lapford34102

https://www.hamodels.net/wheels-bearings-back-to-back-gauges-reamer-cutting-tool/romford-4mm-oo-price-per-axle.html Undoubtedly others out there. And I agree with Mike, a Bo-Bo would be a better place to start, Bachy 20/24/25, Heljan 26/27/33 Just to clarify I've used OO as well as EM axle sets. File off the pinpoints, transfer cog and regauge Stu

While I'll agree with Mike on most of what he's said a couple of comments. I've used romford EM coach wheels on Heljan diesels, need to remove the cog from the Heljan axle and swap to the Romford ones, adjust pickups and that's it. The Romfords wheels a tad narrower tyhan the Heljan ones so no clearance issues. As for the 08 the Gibson conversion is not that difficult, just need to take your time and get the quatrtering right which can take a bit of tweaking once it's all together. Gibson so a crib sheet http://www.alangibsonworkshop.com/ Find Downloads at top of page, then RTR Conversion How To's Stu

Hi, Anyone stripped one of these down and how easy was it. Thanks Stu

The Rapido blurb has a shot of D2295 at Weymouth early 60's, it's the Southern Region version with extra marker lights etc. If they do that I'll be well pleased [sentimental reasons :-)] Stu

IIRC don't the 57 + 87 have a certain amount of springing to the centre axle which the 64 doesn't. It shouldn't be a major problem to get the pickups in constant contact with the wheels and appreciate Bachmann don't have a great track record with setting up pickups. But noticed you don't say whether you have live or insulated frogs on the point work that may play a part. Stu

Hi, Have a look here at the MJT sides https://www.dartcastings.co.uk/mjt.php#CarriageComponents-Sides Stu

It had 33/0 20" buffers as opposed to the 22" retractable ones on the fleet 33/1's though Heljan use the same size on all their 33's. Stu

Yes Halvarras is correct, they were built with modified exhausts. Theres a clear picture of one in "Power of the 33's". Stu

I'd be very interested in one in GFYE in early 67 as IIRC Eastleigh had their hands full getting the TC conversions done. I thought most the green ones that got FYE did so when the exhausts were modified. The "electric blue" one, 73004, was painted Bluebell Blue in 1987 in connection with an event on the railway.. No ED was ever electric blue neither were there 2 versions of Rail Blue, actually an existing colour called Monastral Blue. Yes there were different methods of application, brush, airbrush, airless spraying which needed slightly different formulation of paint that gave different finishes. It was the airless sprayed paint used on the REP's/TC's and VEP's that was semi-matt and could, and did, look worn. They were repainted to blue/grey quite quickly but the paint wasn't the only reason for this. Stu

When Weymouth shed transferred to the Southern there were still 45XX's, eg 4562, at Bridport sub-shed so terchnically SR loco's. Stu

Memory might be playing tricks but weren't a number WR classes banned east of Basingstoke because of clearance. Stu

Weymouth (71G) had a couple, 4166 +4133 IIRC, allocated in the early 60's for banking up Bincombe primarily. Stu

And after all your hard work....... https://rapidotrains.co.uk/br-diagram-1-191-oaa-open-wagon/ Stu

There were a couple of sidings on the Up (?) side, there were sited on the right side beyond the platform in this photo. http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/uploads/7/6/8/3/7683812/2903566_orig.jpg Looking at the photo again 73018 appears to have a "soup can" smokebox number so that would date it 66/67 very near the end of steam. And yes it would seem logical the perishable train started at Wey and picked up the clays at the west. The van behind the loco looks to be a fruit van so maybe they couldn't leave all the train between Dorchester Junction and the sidings so it had to stay with the loco. Stu

Well it's a long term Weymouth Class 5 and the scenery looks right for round MN. Looking at the load I wonder if it's clay wagons added to a Westbury bound perishables, if so they'd have probably been added at the West. I can't say I remember any clay wagons turning up at Weymouth but that's no guarantee after so long. Stu Edit - the headcode might mean something to somebody.

A possible option though at a cost might be this, new wheelset with bearings. https://www.petersspares.com/Hornby-x7359-duchess-class-loco-wheelset-r3642.ir Stu

Wot, no Wessex pink one in the line-up,! Seriousky great news with both pre TOPS and GFYP,well done guys Stu

Another vote for the AS186. Mine doesn't have a tank and never found that an issue though do have a long hose which goes a way to smooth out the flow. A hose is an item you'll need to budget for along with a suitable respirator. As for airbrush I'd suggest something like this which comes with two sizes of nozzle. https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Harder-Steenbeck-Ultra-2in1.html#SID=4 (no connection!) Maybe at top end of budget but a recognised brand with good spares support. Stu

Hi, We had a really good time at Doncaster and it was really good to talk to so many people after all this time. Our "It's been two long years ...." sign seem to go down well and it was a bit of a Get out of jail free card when things went a bit wobbly in spite of a deral of pre-show testing; intermittent short finally traced to a wagon underframe, dodgy wheelset and an 08 that gave up Sun PM plus the inevitable 3 link farces though people were (almost!) universally understanding. Tim and I both spent rather more than we probably intended and he finally got me to have another look at the lighting rig so there will be some changes there. Finally if anyone took any pics please put them on, it appears we were either too busy or too cream crackered to do it ourselves. Thanks Stu

Good to meet you over the weekend, it's a great layout you have there. Might have to find out how you got the sound to look so well synchronised, that was genuinely impressive. As for the stonewalling - certifiable!! All the best Stu

Excellent Steve, I'll put my two in the post :-) Stu

Well done Andy, you deserve some downtime. People shouldn't be surprised when systems play up, they should be more surprised that it works in the first place. Stu Systems manager (retired thank goodness!)

What with Christmas and decorating things been busy but I have got on with the two pannier chassis’s over the past 3 months. The Comet one in OO was pretty straightforward, Gibson wheels and a recycled Mashima/Branchlines gearbox and it runs well even if the pickup arrangement is quite crude. There’s still a fair bit to do cosmetically, sandboxes plus some RTmodels pulls to put with them plus renumbering for which I have a couple possibles, 5781 and 7711, that actually are available etched though there’s always Railtec printed ones. The body really needs stripping back before I do much to it. Originally a split chassis version dating from waaay back, the chassis now long retired and the body stuck in a box for ages, things have moved on. Sorry about the errant wiring :-( The High Level kit is very different, far more detail and more complex but then anyone who’s ever looked at one realises that. It’s EM but I did bottle doing the compensated option. It’s been a steep curve over anything I’ve done before and not always gone well. That’s not a reflection on the kit or it’s comprehensive instructions, more to do with my limited experience/skills and not always figuring out where the instructions were going with some sections. I will though have a whinge about the false boiler bottom which needs to be formed out of a flat sheet, the work bench ending up looking like a prop from a cheap slasher movie, I’ll do something in plastic! It’s sort of running, there’s a tight spot that needs sorting plus the brakegear needs finishing but all things considered I’m content with progress so far. Also have Hornby’s new AA15 Toad in bits. The handrails appear to be just pushfit and came off fairly easily, the roof took a little more persuading with a scapel blade. The body is held on by 4 tags and was separated by a flat blade between body and chassis. The intention is to do a vac piped version when I can find the info. Won't be much progress over next few weeks as amongst other things got the Doncaster show coming up but thanks for looking. Stu

Britannia Class ?? Stu

Looks very good with the improvements. The loco was an Eastliegh one early 60's, mainly for the Fawley but did work the odd special. Stu