Hal Nail

Thinking about it, Bentley (Hants) is like this. The station building and car park are on the up side, the down is just a passing loop and footpath access only. Down trains regularly use either platform but I've never seen an up train cross over on to the down side. Apart from a breakdown in the up platform there wouldn't be much point but I don't know if it is technically possible under the current signalling.

As others have said it depends on the individual signalling set up. Until recently Medstead, which is a passing loop on a single line, was only signalled for down trains to use the left hand loop platform. Whether that was the case pre preservation I don't know but all the photos I can recall show diverted expresses going towards Winchester, using the down loop platform rather than running straight through. Although the East end shown involves a bit of curve either way, at the West end a down train needs to cross over two points whereas the up trains have a straight run.

In fairness worth pointing out the advantage of eBay is it gives you access to things you might not otherwise come across. I don't think anyone has ever suggested you'd chose it over a decent second hand stall or shop.

Wye - The Tickled Trout, Shawford - The Bridge St Denys - The Junction Hungerford - The Railway Tavern

my first car was a 25 year old humber sceptre. Walnut dash and overdrve but kept cutting out. The AA man said to me, whilst peering under the bonnet, one advantage is it only has 5 moving parts :)

I suspect Dapol didn't want to simply label them unauthorised as that would be less likely to deter buyers than "fake" which plants the idea they might be poor quality rip offs.

I think that's partly as a lot of the effect on the real thing is light reflecting off the various undulations and we tend to avoid gloss or sheens! Then like many rust effects and the like, you can't just do it randomly, there is often a pattern to the real thing which is tricky to copy. I've seen a few attempts at dents but in order to really show up it has over been over exaggerated to my eyes and as you say, can look awful!

On the theme of buying discounted and the wider impact, as far as I can tell, Modellbahnunion in Germany are an authorised Dapol dealer and often have significant discounts and, if you are below the duty threshold, it works out at a significant saving. c£130 for a 14xx for example. I assume Dapol aren't losing out, any discount offered is the retailer's choice so if anyone it missing out its the UK tax authorities but they set the threshold. So other than not giving a margin to a British retailer, what do people think of the morality here?

I sent a polite offer to Gostude for a coach he's failed to sell in 6 months and got a rude reply, which quoted how much the paint job cost. Supports the idea floated earlier that he pays way over the odds for some of his more ridiculously priced stuff!

As opposed to all the other rmweb threads?

Whilst easy enough to avoid buying anything from China now, once they are in circulation over here then anything second hand could potentially be an original or a fake. So from that perspective knowing the difference (or the affected items) is going to be quite important. Apologies @adb968008 as I've basically repeated your point.

Presumably there is a sweet spot where enough like it to keep Heljan in business but sufficiently few that they decide to have a 5th crack (3rd time lucky in 7mm?!)

That is the current discussion following on from the photos on the previous page.

I'm not sure there is a consensus. Some thought the Heljan looked wrong from the outset, some couldn't see it. The various comparison photos over the last few pages must at least have established the two interpretations are quite different but people are now just disagreeing over which one is correct!

Have you tried the painting and weathering section where there are any number of threads discussing what's around?

Saw a loco yesterday, listed as used. The description was AI so picked out that it had a highly detailed smokebox door, but failed to mention if it works or has any damage. I messaged the seller asking and have had no response. Will be interesting to see if AI increasingly becomes a way of sellers hiding behind the recommended blurb and how eBay react to any increase in returns on the basis of an incomplete or inaccurate description. Edit. they have actually responded now but my view remains unchanged that when listing something that is going to be sold remotely, the seller should have to write a description. Yet another example of new ways of doing things being introduced that completely miss the point behind doing it the old way. Welcome to old age!

https://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.com/2011/03/slow-progress-on-47.html?m=1

In the Bachmann 47 thread it says Shawplan do 47 marker lights

They do other types as well- but it was only the lenses I was thinking of using for missing Modelu ones.

Thanks. So the XP has moved to make room for the data panel and looks like the tare might have been repainted (although could be a stain). Generally the condition is pretty good though, apart from one new plank on the end door. Various later photos people have posted are much more scruffy but thats probably more appropriate for 70s onwards.

I've been meaning to try these for the lenses but haven't ever got round to it! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225155015253?itmmeta=01HTD57G4RX00PA6A3CAV9JQ7V&hash=item346c48e255:g:YY8AAOSwyTtdTEzl

I think you can over engineer this. I use a set square and corner bracing if the floor isnt sufficient but getting the sole bars properly aligned so the wheelsets aren't set on a slight skew is probably as crucial for free running. Since they invariably have to be fettled to clear buffer beams they aren't always going to end up identical length.

I was going to say the same. The wall has really made the buildings look like they belong there and added depth.

This is along those lines, if you'll excuse the pun. It's the forecourt access road rather than a normal public one though.