that these containers travel vast distances and can take a lot of abuse especially during loading and unloading or when they are exposed to the elements on the high seas. Repairs, patch painting and fading are common but, equally, new and repainted containers can also be seen. There is also much variety to be found in liveries where the style, size and positioning of lettering changes. These subtleties are faithfully reproduced in model form on the layout.

 

Below is a small example of my container collection including some re-liveried using the C-Rail transfers. More pictures will be added in due course.

20' Hapag - Lloyd

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