Paul_C

Hi Johann, Do I take it you’re connected with the Ipswich museum then? Paul.

Mike, this has been a very difficult and drawn out path as it was always going to be a big ask. I thought that it was a diecast body shell but it is not as it isn't a production model as such. Paul Slade explained it all to me the other day and it is now clear. The mass produced ones are apparently made in China and they are produced in batches so modern technology is applied. This one of mine is a one off so it is hand built. I could have had a master built and produced a whole run of them but that would have cost thousands and required me to set up as a business. No thanks 🤔. It should look pretty good when everything is finished on it. Once the painting is tidied up and finalised it should sit nicely alongside the WrT. They are now going to make a pattern for the 45ft Merryweather ladder so a pretty accurate version of that should emerge shortly. That will enhance the overall visual appearance greatly. Paul.

Les, I think the real one is in the Ipswich Transport Museum and there are a few clips of it on various sites including YouTube. I do have this model as well but the Water Tender for my layout is a Commer Whitson body made from a Fire Brigade Models kit. It was built by Clarke Tait who lives in Scotland. Once I have this latest model (WrL) all finished and decked out I will be able to recreate an old B & W photo that was part of my research. The model is now on its way back to the pattern maker as he is going to do a pattern for the ladder. As far as I am aware this type of ladder does not exist in 1/76 scale. Paul.

After a gap of almost six years I'm posting this today just to show the results of my searching and patience. I've experienced a few false starts with this but having waited almost ten years a diecast model is now in the making. It has been a lengthy journey but the rewards are now forthcoming. The pattern has been made and it has now moved onto the painting/finishing stage. The ladder is the final piece of the jigsaw as another pattern has to be drafted up for this. Hopefully in a few weeks time I will have a cracking looking model to compliment Brian McCulloch's fire station. Paul.

Thank you Jo, that nails it nicely. I will have to search around for some decent air pipes then. Lanarkshire Models VP05 look excellent but are obviously not the right choice being that they are vacuum, what a pity, they would have looked really effective fitted. Paul.

What are those on the STS tanks, vacuum pipes or air pipes? Forgive my ignorance but what’s the difference?

I'm now looking to fit air brake pipes to my Bowater slurry tanks and the best example seems to be Lanarkshire Models VP-05. I would like some opinions on this please. Paul.

Have you got any photos of them?

I have bought eighteen packs of BP03 and four packs of BP08, the latter will go on the two 1971 additions. I now have to delve into the minefield of couplings as it would be nice if I can use a three link system for another piece of reality. Paul.

Thank you for that Bertie, this one is definitely the answer. Paul.

Hi Flood, Thank you kindly for the reply. I've managed to click onto your second link which shows a photo of a buffer that looks to be brass. That looks spot on I must say. Are these BP03? Paul.

These are the Accurascale ones suggested to me. I can't check out how they look against the Lanarkshire Models version as for some reason I am blocked from entering their website. I've put their name into the browser but when I search it comes up as Error 404 and blocks my inquiry. Paul.

These are the slurry tanks that I refer to.

Hi, Thanks for replying to my post. Where is the diagram TT039B that you refer to? Can I get access to it by any chance? Paul.

Hi All, I am looking to change the buffers on my rake of Triang Hornby R668 models. Any suggestions please as to which ones would be the closest option (or better still an exact match). The best reference point is Paul Bartlett's collection where you can find some good shots of them in STS livery. I haven't attached any as I'm still awaiting Paul's permission before I post them openly on this thread. Paul.

I've just had a thought, would each end have had a right hand isolator and a left hand one? Paul.

I know 🤣🤣, it's there to be used but in the same breath I'm trying to be reasonably authentic. Sometimes I am a little hard on myself but I'm applying it sparingly so it is being put to use. I have three signal boxes that were gone by late '58 (I think) but I've had them custom built as they will make excellent visuals. Paul.

Thanks for your reply, I think that nails it in one for me as I'm basically modelling them as they were in 1967 when first introduced. My layout is going to be based around 1959/60 so I'm cheating a bit in order to include them. A bit naughty I know but... Paul.

Can anybody help me with this query please. I have a number of the old Triang Hornby R668 model of the Bowater slurry tank no.1025. I want to fit some air brake pipes but there seems to be conflicting thought as to how many were fitted to each one. In STS livery Paul Bartlett's photos show them with one pipe at each end but one of his old B & W photos showing them in Bowater livery appears to show them with two. Any thoughts please would be most helpful. Paul.

Thanks for your post. I will do a diagram of my intended baseboards around the room and will highlight the space that I am referring to, that will hopefully make it a lot clearer. Paul.

Not one reply which surprises me. Perhaps I’m barking up the wrong tree.

Hi All, I'm throwing this out there as I'm sure it will attract numerous responses and answers giving, hopefully, a good number of variations and ideas on how to go about it. I have almost finished building my new baseboards following building work and the final section is going to be somewhat different as it will go out over the top of the newly constructed stairwell so needs to be moveable. The first option that springs to mind is to hinge it to the gable end wall but ideas please! There will be a board running underneath the windows that will stop at the balustrade so the mobile section will meet that at right angles. The fixed sections along the gable end wall stop about 18" from the top of the stairs. Paul.

If you look at the first reply to my original post there's a link that will take you to it. Paul.

Yes, those things were suggested to me a good while back by Tony Wright, especially the point about the boiler. What then Wickham do you make of the PDK kit? Paul.