Model Rail 227 October 2016

[Butler Henderson]

Delivered by postie today

 

Model of the Month DJM J94  84%

First Reviews OO Works GNR(I) U 4-4-0 & Farish 108 with sound

Review  Auhagen low relief warehouse

Layouts; Shelvington BR(SR) 1970s P4, Horseley Fields Modern Image N gauge

Paul Lunn layouts: 125 at 40 - A Celebration of the HST

Masterclass & Workbench: HST

Full Speed Inspiration - article covering fast locos/trains from City of Truro to Eurostar

Workbench - PH Designs Inspection Saloon DB999508, Frogmore Confederacy GWR Bullion Van, Noch Laser Cut Bridge, Smallbrook Studios Emett Nellie

Liveries of BR 1948-1964 (8 pages on better quality paper)

Bachmann 08 replacement pick ups

The Festival of Britain 1951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2016 by Butler Henderson

[Dan Griffin]

An enjoyable issue from the bits ive read. the Festival of britain article, i feel, is a little out of place in the mag, HOWEVER having said that, its a fascinating read with some good pictures on a subject i knew very little about. A good issue again this month. Keep it up

[caradoc]

Shelvington is a superb layout, but I was surprised there was no information, at all, on the trains, in particular the wonderful Tadpole unit. Perhaps this will be addressed when the layout features in Model Rail again, as promised.

[tetsudofan]

Agree that Shelvington is a superb layout but looking at the full page picture on page 24 something looked strange and it took some time to work what it was..... and then it dawned  - the Western was leaving the points which were set against it.

 

Keith

[griffgriff]

WR drivers eh... Right bunch of cowboys

[russ p]

If it's a hand point you can trail through it.

I can't see a signal for exiting the sidings which is more worrying!

[Legend]

Full speed inspiration sounds like one of these generic items that's neither something or nothing. Not so sure about BR liveries either. On the other hand quite fancy the HST Masterclass. I'll have a browse to see if worthwhile

 

Why are they called "first reviews" of GNR 4-4-0 and sound 108. Are you going to review them again? They have already been reviewed in at least the Railway Modeller

Edited September 20, 2016 by Legend

[Steamport Southport]

The British Railways liveries article is a decent selection of photographs of BR steam locomotives in colour. Mainly passenger and mixed traffic locomotives with some "specials" such as a Caley Pug and L&YR Wren. Next part is steam freight and early diesel and electrics. Mostly from the Colour Rail archive and containing a useful list of who supplies which paint.

 

Practical articles on HSTs, inspection saloons, GWR Bullion vans, a resin model of a Emett Nellie and something about reviving Bachmann diesel shunters. Plenty of trackplans for those who are interested in them. Two decent layouts and plenty of inspiration. The review section is short and sweet.

 

 

Definitely a magazine back on form after slightly losing it's way a while ago IMO.

 

 

 

Jason

[grahame]

Liveries of BR 1948-1964 (8 pages on better quality paper)

 

 

 

 

Yes, those 8 pages do rather accentuate the poor quality the rest of the mag is printed on.

 

However, the photos on my copy seem rather dark (although that might be compounded because most are of black and grubby steam locos).

 

 

 

Definitely a magazine back on form after slightly losing it's way a while ago IMO.

 

 

Yes, I agree with that. I've certainly enjoyed the last couple of issues more than those earlier this year.

 

G.

[rue_d_etropal]

just got copy today. I was concerned thayt the Speed theme might be boring, but was actually very interesting. I suppose thosewho are only interested in conventional trains and articles about them, might not like something more broadminded as an article about the Festival of Britain.

No-one has even mentions the Rowland Emmett theme with article on buildiung one of the excellent Smallbrook loco kits. Yes it is different, but a bit more interesting than some of the boring and very similar layouts seen at exhibitions(often with DCC sound, but nothing else happening).

The southern EMU layout is interesting, it makes no difference to me whether it is P4 or OO,but lack of captions on some photos is frustrating. Obviously covers a wide time period, 70s through to 80s, a time when I did live in that part of Surrey, but sadly just missed the 3HALs and 2Bils running, although I did regularly use the Tadpoles on the Redhill line. First train on Sunday mornings was often a cl33 a parcels coach and about 3 coaches and never busy. Always felt like a proper train, and the route was very rural, pre M25. The model feels more 80s than 70s . There was stil a lot of the old technology around in the 70s , in particular semaphore signals. As I am working on a small project set in 1970-72 I have a intesrest, but mine is in OO, but will have one or two interesting features.

One thing that might add a bit of authenticity is a fictional map to show where line is meant to be. To the north and west of Guildford there are(still) a lot of lines, but to the south and east there are very few lines , and the one was the only line in Surrey to close, although there were plans to electrify the line to Cranleigh, and route has been left clear so it could still happen. In fact work was started on electrification befoire closure, and it is this line that forms part of my own project. but I won't say more now, except to say it will combine model and technology from two very different eras.

Nice when people blur the differences between 4mm and 3.5mm /ft scales if it suits them, but will always pick on some minor inaccuacy. Good article on the Aughagen warehouse kit. Not badly priced, and brick bond looks more like what I would expect to see, and just repainting makes a big difference. On checking availability now, it now seems to be out of stock! Pity, but it is slightly too deep for the small Britisjh HO layout ,I would want it for..

[walrus]

Enjoyed the issue - especially the Festival of Britain article as I was born in 1951 - but puzzled by the abrupt ending of GWR Bullion Van article with the vehicle unfinished. Is the end missing? (or is it an attempt to reflect the real world......)

[dibber25]

Enjoyed the issue - especially the Festival of Britain article as I was born in 1951 - but puzzled by the abrupt ending of GWR Bullion Van article with the vehicle unfinished. Is the end missing? (or is it an attempt to reflect the real world......)

In what respect did you feel the model was unfinished? The finished model was illustrated in the opening picture. Strictly, it is missing the 'Great Western' lettering either side of the crest but I couldn't obtain the necessary decals in time. (HMRS delivery is 28 days). I haven't seen the published article yet, but I did see the proofs and it was complete as I wrote it. (CJL)

[walrus]

In what respect did you feel the model was unfinished? The finished model was illustrated in the opening picture. Strictly, it is missing the 'Great Western' lettering either side of the crest but I couldn't obtain the necessary decals in time. (HMRS delivery is 28 days). I haven't seen the published article yet, but I did see the proofs and it was complete as I wrote it. (CJL)

 

Yeah I noticed that. It just seemed a considerable leap from the masked body in picture 18 at the foot of Page 66 to the beautifully finished vehicle at the head of the article so I thought perhaps part of the article might be missing. If it has appeared as intended then apologies if I got the wrong impression.....

[jjb1970]

An excellent issue, the review of the DJM J94 is a lesson in how to do a good, robust review without descending into being a hatchet job or just being negative. I think the conclusions are ones that I would share, it is a very good little model but not without its faults. Certainly whilst recognising the faults they would not put me off buying the model. I was particularly happy to see the excursion into card modelling. Card is a very under rated modelling material, in the US section of RMWeb there is a terrific thread on a chap building a giant size Santa Fe steamer in card and other stuff and in industrial model making card is very widely used. When used well card can be used to produce models which are as detailed and accurate as anything done in plastic or brass, many large marine models make extensive use of card. The speed stuff was good as was the livery guide, an excellent issue all around.

[dibber25]

Yeah I noticed that. It just seemed a considerable leap from the masked body in picture 18 at the foot of Page 66 to the beautifully finished vehicle at the head of the article so I thought perhaps part of the article might be missing. If it has appeared as intended then apologies if I got the wrong impression.....

Two reasons why I didn't include pics of the painting: Firstly, I used aerosols for quickness and sprayed the model in my garage, so the pictures weren't going to look very 'professional'. I needed to get the job finished before going on holiday. Secondly, I'd reached (I think) 18 step by step pictures and knew that I wasn't going to be able to have more pages at that late stage. I thought it more important that the picture of the finished model - taken by Chris Nevard against the real vegetation beyond my garden wall - was used nice and big. I'll try for a 'big finish' next time! (CJL)

[Pint of Adnams]

Bought a copy primarily for the BR liveries info.

 

My copy was not neatly bound nor guillotined, so had to spent a few minutes separating pages - you can't get the elves these days.

 

In the speed article I note with much cynicism that the very questionable 'City of Truro' 102.3 mph was unchallenged but in the next entry an effort is made to note that OS Nock challenged the 100 mph of 'Flying Scotsman' (yet Nock writes in his 'The Gresley Pacifics Part 1' that the Dynamometer Car chart shows exactly 100 mph). And as for a 'City of Truro' pulling a train load of bullion - a bit of 'gold-plating' there!

[Hroth]

Bought a copy primarily for the BR liveries info.

 

My copy was not neatly bound nor guillotined, so had to spent a few minutes separating pages - you can't get the elves these days.

 

In the speed article I note with much cynicism that the very questionable 'City of Truro' 102.3 mph was unchallenged but in the next entry an effort is made to note that OS Nock challenged the 100 mph of 'Flying Scotsman' (yet Nock writes in his 'The Gresley Pacifics Part 1' that the Dynamometer Car chart shows exactly 100 mph). And as for a 'City of Truro' pulling a train load of bullion - a bit of 'gold-plating' there!

Its nice to see that the "questionable" nature of the "official" dynanometer car recording for Flying Scotsman reaching the ton was raised.  At least its valid to question the calibration of the dynamometer speed recording, the margin of error is probably just as great as that of Rous-Marten reading his stopwatch!  The current froth about Flying Scotsman being the first to the ton is just NRM publicity to justify the insane amount of money spent on rebuilding a perfectly ordinary Gresley A3 Pacific.

 

As for the payload of the City of Truro when it reached the ton, the GWR and LSWR had an agreement that the LSWR would carry the passengers to London and the GWR the mails. Truro was hauling the Ocean Mail Special. Discounting the gold, the entire weight of the train, not including Truro, was in the region of 150 tons, so its not as if she romped down Wellington Bank with a token test train.

 

It IS funny that until the NRM gained custody of Flying Scotsman, the locomotive they always trumpeted as being first to 100MPH was, City of Truro...

[Steamport Southport]

It's also significant that the LNER deemed City Of Truro worth saving, yet the commitee that was in charge of what became the National Collection didn't consider Flying Scotsman worth much more than razor blades. Even with their LNER bias.

 

 

I've always though it a pity that another A3 wasn't saved to show "Joe Public" how ordinary they actually were.

 

"Flying Scotsman's a special engine? No. It's exactly the same as the one over there".  

 

 

 

Jason

[ardbealach]

But don't forget that everyone who had a grand dad who was a steam locomotive driver on British Railways drove Flying Scotsman at sometime in his career!!!   

[dibber25]

Bought a copy primarily for the BR liveries info.

 

My copy was not neatly bound nor guillotined, so had to spent a few minutes separating pages - you can't get the elves these days.

 

In the speed article I note with much cynicism that the very questionable 'City of Truro' 102.3 mph was unchallenged but in the next entry an effort is made to note that OS Nock challenged the 100 mph of 'Flying Scotsman' (yet Nock writes in his 'The Gresley Pacifics Part 1' that the Dynamometer Car chart shows exactly 100 mph). And as for a 'City of Truro' pulling a train load of bullion - a bit of 'gold-plating' there!

I could find no written indication of how much gold CoT was hauling. However, the US paid the French construction firm $30million for the work done on the canal up to that point. It is not inconceivable that, in the days before electronic money transfers etc, the whole lot was paid in one lump. Especially as the canal was handed over to the US on May 4 1904. Very large sums in gold bullion must have been moved around to pay for international deals at that time. I have no idea how much $30million in gold might weigh, but it would be substantially more than a few bags of letters! (CJL)

[Hroth]

A payment for work done in building the Panama Canal was the story told about the bullion in an Ian Allen Railway Annual article about the City of Truro, but as I haven't got the book to hand at the moment, I couldn't refer to it.

 

A bit of internet ferreting found a historical currency converter ( http://www.historicalstatistics.org/Currencyconverter.html ) that said 1 US Dollar was worth about 1.52 grams of gold in 1904.  Working with that, $30 million would be equivalent to roughly 45 tons of gold, which would be well within the carrying capacity of City of Truro and the Ocean Mail Special.  I shouldn't imagine that that amount of bullion would have been shipped in a lump sum, not without a transatlantic naval escort and a heavy police/military escort if landed in the UK!  I could imagine smaller consignments of several tons being paid in instalments, and that the amount carried by the Ocean Mail Special in May 1904 might have been the final one.

[Hroth]

Apart from how much gold could a steam train haul if a steam train could haul gold...

Ahem

I must say I enjoyed this issue, particularly the Festival of Britain article*, which put "Build a Nellie" in perspective. The "Speed" articles linked together nicely too and the BR livery section was excellent.  I'm looking forward to the diesels next month!

* At the end of his piece, Richard Foster identified a "Far Tottering" model as a potential project. In the December 1970 issue of Railway Modeller, there is a description of a "Far Twittering" layout that might be worth inspection!

 

[Pint of Adnams]

I could find no written indication of how much gold CoT was hauling. However, the US paid the French construction firm $30million for the work done on the canal up to that point. It is not inconceivable that, in the days before electronic money transfers etc, the whole lot was paid in one lump. Especially as the canal was handed over to the US on May 4 1904. Very large sums in gold bullion must have been moved around to pay for international deals at that time. I have no idea how much $30million in gold might weigh, but it would be substantially more than a few bags of letters! (CJL)

But the underlying point is that a ton of gold weighs the same as a ton of mail bags and a ton of feathers - it was the total load that was relevant, not what comprised it. One presumes that the 'typical' amount of mail was being carried by the vessel for onward fast transfer and that the addition of the gold was within the overall capacity of that regular working.

[dibber25]

But the underlying point is that a ton of gold weighs the same as a ton of mail bags and a ton of feathers - it was the total load that was relevant, not what comprised it. One presumes that the 'typical' amount of mail was being carried by the vessel for onward fast transfer and that the addition of the gold was within the overall capacity of that regular working.

 

Really? Well that is a surprise! However, I suspect that 10million in gold weighs a lot less than 30million and that was the point I was making. Whatever the weight in gold, it was likely that it constituted a large proportion of the 150ton quoted weight of the train.  (CJL)

[The Stationmaster]

Really? Well that is a surprise! However, I suspect that 10million in gold weighs a lot less than 30million and that was the point I was making. Whatever the weight in gold, it was likely that it constituted a large proportion of the 150ton quoted weight of the train.  (CJL)

 

It is perhaps pertinent to note that 'City of Truro' was worked on that train only 46 tons short of the maximum permitted 'clear run' (at Plympton) load up Hemerdon.  In other words if the train weight was =150 tons it could only have taken 1 one other 8 loaded wheeler  before exceeding the maximum permitted unassisted load for Hemerdon.  If the train was carrying even 10 million $ worth of gold then it would actually have been a heavier load than the 150 tons quoted as the normal calculation for a loaded van was =1 ton ( unless the weight of the gold had, unusually, been taken into account in arriving at the 150 ton total).

 

But to describe the load as 'featherweight' is in any event distinctly inaccurate for that class of engine on that section of route.