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There are a couple of Scottish features which coincide with Glasgow Model Rail which is at the end of February, it is a semi tradition which goes back to the 70s when Tannochbrae featured on the cover. Cyril Freezer was a fairly regular attender at the show and Steve Flint is carrying on the practice. Nice to see the ‘Wee Bogie’ drawing. Willie Stewart was a prolific draughtsman and drew locos and other rolling stock for all 5 of the Scottish Railways. I am custodian of his G&SW ones for the G&SWR Assn. Willie worked from the GA whenever he could and all those I have checke

When I was taught how to sharpen chisels on an oil stone the instructor, a joiner of the old school, maintained that spermwhale oil gave the keenest edge. He also used to remove the ‘beard’ on the edge of his hand, same principle as stropping on a strip of leather but always to hand! Ian. I just noticed that I use a banned word,

I sharpen my scalpel blades on a Tam o Shanter ‘ Water of Ayr’ stone with a bit of water, or spit, to lubricate. These stones were highly prized worldwide for sharpening surgical instruments but the mine and hone mill closed many years ago. I got mine from my Grandfather. My maternal Grandmother also worked in the hone mill when she was a young woman. Ian.

Drummond, Peter that is, did build an inside cylindered superheated 2-6-0 and very handsome and efficient it was too! Ian.

I have just come across this thread. Very interesting and nostalgic. It takes me back to the 80s when I built a live steam 1/4 size Burrell. I had a lot of fun machining castings and fabricating parts and it gave me, and others, a lot of pleasure running it. I still have it, she got a repaint last year, but we haven’t steamed her for a while. Ian.

Fair makes your eyes water too!

Getting single driver locos to pull anything much is tricky and balance is all important but any weight carried on the carrying wheels is not aiding adhesion. I built a single wheeler, 4-2-2, with a trailing wheel which carries no weight but had pickups bearing on the tread to do as you intend. Even with the pressure reduced as much as I could the wheels did not rotate reliably which looked really bad. The solution I came up with was split axles and pickup through the axleboxes. Now just the weight of the wheels is enough to keep them turning and picking up current. My example is in 7

Looking very good but one wonders what use the spectacle plate will be behind that massive, relative term, saddle tank! I have a lot of respect for the footplate crews of old who must have been hardy men to withstand the weather. No wonder lives were short for the majority. Ian.

And most who say that don’t even buy one!

Hi, That is the Caledonian cattle van you have there. The Drummond design started with Peter Drummond on the Highland and he took the same design to the Glasgow & South Western in 1912. The Caley also used the same design probably via Peters brother Dougal. The three versions shared the main bodywork with only the drop down doors being a bit different. All used the relevant company axleboxes, buffers and their own version of brake gear. All the Scottish companies standardised on the medium sized van for cattle. MWC did kits for a cattle van from each of them but the Highlan

Baz, Superb modelling! If it wasn’t for the radiator and backscene corner appearing in your photos it would be impossible to tell whether it was full size or model. The first and last pictures especially depict the scene perfectly. Your interpretation of baled scrap is spot on and the way you have blended the cooling tower on the back scene is so believable. Ian

Some of the Caley 171 Class 0-4-4t’s had a toolbox behind the bunker but the driving wheels were only 5’0” so your splashers look to big. Ian.

Very, very impressed.

Despicable. Probably an opportunist who has no idea of the value of what he has lifted. Let’s hope he gets caught but he probably won’t! A long time ago I hade a locomotive stolen, off our layout, at the Glasgow show. I have not seen head nor hair since despite the fact it was a rather rare beast, a scratchbuilt Manson 8 class in G&SW livery. Keep your eyes peeled. Ian.

Good picture but it’s even better when seen in the flesh. The quality of the workmanship and the weathering is just superb. Ian

Hi Ruston, An excellent description of the profile milling process. However Nickel Silver is very much a material which can be used. I use it almost exclusively for my 7mm locos. The advantages NS have far outweigh the slightly longer machining time required over free cutting brass. It is not very clear from your photo what type of cutter you are using, is it a D bit? They work great on engraving brass but are not so hot on NS. For cutting NS I use three flute throw away milling cutters, almost always 3/32", for 2-1 patterns. Cutting speed needs to be kept down and a smear of cut

Now, now, all the Scottish lines have their charm. I felt that the strongest argument against Scottish independence was the essential contribution to English (!) politics of generations of Scots - from James I & VI to Blair, Brown and Cameron... Likewise, they've given us their locomotive engineers. Indeed, the county of Ayrshire alone probably accounts for more than any other corner of Britain - giving us both the Stirling and Drummond families - at one time or another on the Great Northern, South Eastern, London & South Western, and Hull & Barnsley after their Scottish careers. A

They might be better doing a loco for the company which was not represented in the 1960s revival! The Drummond pug now preserved in Glasgow. They also served in Industrial service so attractive to another branch of the hobby.

The Auld Enemy!! Ian

Correct Jim. Isn't our language wonderful and a minefield for pronunciation Ian.

Not yet! Ian.

Yes a 'Wee Bogie' as designed by Hugh Smellie.like this one, Ian.

There are a couple of reviews of the JLTRT vans in Feb 2017 Gazette. Vol 20 no 2 which you can access from the website. Ian.

My 'Bogie' was wooden with 4 old pram wheels, the front pair could be steered with rope or feet and there was a box with the end taken out to sit in. Brake? Was a lever which pressed against the tyre on one back wheel. Happy days! Ian.