richard i

Progress The end t section is fitted. Now body and chassis are married up it has become apparent that I did not take into account 1 dimension. Height. They will be 9inches too high. It is not off the top though, it is off the sloping section, still not decided if it is really worth up sticking it all to shave off the 3mm. The end result could look worse than leaving it. Apart from those who read this who will notice? Certainly few who view the layout here in the states. That might not be the best bench mark though as they group all UK freight stock together as those funny little four wheel jobs. Richard

My issue was less area specific as I had tried to be good about that, mine was more date specific, some must be 1923 and on. I was told that the number moved to the left hand side post 1923, though some had mover earlier. The manners main ones I have just picked up have GCR on them . The ones I got earlier do not and are bigger wagons so most likely muck newer. Richard

Progress so far It is almost pure dundas at the moment except for the GCR axel boxes the adding has yet to start. I must say it needed a bit of fettling but that might be because of its complex shape. Also arrived today a train of private owners. I am sure that some are post 1923 but at the moment with my level of knowledge it will do. I will make sure as it is empties that it will keep all of one company's wagons together. I will redo the insides to represent old wood and reattach lose brake gear and do the couplings. That should keep me busy once the milk van and hoppers are finished. Richard

Fighting with the chassis at the moment Richard

I have heard of drunken sotts and drunken Scots but which is worse?

I had thought to do this but in the end did not deem it worth the effort for a wagon that as Bill has pointed out is stretching the likelihood of it being in a train in the first place. Might call it Bell's then. Shorter to spell than glenmorangie. Richard

From the notes it looks like 1945, in all likely replaced by the very wagon I am back dating. Now there is an irony. Richard

The next project whilst I wait for snail mail transfers to arrive from the UK Converting an LNER hopper wagon into a GCR one by over plating the sides and adding t section to the sides and ends, altering the brake gear a little and adding a big brake wheel. I always fear my ideas of conversions will get more complicated than I imagine. In this case the wheelbase is right, the length, height and internals are spot on. I am hoping to turn these out at the same time as the others. Richard

Yes I was going down that route though I copied LGW colour scheme as that was around at the time.I am pretending it has a wooden under frame, I can tell up close but in a moving train it does not jump out at me. It is like people who notice flat bottom or bullhead rail. Mine is liveries it is strange?/ Indervidual what matters to us what offends one is acceptable to another. Richard

No prototype but it was around at the time so open to ideas, I am assuming they moved around the system a bit. Any names or I will go with the one suggested by parksideRichard

So grey post ww1 maybe? Thank you bill for the advice, as I model the London extension pre 1900 is not really an option do it looks like brown it is. Richard

That is very kind of you to say, it does not feel quick as it has been 9 years since baseboards were cut and some time in the planning before that. I still have a number of trains to build. Mostly coaches and locos, but it will get there......or that is the aim. Richard

i have now found two references to the colour of the milk carriage. The first said it was brown first and then grey later. The second said it was brown first and then teak. Which is right? Richard

Don't let TW see them he might not cope. Hope all the light runs are being indervidualised and correct numbers of lubricators etc.What fun though. Richard

Another side project The plate layers wagons and tools. Not stuck down yet as undecided about placement. Should the wagons be on off cuts of rail? If any were put out on the railway would I prototypic ally have to run a slower schedule? Would the tools be stored on the wagons? Would the wagons be stored off their wheels? Just want to get it looking about right if I am honest. Richard

It seems from an article I have just read that we are all fighting the system. The article's argument was that it was in the interest of business to keep us for longer hours because that then meant we would buy convienience when we could as we have little free time. Thus we spend more and big business makes more profit. This inspire of the fact that they know from studies that people would be just as productive at work if they did a six hour day instead of an eight hour one. Might that explain so many responses for getting rtr rather than build. It might also explain why more seem to be coming over to building once they retire. I personally like the idea we are all refusing to play the game by their rules and are enjoying doing it the other way. Over and above the fact I just enjoy building things. Richard

And then there were three. Speed building. But what livery for the private owner grain wagon that is appropriate for the GCR, and yes I know this has steel not wood sole bars, but once painted and moving can we tell? I do not have enough time to worry. Richard

Thanks, I have bashed several kits in the past, the next up is a hopper wagon to give the GCR slab sided ones. More to follow once I start on that project.Richard

Could I ask if anyone knows of a kit chassis or an rtr one that is a 4-4-0 with driving wheelbase of 8ft with 6' 3 wheels , or close enough? It could be any railway I am looking to see if I am going to have to bite the bullet and scratch build my first loco frames or whether I can continue to help myself get fair running by borrowing from another kit. There was if I recall a company that did a wide range of loco frames, can I remember, or find their website now, can I heck. It is for a GCR Sacre 4-4-0 and if I get it done Tony I will be brave enough to post a shot on here. Richard

Thank you for the absolution, now I can progress with the build with a clear mindRichard

Forgive me I have sinned. It is great western! It is also the first park side kit I have built in a long while. It is a 1908 van. It took three hours to build! The brass GCR kits take a good three weeks at least. It went together so easily. It must make life for plastic wagon builders very expensive due to the rate of production. The only plastic GCR wagons are the Colin ashby ones but I can not track one down for love nor money. It also got me thinking about a transfer exchange, I hand painted the lettering on the Cambrian wagon, but for those pregrouping modellers who only need one or two of a company's transfers could we swap the left overs to save waste. Richard

Roll on the Steam rail motor, that would be great, as everyone is voicing what order projects should be tackled in. richard

It is the light coming through the window. Too high for trees to block the sun and the blind is not 100% effective. Blind down in an effort to stop the layout being completely bleached out.But I will settle for smoke clearing after the departure of the last train Richard

I think you have done a great job with the varnishing to make the model look like a metal object painted with care. I too hold to the comment made a while back about real coal, and I would add, a dusting of black pastel powder on the smoke box which always is a flatter black, martyn welch discusses i think 19 different blacks used to produce a black engine. I would also lightly dust the ridge line of the boiler for where the soot accumilates. I do not think it would draw away from the ex works looks, but rather enhance it. There was a lnwr loco in mrj which had been done and the comment from the author was how long it took to make something look clean. Just my thoughts, it is your model and it looks good already, Richard

Little projects First the signal has received its black paint for the support, can you see the difference? I doubt it as the layout is in poor light, you will have to take my word for it. Then the milk wagon It is only resting on its chassis at the moment. It has rain strips to apply. The roof glue is drying. I tried two part epoxy which I thought would give a little movement time, ( read a lot) and it got everywhere so once it is dry I will have to clean it up. It does amaze my how quickly things can get done when things at work are quieter. I might finish the layout and stock if only I could retire or win the lottery. I was trying to go back to being disciplined and only having one thing on the go, but as I have more time today free and the roof has to dry I might start on the permenant way trolley and gubins to go by their hut on the layout. Richard