Hal Nail

One hates to be pedantic but as long as standard blue doesnt mean green, the list is unaffected :)

I dont have my copy of this to hand but someome may be able to check the chapter on coal/minerals. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freight-Devon-Cornwall-David-Mitchell/dp/1857944739 In fact its mentioned in this similar discussion:

I made a list of all the repairs the other day. Then added one I'd already done so i could cross something off. Always end on a high!

Nearly every 7mm release drops in price if you are prepared to wait, then rockets once they have sold out. A few things sell out fast, eg class 50, but its not that common.

Didn't Dapol reportedly change the motors for the 121 having concluded the mismatched 122 motors were flghting each other? Or was that RMWeb fiction? Thats not to say you wont get some with poor meshing (as well). As a wider point, would be interesting to know what level of iffy ones are expected in a typical run these days. Although its probably more than we would like to think!

Those photos don't really do either of them any favours: The driving wheels look huge in the top one. I'm no PR expert but it is odd the number of times manufacturers release photos that make their prospective models look far worse than they actually are.

Picked up a couple of Dapol minerals off eBay this week which have been weathered and will be off to a new home.

The only time ive sent something back was to Tower and I got them to test the replacement which they were happy to do. Rails and Hattons used stock is tested so they obviously have the capabilty to do so if you ask.

surely they meant "for sale"?

Given Heljan make a class 17, worth checking their spares? https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/model-railways/Heljan-spares.html?p=2

in this instance, where they are using one of the coaches as a brake, presumably the competent person they already have would apply the hand brakes in both coaches (making use of his in built transportation system!). I think I read elsewhere recently that goods guards usually stayed with one brake van and they dont have one of those, so possibly wouldn't have a 2nd guard either! The reverse is true - in those mixed trains using a goods van, they would have had an extra guard, so might as well have both travelling? I realise I've been lured into off topic chat, so apologies!

Yes, a production sample is meant to be a trial run of the final product but presumably if they aren't happy with it to the extent they don't sign off, then it wont be!

Looks like it is for Western Region lamps. Others had the usual pattern or none.

I think someone might be getting their wish granted!

Some chat about this back on page 13 - you could message the guys who have done it. Personally I'd send it back and get one that runs smoothly but I dont know how long the return window is.

Haven't done whiskers but I removed the numbers and blue squares using IPA, on a cotton bud, squeeze off the excess, try not to rub too much (as that polishes - although not as much as T cut obviously) and limit the IPA to the bit to be removed as much as possible. Lightly scratch the numbers off with a toothpick - it took a few minutes to soften. Very slight marks in the photo of the numbers, which are much smaller than the ones I removed, doesn't show to the eye and I haven't sealed these replacements yet. There shouldn't be excessive carrier film on whiskers anyway. It is a bit daunting though - I decided to live with the rather fat double arrows rather than push my luck. Heljan class 50 wipers are worth it but you have to touch up the paint where the original holes are filled. In this case precision signal yellow and a dash of red mixed by eye.

Beautiful morning at St Blazey. One of the shed's rivetted tank panniers (7709/7715) is being measured up for its topfeed.

it might start small....

seeing right through from the guard's end reminds me I have also done this:

Just out of curiousity I had a look at the report function and you have to pick specific issues, none of which apply. There is no facility for anyone to type why something is a problem. Suggests eBay dont really care if a listing is innaccurate or misleading, which I suppose doesnt surprise me.

The replacement wipers in place. Not a perfect fit but better than the originals. Dab of yellow, overhead warning transfer and ready for weathering. Will just leave the headcode blank for now and wait for spare rooves before I plate it over, as I might still revert to slightly earlier.

This appears to be an n gauge pannier sat on an o gauge instruction sheet? Could be ignorance rather than malicious I suppose. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195069984867?hash=item2d6b13c063:g:YicAAOSwDGJih-dG

The Dapol mounting is quite large so will probably have to live with that or remove it and have to touch up the yellow but I think it is worth it. I'd meant to buy 3 one way and one the other for variety but realised I was ordering class 53 by mistake and then forgot and got 2 of each.

Class 121 bits have arrived so have renumbered mine today (Railtec) and working on the destination boxes. The top and bottom strips are slightly chamfered so I can slide in alternative names. Some Heljan class 50 wipers are much finer than Dapols although rather get lost against the thick edges of the glazing.