AliR53

I have subsequently asked Lights4U and they recommended Amber. I may just get one of each and see which I prefer, although my nostalgic recollections will probably lean to Amber. Thank you for the very informative reply, The Johnster.

I am modelling the interiors of some 00 BR Mk1 Blood and Custard Coaches. I seem to have a choice of Amber or Warm White for the lighting strips. Any advice on the most appropriate colour will be gratefully received? Many thanks in advance Al

Thanks Bernard. I just had a go at flattening the pin by holding it on my mini anvil and tapping firmly with mini hammer and then trimming some off with pliers. It seemed to work. I may add a drop of super glue as you suggest to hold in best position. A drop of solder may be a step too far for me as I haven't a great deal of experience at soldering plus I would have to clean off the 'blackening'. I'm happy with what I've achieved. Thanks again.

I an just putting together these couplings. I have managed assembling the shackles onto the centre etchings ok. The pin is then passed through the centre etching and the instruction then says "flatten the end so that they cannot drop out, then file to shape". Any advice on how best to flatten and how long this pin should be on completion will be gratefully received. The pins are brass. Many thanks in advance.

On my workbench at present is a 00 gauge Dapol Brake Van kit (Cheltenham Models £7.13 incl postage) and I decided to do the interior with one of the doors open. I chose all cream (Titanium Buff Acrylic) for the sides and roof with some weathering. My thinking was that this would be closest to achieving 'Nicotine' colour, ie a few years worth of fags, pipe smoke and stove. Pretty nutty thing to do really because unless you pick it up and look very closely I don't think you will hardly see anything. But it was Christmas and I managed to get quite a lot done. It will go on a diorama.

Bought a plug in dimmer light control switch (Black) on Amazon for £8.99. Don't tell anyone, but the man from Antex told me to give it a try before investing in the Antex Energy Regulator (essentially the same thing). So I shall give that a go and generally practice until confident enough to progress further. I was reasonably proficient on the soldering course I attended so feel quietly confident. I have generally mastered plastic kits and adhesives so I need to make the step up and try some different aspects of railway modelling.

The product is the Antex UE82060 Energy Regulator, which retails for £41.33. According to the specification notes it will reduce the temperature of the Iron make it suitable for low temperature soldering. I may just have to bite the bullet, get one and see if it does the job.

Thank you all. Jason, yes I also have an old Ks white metal kit of a NE brake van I think it is, which I shall have a go on first and note the previous comments on the solder. Getting in and out quick was something dealt with on the course I attended, which was at the MRC and some time ago. I have seen advertised by Squires a "Antex Energy Regulator". I believe this acts like a dimmer switch. Does anyone think this would be worth investing in? I know it is not the same as a temperature controlled soldering station. But as you know quality, Antex, Weller, et al stations are expensive and I am not sure I would hardly use it. Ali

Could I use my new Antex XS25 (soon to be received at Christmas) on a 00 Gauge White Metal Kit that I have had lying around for years? I am new to soldering, but I did attend a course and know the basics, including low melt solder, flux, tinning, etc. Advice very welcome and thank you in advance.

Just printed off the bus timetable complete with train times to and from London Marylebone. Very helpful and thank you for that.

Intend to visit this year. I have noted somewhere that buses will be every 30mins on Saturday and every hour on sunday from the station. If there is some kind of bus timetable, it would be helpful in planning what day and what train to get from London Marylebone. Thanks in adavnce

I was looking for a couple of bogies for a Lima Mk1 coach. Today 3 new bogies went for £10.50 + postage on eBay, but they were without wheels. You can usually get two Lima Mk1 coaches on eBay in very good condition, giving you 4 bogies with wheels for less than £8 + Postage and you don't have to look very hard. In fact a Mk1 Restaurant car has just gone for £3 with 1 bid. So the seller of the bogies must be laughing his socks off and the seller of the coach should have pulled the bogies off and sold them separately.