Tony Wright

Good evening John, From memory, there were troughs at Scrooby (one of the homes of the Pilgrim Fathers), the sidings were at Ranskill and the level crossings were at Torworth, Sutton or Botany Bay, all just of the (old) A1. I wonder how many other families with trainspotting sons turned off the A1 from time to time between Bawtry and Retford? Mine certainly did! Regards, Tony.

Good evening Nik, Thanks for showing us your work. My congratulations; it looks superb! The last time I visited Bawtry in steam days was not long after the station closed (though access was still possible). The family was on its way back from visiting friends in Hull, and dad decided to stop the car at Bawtry station so that my brother and I could spot some trains. We didn't stay long, but long enough to see GANNET bowl slowly through on the Up Elizabethan (in preparation for the PW slack over the viaduct). Moments later, and accelerating in the opposite direction came WOLF OF BADENOCH on a Down express. Rarely have I seen such a difference in two locos' appearances; one positively gleamed and the other needed the 'eye of faith' to identify which A2/2 it was! Sadly, neither one was a 'cop', but LORD FARINGDON seen further south at Botany Bay was! Regards, Tony.

Good afternoon Martin, Me, and not just my last lining job! Regards, Tony.

With its lining now corrected, and running with its other tender, the new B1 was given another run-out on LB today............ 42 vans proved of no hinderance. The tender supplied by 60526 (thanks again, Charlie) is much nearer the correct height, and the loco will be weathered to match it. A typical 'layout loco'? I hope so.............

Good afternoon Al, I'd agree in the main about F1's commentary team, though I wish the principal one (can't remember his name) would desist in using 'sat' instead of 'sitting'. As in 'He's sat at the front of the grid', and other grammatical howlers. Regards, Tony.

I agree John, However, I'd have hated it more had by dozy error not been pointed out, especially if the loco were then weathered before I'd put it right. Regards, Tony.

Good evening Alan, I certainly don't hate you; in fact I'm delighted you've pointed out my inexcusable error with regard to my B1 lining. There is no 'odd case' here, just incompetence! My stupidity never ceases to amaze me, even though it's been with me for so long. Though hardly mitigating, I'd used about half the corners on the KEMCO sheet, little realising that the other half had the corners 'reversed' so to speak - this is a bit daft because the occasions when grey would be on the inside of the lining would be very rare indeed; so why have half the curves 'reversed'? No matter, mistakes should always be pointed and, more-importantly, rectified! So, this evening............ I removed the cabside lining, with lots of water and a cocktail stick (the rattle can paint is very durable). What was wrong. Is now right! The replacement lining is from Modelmasters, which, sensibly, has more corners of the more-usual orientation. Attention was then turned to removing the tender lining. I've coupled up the corrected loco to the donated Bachmann tender. Oddly, and perhaps perversely, my 'cock-up' could be a blessing in disguise because the first tender (with Bachmann body on etched frames) sat slightly low, whereas this one is dead right in height. Thanks so much for highlighting what needed correcting. Regards, Tony.

Speaking of 'layout B1s', here's a selection of Bytham's............. Prior to now working on LB, Retford's 61208 (Nu-Cast/Bachmann/Wright) saw service on Stoke Summit. The most-common way of making Bytham's B1s is to use a Bachmann loco body and tender sitting on top of Comet frames. Many have been made this way; mostly by me. 61028 and 61212. 61022. With one (61159) even running on the MR/M&GNR bit. And yet another (right, John Houlden's work) next to a modified Hornby B1 (weathered by Tom Foster). And the second of Tony Geary's lovely Bachmann/Comet B1s. There must be about half a dozen more B1s on LB. The first B1 tender arrived safely by post today. Thanks Charlie (it's already been re-wheeled). Finally............. A further view of 61139 and 61078 - truly 'layout locos' in a layout setting.

With all paintwork dry, it was time to give 61139 a good run today............ Firstly on an Up fitted freight, here passing another of Bytham's B1s. Tony Geary's work, marrying a Bachmann body on to Comet frames. Happily, 61139 proved to be entirely competent. And on this heavy Down express freight as well. Weathering awaits, which will make this 'layout B1' complete. More B1s in next post....................

Some little time ago there were comments regarding how 'square' chassis can be distorted when a loco body is attached. I mentioned that I use little pads of thin Pastikard to 'balance' any discrepancy. However, I also use strips of shim brass, soldered in place, to achieve the same solution; as seen here underneath the back end of my latest DJH A1.

Good evening Jesse, Let me think about it, please. I've thought about it (for a millisecond), so undone! Seriously, despite at least three B1 tenders arriving in the next few days, I've persevered today with the one where the original lining 'reacted' to the paint. And........... Amazingly, with a further rub-down and repaint, I've now lined/lettered/numbered the whole loco and tender today and I think I've got away with it. I've tried lining with a bow pen, but all I do is cock-up, so it's down to transfer lining (in this case some old KEMCO BR mixed traffic lining, which went on fine - unlike a more-recent product which was hopelessly misaligned). Now no professional painter would use transfer lining (except for transfer paper they paint themselves, for the likes of boiler bands). The transfer lining is far too coarse and doesn't have the thin cream line. However, I built this V2, and painted/lined it in exactly the same way as the B1, but sable-applied enamel dry-brush weathering has toned it right down. Thus............ On a layout, in action, I think my artisan, non-professional finish is adequate. Anyway, it's done in the spirit of self-reliance, something I regularly advocate (though not always with personal success). In fact, showing my hypocrisy, I'll hand the B1 over to Geoff Haynes to weather (I'm in credit). He weathered this other V2 I painted after mechanically rebuilding it............... Which, if you recall, came from you - in hideous green! Geoff lined the valance prior to weathering it. Again, as a 'layout loco', I think my basic painting is adequate. For all those who are sending B1 tenders, thanks again, and fear not. They'll all be put to good use. Regards, Tony.

Thanks for all the offers of the Bachmann B1 tender bodies/complete tenders. Folk are really generous, aren't they? I'll be selling any surplus for CRUK.

Good morning John, From the days of the great cricket commentators; along with Brian Johnston, there were the likes of John Arlott, Peter West and Jim Swanton to entertain and educate us about the gentlemen's game. Last night, I watched a 20-20 final on telly from Pakistan; certainly entertaining and exciting (though being non-partisan, I cared not who won), but some of the commentary was akin to being excoriated! Good (even great) cricketers the commentators might have been, but there their talents ceased (this is even more so with football commentators). What about the other great cricket quotes, such as 'The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey' or 'He's just got his leg over' or 'Botham has just clipped one of Thompson's balls all the way to the boundary'? At least one is attributed to the 'master'. Regards, Tony.

A request, please. Does anyone have a spare Bachmann B1 tender body for sale, please? It needs to be in BR lined black (the BR device doesn't matter - early or later). The reason for this need is that I sprayed a Bachmann V2 BR lined green tender body this morning with Halfords car rattle can acrylic satin black, and it 'attacked' the lining/BR device; it just blistered! I've cleaned it off, but rather nasty marks have been left and re-spraying hasn't disguised these (do you see why I usually leave painting to those who know what they're doing?). I've never come across this reaction before - not with acrylic. I'm happy to buy a complete tender if necessary. I recall at one show, a trader selling RTR tender bodies (including Bachmann B1s), but who and where are lost in the mists of time. Many thanks in anticipation.

Good afternoon Alan, I take it that's a cricket box? Years ago (about 1968) I was playing cricket for Edge Hill College of Education's team, and one of out batsmen had an aluminium box. Needless to say, an opposition bowler of considerable pace got a ball to rear up, hitting him smack bang where it hurts the most! He jumped a bit, squeaked a lot, then wrested with his jockstrap to release the metal box - to reveal a great big dent in it! It would appear no permanent harm was done because he later became a father. Regards, Tony.

I don't know. I never asked the question. Regards, Tony.

I can't for the life of me remember what the second loco I have which is fitted with Hambling's drivers, though I know 61448 certainly has them.......... There was not the slightest problem with her running on Stoke Summit because the track was either hand-made or SMP, with plenty of clearance above the chairs on the inside. In this early test on Bytham, she's fine on the SMP plain track but clouts the chairs on the pointwork; meaning, I don't run her much. Built over 45 years ago from a Nu-Cast kit on a scratch-built set of frames, perhaps a mechanical rebuild is called for. At the time, Hamblings were the only wheels of the correct diameter I could source. Using the firm's press, they're obviously self-quartering and certainly won't shift on their axles (the steel axles have splined ends which bite into the wheels' brass centres when they're pressed on, meaning the only way they'll ever come off is by sawing through the axle. At least they have nickel silver tyres - the other one has brass tyres to its drivers - but what and where is it? Does anyone else 'lose' their locos? Mind you, I could well have sold it by now!). Models don't have to be 'old' to give 'problems' running on C&L trackwork............. This is my only (much-modified) Bachmann A1, and though the loco's drivers ride fine over C&L pointwork, the tender's wheels have deep flanges which clatter on the chairs (the bogie wheels are replaced, anyway). The same 'phenomenon' is present.............. With Bachmann's Austerity, where the tender's wheels don't half bounce through pointwork. It's not a running problem because the two Bachmann locos are kept as no more than 'curiosities, hardly ever being used on LB. Has anyone else noticed this 'discrepancy' with regard to Bachmann's steam-outline locos with tenders?

Thanks Tim, I'm not sure about the epithet 'master'. I've worked closely with DJH down the years (test-building/testing/building prototypes/photographing the firm's products/writing instructions) and there was real concern when Mashimas ceased to be available. Where the new motors were sourced from, I have no idea but the motor mounts on the gearboxes were altered to accommodate them. The only area of 'concern' I have with regard to DJH's AM9 and AM10 gearboxes is the size of the grubscrew; it really is small and is prone to vanishing without trace when attempts are made to fit it into the final gearwheel. My advice is to NOT fit it before the 'box is installed or for testing. Though that sounds daft at first, it's better than losing the grubscrew by having it fitted first. Set up the 'box with an axle installed (with a flat filed on it where the grubscrew will engage), apply a dab of Evo-Stik to the end of a small screwdriver and then push this into the slot of the grubscrew. It's then dead easy to fit the screw into the gearwheel, and tighten with the grubscrew attached to the screwdriver. That done, it won't slip and you won't lose it. Luckily, I have scores of spare grubscrews, obtained after losing so many! Perhaps of interest, DJH used to supply the gearboxes as kits. However, so many were returned 'messed-up' that the firm decided to only supply them 'ready-made'. They are 'precision' products and were 'jig-assembled' at base for accuracy. Regards, Tony.

Good morning Paul, C&L track was used principally on Charwelton, and there was initial concern when all the locos running on the older Romford drivers and Hambling's drivers (remember those?) 'clouted' the tops of the chairs. A simple tool was made (using a scalpel blade and a piece of brass set to gauge) which 'lopped' off the tops of the chairs on the inside of the rail when pushed along the track. Problem solved, no loss of integrity with regard to the track and impossible to detect when accomplished. Though Bytham's plain scenic-side trackwork is SMP, Norman Solomon used C&L components for the pointwork. Since I have so few locos now shod with older Romfords, it's not a problem but when I run the two (very old) locos running on Hambling's drivers, they don't half bounce! Actually, they're both so heavy that with perseverance they might just wear the tops of the chairs away! Regards, Tony.

Me again, The O4/7 clip has the AM10 in it. https://1drv.ms/v/s!AiRP3jVN2v0ptC01GdLi6z0hNrwj?e=R5Kx7Q I'll see if I can find the others............ Regards, Tony.

Good evening, I have no idea whether DJH's motors are 'cheap and nasty 3-pole jobs from China', but I very much doubt it. They're certainly not cheap and they're certainly not nasty! This is the AM9, recently installed in a DJH A1. And this is the AM10, recently installed in a Nu-Cast K2. Obviously, 'static' shots like this give no real indication as to how well these units run. However, if you'd like to look back through some recent pages of Wright writes (quite a few back, because the thread flies!) you'll see moving footage of both the A1 and K2 in action. I must have used 20 of the new-motored DJH gearboxes with complete satisfaction. The new motors are certainly the equal of equivalent Mashimas, if not superior. Regards, Tony.

I mentioned that last Monday's running session on Little Bytham was shy of A3s............ In fact, only one member of this historic class saw service on the day; in the form of 60111 (SE Finecast/Wright/Haynes), hauling this 14-car kit-built rake (something RTR LNER Pacifics won't touch!). Another class which was 'under-represented' was the V2. A train often hauled by a big 2-6-2 during the LB sequence is this Down express goods.......... But on Monday it was New England's A2, 60533 (Crownline/Kinsey/Wright/Rathbone) which was in charge. In fact, only three V2s saw use............. 60862 (Pro-Scale/Hammet/Geary) had the Down cement block train. 60905 (Nu-Cast/scratch/Wright) hauled an Up Newcastle (including the Comet triplet). And 60948 (Nu-Cast/Comet/Wright) took one of the Up fitted freights. 60905 is almost 40 years older than 60948, which rather indicates how little my loco-building has 'developed' over almost four decades! At least both are all my own work. In fairness, Geoff West brought some visiting locos which were used in the roster, probably taking the place of a further A3 or V2. I hope next month's running day will redress the balance, though A1s will still dominate (as they did in reality).

Good evening Captain, The Scalelink wheels are plastic-centred (though they are self-quartering). I have used them, but in my experience they're not quite so concentric as the more-recent Markits ones, nor are they as robust. The ones I used were more 'generic' as well, rather than a specific prototype. They do, however, represent a viable alternative, especially as Markits wheels are difficult to obtain right now. Regards, Tony.

Regarding Markits, it's my understanding that Mark Arscott has been recently incapacitated by a trapped nerve, necessitating him taking time off to recover. I'd like to wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

Good afternoon Tony, Do you remember Ynysibil Fach (my spelling is probably miles out!), a South Wales colliery layout in O Gauge built by the Gibbons brothers? At one show at Ipswich, short of operators one day, elder son Tom was press-ganged into operating its working coal tipplers. By the day's end, he looked exactly like my late uncle Percy just coming off shift (he was a miner at Dinnington pit). Regards, Tony.