Grampus

Brilliant! 🤣 Sadly, that had simply not occurred to me - all the funnier, given how rarely I pick up a soldering iron in anger! Certainly appears to have done the trick for you. Cheers, Paul

Thanks for sharing the details of your crane build, warts and all. I think you should be really pleased with it; it looks very good indeed. I, too, have the crane and the conversion kit stashed away (somewhere) against the unlikely eventuality that I will get a round tuit at some point! I was particularly impressed with your clever idea for a jig to help with assembly of the pulley wheels: so simple - I had been wondering for a while how to do that. In fairness, soldering is not my weapon of choice. 🙂 A question if I may, please? How did you manage to avoid soldering the pulleys to the metal elements of the jig whilst you were working? Any issues? Best wishes, Paul

Brilliant! Thanks for the additional shots of '031. I can almost hear her; just needs clouds of blue smoke now! Cheers, Paul

Great pictures again, thank you. My personal favourite is Hoover 031 on ballast. Really captures the scene at the time. 🙂

Steve, thank you - interesting to note the precedent elsewhere. I am looking forward to whatever comes next. All the best, Paul

As a long-time Traction reader (I have all 280 issues to date) I am saddened by the impending demise of the magazine in its current, stand-alone form, albeit somewhat reassured to hear that the essential 'Traction' content will still be available, just in a different form. Nothing stays the same for ever: all things change, which doesn't have to be a negative thing. I admit, I do share the reservations of others regarding the prospect of merging a publication aimed specifically at diesel and electric enthusiasts with a railway modelling title which seeks to reach a much wider demographic, but I remain open-minded and will await the first such issue with interest. Finally, I would like to offer a huge, heartfelt 'thank you' to all who have brought us 'Traction' over the last 280 issues for the enormous reading pleasure I have derived from its pages - hence why I have kept them all. I've never missed an issue, even when abroad for long periods (my wife dutifully bought them and stacked them up for me pending my return!) Throughout its existence I have always looked forward to the next issue and devoured every edition avidly from cover to cover, which is more than I would say for most other titles. All the best and good luck with the transformation. Paul

That really does bring the loco to life. Enough weathering to make it look workaday without overcooking it. Very nice indeed. All the best , Paul

'Heritage collection'!???🤣 Yikes! We are so blessed with footage of the period via DVDs and the Internet that it still feels (to me) contemporary, even though I know it's for the most part, long gone. 🙂 No matter - great modelling is great modelling, irrespective of period and I enjoy it all, contemporary or 'heritage'! Long may it continue

Fabulous - that looks really good; and very much at home. Just lacking a 'Pines' headboard!

'Modern' (!) traction at BW...brilliant! If only..........🤣

A great layout, irrespective of whatever stock you chose to run, but I must say I am thoroughly enjoying the current retro look back to when trains appeared rather more like I remember them! 😃 Thank you for sharing - happy New Year! All the best , Paul

Such sad news. I, too, enjoyed chatting with Ken only 2 weeks ago at Caistor show, where he was once again exhibiting 'Lapford'. I won't claim to have known Ken but having chatted to him on numerous occasions at shows various over the years, I always enjoyed those conversations: in addition to being a talented modeller he was friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and encouraging. Definitely one of the 'gentlemen' of our hobby. I'm glad I was able to share with him at Caistor just how much his modelling, especially 'Lapford', had inspired and encouraged me in my own meagre efforts. Rest in peace. Paul

What a cracking video. Really enjoyed it - thank you for sharing. Nice to see the subtle changes as you continue to add detail. Paul

Very pleased with my copy. Found last night whilst foraging in my local supermarket. Looking forward to settling down for a proper read in the next few days. I do hope you have enough material to keep producing more of these volumes? I find them absolutely invaluable. Thank you. 🙂

Evening all. Owing to an unexpected upsurge in demand for clay slurry in my little part of Lincolnshire that shall forever (in my head) be the South Western division of the Southern Region, I ordered a further TUA yesterday morning at about 10.30 AM. By 11.00 AM this morning it had arrived, undergone acceptance checks and been re-equipped with Kadee couplers prior to entering traffic. 24 hours from ordering to entering traffic seems like it ought to be some sort of record?! 'Speedlink' or what? Banter aside, I was truly impressed by the service provided, not to mention the quality of the model. Rainbow Railways and RevolutioN, take a bow - and thank you. :-) Best wishes, Paul

Hi Ben, thank you for the feedback and the explanation; really grateful. It's great to be able to get advice direct from source - one of the huge benefits of RMweb, I think. Thank you also for producing such an interesting model. A useful prototype for those (many) of us who just don't have the room to run big, block trains. I shall enjoy being able to shuttle these around on trip workings to the local 'Whiting Works'. Good also to have a tank wagon to carry something other than petroleum products. I hope you might perhaps consider further, different tank wagons in due course. Thanks again. All the best , Paul

Delighted with my three examples, which arrived today. Two blue ones and the de-branded TIGER example with the black patch over the ICI logo. They run nicely and I was surprised to find that they were happy with #17 Kadees, rather than the #18s I normally use: they run happily through my points and curves without any buffer-locking issues, whether hauled or propelled. I have a nasty feeling that I might need another couple in due course, since I anticipate a rise in demand for rail-delivered clay slurry. 🙂 My only question - and in no way a criticism of what are rather nice models - is, has anybody been brave enough to take one to bits yet? Reason for asking is that one of my examples appears to have a loose weight rattling about inside. I would quite like to be able to get into the model to secure the weight if I can, but not at the risk of damaging the model, since it doesn't affect the running. There are 4 visible screws underneath, and clearly the ladder fixings would need to be popped clear of the chassis side members - definitely not a job for tired eyes, late in the evening though! Just interested to see whether anybody has had a go yet, is all, whilst I work up the courage to investigate! Happy modelling, Paul

Another fascinating read; most enlightening - excellent.

Hi Ian. Thank you for your kind offer. I get back only rarely, but I would very much like to take you up on it at some point. I will pm you ahead of time if I am going to be in the area. Thanks again. Best wishes, Paul

Thanks for sharing the great photos. As a Salisbury ex-pat living and working in Lincolnshire, I never get bored of seeing pictures of your marvelous layout. You've nailed the time and the sense of place beautifully. Hopefully I might get to see it in the flesh at an exhibition one day. Till then, I'll keep watching on here! 😄 Best wishes, Paul

They look amazing. With regard to your question about leaving the red cross painting guides on for the Samaritan, personally I would rather you removed them - they aren't there on the real thing and I think I would prefer to sort it with decals. However, just my opinion and I accept others may think differently; not the end of the world for me either way. A thought: if you do remove them, could you perhaps include printed sizing templates on the instruction leaflet we could use to help with the masking job, please? Much easier if you know how big they're supposed to be!!! Thank you for doing these high top variants - looking forward to acquiring a couple. Best wishes, Paul

Nice to see some actual footage, particularly with a 40 on point. 🙂

Looks like a high-top CVRT as well - Samaritan and Sultan. Hurrah!!!🥳

I know this is a bit of a long shot, but here goes. I have been building a Roy Gould VGA kit as a static model with the doors open for some time now and I have had a bit of a disaster with the roof, trying to iron out a slight warp by immersion in warm water and gentle bending, but I overdid it somewhat (as in quite a lot.) Having parked it for a while in disgust, I would still like to finish it off, so I wondered if anybody has a spare VGA kit, or just the roof, that they would be willing to sell me? Alternatively, perhaps a Bachman VGA body that I could use as a donor? If you can help, do please PM me. Many thanks. Yours hopefully, Paul