Steve Sykes

Buchanan Kits is Jim Watt's range of etches. I think there was some information in the Newsletter recently as to what's available and cost. Steve

Jim, I think those icons are for readers to rate your posting, in the form of like/agree/great craftsmanship etc. Presumably they don't appear on a post you originate as you're assumed to think it's quite good! Steve

Hi, There was a drawing in Model Railway News way back in the 60s, and I think there's a GA drawing in the back of the Wild Swan book on the Adams classes. As the GAs are reproduced at a relatively small scale, about 7mm I think, the wealth of detail can be hard to interpret. If you PM me your email address, I can scan the MRN drawing for you. Steve

Hi Barnaby, If you have a look at the prototype photo in post #414 on page 17 of the thread, it shows what I'm rabbiting on about. The section of the footplate between the drivers is raised to clear the coupling rods. When the curves at either end of the raised section are formed in the initially flat footplate etch, I suspect the length of the holes for the driving wheels will be nearer the mark. Or I could just be waffling on like a loon.... Steve

Hi Barnaby, I understand that the cut-outs for the drivers appear too long at the outer ends with the footplate in the flat. My point was that once the footplate has been shaped to follow the top profile of the frames, the ends of the cut-outs will be closer to the wheels. As you say, I'm sure Sandy will sort it out. Steve

I may be missing the joke here, but once the footplate has had the bends put in at either end for the raised portion over the drivers, won't it line up properly?

Geoff Taylor has a pretty extensive range of window etches. There may be something in there that would be suitable. His website is www.gtbuildingsmodels.co.uk.

Very nice. Have you seen the articles in Southern Way issues 9 and 10 which have drawings and a lot of information on the quite complicated history of the rebuilds?

Cassidy Yard? As in Apalong Cassidy. I'll get me coat....

Another option to consider is using the 2-330 chassis, shortened to fit the kit body. This has the advantage that the solebar etchings include the washer plates and crown plates. For a 15' body, shortening the main etch to 28mm makes it fit while leaving just enough to get hold of when folding up the coupler mounting.

It's a King Arthur, isn't it? Or one of the other Urie 4-6-0s - N, H or S followed by 15.

The South Western brake van is pretty much finished; just needs the DGs putting on now. Next up is an LSW elliptical-ended open, one of the ones without a sheet rail. If anyone has any ideas on how to model a Williams patent sheet rail that isn't horribly fragile, I'd be grateful for suggestions.

Langley do a small paddle steamer, based on the Hibernia according to their website.

Great to see Tucking Mill in the new MRJ. Excellent stuff.

Hi John, I normally use a 1cm square piece of lead flashing stuck under the underframe where it can't be seen. I'm not sure what that equates to in grams; plastikard wagons are very light so it just gives them a bit more heft. I think the 4mm aim is something like 30g per axle so I suppose the 2mm equivalent would be an eightth of that. Pragmatic approach seems to work, though.

The LSW brake van has inched a bit nearer to completion. The body and underframe are pretty much complete now though I still need to add some weight; the roof is not yet attached as the next step is to paint the van prior to inserting the glazing. The roof will then be stuck on.

I'm currently working on an LSW brake van. The chassis is an adapted Association etch for the 10' 6" underframe with the brake gear from the 10' fitted etch. The footboards are milled brass L section from Eileen's, hacked about. The body is scratchbuilt from plastic card and Evergreen styrene sections. The handrails are .008" guitar string. Why does the last one take as many tries to bend up as all the others put together?

There's a reproduction of the relevant OS map in the Oakwood book on the Sirhowy Valley railways, which shows the track plan together with the neighbouring colliery.

A member of the 2mm Association had a run of the London Road carriage etches done in 2mm scale, while another etched some chassis for them. I think the NLR would make a very interesting subject with the complexities of different railways interacting in the East End. Do you have a copy of the HMSO publication North London Railway a Pictorial Record? - very good source material.

I've more or less finished three wagons; couplings still to be added but nearly there. The PO wagon is a 2mm Association kit and is lettered with some of my dwindlng supply of Woodhead transfers; I haven't used them for a while but the adhesive still seems to be working. The top line isn't quite straight but I think it will have to do. The three-plank wagon is a pretty straightforward scratchbuild, lettered with Fox transfers. The van is scratchbuilt, again lettered with Fox transfers. It was seen in its unpainted state in an earlier post.

Thanks for the information. The results look great.

The SECR locos look great. How did you do the livery, if you don't mind me asking? I'm a fan of the Chatham but the Wainwright livery has always put me off.

Currently I'm working on a couple of outside-framed vans, one S&DJR and one LSWR. I started the South Western one first, but really struggled to get it anywhere near right; it's currently on its fourth set of sides, third set of ends and umpteenth doors. I started the S&D van in frustration with the other one and it went together much more easily. I think it helped to get my eye in again as the first van went better on returning to it. They're pretty much finished now, the South Western van needs the vent covers on the ends and a little bit more detail then they both need attaching to their underframes - they're just sitting on them in the photos. Then the fun of painting, depending on when it's possible to get outside for a blast with the Halford's acrylic primer.