tetleys

Mallard and Coachman plus a few more of their ilk make it look so easy, I didn't even know the Comet Thompsons used generic BR Standard roof profiles until I'd made a couple so my third coach so as not to look out of place was built with the Comet roof but even then I couldn't find time to add the hinges I so miss. When images like the above are posted it does sow a seed of doubt in the minds of us mere mortals and yes, like Gilbert I would always prefer to have accurate consists but then I'd also like track to a scale 4' 81/2" but am I prepared to build to exact standards (even if I could?). It's frustrating but we have to make so many compromises and I try not to think about them too much, I do like images of well made coaching stock so keep the faith chaps. Godless of Ancaster

Gilbert, I cannot speak for other regular spectators to your post but you and I are of an age where we need spectacles to locate your railway room and the only time any of your coaches are scrutinised is under the lens of a camera, my personal beef with professional kit built coaches (and my own attempts) is the usual lack of hinges which is far more noticeable than some of the nuances being mentioned. I agree the basic Hornby coaches are poor but Tony's conversions are certainly more than good enough to pass muster and at a reasonable price but of course I accept that there are those amongst us who enjoy building kits so it seems there is something on the menu to suit all tastes, providing of course the butchery of the Hornby sides was not El Hal ! (However it's spelt) Stumbling in Dark of Ancaster

Jason, Congratulations on the build so far and your weathering is right up there, I also look forward to seeing it in BRM, it will make a pleasant change from yet another shunting plank. Dave

Gilbert, It has taken an adult (post adolescent anyway) life of studying ladies wearing stockings with the sole intention of one day re-creating such detail for we aging modellers, so all that lusting was not wasted. Gabardine Mac. wearer of Ancaster

I think the etched fire iron holders for WD tenders is long overdue, my trio of WD's have these necessary adornments added, I believe Western Region locos had fire iron tunnels in front of the cabs but I've never seen any other W.D. that didn't have the after build additions on the right hand side tender tops and the lovely streaks of rust from the brackets, I did see clean, recently out shopped War Dogs but to model one in pristine condition would be another example of the prototype appearing unrealistic. Dave

I'm arriving late on platform 3 but may I add my five penn'th on the photos shopping question. I recall the endless comments on this post and the hours of sleepless nights and pacing the golf course at all hours of the night Gilbert endured over his very photogenic book cases and the lengths to which he went to disguise them now he's mastered the black art of photo shopping he's beating himself up for his infidelities from the purity of railway modelling, he can't win. I'm not clever enough nor do I have the patience to embark on hours of photo shopping but several RMWeb members undertook to add moody moorland back drops or miserable grey rain to some of the images of my old Tetleys Mills, was I offended, did I lose the purity of the models, were we cheating? Bo-----cks they looked great, the actual models were as built but the viewer was left with a very realistic scene instead of my wall hung pictures, curtains or magnolia paintwork. I accept I'm often a voice in the wilderness and if one is photographing one's own models they are entitled to present it warts and all or in some cases a brilliant loco or rake of coaches, building or piece of scenery 'enhanced' with a wandering cat or under base board collection of boxes, books and general clutter. In other words we can all revert back to roll film, make it black and white and forget rail level shots we should just do those beloved aeroplane shots showing the whole scene in one fell swoop. We can all buy those Peco back scenes as well oh how I miss The Railway Modeller circa 1970 and Triang ?Hornby Dublo and not to mention waking to frost on the 'inside' of windows, now that was modelling. For me it's the models and their setting that floats my boat not photographic purity though I'm not fully convinced of added smoke to EVERY shot. Philistine of Ancaster

Gilbert, I am also relieved to learn of your escape but a word of caution to other members perhaps, stud walls which if I recall is what that wall is will not take too much weight hanging off them and also probably more relevant in modern times, Thermalite breeze (to use a common name but not accurate) blocks are notoriously weak at holding fixings but often used in modern buildings to achieve the required thermal 'U' values and they can be laid one handed. They are light grey in colour and look solid but are in fact like Aero chocolate full of bubbles, the older style but thermally less efficient true breeze blocks are a darker grey and heavier, they will take kitchen units, lavatory cisterns and more importantly book cases and model railways. There are no Thermalite blocks in our houses. Railway books are like locos, we just cannot resist 'just one more' especially a rare out of print one but we have to find a home for them. Dave

It's a good job I shall be arriving a little earlier than normal tomorrow Gilbert, I need to be on 'overtime' to inspect all of these new purchases and that's only the ones you've 'coughed to'. I must admit though both look good and once Tim works his magic they will be stunning and another excuse for more posed photographs to disrupt your promised frenzy of modelling. Your Ancaster conscience.

A quick note on weathering vans and coaches generally. Although I am far from being an expert I do tend to work reasonably quickly when fit and when it comes to weathering roofs by brush or air brush I use a general grey and after each van I add a spot of a lighter or darker paint so every roof turns out a different colour, I cringe when I see an exhibition layout or one in the model press with identical almost out of the box rakes. The fish vans are crying out for some serious abuse with perhaps a dash of tartar sauce? Silly Old Cod of Ancaster

Gilbert, Nothing to do with fish vans but I've managed an afternoon modelling the 'sexy bits' and since I've taken some happy snaps this one may be of interest having regard to one of our conversations at P. North Station Hotel I have finally used my economy (£23) static grass applicator and with the shorter flock I had to hand it worked OK but more bowling lawn than railway embankment but just about perfect for The Station Hotel lawn, we need to discuss which flock you need to buy so as not to make it too 'Sound of Music' but certainly better than the grass mats. If you find yourself in a model shop look for autumn mix and summer mix, the two tone down just about right. Dave

Dog Ugly, but then the Ivatt Class 4 2.6.0 is no oil painting and I HAD to have one of those. Since I've known Gilbert he's led me down some dark paths (though thankfully not Golf), DCC, the thoughts of hand made track, and conspiring with Tim Easter to persuade me that yes, Thompson's abominations were a part of my spotting memories so yes, I would buy a RTR model. Dave

Dog Ugly, but then the Ivatt Class 4 2.6.0 is no oil painting and I HAD to have one of those. Since I've known Gilbert he's led me down some dark paths (though thankfully not Golf), DCC, the thoughts of hand made track, and conspiring with Tim Easter to persuade me that yes, Thompson's abominations were a part of my spotting memories so yes, I would buy a RTR model. Dave

I visited Peterborough North yesterday for purposes of quality control, I am pleased to report that Gilbert's bacon butties passed muster as always and having been fed and watered I inspected Gravytrains' latest excellent model of Crescent Bridge signal box complete with part detailed interior. The building is stunning as are all of Peter's contributions to P. North and despite wearing my best £5.99 reading glasses I couldn't see more than a vague interior because of reflections and the distance from the viewing point, any attempt to create an exact copy of this lever frame or anything other than a ground frame to me seems totally pointless. Peter could have spent another 10 hours modelling and it would add nothing to the layout. Signalling Philistine of Ancaster

Gilbert, I do hope you weren't ripped off for that 'feathered pigeon/ spotter' at the end of the platform, Julie grabbed an oven ready plucked, dressed the lot for £5.50 from Sleaford Tesco on Christmas Eve. Sensitive of Ancaster

Gilbert, Nice pictures of Deltic but you really need to find those missing bits to hang off the front, the weathering looks the part and I'm not going to suggest populating the cab to include a white overcalled English Electric technician . As my fountain of information for all things LNER and East Coast Main Line and knowing your other interests but ignoring Satan's game help me out please. With all the recent discussion on conduits, AWS, boiler wash out plugs etc on Gresley's Pacific's, Ancaster received a visit from Kingfisher today and I'm not sure if she's got the right tender behind? Bird Brain of Ancaster