TonyMay

Yes, but that means introducing an unsightly kink in the track. If you put the whole thing on a slight curve (it only needs to be a few degrees), then the change is hardly noticeable.

Yes, but this is the design forum, so are you going to revise the design towards a workable design that reflects prototype practice?

Not only that; the other thing that's noticeably different on the Hornby/LMS version is the smokebox door. Apart from the length issue of course, but that's less easily fixed.

You have... and yet you haven't. You asked about livery, but really the defining feature of wartime livery was dirt. Labour shortages put cleaning way down the priority list. IMHO, it could use weathering.

You have... and yet you haven't. You asked about livery, but really the defining feature of wartime livery was dirt. Labour shortages put cleaning way down the priority list. IMHO, it could use weathering.

AFAICT the LNER adopted NE as wagon markings during the war: https://www.lner.info/article/liveries/livery.php So, It's entirely prototypical to see a wagon in the early 1950s still carrying pre-1948 markings.

You appear to be struggling with the basic concept of generic coaches. I think the four wheel brake third (or "brake ferd" as the Hattons bloke calls them) would look good in SD&JR blue, regardless of actual authenticity.

Actually I would worry about this. Developing a theme now will make it not look so "wrong" later. 1970s/80s BR blue would seem to fit the stock you've got now. But you could make a change to 1950s/1960s BR era. GWR 1930s is also generally well-catered for, but not so much the other big four companies. The "problem" with modern stock is that it tends to be loooooong, and coaches on 2nd radius curves look... interesting. Actually what I'd consider is going for is O16.5, with bodies. Or take a look at the little Hattons coaches with something appropriate -

I think you'll find she was built by Haydock Foundry in 1874, in Haydock, Lancs.

I find it difficult to identify any I'd question whether this even remotely comes close to representing any sort of real world railway let alone key aspects of Midland freight operations.

Have a look at the earlier Midland engines, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Midland_Railway_2441_Class#/media/File:Derby_7_works_geograph-2212766.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Midland_Railway_2441_Class#/media/File:Cricklewood_Locomotive_Depot_geograph-2822011-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg The biggest visaul differences between Jinties and earlier engines IMHO are having a smokebox that doesn't protrude slightly in front of the smokebox saddle, not having a keyhole in the side tank for sandboxes, and having a flat-backed bunker.

My 2D is that the front buffer beam needs to come slightly forwards, so that the cleaner can stand on it while cleaning out the smokebox and being in no danger of falling off. It looks a little front-heavy - but maybe the buffer beam extension would help with that. But if not, my second thought is that the driving wheels could be moved forwards a few mm, so that the total weight is balanced over them. This would need new splashers, so may be a bit drastic. The buffer beam, though...

It's about right, but if you were to go to a local model shop and offer to swap a brand new Peco OO double slip for a brand new Peco OO single slip, they'd probably agree to it. It gives you a little more variety in trackwork with 2 double slips in the yard. Also, it means you can signal it properly. All moves off the main line need to be signalled. In the case of a single slip, that means a signal with two arms for reversing moves (1) into the yard and (2) back down the mainline (your clockwise line). If you use a double slip, then you also need another signal to signal the facing move o

Locomotives and rolling stock for export were routinely shipped large distances (to e.g. Australia, New Zealand, China) on fairly bog standard merchant ships.

If you look at the right-hand side you can see the point marked SS - this indicates that it's a single slip. There are others on the plan marked DS (double slip), LL = long left, LR = long right.