Clem

Good morning Andrew. What a beautiful sunrise this morning! Regarding the window frames: well to be honest I've used 'Glue 'n' Glaze' this time rather than a very small amount of butatone to fix the windows in (my usual method) and whilst I haven't had to (typically) redo a couple of panes due to frosting this time, the white cut edges of the panes do show up more. So, in the course of general weathering of the carriage body, I'll need to pay attention to the window frames in order to mitigate the problem. I really like the angle iron trussing on the D246. It gives them a bit of a different look. Another little snippet I've noticed in my perusal of photos of the train consists on the Grantham-Derby line that is that in some cases, the Gresley BT(4)s used have lookout duckets and are therefore do not appear to be part of the numerous lookout-less diagram 65s (used by me as a bit of a stop gap until I build more variation in). Unless some were retro-fitted with lookouts, these carriages appear to be diagram 128.

I've finished one side of the D246 glazing. The weathering of the frames should take care of the white edges to the glass panes,, although I have to be careful not to frost the panes. The camera is certainly quite cruel. It doesn't look half bad to the naked eye.

A definite round of applause! Looking forward to seeing your D210s together, back to back.

Thanks Andrew, I think those mods are pretty do-able. I'll think, if he does that fits the vehicle, I'll start off with a Masokits sprung wagon W-iron set for a long wheelbase. I can then fit the springs on the outside. I'll need to look at the toplights and the vents should be easy enough to change. The rest looks like simple placement. I'm closing in on completing the D246 and I'll post a picture of it later (32 windows to cut and fit!). I may also look at a Diagram 61 BT(5) using kirks as per the D246. The Kirk solutions haven't got the finesse of an etched brass model but I think they do pass muster as part of the carriage scene in the mid 1950s.

Good Afternoon Andrew, I was interested in Frank's latest project with the 'Parkside GN pigeon van' (sorry Frank, I couldn't resist it :-) ). I note your remarks about the D120. I have also ordered one of these with a view to gradually working up to make up the train illustrated (below). (Sorry if I've posted this before). I certainly thought it was a 120 but may be mistaken. A couple of questions. If not a D120, do you know what diagram it is? and, as it seems close to a D120, I wonder how difficult it would be to convert it to whatever diagram this is. There was a considerable number of D120s built (56) so I'm thinking (hoping?) they may have spread, at least to the East Midlands.

Everyone can make up their own mind on gearboxes and I have no wish to criticise anyone for their choice. However, I am most definitely in the HL camp and agree 100% with Tony Gee's and Frank's comments. You couldn't have a simpler gearbox to put together. I cut the gear stage axles to size using a carborundum disc in a mini drill and it takes just a minute and the idler spindle with the same, although my techinque is to do it a number of goes until it severs to avoid the motor having too much heat. (this seems to be the bit that seems to have been raised as complicated - or have I got that wrong?). I always take my time on the assembly but it is incredibly straight forward and the big plus for anyone giving it a go is that the instructions are fully comprehesive. These gearboxes are unbelievable value for money and people who do use them, swear by them (not at them!). Jesse, I wouldn't dream of ramming my ideas down anyone's throat and I don't think anyone else here would either. Surely this is just folk putting forward their own preferences, with the help of their own experience. As always, everyone to their own.

She's always nicking my men to photograph, plus the occasional wagon.

Hi Tony, if it's post March 1960, it's 64219. There's a slight overlap with (off the top of my head) 64257 by about 3 or 4 months. It went Summer 1960. 64219 went November 1961 if memory serves me correct. It'll be fantastic to see it all in 7mm.

My missus calls me 'special' ... (not sure about her meaning...)

It's a con! I didn't receive my 50,000 long service medal. No prize either. After all the build up too!

Hi Tony. Your 7mm layout is certainly coming on. It must be a very big undertaking in a huge room! On the NER carriages, a very large number of the numerous non-corridor diagram Y178s were withdrawn in 1953 with the remainder taken out of service by the end of 1959, with just a very few (fingers of one hand) making it through to 1962. So you'd be pushing it for your Basford North layout. (what year are you basing your layout in? I think you told me early 1960s?). In fact the ex-LNER non-corridor carriages started being replaced by London Midland stock from about 1959 and all the photos I have taken after 1960 only seem to include the odd Thompson CL or brake third with the teak Gresleys gone altogether (I think they were either transfered to stored as, for instance, the diagram 210s were generally withdrawn 1961/2. - did they go to the Manchester area?) 61738. Lovely model Tony. The K2s continued to run on the Summer excursions until the summer of 1960 although if memory serves me correctly Colwick borrowed them in that year from Sheffield amongst other places. The flying pigs arrived soon after the M&GN closed in 1959. The last Colwick J6 was withdrawn in November 1961 having outlived its class mates by a year or more. 1959 is the real transition year. Loads of L1s came the A5s disappeared etc.

... and that's just applying it to the argument who won the 50,000th post prize!

Damn!! Robbed!! (echoes of VAR!)

OK got it! Do I get a prize? (to which I know the answer will be, 'yes, a kick up the a**e')

Ay? (as we say in Nottingham)

Thanks Andrew. What a brilliant site. I've not seen any of these photos before. Yes I definitely need a NER T(8). They appear in photos of the line frequently. Do you know if there's a kit? I also clocked the B1 on the SP twin diagram 310. The photo of 61821 (and others) have NER? clerestories in the background and a 60' GC matchboard. I wish I could have got to Grantham 10 years earlier!

Thanks. Already ordered!

No mistaking that underframe. I have no pictures of them working on the GN line around Nottingham, mores the pity. It's such an interesting blend of style.

Unpainted wood. That's how I remember them.

Ah, yes. Got a few of these to build - cotswold kits I think. I remember seeing them when I was a kid. (The real thing that is, not the Cotswold kits!).

Reverse guards compartment BT (5) Diagram 62. High up on my prioiry list. I'll probably do another Kirk bash for it. I'd prefer to do it as a brass coach side etch but nobod does it as far as I know. Diagram 61 and Diagram 63 are also BT(5)s but with the guard's compartment in the usual place. That was another option. The photo of the Maunsell set in Derby F. - I'd love to see that if you can find it. Pipes? Are you talking about the vac pipes on the sole bar below the step board? It's funny. I have quite a lot of photos of Diagram 246s, but none of them give me a decent take on the detail of the carriage. From what I have, I've already found one error in the Isinglass drawing and I fear there may be more. Oh well. Best endeavours...

Yep. Burton beer, Manchester goods, loads of coal and iron ore. Lots of mixed goods - K2, K3 hauled. Steel out of Stanton. You know much of the local passenger stock and then there's the East coast seaside excursions, not to mention the North Wales and even Alton Towers excursions. haha! I'll never finish it!

Steve Banks did an article on the diagram 59 which was the BT(6) version of the 58. I was thinking of doing a 59 as they're pretty easy to knock up using Kirk carriages. BTW I'm doing a D246 at the moment. Still a lot of work to do on it yet but it's been an interesting kit bash....

Thanks your take on GC carriages in the 50s. It matches what other folk have said. I'd like to have a go at doing one in teak. I've ordered a Bill Bedford one. I'm modelling West of Nottingham. Fictional station between Basford and Kimberley. I regret not doing one of the stations or even Awsworth Juunction. But I'm too far down the road now.

How were they Gresleyfied? Presumably Gresley bogies? what about angle iron trussing? This came to mind. I think it's GC. The year is 1963. In departmental use.