Lord of Narnia

Like that a lot! I'll be contacting Phil for one!

Historically tube stock match wagons where formed from old trucks as shown in the photo. I have seen three plank ex Met railway wagons used for surface and tube stock MW. I would place a metal plate onto the EFE buffing gear and use a drop down coupler from the wagon or use a lower tube gauge buffer with magnet. That's how the real thing coupled. The other option is to create a hook from the MW that can couple to the bogie mounting at the front of the EFE car although there is not much clearance!

Yes and I am told by my mate involved that Bullhead was also used on cost grounds!

The conductor rail height isn't connected to the use of bullhead I was merely using it as an example of the small nature of the CLR tunnels. You may be correct about the curvature of the tunnels (especially around the City) but bullhead rail has a lower profile than flat bottom rail so may be a combination of the two. I must ask my mate on LUL the reasons....

Remember the tight dimensions of the Central London Railway tunnels. It may be a clearance issue - the positive rail is higher in the old tunnel sections meaning trains using the section need high lift shoegear.

Just to add regarding the Q23 trailer conversions - it appears after some research that most of the Q23 motors converted to trailers where East end cars. This was to balance the situation and reduce the overall number of cars needed. The G stock cars were of course built with hand operated doors, and end windows at the trailing end. This was the location of the guard on hand work door trains and ultimately proved useful when the two G23 Acton shuttle cars were converted - no doubt Q23 stock was used to reduce the conversion cost. Like the F stock, when the G stock was converted to air doors becoming Q23 stock, the guards end windows had to be blanked over - crudely it must be said - so the guards panels could be mounted. This was really the only option - the metal draught screen opposite were too thin and meant the guard would be facing the rear of the train. Also it was easier to fit the wiring at the car end. The two excellent photos appear to demonstrate this - these blanked off panels are the trailing end anyway and give no clue to the subsequent work carried out in 1958. The giveaway? The two cars are 'D' end cars. The trailing K2 bogies are at this end and the chunky A2 former motor bogies at the other - retained for cost - no doubt can be seen. The A ends are visible closest to the camera with inner end pipe arrangement and the non-amended ward coupler without disengaging surround (it is said after an incident at Whitechapel!!) The guards porter buttons are also visible proving these are original trailing ends. The last photo is not clear but very helpful. This car was 4159 a former D end car and previously involved with experimental door fault lights. The pipe locations and A2 leading bogie indicate that the former cab area and windows are retained. The day light through the cab window and glazing bar of the first saloon window indicates the 'J' door was removed and I can therefore assume all cab equipment (handbrake et al) aso went. I cannot tell if the marker light shutters where removed as the photo is not clear. Interestingly, the standard stock control trailers converted to trailers had the shutters retained but sealed up. I hope this helps. I have a few Q stock cars from Radley Models. They are pretty good but not perfect as they are older kits revised. There is a Q23, Q27 and Q38 motor available and Q31/35 and Q38 trailer also available. The Q38 stock can also be converted to O/P/CO/CP stock but that's another story........

The new Dreadnoughts are on sale at http://www.radleymodels.com/all-new-dreadnoughts.html I'm waiting for a 7 comp brake.

Good luck with this. Looking forward to seeing some Dreadnoughts and Saloon Stock in O gauge.

Virtually spot on. The bo bo roof height is perfect too as it was a little taller.

Sorry it's been a while since an update. The first two samples I painted are included below. I actually used superglue to attach the windows. If you cut the plastic correctly it fits snugly into the compartment. It was easier to do with the 7 comp as there is a larger space between the compartments. I painted the 7 comp in weathered teak and the 9 in LT brown. I'm not too happy with the teak, the early trials came out better! Thankfully on my layout, my dreadnoughts are LT brown.

Clive it's on phils and my list. Measurements were taken several years ago and a why of providing the middle Di icing bogies has been developed so possibly next year you might so one. This may include OO and O gauge if I'm nice to the right people!

I have read that scart connectors are useful but would they handle the currents? I am about to consider the electrics for my layout too.

I am making a fair few alterations to my EFE units. My first was the 4 car 1959 pilot unit with one green car and the rest silver. The windows were removed, hand rails cut away and butterfly cocks added. To do this you need to drill a small hole,about 2mm in the side of the car and insert a pin with the round head filed flat on each side. Drill and glue this in and cut the end protruding into the saloon off. This can be used for door handles too. I resprayed all my 1959/62 unit silver and one car green and used black ink washes to create the cleaned graffiti look. Also be aware that the door fault light on one end of the 1959/62 stock roof which is at the wrong end on one of the cars.

The door fault lights are on the roof and are a pain to get rid off on the brass pirate kits so just as well you can retain them! You need to put the stabling light on in the bottom corner to replace a marker light. As an aside I'm currently converting an EFE 1938 stock car into a flat front 1935 stock car.

The EFE cars don't have butterfly cocks either and if you're not doing EHO the door fault lights will have to go. I think the pirate kits have the same problem. The glazing is surprisingly similar!

Yes a tricky one. If I remember with my metal T stock I super glued the flat glazing in place but with only a tiny dab here and there so it doesn't mist up. I may try the glue and glaze stuff. I'll let you know soon when I do it.

Yes the new dreadnoughts will replace the old metal ones. The resin type are much lighter than the metal ones. I think the roofs are holding up the release of the new kits but it won't be long!

Yes they are the ex district K2s fitted 1935-42? Basically ex B stock types. The earlier Fox types are available still as they will be used on the bogie stock and saloon stock.

Attached are a couple of photos of the dreadnoughts that I have been building. They are far easier to make than I expected and I think I built the first one in about an hour!

Yes thank you they are either at the manufacturers or back. I shall put some photos up soon.

That was my plan Jeff. The current kits are a bit of a fiddle and as Metroland says rather heavy. A scale length train would be difficult I'm guessing for the Heljan loco to pull. These will replace the current range of dreadnoughts however. Kit parts will be available however so a while. Most of the kit is resin except the buffers, stretcher bars, bogies and vacuum pipes. I haven't weighed them yet as they are en route from the manufacturer but they should be far lighter than the metal sided ones. As they will be resin, for those that want to modify then further such as blank off door mouldings, change the door handles and have windows open can do it far easier. The coach end grab handles and window bars will also be separate as they probably would cast too well in resin. As soon as I get some I'll put up some photos.

I have finished the London end brake (1910-12) and attach a couple of sketchy photos. The other coaches are due back from the manufacturer so I await the results.

The coach has had further progress and I'm hoping to finish the sides and front/rear soon.

The stretcher bar sections are from the original kits and will be part of the revised Radley Models kit due to be released over the coming months. Jeff, I take my hat off to you! They aren't too bad in fairness but if one is revising a kit I thought it would be best to try and make life easier for those with less experience then ourselves. Mind you it all adds up, I'm planning 2x6 coach trains of T stock, 5 dreadnoughts, 5 cars of 1905-1921 Circle Saloon Stock and 4 cars of 1906 Saloon stock all with the stretcher bars!

I like this layout, especially the tube station. I'm glad someone else has replaced the handrails and resprayed the EFE stock - looks great. Is that one of the 1938 stock pilot cars?