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1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

 

 

891296957_45Scratch-builtCookePrinceofWales.jpg.1b9b6230cf58f224cb624db453213334.jpg

 

One other delight has been my being able to resurrect old locos, usually from the estates of the deceased. This was one - an ancient scratch-built L&NWR PoW. The whole mechanism had seized solid, so I stripped the lot down, installed a modern drive and fitted new wheels. After touching-up, it went to Barry Ten who was delighted with it (I hope you still are, Al). £60.00 went to CRUK from the sale (thanks for the extra, Al). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still delighted, Tony - in fact one of my projects next year (I hope) will be to complete a short rake of LNWR--liveried coaches to go behind it. I have the kits and paints, just need to build them now...

 

Al

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My contribution:

 

A halt in the style of those north of Yarmouth Beach scratch built in balsa and coloured with inks. Part of my EM test plank, a micro layout that has taken close to two years to build though it has been an enjoyable process.

 

1576684914_haltphoto.jpg.352204b4c1fff48cdebb0a68c1e7ad3a.jpg

 

A Bachmann J39 running on a Comet chassis in EM, Markits drivers, Gibson tender wheels, Comet gears, Mashima motor and I will say this quietly. a Zimo chip. Since this photo the crankpins have been soldered on.

 

J39.jpg.800dcce5f3015c584d72aee8395adffd.jpg

 

Thanks for looking

 

Martyn

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This year...

 

I finished and painted some wagons that had been part made since we last moved house (5 years).

 

20190912_214730.jpg.b5b1caef0ef8c06e2fd92d8e3cf6afa8.jpg

 

I also decided to tackle the backdating and detailing of a Graham Farish pannier tank. It has had a 2FS chassis for about 8 years but the body always needed to be a bit finer, particularly around the footplate and valence. My modelling period is grouping +/- a couple of years so a 57xx is too modern so it's currently in transition. There is some of the original casting in there still, though not a lot.

 

20191216_224309.jpg.8c94c658e0e622e986ac0021c607ced9.jpg

 

Still quite a way to go!

 

 

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1 hour ago, 31A said:

I got some 0.75mm from Hobby Holidays (not sure whether he's still trading though) but it was nickel silver rather than brass.

 

If not actually structural, and not needing soldering (I don't know what the rest of your signal box is made of), I sometimes cut thin strip from the metal from which drinks cans are made which I think is aluminium, and can be cut with a modelling knife and glued with Evo Stik.

 

1 hour ago, polybear said:

Hobby Holidays lists the following:

 

K21 - NS flat 0.015" x 0.030"       Nickel silver Flat Strip approx 0.015" x 0.030" (0.4 x 0.8mm) approx 305mm (12 inch) long

J21 - NS flat strip 0.010" x 0.030'"    NS flat strip approx 0.010" thick 0.030" wide (0.25mm x 0.75mm) approx 12" lg

 

There are also various imperial brass sizes available:

http://www.hobbyholidays.co.uk/products.php?cat=67&pg=4

 

H.H. are due at the Stevenage exhibition on 11/12 Jan 2020

 

HTH

Thanks guys that's brilliant. It doesn't matter whether it's nickel silver or brass as it will be painted. As you can see I've fixed the step board on already. The supports will be fashioned from the strip into triangular brackets - 6 or 7 in total and superglued in place.Well, that's the plan anyhow.  Plan B, the drinks can. :o

 

IMG_4244_rdcd.jpg.bd4b015a82e3a78f2d3e3b17c98021c0.jpg

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4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

As we reach that time of reflection over the last 12 months, I've been examining progress on and for LB this year.

 

These pictures are in no particular chronological order, just (in part) a record of 'progress' in 2019................

 

1124656741_01B161212.jpg.8c0629c243ecd8b27c33274affe484e9.jpg

 

Early in the year, I acquired a Replica B1. It had been weathered. I sold the split chassis, made a Comet one for it and renumbered it into Retford's 'Rocket'. There was some surprise on here at the time from some commentators as to why I'd do such a thing!  

 

947039794_02Parksidevans.jpg.181f5130e1e93ab9d15c195685a1847c.jpg

 

1410765958_03Parksidevans.jpg.23dbd0b55858b0d76bc21c841a35d3fa.jpg

 

At shows now, as well as building metal locos/stock, I'll put together a Parkside wagon kit as well. They're ideal starting points for beginners, and I finish them off later at home. Should the ex-GWR van in the upper picture have more lettering?  

 

1615929358_04V260982andParksidehoresebox.jpg.8249958624084c7d49026506f8920d4c.jpg

 

I'm always happier building locos, though, and one I made this year was this Nu-Cast V2, riding on a Comet chassis and painted by Geoff Haynes. Having seen Bachmann's first proving prototypes for their V2, this isn't as accurate, though it's far, far more powerful. 

 

4013381_05V260982andParksidehoresebox.jpg.0230480a4c01078ca4c8976a83538132.jpg

 

I built this Parkside ex-LNER horesbox as well.

 

455656212_06A360111.jpg.405a0a9ff8829852e1b0afc3346433ff.jpg

 

Yet another A3, do I hear you ask? Well, yes, a South Eastern Finecast one, built to replace a 'feeble' (in comparison) Hornby one I sold on. Another Geoff Haynes' paint job.

 

29004817_07Semi46245.jpg.b648e7a8dc89656b9df43e9b25a10e7b.jpg

 

844945989_08Semi46245.jpg.b2bb17689c1699ee97ab4952d414883a.jpg

 

And Geoff also painted this DJH 'Semi' I built (numbers never stick too well over rivets). This sees a lot of work now, running on Shap. I'm told it performs very well!

 

592408779_09A160119.jpg.65853b058be3ddbbb5e4fb7ef54e4b9a.jpg

 

1711723930_10A160119.jpg.066c53778d52aa965928f84f984ca1e4.jpg

 

At the start of the year, I acquired a load of stuff from the estate of a deceased modeller. I got several thousand pounds for his bereaved family by selling most of the collection, 10% of which went to CRUK. I bought this DJH A1 from the estate; the late builder had almost finished it, but, as usual, its running wasn't good. I stripped the frames, installed a new drive, completed the valve gear and completed the body, then asked Geoff to paint it. It's OK, if not perfect - the loco I mean, not the painting. It doesn't half go, though!

 

438926709_11IvattMickeyMouse.jpg.0d3a373b28975c9b53f4063e7e23be9e.jpg

 

Another part-completed loco from the same collection was this modified Hornby Ivatt original 'Mickey Mouse'. The Comet frames had been started (not very well), so I stripped the lot and rebuilt the chassis, adding final details to body (front steps to follow). Again, Geoff painted it. 

 

More to follow..............................

Is that the glazed LMS CCT Van or the dodged one? .......

 

 

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On 15/12/2019 at 07:55, polybear said:

 

Or the owner passes away, and relatives/friends can't access the pc due to not knowing the password....

Hello,

        That would not be a problem if you booted the machine in question with a "live Linux Cd or USB stick.

trustytrev.:)

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I’ve had a busy year but not, unfortunately, in the model making sense.

 

Browsing through my photos there are only two items that I have completed (well, nearly completed):

 

6EA0CB68-11F3-4A6F-A891-6DFE5D0DA983.jpeg.bce91fb04faf9dbe8433e90285771a00.jpeg

 

Scratchbuilt narrow gauge hopper wagon (Harrogate Gas Works) - still needs couplings!

 

 

EFA1B759-752B-4389-B0FC-8E718EA5B448.jpeg.74feda662f59169657780aaf4656a66a.jpeg

 

J77 from North Eastern Kits - still needs glazing, crew, weathering, lamps......

 

 

 

 

And current work in progress is a D23A:

 

31DDA111-C6EC-43FA-9298-C08AFF69A2DB.jpeg.f1e93f6633ae022d248ab9ee92da032e.jpeg

 

 

And this:

 

2AC692D4-76DE-4675-A94B-D36B4FE92575.jpeg.bcd97935cd38bd4a54c12e2f3b5cbf2a.jpeg

 

I bought this already built built and I am, slowly, completing it. Next on the list is to fill in the boiler barrel where the old motor fitted and then to fit the correct 3 safety valves.

 

 

Jon

 

 

 

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On 15/12/2019 at 09:55, Tony Wright said:

The longevity of digital imagery is of some concern.

 

Right now, an old computer which has hundreds of my pictures on it seems reluctant to 'work' I'm told the data can be 'retrieved', but we'll see. Fortunately, much is backed-up on discs. 

 

I copy all my pictures on to a separate hard drive (I need another one!) and on to CDs, but will they last as long as film? I can go to my slide collection of prototype images (several of which has been published) and just look it them. They're all stored in a dry place, in slide boxes, and none has deteriorated. When I first started using Fuji slide film I was told it had a 40 year guarantee of not deteriorating (if kept properly). That guaranteed period is fast-approaching, and the trannies are still perfect.

 

In 40 years' time, will the equipment to read photos on discs or ancient hard drives still be available? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Hello Tony,

                CD and DVD disks deteriorate  over time which can be quite variable to due to temperature/storage conditions and from brand to brand.

Pretty random and unreliable in the long term.

Hard drives with platters are likely to retain data longer than any other format if stored carefully. USB adapters can be obtained cheaply that enables them to be plugged into USB ports.

USB ports are likely to be in use for some years to come even in the future.

trustytrev.:)

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If your data is in any electronically digitised form, in other words only existing in the form of algrithms and not in any physical form, then so long as the process of transferring it to another digitised form is lossless, which it should be, it should be possible to preserve it in perfect condition indefinitely (barring magnetic anomalies perhaps) as long as electricity functions.  It is only when the data is transferred to a physical medium, such as a hard drive, CD/DVD, or magnetic tape, that it decays and deteriorates over time, and only in such cases that the data is further compromised when transferred to a different media.  Thus, my music, video, and photograph collections do not actually exist in any physical form, and are backed up in the Cloud.  Of course, if the Cloud fails to work properly, I'm stuffed, but things are fine so far and I've saved a lot of physical storage space in a small flat.  

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On 15/12/2019 at 23:33, MJI said:

 

 

The rear power car should be in the national collection, if it or 43159 goes to scrap it will be a national tragedy in railway history terms. Both should be NRM parked next to Mallard. To be honest those 2 power cars are as important to British railway history as Mallard.

As an Aussie resident/citizen since 1974, may I ask why?

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

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6 hours ago, 45568 said:

As an Aussie resident/citizen since 1974, may I ask why?

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

They saved BR's passenger business; the bogies were the result of intensive ground breaking research and development into the flange/wheel/rail relationship; the coaches were miles ahead of any other railway intensive user stock; they were a fantastically good investment for the railway-anything else anyone would like to come up with?

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11 hours ago, JamieR4489 said:

2019’s been a big year for me as I built my first white metal kit this year and my first loco chassis. In comparison to the amount of items you’ve built this year, my efforts seem puny but I’m pleased with them.

First kits of the year were signals

B6F3CFC4-FD07-4487-843F-6256C6A97151.jpeg.8b8cff39d7088c67be50c5fa59ac7236.jpeg

This is the one I’m most pleased with as it took so long to get it to work.

When I visited you in February you gave me a few kits and this was the first of them.

6608B14C-CBD5-4675-B253-64CD69B8FB34.jpeg.bf1d37b1f0091d5cc594615d993b0c9b.jpeg

A David Geen NER sleeper wagon.

At about the same time I made this GNR 6-wheeler from a 3D

printed kit.

7E30FC88-913A-44CA-80A1-1D92C6D55924.jpeg.94e8948273139a39fff5217ed5e3bb30.jpeg

My first loco this year (and my first full loco kit ever) was an SEF J6.

12E73EAD-EB75-4E4E-A51C-213D04E89BD2.jpeg.05bc5cbd622d1255662e832355d0181f.jpeg

And I managed to pick up a Nucast Q1 for a bargain price.

18EEBAA6-CD58-45AB-A3BB-2B0BE4201638.jpeg.d83c73dc8e1de39560ae799f39c8d834.jpeg

The other kit you gave me was this D&S NBR dia110 Horsebox.

2BF84461-1925-41F3-B19F-EAB94F9BEA79.jpeg.7deceb2ea17c1c16b1b3a10018715755.jpeg

 

Thanks go to you and everyone else who has helped me this year. This thread has been really encouraging.

Regards,

Jamie

What wonderful modelling Jamie,

 

Thanks for showing us.

 

If I showed you the standard of modelling I was achieving when I was your age, the word 'puny' would be nowhere near strong enough a description! Fortunately, I can't show you because it's been chucked away, given away or buried decades ago. Also (one should not really start a sentence with 'also'), remember I'm nearly 60 years older than you. With that, not only does one get more and more grumpy, but also more-experienced. When you're in your 70s, think of what you'll have achieved? Carry on in the manner you're doing (and please carry on, even when you discover those mysterious - but wonderful - creatures, women!) because you'll become one of the modelling 'greats'.

 

If I've made the tiniest contribution to what you're doing, you've made my year! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

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9 hours ago, Jon4470 said:

 

I’ve had a busy year but not, unfortunately, in the model making sense.

 

Browsing through my photos there are only two items that I have completed (well, nearly completed):

 

6EA0CB68-11F3-4A6F-A891-6DFE5D0DA983.jpeg.bce91fb04faf9dbe8433e90285771a00.jpeg

 

Scratchbuilt narrow gauge hopper wagon (Harrogate Gas Works) - still needs couplings!

 

 

EFA1B759-752B-4389-B0FC-8E718EA5B448.jpeg.74feda662f59169657780aaf4656a66a.jpeg

 

J77 from North Eastern Kits - still needs glazing, crew, weathering, lamps......

 

 

 

 

And current work in progress is a D23A:

 

31DDA111-C6EC-43FA-9298-C08AFF69A2DB.jpeg.f1e93f6633ae022d248ab9ee92da032e.jpeg

 

 

And this:

 

2AC692D4-76DE-4675-A94B-D36B4FE92575.jpeg.bcd97935cd38bd4a54c12e2f3b5cbf2a.jpeg

 

I bought this already built built and I am, slowly, completing it. Next on the list is to fill in the boiler barrel where the old motor fitted and then to fit the correct 3 safety valves.

 

 

Jon

 

 

 

Lovely stuff, Jon,

 

Thanks for posting. 

 

I picked up a DJH kit for a Raven A2 recently. I built one years ago for a friend. Unfortunately, during a break-in, it was destroyed by the morons who threw it (and other locos of his) against the wall! Had we found out who'd done it, both of us would have quite-happily done our time for murder! 

 

As with his, I'll fit an eight-wheeled tender and outside axleboxes to the pony.

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

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This year I have mainly been discovering the joy of soldering w/metal. Although I could solder etched and wiring, I was always scared of melting a kit away... With some help from friends, including Tony's top tip about temperature and flux, I have been working off and on with these:

 

A DJH Highland railway Loch. This had K's wheels which had lost their register, and cyclinders spaced like some GWR loco. The body has been soldered up, including filling holes, the chassis has been taken apart and then soldered up, with the cylinders brought back in, closer to gauge.

SAM_8210.JPG.020cf1ee87fb45fdd6a70a9d2191918a.JPG

 

One of four Southerland Models/Nu-Cast/SE Finecast Highland Railway 0-6-4T. Batch building can be both a curse and fun, more of a curse when you discover that the old kits that you have aquired are missing bits... But Dave can now spin those bits for me. These were the first attempts at soldering, but are beginning to look really good:

DSC08634.JPG.8ecffbc33e429582b643dc2da60cbef6.JPG

 

Sutherland / SE Finecast HR Wee Bens. Three on the go, one bought complete, but needing work (its glued, but it good enough to leave), but the other two are soldered. I'm enjoying the build of these two, note the differing faces, hinges, wings etc. Finding fittings for these two is fun, as the LMS used some very big bases for the Ross Pops.. SAM_8337.JPG.1782e9392f36174d36e076df13ea153a.JPG

 

I've also been doing my very first loco lining job. Another HR 0-6-4T in full LMS livery. Bits still to finish (like the front steps) and the chassis:

SAM_7988.JPG.bcc07e56bfae4ebdbb81a1d3bf8e2946.JPG

 

Andy G

 

(I'm updated my Highland Bodgery thread again, so you can see what other stuff I've been upto)

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Projects completed this year. Two vintage white metal based kits, one from Keyser and a (an) M&L . Both had a good workout at the recent EMGS AGM.

The Fowler dock tank has Markits wheels, High Level gearbox/Mashima. Built as supplied using the stamped frames but with twin beams on the leading axles. The beams are wide enough to perform as bearings.

The LNWR dock tank has Sharman wheels, Alan Gibson on the Bissell truck. Again High Level/Mashima combination. The beams on this one are on both driving axles meaning that the drive is suspended. It does run ok but I’ll come up with another method next time,  I do have enough bits to build another.

I do like white metal loco kits, they have a presence when you hold them, a bit like a Hornby Dublo loco.

Not that I’m anti etched brass/NS, the previously illustrated scratch J94 is very much ‘multi media’, although not 4mm of course. Despite that I have completed two 4mm J94’s this year, a DJM/RT and a brass kit of unknown origin.

 

Brendan

 

 

5FFBDCAB-47F7-49C4-9D8D-0FBFDDDA2CA6.jpeg

05BC1378-BE23-487D-A3D2-D5C63D1A20A1.jpeg

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9 hours ago, 45568 said:

As an Aussie resident/citizen since 1974, may I ask why?

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

 

For the same reasons, record holders, Mallard is representative of steam traction and 43102 43159 of Diesel traction

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4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

It's glazed!

 

Your eyes are younger than mine. Anyway, the 'dodged' one wasn't built by me.

 

When will see that moving footage you took?

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

I downloaded some today onto my computer so maybe tomorrow during my morning 8 coffees before 7am I’ll try and upload them. I’ll try my best. 

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2 hours ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

But the diesel record category  is still open, diesel traction is yet in service, and it will be beaten in time. Scrap them.

 

There's nothing stopping a Steam loco attempting a new record either :)

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10 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Indeed, but there's no point, it's a long obsolete technology for high speed rail so it would be a vanity project.

 

Diesel is very much out of favour with electric the preference so you could argue the same there. Most diesel stock built recently is of a hybrid nature :)

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27 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Indeed, but there's no point, it's a long obsolete technology for high speed rail so it would be a vanity project.

And I diesel traction, at least for prestige passenger work, is already on the way out, too.

 

A ban is expected to come into force on diesel working in and out of the London termini in two or three years time. It'll be interesting to see what sort of third-rail/diesel bi-mode devices emerge to replace the Class 159s on the Waterloo-Exeter run, or will we all have to change at Basingstoke?

 

John

 

  

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