[Imaginary Locomotives]

CIE also chose that same Crossley  2 stroke for their Metro Vic diesels. Years of unreliable  running  brought GM locos to Ireland and a re-engine policy. Transforming the locos reliability. WAGR of Australia also fitted the Crossley into I think the X class with the same reliability problems. The Aussies stuck with it and I believe did over a thousand mods; to them. I think I found that lot out by following citations from WiKI but all interesting stuff.

[Wright writes.....]

I always struggle to get my head around extra vac; reservoirs, extra tanks full of ??  nothing!!   yes I do understand the concept but still !!

[Wright writes.....]

I was there on Sunday and as is often the case Tony was very busy!! Good to see him promoting our hobby. The morning was busy but by early afternoon  people seemed to be drifting away which made looking at layouts much easier.

  As always a good show and one I try to attend.

  The organizers deserve congratulations!

[Solar panels]

Just a word of caution to any of our group thinking of installing solar panels. Do your research into your system supplier very carefully.

Although our system is working well and long may it continue to do so, our supplier ceased trading and we now find that the certifying  body has cancelled their/our insurance against defective workmanship etc; because our supplier was not registered and used the certifying body's logos etc.  We are just starting to formulate a plan so we can find out our options. I'll post if it gets on Watchdog!! but its rather wild west out there!

[Smart Meter = smart move?]

Our IHU worked brilliantly for about six months, now its little radar icon is flashing and its waiting for information. Its a very long wait!  Octopus seem totally disinterested. Good job the ap says all is well and our credit is mounting!

[A Barclay called Nori.]

I'm looking at a 0-4-0t wks No 748 called Nori and owned by Accrington Brick and Tile.

Is there a kit or a printed body available for this loco? and what type/design is it please?

[The Way, a bit near home for comfort.]

I wonder if Sheene will be able to re-write the series when the same thing happens at Scunthorpe?  And just to keep a railway related  thread going that's the plant that rolls railway track since the closure of Whitehaven.

[Solar panels]

I do agree with the comments "that its like the wild west" vis; solar panel/system fitting.

I did explore the Solar Together option but it doe's/ is not available here in Lincolnshire and that was definately true a year ago when we kicked this ball into play.

Our system has reduced our energy bills by at least half, I think an average of £20 pw is not bad for winter and that's gas and leccy.

Our system cost approx;   £12.5k but I think a payback of 8/10years is probable.

Its the warranties, in case of problems that concern me.

[Solar panels]

Question chaps, have any of you had the experience of your Solar system supplier subcontracting your fitment to another company who is not a member of HIES consumer code. The first company ceases to trade, this is the one you have paid for your system, and then HIES who are the governing body for the industry contact you and tell you all your guarantees are null and void. This because neither company was a member of HEIS even though all the paperwork is headed as if  they were.

   Discuss !!  😰

Although notwithstanding the above our system is working well!! long may it continue!

[Another land slip]

The lack of preventative maintainance is everywhere, I live in rural Lincolnshire , our village never used to flood, done it twice this winter. The drainage boards and the EVA only fire fight cleaning dykes when the water has overtopped. Most organizations that deal with these sort of problems are not fit for purpose. And I do understand about cutting budgets. 

  There is no joined up thinking and only political short termism.  An instance, there is a proposal for North Lincs to have a depositry for nuclear waste , who in their right mind would build such a thing on land which is only 30/40 ft and probably less, above sea level. Fill of materiel with a radioactive life of thousands of years.  I 'm sure I read that if global warming melts the polar ice caps sea levels will rise about 40ft so what happens to all the monitoring of the radioactive stuff?

  Glad its not my problem but why should our grandchildren have to deal with this stuff when with planning and forethought the outcomes could be much better and I could go on about solar farms, digesters, energy crops and the third world roads we drive on around here.

  Rant over!

[LNER Sentinel & Clayton Railcars - livery & other questions]

Thanks for your reply Mark. I wonder if prints are at the vagaries of Shapeways! I did think about asking the author if it could be printed in resin but the to do stack is just too large so maybe later. Please keep posting your progress as its a very unusual subject.

[I like/dislike foreign layouts - discuss]

I and a group of us at our Sleaford (Lincs) club show our layout Bantry.  It does not look very foreign but it does not get the interest that British layouts get, even though it runs well, engines chuff and diesels toot. The main interest comes from people who have visited Bantry and recognise some of the remaining railway features or did'nt  know there had ever been a railway to Bantry! I'm always surprised by how many have been to the area.

[LNER Sentinel & Clayton Railcars - livery & other questions]

Hello Mark, how was your Clayton body for striations and general "fuzziness"?  One of the guys on Irish Railway Modellers built one and was not very happy with the overall finish. Niles of this parish has built quite a few printed bodies and they seem to need a lot of filling and rubbing down. Rather put me off! and I also like the look of the Claytons.

   Mick

[Wright writes.....]

At Bescot all the 350hp shunters were called Jocko's. Diesels were Type 1/2/4,EE/Brush/Cromptons +the Number.

At Banbury an LMS engine was an ellofamess  5/8 or heaven forbid a 4f, WD's were Austerties + the Number.

Western engines were 38's 49's,69's you get the picture!

[Wright writes.....]

Limescale "staining" is much more of  a deposit than a stain which sets very hard! And is difficult to remove I have not tried it but maybe a dusting of talc would give the right "feel"?

[Wright writes.....]

Clean engine crew on a J11, must be a Monday, as Monday was always clean ovies day.

[First cut-and-shut attempt]

Here's one of mine from a few years back

two Hornby 4 wheelers cut to fit running on a 6 wheel Palethorpes chassis. I did keep the sliding axle function though

I do think that if you use good detail parts the eye is drawn away from mistakes in the body!

It's based on a Dublin & South, Eastern coach.

[Jar of solder paste dried out, how do I revive it?]

I added a few drops of distilled water worked ok but it will keep drying out

[Imaginary Locomotives]

why not have a trapezoidal firebox as fitted to the Nord super Pacific's?

The front part fitting between the frames and the rear part above the frame for the wide firebox part, combustion chamber in the boiler and you may have a lighter Pacific sized loco.

 To me the Baltic does not "sit" so well as the Pacific arrangement  But a very interesting idea.

It may have been easier to fire than a Castle or King having a shorter wider firebox, less effort in firing to the front and just firing round the sides. Also better able to cope with poorer quality coal and less skilled firemen.

[Peat bog railways in Ireland]

Ask the question on the Irish Railway Modellers site. Not the group on this site but you never Know!

[Models based on the central Wales line]

There is a publication called  The Diary of Thomas Baron 1855-1862. Author Edward Talbot . Its published by the LNWR Soc. on the back inside flyleaf there is an 1899 map of Abergavenny  which clearly shows the two small yards and quite a large loco yard. This map will probably be available on line via Old Ordenance   Survey . I'm not sure which Scottish University holds them.

 Hope this helps.

[Alan Gibson 4mm Unbuilt 'Original Royal Scot kit' and others ....]

Hello, I have two Wills/Nucast N/S chassis with W/m castings. If they are of interest I am happy to dispose of them at a sensible price. They are the residue of an estate and I have checked them against a Wills/Nucast drawing/plan and I believe the parts are complete the etchings certainly look complete.

Please reply to mick@steamworks.me.uk

 regards Mick Whittle

[Kirley's Workbench]

But the summit is getting closer, looking very good Kirley.

[A wild kitbash appeared!]

That scratch built 4-6-0t is not so freelance, I think it looks very much like a Cork, Bandon & South Coast B4 tank engine built by Beyer Peacock. 1or 2 lasted till the end of CIE steam. With a strip and repaint it could be a much nicer model.

  Attached a BP drawing and a rather poor photo of my kitbuilt Bandon tank. Hope they are of interest.

[Wright writes.....]

Going back to eyesight problems, I had cataracts done in both eyes done several years apart and now have about 20/20 vision. Only need glasses for reading and modelling. I go into mad professor look with two pairs of glasses, what I have found very useful is one of those Easy Reading high intensity reading lamps. Silly expensive but if it helps with ones modelling  its only the price of  a new RTR loco.

   Cast smokebox number plates on ex GW locos were supported on two U shaped brackets welded to the smokebox door. I'm sure my memory is correct.