Blandford1969

The coal which is very dusty does not help, also its possible the bar was in to try to get through clinker which has been more of a feature again more recently on the current coal. (the amount we see varies by batch, depending on the proportions of the chemical make up which every fireman was taught in an easy way to remember NO CASH)

Yes, it and other engines are having an additional baffle put in the smokebox in addition to the mesh baffles round the blast pipes. She went out for testing after the modification was added and the paid staff seemed happy with the results. Most of us have not had her yet and so look forward to taking her out sometime this year hopefully.

At present there is no overhaul list order. The railway has as we know due to reduced steam turns through more use of alternative power and fewer operating days had a reduced need for traction. This year will see the return to traffic of 7812 and probably in the 3rd or 4th quarter 2968. 4150 is progressing and the tanks are still to be rivetted. Currently it looks like that will appear about 2024. 7802 is now being worked on to replace its cylinders at Tysley and as someone from the group said will be done when it is done. Also racing along, or so it seems is 82045. For anyone at Warley you will have seen the progress. Meanwhile the firebox is coming together well in the boilershop with the boiler waiting patiently outside. There has been a suggestion of a warming fire by the end of this year or early next year, which could mean it will take to the rails 2024 or 25. The railway has been meeting with all of the owning groups. The next engine to go into Bridgnorth will be based on - The funds the group has -the security of the ownership of the engine -how active the group with volunteer members and of course there will be an element of how useful the engine is to the railway. So whilst there is no list the tender of 7325 is going to Bewdley for volunteers to start work on it. As for 2857, 1501 and 5164, time will tell. We loose 43106 this June at the latest and many of us wonder if we will ever get to take her out again for a spin, which is a shame as she is like a comfortable pair of old slippers. Very loud (or at least those monitor injectors are) but she is reliable and even her faults can be endearing like the leak which develops meaning when light engine off if in gear you don't need to open the regulator she just goes off sedately.

I'm sorry you feel this way, and understand a lot of what you say. I stopped sharing anywhere as I felt no where near as good as others which was probably the beginning (for me) of the way down. I too wondered what the point. Then eventually I started to do things for me and yes like Phil I'm doing some things available like a LSWR B4 and it will never be as good as a ready to run model and has taken me over a year so far, but no longer care. I escaped a grim job and that has helped, although it brought its own stresses. Just be kind to yourself, do what makes you happy and sod everyone else. I have just started to share a few things although to be fair if I finish just one thing this year it will be a result having not finished anything in probably the last 10 years. Take it easy and remember this thread gives you the opportunity to be able to just let it out without being judged.

Yes, so recognise this with the 0395 you improve one thing and notice another and gradually you end up (or at least in my case) moving more towards scratch building. The OCD thing though does slow things down massively.

A proper Castle

Curious if anyone has any New Years modelling resolutions. Its no secret my mojo can at times be very dodgy and adding new blood pressure meds has pushed more to being more anxious and a bit more depressed (Oscar as my wife calls me) I have made progress in 2022 and am going to finish things in 2023. I don't know why but its easier to have lots of things on the go. In no order and this shows how random my modelling is as its just a case of doing what I enjoy. My Branchlines O1 which has so far had a new brass footplate, new cab and now new spashers / lockers in the cab. Tomorrow its back to finish off the tender brake gear as the tender was not too bad. The onwards with the chassis. Yes I am mad enough to have scratchbuilt the drain cock mechanism. The steam reverser and then all the other boiler fittings are next to be fitted. At the same time as that I have been slowly rebuilding a DJH 0395, which will be long framed 30566. Again there is a new brass footplate and cab, all cut using the Eastleigh drawings. There is a new smokebox, smokebox front and splashers, the DJH ones will do for the middle. However here I have a gap to resolve as there is a difference in the DJH boiler / firebox, which is just placed on for now. The chassis has had major work and now needs front extensions adding to fill in the gap. The photo also illustrates the need to add a bottom onto the boiler. Alongside that for fun is a scratchbuilt version of her sister 30567 with round spectacles and SECR boiler. The boiler is cut, rolled and now needs fitting once it is fettled to fit and the splasher tops are fitted. Those front steps also need a file back before the sandboxes are fitted Then because I had an L&Y class 23 chassis kit in a load of parts got off Ebay a body has been slowly scratchbuilt. I was frustrated that an earlier photo showed the boiler/ smokebox combo was about 1mm too high so had to come off be filed and then refitted. Its looking better and next is the handrails round the smokebox before again going back to the chassis. Then the other one which is photographed is much slower progress which is a GW 97xx. The frames, tanks and cab/ bunker is made and the challenge hence being a slower burner is making the corners on the bunker. A first draft has been made (not rivetted) but I'm not happy as it has not got the curve I'm looking for. It is bent up from flat brass, which is probably a much harder way of doing it, but its what I wanted to do. Any ideas on how to get a better curve would really be appreciated as once the bunker corners are sorted then the whole cab / bunker section can be finished off and then its really onto the boiler / firebox. My new years resolution is simple finish at least 2 of these next year. There are some more scratchbuilts progressing as well a K10,, L11 and L&Y class 25, but they are not photographed, or have in the photos showed issues I need to resolve and you would realise I must be mad! Happy new year from me and thanks to those who run this brilliant forum for us (I've not been drinking.... yet) Duncan

Cheers, ours was over £200 for a compartment and SIL is £180 for a compartment of 6, just seems to be a lot of money

Unwanted things mmm, a depressive episode on Christmas day thanks to the Inland Revenue (it took 2 days to work out what they were saying was nonsense) and then an anxiety attack 2 days later just trying to have a Costa (other coffee shops are available)

Never mind I was curious as quite a few of us on the SVR felt our Christmas offering was overpriced and as a result we had lots of empty seats.

How much was it?

More kit and scratch built than ready to run, which means it really has to be the finescale ones

I'd rather use fine scale but was wondering how far off the standard diamond crossing is as its available in standard OO.

You have probably said this before, but what is the difference between the OO and OO-SF kits. Is it just in the flangeway dimensions?

J J Cunningham took quite a few of these as they passed and I have posted these previously as I'm lucky to have the negatives in my collection. The other is at Joppa.

Wow that is incredible.

With the current squeeze on everyone's pockets I wonder if Hornby might take the view better to not spend on announcing yet more new development, but to just deal with what they have in the pipeline.

At some point I hope @Derek Russan comes back to see all the support from many customers they have had. Lets hope they all have a better 2023 in whatever they do next.

Hello this is a completely daft question for which my apologies. I am trying to get something 3d printed and have been asked what scale 4mm is. Is is 1:72 or 1:76. Once again apologies for a daft question. Best wishes Duncan

I'm certainly not saying its a cure, but getting out everyday for a walk even for 20 odd minutes to get daylight can help. Its easier said than done when you do not feel like doing anything but curling up. Having a dog means I have to go out at least once a day. The dog is worse if he does not get his walk and my wife says I'm worse if not going out for a walk as well. The best thing is just be kind to yourself.

Can I just add that we would love to see more people. I'm not sure if July was the heat or pandemic, but numbers were well down on those prior to the pandemic. Lets hope more go as without sufficient numbers such events will probably start becoming more rare if traders do not even cover their costs. What other photo fair can you find a mix of both black and white and colour prints of railways.

Thanks to all for the supportive and helpful comments. Its sometimes difficult to see the wood from the trees. Certainly delegating is my plan. Just re writing the HR policies into something that is clearer and fairer is a good few months of work. I have already suggested using the persons salary to take on staff in an area that says they are too overworked to help them. And yes I will ask for some more as it seems only fair. Goodness knows where it will go, but the thing is the people are nice there.

John, yours is better than the one I got, which had bits of cardboard for cab front and rear.

So sorry to read your news. Your service was always first class and staff so helpful. I hope someone is giving you all the support you need and such a hard time. With best wishes Duncan

You know I thought escaping my last employer (well they made me redundant) would help shake off the anxiety. Yes being out of work for a couple of months was challenging but it seemed to stay away. I finally started a new job in October, great. Then this week my boss asked if I would take on 2 other departments and their people and that anxiety either whilst awake or in my dreams was back with a jolt. Even while typing I can feel it in my legs and some of those other darker feelings have popped up a few times, which are always kept in check by not wanting my family to be dramatically worse off financially . As for modelling I'm back to just looking at it and moving things around, whilst the mess around me increases again.