fulton

Exhibited there with my Port Victoria layout, more then a few years ago, very busy no barriers, shortly after opening a rucksack came within a millimetre of taking out one of my buildings, a piece of 2x1 packing was hurriedly g cramped as a protection post, no other problems. a very enjoyable time.

Must say I selected the 'Albert Usher' wagon for my own SECR layout, only on the bases that they were a London coal merchant, who could have supplied the south east, more information would be interesting, but the wagon would still have a home on my layout.

Empty coal wagons being pushed from the Invicta Engineering Works to the SECR exchange sidings at Strood Kent, on my Janes' Creek layout, five of the new Rapido wagons, converted to EM and three link couplings added, interior repainted and the whole weathered, loco is the CSP Models Avonside, block paving sand used to represent Dungeness beach shingle as used by the SECR.

My other five Rapido wagons now completed for service, being pushed, from the Invicta Engineering Works, to the SECR exchange siding. In reality the board joint does not look as bad as this!

My first two excellent Rapido models, now ready for service, converted to EM, first removed couplings, you will now have to glue the sub floor and weight in place, a little of the brake shoes had to be carved off, EM wheel sets were a straight replacement, had to remove a piece of the sub floor and the slot was increased to accommodate the Smiths 3 link coupling. interior was repainted and the whole wagon weathered, looking forward to converting the other five.

I use one similar to this, they vary in price from around £10 to £30, to me they all look like they come out of the same Chinese factory with different branding, I also add a stainless steel ball bearing to each bottle, some brands of paint have one already, to add mixing.

My baseboards are built with a permeant back board, I use 12mm ply, when not in use or for transport they rest on their backs, using a four wheel skate I can move, the medium to heavy 4' x 2 ' boards with ease, through doorways or across an exhibition hall, stairs or steps are of course a problem requiring two sets of hands, you can just make out the boards on their backs in my van, the backs do take a bit of a bashing so do need to be robust.

Even modern "proper" stock bricks can vary, we were using Funton bricks, manufactured near Lower Halstow Kent, we were buying the cheaper "seconds" which were generally miss shaped and bigger, so the "gauge" thickness of each layer, had to be increased. My scene of Smeed Dean Yellow Stocks being unloaded, we still did it this way in the 1970s.

Yes, not directly affected by Grouping, but companies came and went, liveries for the same company changed over the years, in the current range, suitable pre grouping liveries are limited, I was interested in one PO wagon from Hornby because it sported "SE&CR", but then discovered that livery was applied in Southern Railway days, by the way the wagon chosen was completely incorrect.

My experience is, I phone to place an order, on the number given, get through each time, have code numbers and card details ready, phone call quite short, goods come in a timely manor, always seems good service.

Never been a fan of shed felt roofing, have used red cedar shingles, on my summer house, fixed to battens, fixed to counter battens, fixed to the felt roof, my workshop and one shed I have used slates, (actually a moulded slate/resin product) and this shed, a bought in Southern Sheds product, to which I fixed plastic coated corrugated steel roofing to, fortunately I have a large garden, the brick retaining wall, I am standing on, was originally built by the SER, now runs through the middle of my garden, there is a waterproof membrane protecting the shed from the damp wall.

Am using the Natural Scenics Mine Run Coal Fine, to me it looks the part for tenders/bunkers, would probably use their other sizes, for coal wagons to give some variety, maybe with a grey or brown wash. I have a bunker of real coal, anthracite, but messy to grade and use.

I found this book by Ammo Mig explained things clearly, including base coats, obviously promoting their products, they do a large range of video tutorials as well, I order from them regularly with good service, from Spain to the UK.

I built this myself, 20 years ago, 4" x 2" treated main structure, treated shiplap inside and out, walls floor and roof insulated with vapour barrier, bought in timber double glazed windows, slate roof covering, heats up nicely with a small heater, based on a SER ground frame , I think I spent around £1000 on materials, trade prices, would not like to think of the cost today.

Ammo Mig do a large range of colours, for brushing and spraying, I have always found the colour I am looking for, even if it is not labelled as a specific railroad colour, a little mixing will produce any colour you wish, have found their Solution Boxes with instructions to be very help full for weathering.

I use this simple method to keep leads out of the way when move boards, not my original idea. The twin cable with the screw in takes the strain if the lead gets pulled.

Now back home, they look better from a distance!

Have had a look, and I have a half bucket left over, it is yours if you can collect from Strood.

Sorry, it was an unbranded bag left over.

After this thread I did use brick paving sand, colours do vary with different suppliers, I had a bag left over on one of my building sites, I am pleased with the results in 4mm, I think it would work just as well, if not better in 7mm.

Have just posted on another thread as well, in case you miss that, I will repeat here, was stopped for the first time today by UK Customs at Calais, in my van, used for private use only, documents checked, lots of questions, one why do I use a van rather than a car? I said for my hobbies including model railways, he than asked what scale and gauge? he was a fellow railway modeller in OO! I took the opportunity to ask about taking a layout to an exhibition in the EU, he confirmed a Carnet was required, he was not curtain but thought you would have to get it stamped at the UK Inland Border Facility at Sevington on your way to Dover or Folkestone.

Just to add my experience today, I travel to the EU on a regular basis in my van, non commercial, private use only, I travel on an EU Passport, today was the first time I have been stopped by UK Customs at Calais, vehicle documents checked, these documents are a requirement to have with you in most of the EU, lots of questions, one was why do I use a van rather than a car? I said because of my hobbies including model railways, he then asked what scale and gauge? he was a fellow railway modeller in OO! I took the opportunity to ask about taking a layout to an exhibition in the EU, yes a Carnet is required, he added you may have to get it stamped at the UK Inland Border Facility at Sevington on your way to Dover or Folkestone.

Experiances vary, my EXPO tools one is several years old, no leak or split.

As said "normal" WD40 has its uses but not as a lubricant, on an old loco with maybe dried up oil, I has used WD40 CONTACT CLEANER to clean it out, then lightly re oiled with a fine oil, I use one by EXPO tools, many years old seems to never run out.

Have a Ford one in my van, would also be intetested in alternatives, as images can only be accessed via the app, takes forever and a bit of a faff.