Binky

I recently modified an old Lima Siphon G with more prototypical bogies and correct size wheels and had to cut away some of the floor to allow the wheels to turn whilst maintaining a ride height that matched my rolling stock from other manufacturers. I'm happy with the result but it took a bit of work chopping up pieces of chassis. My question is, is this an issue with all the old Lima models, especially coaching stock and NPCCS? (I know they used HO scale wheels that were usually undersize) I could be tempted to buy more Lima stuff when I see it at the right price but it would be nice to know if the same amount of work is involved if I wanted to swap wheels and/or bogies. Thanks

An interesting mix of wagons in that Conwy photo, especially what looks like a diagram 1/100 on the end?

People reading the newspaper on the toilet with the door open!

I read a post on another forum from a user who said he saw an outside braced GWR Siphon in newspaper traffic in the 1970s on a journey from Reading. Does anyone know how long these vehicles lasted in newspaper traffic and if they ever appeared in parcels traffic this late on? Were any repainted into BR blue and are there any photos of them from this era? Thanks

OO is the most popular scale/gauge in the UK and so historically the majority of a manufacturer's potential customers are going to be thinking "is this suitable for my OO gauge layout?". Someone who has made the decision to model in EM/P4/OO9 will probably know the difference between scale and gauge and will know they model in 4mm scale, however the more casual "train set" owner (of which there used to be many) may just know their layout is "OO gauge".

Does anyone have experience of having a stall at a model railway exhibition as an "average joe"? (not a professional trader) or of booking sales stalls like this for their exhibition? Do exhibitions only accept professional/established traders or is it possible for someone with a table's worth of second hand railway models and books to get a one off sales table at an event? Many thanks for any advice.

I had one as a youngster! Interesting photo, did the Tartan Arrow vans appear in regular parcels traffic before presumably getting repainted?

I remember reading an article like this in one of the American magazines. Part of me wants to say it was by Lou Sassi who wrote many great articles on detailing. He used a small lightbulb to heat the panels between each rib on metal gondolas to get the effect of bent metal from years of heavy loads and careless loading/unloading. I'm using a similar tactic to the OP on a resin O-16.5 open wagon I'd picked up on an auction site and turned out to be warped inwards. I cut and trimmed a wooden block which I've jammed inside and will cover with a load.

I wonder if my neighbour would agree to a system like this in our shared driveway!

A very nice collection, looks like you've achieved my modelling ambition! :D

Thanks for the advice and the photo. I presume this sort of issue occurs with most Lima coaching stock/NPCCS? I've been looking at their Mk1 BGs too.

Just one simple adjustable volt speed controller unit with a direction switch. basically the same as this one but I've sourced my own components and am using a recycled case. Budget Model Railway Controller Not sure if it makes a difference but I plan on using it with a modified inglenook layout design, with a 4th siding and a 2nd headshunt coming back from it.

I grew up around model railways as my dad and uncle were both into them, we had a OO layout in the "train shed" in the garden and I can remember copies of Railway Modeller and Hornby catalogues always being around for me to flick through for inspiration. When I showed an interest as a kid I had my own locos and stock bought for me so I could run them on the railway in the shed and on the O-16.5 layout that would later be built in the garden. Fast forward to 2020 and during lockdown model railways was one of the things I researched again whilst looking online at things I'd once had an interest in.

It seems almost every hobby has someone making a living from it by being a social media celebrity these days, like the people who play computer games online and people pay money to watch them!

Those of you who have put Mainline/Airfix bogies on the Lima Siphon, did this modification alter the ride height at all or is it a straightforward swap? Thanks

Looks like a tight squeeze there between the loco and the wagon on the next siding!

Well spotted! Yes I believe the practice of turning coaches into bungalows was quite popular on the South coast. I stayed in a property like this near Selsey many years ago. There's an interesting article here: https://www.shorehambysea.com/last-bungalow-town-railway-carriages/

A re-roofed VEA spotted at Dungeness on the South coast.

I'm building my own DC controller to use with OO gauge/O-16.5 and am wondering what connections to use between the controller and the track. I'd like to be able to disconnect the 2 for storage purposes. From memory my father's layouts used some kind of male/female "banana" connectors, with panel mounted sockets on the side of the baseboard. Is there any kind of accepted standard fitting that people use? Or something that is popular and recommended? Thanks

I started watching oval racing as a kid in the 1980s at the original Aldershot stadium which was sadly demolished to make way for the Blackwater relief road. After that I'd ask my dad to take me to Wimbledon stadium and Smallfield raceway, the dirt track that could be seen from the M23 near Gatwick airport. Once I'd got my driving license I started travelling to lots of different tracks, mostly following the banger formula, took lots of photos, collected programmes and even wrote and published a fanzine with a few others. I gave it a go a few times, racing bangers and 1450 production rods (which were "supposed" to be non contact!) and also raced the 1/12 radio control version which I was a lot more successful at!

I found a large amount of railway books in an animal shelter charity shop on Didcot Broadway recently too, worth popping in if anyone's in the area.

This might sound like a strange request but does anyone have a OO scale modern style minbus they could measure for me please? Something like the EFE Mercedes minibus or similar shape. https://www.hattons.co.uk/15813/efe_24903_mercedes_minibus_b_with_low_roofbox_metrobus_minimetro_/stockdetail.aspx Many thanks in advance.

I have a couple of 1:10 scale radio control 4x4s which like the real thing are a constant work in progress. There are competitions held for them but I prefer to just take them for a casual drive with friends who also build them.

The 1:10 scale radio control car scene are quite into scale garages and accessories so a 1:10 scale garage/garden shed/garden would be do-able using parts sold for those folks. A google search brings up plenty of photos showing what's possible although just like model railways the examples can range from rather toy-like to very realistic.

I think I've found another one, currently being converted for "glamping" on a campsite and with a few extra windows added it seems?