Wright writes.....

[BMacdermott]

I'm surprised how far down the order the J27 sits.  I'd been hoping for an RTR one, but it seems there's more NE modellers who have expressed interest in a W1...

Hello jukebox

 

It is only five votes outside The Top 50 though. If we exclude items that attain equal votes, the J26/27 is actually 45th overall. And that needs to be balanced against a potential 30,000+ items that we could list.

 

Far down? No...almost all the way up!

 

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

[Headstock]

I'm not a fan of wish lists. Often they are ill informed and biased towards the weird and wonderful, rather than the typical and everyday. Take the carriage list posted above, top of the list are geographically limited types often associated with a single class of locomotive. Wagon lists, similary concentrate on the small percentage of specialist types, rather than those that were overwhelmingly in the majority. Hats off to those who still build and try to represent the railway as it was, rather than that dominated by the unusual and the quirky.

 

The 'wish list exhibition layout' has become an increasing phenomena.

Edited November 11, 2018 by Headstock

[Clive Mortimore]

After seeing the results of the wishlist I feel happy that my slow progress with my EMUs and DMUs will not be over taken by a RTR model of any of the classes I am attempting to recreate. Still very lost as to why the AM4s (304s) have been lumped in with the AM5s and AM8s. No Southend line stock (class 307) in the list.

[Northmoor]

I'm not a fan of wish lists. Often they are ill informed and biased towards the weird and wonderful, rather than the typical and everyday. Take the carriage list posted above, top of the list are geographically limited types often associated with a single class of locomotive. Wagon lists, similary concentrate on the small percentage of specialist types, rather than those that were overwhelmingly in the majority. Hats off to those who still build and try to represent the railway as it was, rather than that dominated by the unusual and the quirky.

You could say much the same of railway preservation to be honest, but I suppose if most preserved lines truly represented themselves "as it was", they would close through lack of custom...  Both models and preservation are based on nostalgia and most enthusiasts want to remember spotting trips and lots of "cops" at major termini, than seeing the same commuter trains for the 20th time.

 

Much as I always enjoy visiting preserved railways, I tend to avoid Galas and big events as for me they spoil the effect.  For example, Horsted Keynes looks better with no trains in it, than with three trains and 500 spectators.

[Bucoops]

I would love the GE Quint to be available in either kit or RTR but wishful thinking I guess

 

And I see the Ilford stock on there how many votes for those I wonder? I was one of I suspect one!

[jamie92208]

Morning all from the Sunny Charente with a bit of time before we head out for the village remembrance service.  I spent yesterday at my forst French model railway show at Orleans.   It is apparently one of the largest shows in France, held every two years.   It's in a municipally owned exhbition hall on the south side of the city,   The venue is very easily accessible and has it's own tram station which is on the modern tram line that serves both main line stations and a day rover cost me 3.90 Euros.   I booked a hotel for the Friday night and that had a tram stop right outside the back door and a view of the main line from Paris to the South west out of the bedroom window.  What more could I need.

 

The show was well organised with a long queue outside before opening but the queue oved quickly and stewards were seeking out disabled people and getting them to the front.

 

The layouts were interesing but I was truck by two things.  The first was that they were almost all RTR with a lof of RTP  and also there were a lot of modular layouts, particularly in N gauge. There were some suppliers of detailing parts and several stands showing 3D prints of interesting prototypes.   The one layout that had handbuilt track and scratchbuilt stock was a Belgian tramway layout in 7mm which was circular with 3 seperate scenes divied by cloths. Excellent modelling.

Another that caught my eye was one modelled on part of the Modane line that is the route through the Alps between Lyon and Italy. Though the rolling stock appeared to be mainly RTR there was well modelled catenary and some excellent scenic work.

One good bit was a space for children to learn modelling skills with some hands on modelling going on.   Behind them was a display of details of clubs that encourage junior members.  Each poster is for a county (department) with the department number and details of the club.

One superb bit of modelling was from Milan and was called Consolidated Nickel Mines.  A husband and wife team were operating it. On the left of the layout was a mine where a skip loader brought ore to the surface.   It then passed through various machines and along conveyors before being loaded into hopper cars.

The train then went along to the other end of the layout where a rotary dumper tipped two cars at a time without uncoupling. I watched the control panel that the husband used and it even had a control to clamp the cars before tippling.

Very different but beautifully done

There were manufacturers of 3D printed kits and a few brass kits, mainly in N but the sellers appeared to want to sell completed models rather than kits.   The only proper kit I saw in prototype form was one privately produced by the French Cercle Du Zero (Their O gauge guild) for members.  This is a U60 4 wheeled shunter in etched brass and was at a very good price to members only. I joined the Cercle 2 years ago and was warmly welcomed and was able to man the stand at times and help out.

 

All in all a good show but very different.  It was also obvious that the club had had a lot of help from the local authority.   It had attracted people from all over France, many of whom had stayed in hotels after long journeys.  There were a lot of young families there in the afternoon and it was well advertised in the town on billboards and LED displays.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2018 by jamie92208

[BMacdermott]

After seeing the results of the wishlist I feel happy that my slow progress with my EMUs and DMUs will not be over taken by a RTR model of any of the classes I am attempting to recreate. Still very lost as to why the AM4s (304s) have been lumped in with the AM5s and AM8s. No Southend line stock (class 307) in the list.

Hello Clive

 

We explained the grouping in The Guide and we always ask voters to read it before voting - that request was in the Q&A and in The Poll itself. An extract is below. 

 

The Class 307 was listed and polled 51 votes.

 

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

 

 

Poll Team Note: Despite Classes 304/305/308 & 504 having been used on widely dispersed lines (or which were close but distinct), we believe a manufacturer would consider them in the round. Bachmann has demonstrated this with its DMU variants, and Hornby with its 4 VEP. The variations in these classes were mainly with the internal layouts, electrical equipment and whether 2-, 3- or 4-car units. There was also some variation with window sizes (be they quarterlights or large bodylights). Class 305/1 and 308/3 were bodily virtually identical. Class 305/2 and 308/1 were bodily virtually identical. The layout of the latter two was the same as Class 302 (but note that the ends were different).

[BMacdermott]

I'm not a fan of wish lists. Often they are ill informed and biased towards the weird and wonderful, rather than the typical and everyday. Take the carriage list posted above, top of the list are geographically limited types often associated with a single class of locomotive. Wagon lists, similary concentrate on the small percentage of specialist types, rather than those that were overwhelmingly in the majority. Hats off to those who still build and try to represent the railway as it was, rather than that dominated by the unusual and the quirky.

 

The 'wish list exhibition layout' has become an increasing phenomena.

Hello Andrew

 

We can't expect everyone to be a 'fan of wishlists' - but we would refute any idea that our Poll was 'ill informed'. The accompanying Guide had 7000+ words and a couple of links or more to each of the 70 items in the LNER Locos category. In the Coaches category, there were 6000+ words accompanying the 43 items.

 

Over 400 press releases went out to clubs, web groups and printed magazines. 

 

We have done our utmost to present an informed yet unbiased set of comments for voters to choose from. It has been part of the overall Poll policy since day one to provide 'education' rather than just 'a list of stuff'.

 

As noted in one of my earlier posts on this thread, we have no idea why such as the J6 or the Gresley GE Section 52ft 6in stock never get much support - but that's the way it is. Of course, whether our results match the maker's market research is a different matter. 

 

If you ever see Simon Kohler at an exhibition, ask him who makes up the larger part of the model railway market. Expert/experienced/skilled modellers such as your goodself?

 

Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Edited November 11, 2018 by BMacdermott

[Tony Wright]

Hello Tony,

 

Sorry in advance for the lengthy post!

 

I would like to thank you and Mo for your wonderful hospitality yesterday. Once again, a great day was had by all and we are very much looking forward to our next visit to Little Bytham.

 

Thank you for taking the photographs of both Mark's and my models - please can we use these elsewhere (credited to you, of course)?

 

Regarding my own models, these are as follows:

 

The brake vans: the rearmost van is built from the 2mm Association etches for their LNER Toad E van. I assembled this while on holiday in Pickering and it is probably the most complex kit I have assembled to date. That said, it went together well with the exception of the end brackets that hold the chassis and body together (my fault for not reading the instructions properly and I still need to fabricate these). Despite being of a slightly smaller scale, the finished van is longer than the Peco 'hybrid' representation of this van so I'll be looking to replace my Peco vans as funds and time allow.

 

The GNR van at the front is another etched body kit but this time from BH Enterprise. This is quite an old kit and not up to the standard of the 2mm Association one but is reasonably straight forward to build. It is designed to fit a modified Peco brake van chassis so it may be slightly compromised in its dimensions. I see that I haven't fitted the horizontal handrail for some reason so this will need to be sorted before I paint it and fit it to the chassis. This will be the second of these kits I have completed.

 

The unfitted cattle truck is another set of etches and components from the 2mm Association and the design is excellent.

 

The hopper is an NER/LNER 21T(?) type, again from 2mm Association components. This one was a little trickier than I expected as I made the mistake of assuming than the chassis would go together as per the other chassis kits I have built - it doesn't, but it will go together well if you actually read and follow the instructions! The body is a plastic moulding which I assume is of some vintage as it isn't quite as easy to put together as some of their other plastic offerings. Modelling the southernmost GNR region of the LNER, I didn't think I'd have any reason/need for this type of wagon. However, Yeadon's shows an O2 on a New England-London coal train with several of these in the rake (in fact there isn't a PO wagon that I can see!). I've got two more of these to build at some point.

 

The 'super scissor' is one of a pair needed for the fiddle yard for Hadley Wood. It is built out of 2mm Association components but to N Gauge standards using the gauges now sold by N-Brass. I ended up simplifying the slips by omitting the innermost blades and relying on check rails to ensure stock runs through them reliably. Time consuming to build but much much cheaper than trying to fashion these from Peco components!

 

The signal box is a Severn Models kit and is being built to commission. It is currently three sub-components (hence the roof not being primed) and these will be glued together once painting and detailing has been completed. It is currently waiting for an interior kit which I understand will be acquired at Warley.

 

The V3 is one of the three 3D prints of this loco that you took photographs of for the article I submitted to BRM earlier this year (thanks again for doing this and pushing me to put pen to paper). The lining is all bow pen and brush work, including the home made boiler band decals (made using Tim Watson's technique). This will also be going to a new home once finished.

 

I know you'll be pleased to know that all the etched kits have (to date) been soldered together.

 

Aren't Mark's weathering efforts wonderful? He has started to turn his hand at many new things since joining Risborough and I think I'll be joining too in the new year.

 

With regard to the running on Little Bytham: I've now seen/operated the layout three times and the running has been almost flawless. However, errors do occasionally happen and in this case were sorted out quickly and efficiently. I think that it needs to be remembered than the real railways occasionally suffer from this too (all too often with much more devastating results) and they have far more sophisticated preventative measures in place. As with everything in life, we can do our best to reduce the likelihood of unfortunate events but, being human, we cannot prevent them entirely. I think Little Bytham's batting average for these things is still very much inside the top 0.5% of layouts I have seen and operated and hasn't impacted at all on my desire to come and operate the layout again as soon as possible.

No need to apologise for the lengthy post, Steve,

 

It's most informative; thank you.

 

You can, of course, use the pictures wherever you wish. 

 

Thank you also for your comment's about LB's running. I actually fitted replacement three-links to those five wagons I knackered. That's 5 x 2 for the hooks x 3 for the brass links! I'll be more careful next time. 

 

How does one legislate for the failure of components, such as point motors? Your dad was operating the fiddle yard most-diligently yesterday when, suddenly, one pole went on one of the wretched Seeps. 

 

 

This morning I've replaced it; with this, a Peco surface-mounted motor. I cannot recommend these highly enough, particularly for fiddle yards (they're a bit difficult to hide on scenic sections). I still had to struggle underneath the layout to remove the dud Seep and connect up the Peco motor, and I felt it! When Rob Davey and I installed all the fiddle yard point motors, I was a decade younger, so I'm not viewing the (potential, in the view of experience) further failings of the Seeps with optimism. All told, I fitted about 80 Seeps, and, in a decade, about 10% have failed. Though they're used regularly, I still find this an unacceptably high percentage. 

 

 

This was another replacement, fitted earlier this year. Prior to finding out about the surface-mounted motors, I'd replaced Seep failures like with like - what a dunce!

 

 

When I installed further kick-back sidings some little time ago, I fitted Pecos at source (with help from Geoff West). 

 

As for revisiting LB, you're most welcome, as are all the others. Thank you as well for your collective hospitality yesterday, for your donations to CRUK and to Roy for those wonderful GNR coat hooks.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited November 11, 2018 by Tony Wright

[ikks]

I have to say I think your comments are a bit harsh. 

 

It's my privilege to know (and have known) many professional railwaymen (during research for writing my books) and all of them have shown the highest regard for the safety of the trains they run and the safety of their passengers. The self-discipline shown by steam loco drivers/firemen, especially in the dead of night, at speed, in often adverse conditions, reading flickering oil lamps behind (sometimes) dirty spectacles to tell them if they've got the road required immense professionalism. 

 

'Thank God we don't routinely kill staff and public every year, anymore' (sic). That sounds as if you think it used to be intentional. Actually, from what I've read some little time ago, the number of railwaymen killed at work (on the tracks), as a percentage, is much the same as it was years ago when far more men walked the road. 

 

I'm glad you're glad that we live in a 'Health & Safety obsessed society' (my dictionary, by the way, describes an obsession, in part, as evil (spirit), delusional, haunting or harassed). I'm most-certainly not. Though I heartily endorse keeping folk safe (particularly in their workplaces - my paternal grandfather died of prolonged exposure to coal dust), some of the current 'elf 'n safety' legislation just seems barmy to me.

 

For instance, when I was a kid, in the early autumn, like every other boy in my school, I played conkers. Yes, we skewered our palms (only ever once!), rapped our knuckles because of a poor aim and got showered with conker shrapnel. Now the activity is banned in schools. 

 

One street in a town in the east of England used to be decked with the most glorious hanging baskets. 'What happens if one should fall on a person's head?' asked one jobsworth. 'Has one ever fallen?' Of course not, but just in case'. 

 

A centuries-old yew tree in a churchyard was felled, just in case children ate the berries! 

 

Anyone else out there like to rejoice in current health and safety stuff? 

 

My, isn't this thread multi-tangential? 

Conkers banned, hanging baskets taken down because of what if!!!!!!!!!! thank goodness I emigrated, what's the world coming to, I really find this crap hard to stomach

 

Mike

Edited November 11, 2018 by ikks

[Tony Wright]

My main interest these days is kitbuilding NER locos, so I declare an interest. But NuCast J26/27, if you can get them, are pretty rough and ready, unless SEF do a serious update. I have just collected the last Dave Alexander J26/27, and Dave Bradwell's kits, excellent though they are,  are not for a beginner. LRM kits are excellent, in my opinion, but, once again, are going to be daunting for first time builders .ArthurK kits, likewise.

 

How often do we read of folk starting a kit, messing it up, and never going back to it? How many of us, realistically, can produce  a job which  will, without fail, run as well as an RTR out of the box? How many will spend the time, money and effort to get the detail right for the particular loco in the class they are kit-building? I know- quite a few, but small in the context of the overall 2018 model railway population.

I think you're right, John,

 

I've resurrected umpteen examples of locos begun by some poor soul, which have been abandoned (often in abject misery). At the risk of sounding mercenary, they reveal rich-pickings at a most-modest cost, and, as long as the parts aren't damaged, after a night's immersion in Nitromors, become a kit again next day; meaning, they're glued together - very badly! 

 

As for getting locos to work as well as RTR equivalents, I look at it from a different angle. My intention is to make mine work BETTER than RTR equivalents, otherwise what's the point in my making locos? 

 

Kit-builders (successful?) have always been in the minority in this hobby, yet their work used to feature much more in the model press in the days of yore - far more so than those articles featuring RTR items. That's not the case today. So be it; that's progress, but don't expect the likes of me (or you?) to get excited about it.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited November 11, 2018 by Tony Wright

[Clive Mortimore]

 

Hello Clive

 

We explained the grouping in The Guide and we always ask voters to read it before voting - that request was in the Q&A and in The Poll itself. An extract is below. 

 

The Class 307 was listed and polled 51 votes.

 

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

 

 

Poll Team Note: Despite Classes 304/305/308 & 504 having been used on widely dispersed lines (or which were close but distinct), we believe a manufacturer would consider them in the round. Bachmann has demonstrated this with its DMU variants, and Hornby with its 4 VEP. The variations in these classes were mainly with the internal layouts, electrical equipment and whether 2-, 3- or 4-car units. There was also some variation with window sizes (be they quarterlights or large bodylights). Class 305/1 and 308/3 were bodily virtually identical. Class 305/2 and 308/1 were bodily virtually identical. The layout of the latter two was the same as Class 302 (but note that the ends were different).

 

Hi Brian

 

Classes 305 and 308 according to the diagrams have a different cab to the 305 and 405 units. The diagrams of the 1950s and 1960s builds were quite accurate as they were traced from GA drawings. After studying the diagrams and tracing the cabs those of all the 305 and 308 units match each other but none of the class 304 diagrams. The Wolverton built 304 and 504 do match each other, except obviously the headcode displays. I would like to check against the GA drawings one day. And to date I have not come across a photo showing a 304 along side a 305 or 308. All the photos I have seen of 304s when on loan to the ER either show a unit on its own or alongside a 302.  The large window AM4s have no coaches that match any other Mk 1 overhead EMU. Even the small window 304 only has one coach the TCL that matches other Mk1 EMUs. The BDTSL looks the same but if you look underneath it isn't. All ER units have a battery box each side with the charger in front of the left hand battery. The 304s have both sets of batteries (different design of box) on the left and the charger on the right.

 

 

As for the AM7, my bad I didn't scroll down past the page end as I thought that was the end of the EMUs.

Edited November 11, 2018 by Clive Mortimore

[rowanj]

 

As for getting locos to work as well as RTR equivalents, I look at it from a different angle. My intention is to make mine work BETTER than RTR equivalents, otherwise what's the point in my making locos? 

 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

I suppose there are a few reasons for kit-building locos.

 

1. There is no RTR equivalent, nor likely to be in the foreseeable future.

2, If there is an RTR, build the kit if it is superior re fidelity to the prototype/detailing.etc

3. It keeps alive an important sub-set of suppliers and modellers in an RTR dominated hobby.

4.No space for a layout but wanting to "engage" in the hobby.

5.Loco building develops a range of ancillary skills for use elsewhere.,

6. It's good fun, unless you take it all too seriously.

 

Doubtless there are other reasons.

 

Back to that wretched DJH A8 chassis...

 

John

Edited November 11, 2018 by rowanj

[Jol Wilkinson]

My main interest these days is kitbuilding NER locos, so I declare an interest. But NuCast J26/27, if you can get them, are pretty rough and ready, unless SEF do a serious update. I have just collected the last Dave Alexander J26/27, and Dave Bradwell's kits, excellent though they are,  are not for a beginner. LRM kits are excellent, in my opinion, but, once again, are going to be daunting for first time builders .ArthurK kits, likewise.

 

How often do we read of folk starting a kit, messing it up, and never going back to it? How many of us, realistically, can produce  a job which  will, without fail, run as well as an RTR out of the box? How many will spend the time, money and effort to get the detail right for the particular loco in the class they are kit-building? I know- quite a few, but small in the context of the overall 2018 model railway population.

When I help John Redrup  on the London Road Models trade stand we go out of our way to direct aspiring kit makers towards what we regard as the "beginners kits".  Often we suggest a simple wagon/van kit as a first model. If, as most do, they want to build a loco we recommend a tank loco as there is less to assemble and you get a result with less time/effort. We usually ask what railway, locality or period in which they are interested to guide them towards a simpler kit that will be of interest, although that sometimes means suggesting an alternative to their own preferred choice. We are keen to ensure they get as painless introduction to kit building as possible, in the hope that will take it up long term and that will get some repeat business for LRM and the other small suppliers that support the pastime.

 

We do still sell Claytons though, slowly but steadily. 

Thankfully there are still those who enjoy creating their own models, rather than simply having the same as hundreds or thousands of others. I visited a local show at the weekend and while the layouts were all "different" there was also a sameness about them, especially those in 00 gauge. 

[Lecorbusier]

Kit building is great .... just saying ..... hours of fun 

[Mallard60022]

Conkers banned, hanging baskets taken down because of what if!!!!!!!!!! thank goodness I emigrated, what's the world coming to, I really find this crap hard to stomach

 

Mike

It's a litigious world and that comes from the USA I am sorry to say. Everyone is worried about being sued by someone for something. Crap maybe but sadly a sign of the times, however there are some over the top responses to 'risk'.

I suspect that it won't be long before the Ambulance chaser lawyers Junior, low paid tea persons are waiting at A & E.

Phil

Edited November 11, 2018 by Mallard60022

[MarkC]

It's a litigious world and that comes from the USA I am sorry to say. Everyone is worried about being sued by someone for something. Crap maybe but sadly a sign of the times, however there are some over the top responses to 'risk'.

I suspect that it won't be long before the Ambulance chaser lawyers Junior, low paid tea persons are waiting at A & E.

Phil

Wasn't there a bit of a ruckus a few years ago where that was actually happening at one or two A&E departments? That and Compo-seeking  Lawyers' flyers left scattered about...

[jollysmart]

Wasn't there a bit of a ruckus a few years ago where that was actually happening at one or two A&E departments? That and Compo-seeking  Lawyers' flyers left scattered about...

 

There were posters on the wall for ACLs among those for taxi services right next to the public phone the last time I had the misfortune to visit A&E.

[Porcy Mane]

Wasn't there a bit of a ruckus a few years ago where that was actually happening at one or two A&E departments? That and Compo-seeking  Lawyers' flyers left scattered about...

 

Appointment Cards used at your local University Hospital (Dryburn) were until very recently paid for by Solicitors, Thompson & Co. (Accident & Personal Injury Claims Specialists)

 

Guess who's name was emblazoned all over the rear along with that of a Taxi Firm.

 

P

Edited November 11, 2018 by Porcy Mane

[Enterprisingwestern]

Mention Heljan Clayton to Mike Edge......

 

 

We do still sell Claytons though, slowly but steadily. 

 

Primarily, I would imagine, because it looks a lot more like a Clayton than Danepaks offering, is resonably straightforward to build and will run for a while after you've built it.

I would imagine the same cannot be said of some of the poorer steam outline models mentioned hereabouts, hence a bigger percentage of modellers wanting a RTR version.

 

Mike.

[jamie92208]

Kit building is great .... just saying ..... hours of fun 

 

Yes try following my build of a 2F in 7mm from a certain manufacturer.   It is a journey of discovery and I haven't even got to the grossly oversize brake pull rods, however I am certainly enjoying the process of problem solving as I go.

 

Jamie

[MarkC]

Appointment Cards used at your local University Hospital (Dryburn) were until very recently paid for by Solicitors, Thompson & Co. (Accident & Personal Injury Claims Specialists)

 

Guess who's name was emblazoned all over the rear along with that of a Taxi Firm.

 

P

Oh, yes - I remember them now. I used to be a regular at A&E, Dryburn, when #2 son was a footballing teenager. A very brave goalkeeper - he was forever getting clobbered by opponents who didn't know when to back off...we were just about on first name terms with the staff on a Sunday at one point...

[Tony Wright]

Regarding kit-building (which this thread is really all about), I can only speak from my own perspective. 

 

As has been suggested, building locos for oneself, in the past, was the only way of getting many, many types. The RTR examples of the time were very low on quality/fidelity (though they didn't fall to bits when taking them out of their packaging) and of rather limited range. 

 

Over 40 years ago I embarked on building ER locomotives because of the factors mentioned above. And, I've kept on doing so, despite some staggering improvements in more recent times. I've asked myself the question why on numerous occasions, but it basically boils down to the fact that I like making things. Locos I build are 'mine' in a unique way. If they don't run well or look right, who am I to blame (in this blame-culture)? Nobody but me! They pull more than any RTR equivalent. Note, here; an A2/2 I built was beaten in haulage power by a Hornby P2, once. Not any more - with extra ballast 60501 will now haul 25 kit-built cars! Is a P2 and an A2/2 a fair equivalent? Probably not. 

 

Folk seem to have legions of A1s, A2s, A3s and A4s, all RTR (other regions are just as well off). Good on them I say, if that's what the buyers want. Good on them again if they'd modified/improved/altered/weathered them themselves, and, if they can't, then at least it keeps professional model-makers in work. However, as Jol Wilkinson has alluded to, they all look the same (or very similar). One could argue that the real things all looked the same, but they weren't built by modellers. If I visit a show, I want to see something different from what I can see behind me on the box-shifters' stalls.  

 

In the case of the Thompson Pacifics, then kit/scratch-building it has to be (or modified with Graeme King parts using a Bachmann A2 as a donor). But, I build all my A1s, A2s, A3s and A4s, anyway. Any RTR equivalents I used to have have been sold on, because they're not 'mine', nor ever could be. I hope their new owners think they're theirs, but that is more an attitude to possessions (desirable possessions, I hope) than the attitude I have. But, that's me - an entirely personal approach. It's certainly not 'the' way for everyone, but 'a' way, my way. 

 

Speaking of 'my way', I've just been totting up the donations Mo and I have made to CRUK this year, all to do with model railways in one form or another. It adds up to almost £2,000. I mention this, not to gain praise (those whose locos I've fixed deserve the praise for being so generous with their donations) but to show how relatively simple it is to find a way of collecting for charity in a slightly different manner. Considering Mo's and my target this year (she's the banker) was £1,000, then we're delighted.

 

It's not only that. On many occasions folk send me cheques made out to CRUK or send them directly themselves, all because they're involved in railway modelling. Cheques I've received are never less than a tenner, and a few quite a bit more. They are not included in my figures. How much individuals donate directly, I have no idea, and those, too, are not included. 

 

Anyway, with the funds from the article/DVD about Little Bytham in BRM not included yet, a charity show at Ruskington next weekend, Warley and Peterborough coming up, plus further donations from visitors to LB, I'd be surprised if we don't all end up near £3,000 by the end of the year.

 

May I take this opportunity of thanking all those who've donated most-generously, please? Some folk just thrust a note into my hands at shows, even though I haven't fixed their loco. 

 

This hobby is full of altruists. 

Edited November 11, 2018 by Tony Wright

[Clive Mortimore]

Primarily, I would imagine, because it looks a lot more like a Clayton than Danepaks offering, is resonably straightforward to build and will run for a while after you've built it.

I would imagine the same cannot be said of some of the poorer steam outline models mentioned hereabouts, hence a bigger percentage of modellers wanting a RTR version.

 

Mike.

 

I know the first one of these pre-dates Michael's kit, the other two might do as well. I was really pleased two months a ago when I ran all three, how well they ran considering their power units. 

 

I have a Heljan one as well, it might be more accurate than these three. No where near the satisfaction in opening the box than trying to work out how to power such an awkward design of loco.

 

The first one I threw together, has a chassis built by a then fellow Witham Club member called Martin. Martin died quite young from cancer. He was was a great tinker with things electro-mechanical. He found this Jouef French loco with a load of pantographs, I think the prototype was one of these multi-voltage locos. All he wanted was the pantographs, and by luck the wheelbase of the bogies was just over that of a 4mm Clayton, a millimeter or so. It was a six wheeled affair but it is easy to take out the middle axle. The best part was the drive, a small motor driving a gear set at 90 degrees which then drives through the centre of the bogie to a set of spur gears to the wheels. The motor was small enough to fit in a Clayton's bonnet. He very kindly built me the chassis, putting the Jouef drive on a aluminum frame.

 

The other two each have Tyco (Yugoslavian model company that made models for the very cheep end of the US market) RS3 chassis, one of them with a freezer bag tye holding the motor in place, it works lovely.

[warren lodge]

Peter Denny's Buckingham layouts had a great influence on me back in the 60's. I still have the Railway Modeller mag (around 1964 ?) which was devoted to his layout. The intrigue for me was his gas works, how he wrapped card round one of his wife's cooking pans (2 of em - one a bit smaller than the other) laminated to make a gas holder. I duly tried this and got a clout round the ear for evo-sticking up mothers best pans !!

 

Gas works !! Wonderful places, my first day of work was at Wigan gas works in 1969, nearly getting run over by a small diesel shunter, just before the coal gas plant was closed.

 

Glad to know his layout is in safe hands.

 

Edited to add - Just remembered, In that mag above was a series of articles written by peter. How he built  the Gasworks, Buckingham Signalbox and portable work bench. These articles are also in his book "Peter Denny's Buckingham Branchlines Part 1" published by Wild Swan. Both Pt 1 & Pt 2 are excellent books. Peter also wrote about the smoked brick paper he used in his gas works buildings ,  I've forgot the make, but he searched high and low for the last remaining sheets back in the 60's. (Was it erg ?). Smoky brick paper, can anyone recommend one (to buy, not download).

 

Brit15