[Bachmann GWR 4-4-0s and gradients]

I'll admit I was disappointed when I first bought my Oxford Dean - it struggled to pull three Triang clerestories and a parcels van.

 

However having replaced the parcels van with one of the new Hornby generic full brakes, it pulls the train fine - though it may also be that more running in has helped.

[Grayling was right: Electrification sucks...]

Electrification doesn't suck. Atmospheric propulsion does....

[Bachmann GWR 4-4-0s and gradients]

"There appears to be more space between the underside of the City chassis and the top of the bogie, compared to the 9017 and I have retained a washer."

 

Indeed, there should be as the 'Earls' had smaller driving wheels, meaning the footplate is closer to the ground.

 

My own attempt at scratchbuilding an 'Earl' from Airfix parts (I started well before the Bachmann loco was released - indeed, before 9017 was last overhauled!) has come to a hiatus at the moment because the bogie won't fit underneath and I can't work out which dimension is wrong!

[Quote from C J Freezer]

I think the point is it's a trade off between what you have the time/skill to do, and what you can afford to buy. Most of us buy ready-made track for example, both to save time, and - particularly where pointwork is concerned, to ensure reliability.

 

But I'm not sure CJF really envisaged the situation we have now of ready-to-plant buildings and ultra-detailed locos straight from the box.

[North Downs Heritage Railway #1]

I'd question the length of the run-round/passing loop opposite Platform 2 - it's not long enough to do anything with.

 

Remember too that very few heritage lines have any sort of goods traffic other than photo charters or engineering trains. However the goods siding next to the loco shed could be used to bring in coal for the locos, and the goods shed could be used as a restoration workshop - tatty wagons in and painted ones out!

[Tweaking the Hornby clerestories]

" Set against a kitbuilt clerestory, lined to a high standard (not by me!) the Hornby coaches looked a bit toylike" - hardly surprising really when you compare the cost of the Hornby coach to the cost of getting someone to build, paint and line one from a kit for you....

[A job lot from Father Christmas]

The happy days when model trains were designed to be affordable by as many people as possible (particularly families/children) rather than high-end products.

 

My father's 1956 Princess is still going - how many of the current Hornby version will still be running in 2076?

[Lima Prairie end in sight]

Bet you've got more satisfaction from doing that than buying a new one in a blue box....

[A little something for the weekend - building the Starship Enterprise]

A good project for the 50th Anniversary year :-)

[A Python For the General.]

I saw the title and thought John Cleese was re-maiking an old Buster Keaton film...

[We're all doooooomed..]

Once it gets going,very good - especially 'Pike','Fraser' and 'Hodges'.

[Tomytec n gauge bus for 4mm truck.....]

Where do you get the spare Faller axles from?

[Full circle]

Hmm...I'm approaching my one-year anniversary of moving in and I'm nowhere near having trains running on my main layout!

 

Though I did at least have something running on one of my portable layouts!

[Peckett "Y" Class - Framed! (part 1)]

Also sung by Ray Ellington in the Goon Show episode "Ye Bandit of Sherwood Forest".

[True colours!]

What's the model's footprint? (I'm trying to work out if I can add one to "Niederau"!).

[Day 1]

This case could run and run... there's another 39 books to go yet,if you count Chris's!

[Whats on the Box? A new panel game...]

Never noticed it before, but that picture shows that the roof of the tunnel has clearly been lowered at some point. I wonder if that now stops the sun shining though.... (and if it's still high enough for electrification!).

[Matchbox to 009 Part-1]

Done a few of those myself... and more in the cupboard waiting slightly more adventurous conversions (like a "Double Fairlie"!).

[The jolly old Hornby Dublo 3 - Rail.....big decision time!]

Have you thought of designing a layout in such a way that both 2-rail and three-rail stock can be run? (For example having separate circuits of track for the 2-rail and 3-rail stock?).

[5043 at Kemble. 19th October 2013.]

I just saw it at Didcot - having excused myself briefly from the exhibition that was going on, I managed to get lost on the way to the bridge but fortunately it had to stop at a signal just beyond the bridge so I was at least able to see it restart.

[Updated Track Plan]

I'm sure there must be a simpler way of doing all that pointwork for the hidden sidings....

[Guernsey Railway]

I'm going to Guernsey next week!

[Rain Started Play ....... Obviously Not Cricket]

To my mind the only problem with Metcalfe kits is that the roof tiles look somewhat unconvincing (less convincing than Superquick) so I normally cut tiles from strips of card and glue them overlapping on top.

[Ruddington 2013]

Hmm... I wonder how they got that Lancaster into the studio... ;-)

[Not Modelling (Again) - Expo2mm]

Hope you were able to take time out to visit the C&WR across the road!