Rambler

I'm building a 7mm model of the 1322 class (build thread on Western Thunder) and wanted more info on the brake arrangements so I arranged to view the following Derby Loco drawings of the later engines at the NRM, in the hope that there might be more detail (unfortunately there wasn't): 96-4322 Brake Arrangements and Details 96-4265 650 Gallon tank and coal bunkers There are a number of other drawings in the catalogue around this number range that refer to the later engines. In particular 96-4307 is a frame drawing - in conjunction with 96-4265 this would probably provide most of the info that a GA would provide. Beware: Works drawings often don't match the models, and sometimes don't match the real thing, but photos can often clarify. For example: the coal hole openings have square tops, not rounded. Eric Ramsay.

Raymond Walley's (very useful) website content is now available on the Gauge O Guild Wiki.

According to the Vintage Carriage Trust’s Wagon Survey, 41975 is preserved on the Dean Forest, sporting a “black and shades of rust” livery. This is the one that is on Paul Bartlett’s zenfolio site.

I've bought one of these wagons, even though the prototype isn't likely to have been seen anywhere near a North Eastern branchline, so I've been searching for information and photos. In "A Pictorial Record of Great Western Wagons" by J Russell (1971) there is a diagram of a Crocodile H (I think this has been re-drawn as it shows the well as being 30' whereas it should be 20') and photos of 41973. The text states that the numbers were 41900 and 41947-41975; I believe that this should be 41900, 41947, 41973-41975. "Great Western Wagons Appendix" by J Russell (1974) has a photo of 41974, taken in 1937. "A History of GWR Goods Wagons, Volume 2" by Atkins, Beard, Hyde, & Tourret (1976) has photos of 41947 in 1909 as a Crocodile D and in 1940 as a Crocodile H. The captions state that it was lengthened in 1915 when it was rebuilt as a 45T vehicle. The text states that all of the Crocodile H's were strengthened in 1936 to make 65T vehicles. Info in the combined volume (see below) suggests that some had already been upgraded. "Great Western Wagons Plan Book" by J Russell (1976) has diagrams C2 (41900 and 41947, as modified in 1915), C23 (41973-41975, as built 1926) and C27 (41973 and 41974, as modified in 1931 with additional cross members in the well). "Freight Wagons and Loads on the GWR and BR Western Region" by J Russell (1981) has photos of 41900 (9 photos), 41974 (4 photos) , and 41975 (1 photo). Not only are there a lot of photos, they are also the best re-produced (IMHO). The caption to one of the photos of 41974 states that it was taken in 1928 and you can see that it is branded as a 65T vehicle. So probably all of the 1926 vehicles were reclassified as 65T vehicles soon after being built. "Great Western Goods Wagons" by Atkins, Beard, & Tourret (The big combined edition of 2013) has a few more photos of 41900, 41947 and 41974. It also suggests that 41900 and 41947 were replaced rather than rebuilt in 1915, the previous vehicles with these numbers having been sold to the war office. Paul Bartlett's zenfolio site has a good selection of photos of 41975 taken in 1994 when it was in internal-user use at Llanwern. Looking through the photos you can see that the earlier two wagons, 41900 and 41947 always had GWR square shank oval buffers so don't match the Darstaed model. Also, 41900 had triangular cut-outs in the decks, above the bogies. 41947 was probably the same but the photos don't show that part of the vehicle. So the Darstaed model best represents one of the 1926 vehicles. If the period is after 1936 then 41975 is the only one, due to the alterations to the cross-members of 41973/4 (although that could be covered by a load, or by packing material).

It’s based on GWR diagram C23, so OK for GWR, BR, and possibly NCB. There were only a handful of these wagons and some have detail differences, e.g. buffers. All the other versions are fictitious.

Is the J54 built from a kit and, if so, how much fettling was required to get it looking this good?

In LMS Wagons volume 2 ( page 149) there’s a 1929 specification for wagon liveries, produced by Derby Works. This is likely to be similar to the final Midland spec. For the Insides of Brake Van this has a white ceiling and Brunswick Green sides and ends. In LMS Wagons volume 1 there’s an interior photo of a 1939 built Brake van (plate 23) and this shows dark and glossy walls. The stove and it’s chimney appear to be matt black, and the Brake column is white.

Midland Railway Ventilated Van I'm using parts of the two Slaters kit for the 10T vans to produce a 7mm model of the Ventilated Van that is pictured on page 80 of Midland Album and also in Midland Wagons, volume 1, page 136. The caption in Midland Wagons suggest that this might be a D378 van with a replacement door. It has also got replacement brake gear but you can't see much in the darkness under the body, so its not clear whether its got two sets of brake gear or just the one set on the nearest side. You also can't see where the vacuum cylinder is located - I'm assuming its got one as the van is XP rated and has a star on the solebar to show where the vacuum release is located. I'd be grateful if anyone who has access to a better print of the photo (by H. C Casserley) could let me know whether any more details of the brake system can be seen. This is how far I've got with the build: I was also going to ask how these vans would be painted in the "large LMS" livery but I've since found one in the background of a photo in Midland Record No 2, page 61. This shows the L and S hard up against the bottom of the second and third set of louvres and the M low down in the upper segment of the door. The M appear to be slightly higher than the other letters. Many years ago I built a fully-fitted van in 4mm and painted it in this style (see below). In 4mm its possible to have the L, M , and S lined up but the 7mm mouldings are slightly different (and more accurate, I think) so the letters might have to be smaller, or not lined up. Eric Ramsay

The kit that Kemilway list as a 52’ NER Full Brake is a 51’ LNER design, built from 1928. There is a drawing on page 79 of “Historic Carriage Drawings in 4mm Scale” ( the original book by Jenkinson & Campling). More details, and a photo, are in “Gresley’s Coaches” by M Harris. The NER was not keen on bogie full brakes, but built lots of 6 wheelers. If an early LNER bogie full brake is what you want then Comet do a Diagram 67.

According to the 4D Model Shop website, their ABS sheet (which is available in 0.25mm) can be laser cut. See http://modelshop.co.uk/Shop/Raw-Materials/Plastics/Coloured/Item/ABS-sheet-175-307mm/ITM6961 Among my many plans, I was hoping to produce O gauge wagon bodies in laser cut material, using 0.25mm for the strapping. It doesn’t look as though anyone has tried this - maybe they did and it didn’t work well... Eric

If it gets to the point where I have to choose between a DJH A8 and a Finney A7, the material used is just one more reason for choosing the A7. Somehow the A7 just looks better to me anyway - just another example of beauty being in the eye of the beholders.The D20 is a different case - I know of two existing kits but haven’t seen a review of either, which leads me to think that they should be avoided. As D20 is the one that I am interested in, I’ll just have to take my chances with the DJH one.

In the May Gauge O Guild Gazette, DJH have an advertisement for four 'Projects' for 2018 & 2019, as kits and RTR. These are: CR/LMS/BR 439 class 0-4-4T LNER/BR J39 0-6-0 NER/LNER/BR D20 4-4-0 NER/LNER/BR A8 4-6-2T Its nice to see some North Eastern kits in 7mm. I'm not sure why they've chosen a J39 given that the Connoisseur kit has a good reputation and Tower Brass J39s can still be obtained - maybe there's read-across for the tender from their D49 kit. Scooting off to the DJH website there isn't any more information, so we'll have to wait and see what turns up.

If you know any ScaleSeven modellers then they are likely to have finescale (and even coarse scale ) wheels that they’ve taken out of second-hand stock or from kits where the wheels couldn’t be swapped. However (assuming that I’m a typical S7 modellers) they aren’t likely to give them away - after all they could be re-profiled - plus there would be postage to be paid. Hand-over at an exhibition might be a possibility.

Only slightly off topic : I’d always assumed that the length of the Parkside buffers was correct, e.g. 1’ 6” for unfitted stock, but have recently realised that this isn’t always the case. If you want to tighten the nut up against the end of the threaded portion of the buffer shank (so you don’t need a lock nut, or glue, to fix them in place) then you may need to trim back the rear of the moulding. Typically this needs to be reduced to about 1mm, and is easier to do when the buffers aren’t glued into the wagon! Eric Ramsay

There's a "LNER Pre-1923 Brake End Corridor Coach" on sale, second-hand, on the Norman Wiseman site that appears to be made from vacuum-moulded plastic. It could also be a Highfield product. The model, and its running number, match an NER 1912-built Corridor Brake Composite to Diagram 174. I was interested in buying this model (though I decided not to do so) so asked for further information and was sent a number of photos, including the one shown below.