Western Star

I wish to build a 7mm model of the GW&GC Jt Rly signal box at West Wycombe station. This box was built in brick with a hip roof in a style known as "Type 7" of which there were several variants (7a... 7b... 7c... 7d) - I believe that the box at West Wycombe was type 7b because the box had an open hearth / brick chimney and ridge tiles / hip hooks (type 7a had lead rolls and terracotta finials... type 7c had a stove and stove pipe). I have consulted "The Signal Box" (SRS 1986) and "GWR Signalling Practice" (GWSG 2019) which have provided the above details. The SRS website tells me that the box in which I am interested was constructed circa 1905 and to dimensions of 25' x 12' x 11'. I am looking for architects drawings and/or photos for the box structure of any type 7a or 7b box. I have looked at the Steam Museum website... the NRM website... the Network Rail Archive... and not found any material which relates to the construction of GWR signal boxes. Anyone any suggestions? thank you, Graham

The Minerva Pannier is fitted with a Zimo MX645R decoder (sound version of the loco). I want to fit a stay alive / keep alive to my model. I have looked at the Zimo web site for information on which stay alive to use and I do not understand which Zimo product to use. If you have fitted your Minerva Matchbox with a Zimo stay aiive then which product did you use and how did you install the part? thank you, Graham

That floor is just sublime.

And so do I...

I like your approach to the tumbler shaft.... I shall try to use that idea on forthcoming FoD minerals. The provision of references is much appreciated. rgds, G

Did you add any representation of either the large bung on the cask side (for filling) or the small bung on the end (for the tap)? Or any marking to represent the owning brewery? regards, Graham

@chrisbr - unless my eyes deceive me (glasses still undergoing heavy general) then this photo extract shows two GWR 4-plk wagons and each appears to have "L" angle end stanchions..... so are these examples of the couple of thousand 4-plks which were built before Swindon started using dwg 7925 for the 4-plks? @magmouse - as the appointed S7 specialist on loads, what is being carried by 45964 that seems to be staining the wagon? rgds, Graham

Pardon? going hard of hearing whilst waiting for the joke to appear.

Rather nice model. You are going to have to post a video of the loco running with the multi-tone horn playing Jingke Bells.

Just to keep yours company..... This wagon was buily by my Son (the body), by me (the underframe) and Adrian Marks (painting, lettering and weathering). I believe that John BIrch helped by producing the etch plates on the solebar. Photograph by Adrian Marks who retains copyright, published here with his consent for my use.

Mike, Is the solebar just timber... or is the timber faced with a steel flitch plate? regards, Graham

Such an attractive model which would raise the level of any pre-group layout.

The late Bob Essery, Nelson Twells and Mike Peascod wrote an article about a lift van and appropriate wagon for, I think, an early issue of MRJ.

The lift gear that is shown in Nick's post is of the style known as a "set of brothers".... provided that the load is spread equally over each leg of the brothers a level lift is to be expected.

So ring ECT and discuss how to move from a "Who" state to an all singing model. You never know, Ellis might just sell the bits which are to be seen on the display stand.... or offer a decent exchange deal. At least the ECT sound project does not feature seagulls like most sound fitted 37/4s.

Just when I have something interesting to contribute the man goes on holibobs! This link to the FB page of the Didcot Railway Centre shows wagons on the Weymouth Tramway... and not a single D299 in sight. My interest is the wagon to the RH end of the rake... a GWR 3-plk with a possible running number of "7784" (thanks to @magmouse). The solebar looks to be either wood or wood with a flitch plate and yet Nick has shown (to a group of GW modellers) that some of those wagons had bulb solebars. In the absence of info from the GWR Wagon Stock Books, anyone wish to comment upon either the running number or the solebar material? regards, Graham

Specifically... 16 ton mineral Wagon, welded body, BR grey Diagram 1/108 # B119360, Dapol part no. 7F-030-011 This is a light grey wagon in original body style with top flap, wagon number in late 1950s style, see this illustration from the Tower Models web-site:- wagon photo copyright with Tower Models, I claim no ownership in respect of the image. What have you to sell? regards, Graham

Now that solid-looking and exquisite roof requires some explanation as to how your have modelled the part. regards, Graham

In the last photo there is a tiny piece of red Slater's styrene rod as part of the door hinge, looks like the washer plate for the hinge is wrapped around the rod. What have you done to represent the door hinge?

Ah... well... let us drink to that!

Stephen, I note that this is page 299 of 299.... so for a short while let us all appreciate this and the previous 298 (web) pages and thank you for leading us non-believers astray. regards, Graham

Mike, If I am reading the label on the Citadel paint correctly then I am not surprised that you say that the paint did not cover well - the label says that paint is a "layer" paint and those are a) thinner than normal and b) intended as a highlight for a darker colour (which can be a primer paint). I suggest that you look on the Warhammer website for information on how to use the different paint types and then choose a "base" paint of a colour that is close to your chosen "layer" paint.

I feel so sorry for you after reading about your recent painting trials. For what it is worth, might help you in the future:- 1/ Phoenix Precision paints has a range of paint removers and amongst them is one for enamel which is safe on Slater's plastic kits (my own experience). If you wish I shall sort out the product and let you know the name. 2/ I use Citadel paints from Games workshop / Warhammer - both paint in a pot and paint in a can. There are white / black / grey rattle cans that are decent primers - fine pigment, lays well, dries within ten minutes. regards, Graham

Hunt & Son is a super wagon. As you have observed rightly, the wagon has been written with care and excellence, the model stands equal to the best in the 7mm world. regards, Graham

Oh, come on Ian, you need to show us. Some of us know that your 3D drawing has incised lettering and numbering .... and that lettering is readable when the 3D dwg is printed. Next thing we know is that NIck maybe going to ask you for replacement solebars for 4171. regards, Graham