Scottish Modeller

Hi Flood, Thanks for the photos and drawing... Same start point as me then! I've not done the cuts in the same positions though:o Hopefully I can work it all out! Back to the workbench then..... I worked it all out and now remember why I didn't get any further:angry: I cut the First class section 4mm shorter than I should have. This means that the brake end of the coach is too long and does not line up the windows with the seats at the join between First and Brake sections. Good job I only paid 99p each for the coaches! Ah well... Back to the next box (hmmm - I still have 10 spare Mk2 FO!) Thanks

Hi Flood, Seeing the pictures of this coach set me thinking back in time... Then I realised why - I had started the same conversion some 20 years ago on a demonstration stand at an exhibition. Anyway - I had time today to dig in the loft and (eventually) found the exclusive box with 2 Airfix coaches cut into a good number of bits! Will have to try and find the drawing now so I can work out which piece I intended to put where. Inspiration to get something completed indeed! Thanks

HI Wayne, My photos were removed at the request of the overseeing body at the time. I still have all of them - including official approval for use ot the extracted plans for 'Projected stations'. Note - that is not my quotation marks - it's how it was sent to me in the response and request to remove. Having had furthr discussion - this was because of the apparent lack of progress! Having been on the Waverley route today with the dog - The lack of progress is evident! Where there was cleared trackbed - it is no longer. The trees are back - in force! Hopefully I will get some photos in the next few days - the weather was s**** today - even the dog was protesting! So - Yes... Have a go at presenting things as they are - just like I did - Why not? The public has a right to know if they are being fed bulls***! After all it's our money.... Thanks

Hi 'Chard, Lady Victoria Colliery... 'The colliery stopped shipping coal by rail in 1968' 'Coal production ceased in 1981' Hope this helps! Thanks

Hi Mark, "Portchullin has accepted an invite to Glasgow in 2012" I'm glad to hear this as I suggested it to Ian nearly 3 years ago! The DEMU - Scotland layout 'Edinburgh - Southside' will be making it's debut at the show. That is - as long as I keep on building the units it needs! Thanks

Hi Bruce, No excuse for you not to say hello at the DEMU stand then..... Keep on putting up the video's please! Thanks

Hi Mark, That shed hasn't changed in a week! I thought it would be finished by now and the next building be in shell stage. Still looks good though! Thanks

Hmmmm...... Wonder who will be first to add a motorised coal wagon hoist:blink: now that would take the biscuit! As for the model... Blimey - It's big! Thanks

Hi Bryn, Have you done any of the 2FS Plate underframes? 2-378 15' BR Style 8 Shoe Fitted Underframe for Peco Plate Wagon If so - any photos? Just the chassis would be ideal as it's not going under a Peco Plate wagon! Thanks

Hi Dave, My first encounter with The Waverley Route was as a child of 6... My grandfather worked for the NCB as a cobbler and took me around to several pits etc over the summer holidays on a couple of occasions in the early 60's. I can remember being hoisted on a trip that started at Newcraighall, to the Millerhill sidings, up to Bilston and back to Newcraighall. I also remember a road trip to Newtongrange, being put in a coal wagon and getting shunted about the sidings whilst my grandfather went about his business... The particular trip to Catcune was to attend to the annual boot issue and repair - (one of grandfathers homer - I think). It's possible I mayt be wrong as he was paid off by NCB and went Self Employed, still worked the pits for miners boots and the quarries as well. I do remember Flying Scotsman on the Waverley - if I'm correct we were on Newtongrange station to watch it go through. I've just had a thought that maybe there are still some photos from that period in the family. I will need to find the step grandmother to see if I'm right! Thanks ps - you have pm

Hi Dave, No.... I modelled Waverley route when it was still live and I could model the things I saw! Now - It's all nostagia and lost memories. Once it's back to life (when it is) maybe I will..... And - if I do...... That will be 2FS model of the new Gorebridge station - I think. You all need to remember - the Waverley route is at the bottom of my garden - across a field and I see it daily! Thanks

'Chard, If you need any current photos of locations.... I have loads. Even if I don't have a location it's a 10 minute trip for me to check and snap.. Tynehead.... I have a comment from a local ex railway worker for you regarding this. 'Brake van to be positioned at least 25yds from the mainline connection, brakes to be locked, wheels to be scotched'. also said something about 'lock sleeper to be positioned once work done'. Not sure about how this was in effect. My earliest rememberal walk at Tynehead was after closure - so I can't add anything much to that comment. I can ask questions though! Thanks

If it is - Even though I've walked the line and known it since childhood - I don't recognise it! I think it's more likely to be to the south east of Gorebridge. Somewhere near a place called Catcune - see map and aerial overlay. But - I could be wrong...

Hi Dave, Andy does not offer any larger spans. It is not the type of design that would be able to break down into a modular form to enable any larger spans to be constructed. It spans 2 tracks at WH fishing boat clearance distances You say you were looking to do the Princes Street Gardens footbridge? I don't think this kit is a good starting point for the above reason. If you want to do this from etch products - then see if you can buy the George Allan kits from eBay or wherever as they are of a design more easily combined to give the required span. Hope this helps! I've nearly finished the 2mm version.... Mark will tell you that the 4mm etches are very fine! The 2mm are even finer! I've had to resort to solder paste to get the 2 etches that make one side of the bridge to go together properly. All in all opinion? A wonderful bit of kit that makes up into a superb model. Thanks

Hi Mark, Can I ask if you are passing your comments back to Andy about the things you found when building the kit? He's always welcomed comment about how things go together etc. You never know - It could be he makes changes because of what has been said! Thanks

Hi there, To me - this is a good start point as it includes most of the basic requirements to detail a Class 40.... It's not the ultimate way to do it, but it works as long as you are prepared to source other details bits as relevant to the Cl40 you are modelling. Yes - you need to be specific and find a photo (or more ) of the specific Cl40 you intend to model. Close observation will then enable you to see what other bits you need to source. But - For a 'Non-Specific' 'General type' model of a Cl40 - it meets the requirememts. Thanks ps - the cast bits will require a fair bit of fettling before they look right and fit properly.

Hi Alan, Looks very good. Any other varieties of the Thompsons on the drawing board? Thanks

Hi Hammer, So it's a joke - No matter. I know what the 'Scottish Population is as well as any other Scot...... Guess what - The manufacturers will see it as a joke as well - because it isn't backed with creditable, realistic figures. Then they just dismiss it for that reason. Thanks

Hi Paul, Eveni if 'Chard was TTP... If we go to manufacturers we need to provide them with creditable - and proveable figures. Now - If we had said that the UK modellers market is 250,000 of which 10% said they would by a 'Scottish Loco' and then had figures to show what percentage of the at 10% would be which loco - then they would be more likely to look at what we say. There are several reasons for this. Firstly - we have identified the total UK market that they are also looking at and aware of. Secondly - we are providing figures that relate to that known quantity - so they can work out whetehr or now the figures we give them are realistic. Thirdly - we give them the actual figures - but these need to be in relation to the number of people asked. For example... RMWeb stats show there are 8902 members. The poll results show that only 82 people responded to the poll request. That is LESS than 10% of RMWeb users! If that is extrapolated to the greater UK total - then any manufacturer will turn round and say there is a minority interest in what we are suggesting to them. Then - we make it worse for ourselves.... We give them a 'Most Popular Loco Request' based on those figures! Then we wonder why we find it difficult to gain their interest or get them excited about the possible sales prospects. Somehow - We need to work a bit differently. How about we take the figures that are given for minimum run of a model and see if there is a way to show them that it will sell? How about 'Doing a Kernow' and look at a commission for a specific model from a manufacturer? Show the manufacturers that we know where the market is, understand how it works and how they work. They will be more likely to pay attention once we are able to do that. Thanks

Hi all, OK - It's time to count to ten, stand back and see where we are going to go - in future..... The response from the manufacturers may not be the response we all wanted - and hoped for. However - they have valid points contained in both what they have said - and how they have said what they have said. We have not reached the size of interest in the things we would leke that sets their senses on alert. Why? With the 'Devils Advocate' hat on:- We have not enough of a member interest shown in the suggested models. The interest and votes cast in the pole is about ONLY 10% of the RMWeb Membership. To reflect a true overall resonse we needed to take this outside RMWeb to the general modelling populace. After all, (without demeaning the job Andy has done with RMWeb and it's penetration in the model railway hobby) RMweb members make up less than 10% of the UK interest Railway Modelling community. At least that is if we are to believe the aggregated circulation figures for the magazines. As for 'Chard's Census figures... My experience, and knowledge, refutes these figures. Hopefully 'Chard has misplaced a comma or decimal point? I find it hard to believe, and even harder to find figures to back up, the '5,200,000 modellers of Scottish prototypes' quoted. Given that the accredited UK Railway Modellers numbers which are based on distribution of the various magazines is just under 250,000 - how does this figure from 'Chard relate? I know - more questions than answers... But - If you don't ask - you don't find out! Thanks

Hi Brian, Your thinking followed my own.... I've spoken to the person who recorded this and have shown him some photos of the China Clay tanks. From that I think we can be certain that what he saw would be those wagons and not Mollasses. I've shown him photos of the same batch of wagons as Mollasses and he is adamant that the wagons he saw were blue and filthy. To me that sounds like a perfect description of the China Clay Tanks! Thanks

Hi Bruce, I have 2 seperate sightings of what seem to be Mollasses tanks possibly at Markinch - both 1987 in Sept and Oct. Agreed - not usual but possible could be - I dont have photos as these are taken from a sightlings list. From the description could be TTA and were (from rest of wagon make up) in a trainload including polybulk wagons and CL26 in RF livery. As far as I can find out - these would be allocated to the mollasses traffic usually to/from Menstrie. I've queried the location with the listee as I don't agree with Markinch. Other bits of the listing on the dates take in locations across Fife, including Cameron Bridge and Burntisland then across to Stirling but includes Thornton Yard! So I think it is a possible mismatch for location to sighting list. But - if you don't ask..... If it is at Markinch - do you think there's some confusion between the Kaolin tanks and mollasses tanks? Thanks