Blackstone Workbench 2.0

[AVS1998]

I went along to the Ulster Model Railway Club show in Belfast today, nice little show with a variety of exhibits, and a fair few traders, too. There was more Irish modelling than I expected, plus a large-scale Mecano-esque setup, an N-gauge Japanese cityscape, absolutely all sorts. 

 

There wasn't much to tempt me on the trader's stalls, but I did pick this pack up for £4, for future use; 

 

 

It'll come in handy at some point, I'm sure. 

[AVS1998]

 

Spotted at Ashford carriage workshops today, three former Blackstone Company carriages, accompanied by an SECR family saloon. Perhaps they're in for a repaint? Certainly the three antiquarians look in desperate need of further attention. 

 

 

And in another corner at Ashford, two break vans idling, awaiting duties. 

 

- - - 

 

Hello everyone, it's been quite a while, hasn't it? I'm back in Yorkshire for Christmas, just for a few days, but I'd like to try to do a little modelling while I'm here. Maybe just tidying up the Mataro carriages, possibly priming them. They're happily of a similar scale to the Frankenhornby saloon, which is just a little taller. Ideally they'd all be on similar underframes, so that's something to scratch build for the saloon at some point. I may also tweak the roof of the saloon to lower it further. I was going to further detail the SECR saloon and repaint it (I wasn't too happy with the colour).

[AVS1998]

One of the nicest Christmas presents I've had in a few years, a Dublo Coronation, three-rail. My brother knows I'm a railway modeller (doesn't take interest himself but whenever he sees something railway-related he buys it for me). I'm tempted to leave it as-is in terms of condition and have it as a shelf curio, but rebrand to either Princess Alexandra or City of Leeds. 

[Caley Jim]

1 hour ago, AVS1998 said:

One of the nicest Christmas presents I've had in a few years, a Dublo Coronation, three-rail. My brother knows I'm a railway modeller (doesn't take interest himself but whenever he sees something railway-related he buys it for me). I'm tempted to leave it as-is in terms of condition and have it as a shelf curio, but rebrand to either Princess Alexandra or City of Leeds. 

I had one of these when I was 5!! More years ago than I care to remember. 

 

Jim 

[Oldddudders]

26 minutes ago, Caley Jim said:

I had one of these when I was 5!! More years ago than I care to remember. 

 

Jim 

Mine was secondhand when I was given it in 1956....

[AVS1998]

I caved in... And went for umber and cream (well, 'aged white'.) 

 

 

 

The Stroudley D. 36/43 bash from Hornby generics had been on my mind while I've been at home, and I decided, given it's an older survivor from the Brighton, it'd be nice to have it limp through Blackstone's pregroup period ( circa 1910 - 1924) in umber and cream. The cream itself is just Humbrol Pullman acrylic, thinned with a little £1 tube of cream acrylic from The Works, and some Tamiya thinners, also, to create a cream (how many times will I use that damned word) or milk-like consistency to flood the panels, as described by Mikkel.

 

I'm still thinking about the underframe for this, and the easiest option (asides scratch building) still seems the Ratio Midland route. It'd give me another LBSC carriage to mess around with, too, depending on which kit I chose, and I could standardise on 8' Fox bogies then (these originally ran on unusual open-frame equalised jobs). That's also assuming that LBSC 48' carriages had fairly standard undergubbins; I'd have to check my volumes to be sure. Ultimately, if it makes my life easier and means all I have to do is swap a body if I want something different... But I'd prefer to have dedicated running gear for all my stock. I know Ratio used to sell chassis kits for the coaches separately, I don't know if that's still the case. While returning to this project, I did find some 'research' (if you can call it that) for creating a bashed D. 35 49' Stroudley First (originally running on a Cleminson arrangement), using Roxey Stroudley first 6W kits;

 

It's just an idea I keep floating (the prototype was withdrawn before my period, though one seems to have remained on the duplicate list), and it would be a very long way off... but you can see the attraction, I'm sure. 

 

In other news, the K's Mataros are fast approaching priming time. The first is going to remain passenger-carrying, and will be downgraded to third. The third, on the other hand, has declined even further, and will be representing a general converted van, used for fruit, parcels, luggage, potentially tools. You name it, if it can be thrown in there, it'll be used for it. 

 

The original end panelling and steps were filed away on the van, and planked plasticard fitted vertically instead (the SER and SECR did this on some vehicles, from what I've gathered). Footboards were all trimmed away, too. A false floor is fitted just to add some rigidity and I'll add a roof, likely before painting. The buffers are temporary, just there to ascertain ride height. Incidentally, every wheel set I fit to these seems to give the right and wrong height all at once. I know they're HO kits, but still! 12mm makes them positively tiddly, but 14mm makes them appear on stilts. I'll decide eventually. I'm thinking they'll both be in plain lake; it doesn't seem worth the energy of the company to repaint them if they're on their last legs? The only difference being some 'luggage' transfers to the van and reclassification markings on the carriage. I have to say, I quite like the repurposing of the original third as a van, it seems fairly plausible before final retirement. On that note, the Blackstone saloon - that's been retired. I was frustrated with trying to make it seem plausible in height, ride, styling etc, and I have far too many projects I'm trying to manage as-is. 

Edited December 27, 2023 by AVS1998
Correction of type of kit mentioned for potential project.

[AVS1998]

@BlueLightning you're a bad influence, I've only gone and mocked up a drawing for a Baltic Nelson following our conversation the other night. 

[BlueLightning]

6 hours ago, AVS1998 said:

@BlueLightning you're a bad influence, I've only gone and mocked up a drawing for a Baltic Nelson following our conversation the other night. 

 

Glad to hear it! I do love a Baltic!

 

Gary

[AVS1998]

Would anyone happen to have any more information on the Midland clerestory composite that found its way to the Isle of Wight Central? I'm just curious about the hows and the whys, it's such an odd item to cross the Solent (I say that, look at what else has made the crossing). There's scant information online aside from two photos and the odd tagline. I know it was numbered 6988, withdrawn in the 1930s and seems to have lost its clerestory at some point, also riding (eventually) on four-wheel bogies. 

[AVS1998]

The Stroudley bogie first now has an underframe, courtesy of a Ratio Midland underframe kit. It did need narrowing in the length by around 2mm, but otherwise it has been assembled as 'usual' for a Brighton conversion of these kits (side frames inverted, then sanded of detail, the trussing cut away etc). The buffer beams aren't perfect, but I think with some more tidying up, they'll look the part, especially as this is intended to be a mid-rake vehicle. It'll need a dynamo and some brake detailing, and V trusses mid-way, otherwise it will remain spartan. I'm undecided on the buffers - it may use the Ratio long buffers from the kit. Bogies will come, in time. 

 

The body shell did unfortunately split and required regluing (with a little overspill) but with cautious paint repair and maybe some internal reinforcement, it'll hold strong. 

 

 

 

Definitely looking the part to me, now!

 

Also in the post for me during this visit was a Golden Arrow O1 kit. Now, I've preordered one of the Rapido models, but I've always fancied building one of the kits, and since Chris now has an O released, I'll give that a bash, too. I'll try to find my B2 bash and C class to do a comparison between the three. There was a lovely handwritten note in with my kit that I really ought to write a reply to. Much appreciated, Chris - it was nice to be remembered! 

[AVS1998]

 

As promised, 3 generations of SECR 0-6-0 (SER O1, LCDR B2 and a Wainwright C at the rear). It's surprising how similar in size they are, and yet also how 'big' the C is overall. I'll be interested to see how other tender 0-6-0s compare in time... 

[AVS1998]

 

I must say, this kit falls together very nicely. My chosen prototype is SECR 390, rebuilt to an O1 in December 1915, so relatively early in my period (1910-30). As-built it appears to have had a tender weather sheet, and I'd like to try and represent that in time. The sandboxes were also mounted on the front splashers, along with a wingplate, which I should be able to replicate with some judicious filling. Photos look like tapered buffers are needed. I'm tempted to remake the cab roof in plastic sheet, only because I found while trying to tidy it with a file it was too easily cut into and taken out of square. 

[AVS1998]

 

Just a vague mock-up of the proposed LN-X Baltic, Lord Amelius Beauclerk. The cab is virtually a like-for-like W, which I'm fairly happy with. Side tanks are simple long rectangles stopping maybe 2mm short of the forward boiler band, and around the same height as the handrails, which looks 'right' to me. It's going to be a hefty machine, if I commit to a build!

Edited February 24 by AVS1998

[Edwardian]

On 24/02/2024 at 19:34, AVS1998 said:

 

Just a vague mock-up of the proposed LN-X Baltic, Lord Amelius Beauclerk. The cab is virtually a like-for-like W, which I'm fairly happy with. Side tanks are simple long rectangles stopping maybe 2mm short of the forward boiler band, and around the same height as the handrails, which looks 'right' to me. It's going to be a hefty machine, if I commit to a build!

 

Great project, and I look forward to developments. Still, resulted in a double-take. I thought I was looking at a giant 3D print of a locomotive boiler until I saw the stitching and realised it was a sofa. 

[AVS1998]

I fly back to Belfast on Thursday, and was curious to see what stock I do still have, what I've amassed, and I was surprised at some projects/kits I'd forgotten about. To start with, we've got the fledgling SECR loco fleet;

 

Bachmann C class (to be rebranded/renumbered)

Kirtley B2 (I'm still toying with rebuilding the loco component with a Finecast loco and some brass or plasticard pieces)

Golden Arrow O1 (the cab roof definitely needs some attention, and there's some filling to be done before detailing)

Dapol D class (coal, weather, couplings? Trivago)

 

 

On the wagon front, I believe the two oxide opens are private owner wagons? I vaguely remember building them, they were kits bought in Edinburgh on one of my stays with Linny but I'm not sure what they are! To their right is an H. Syrus coal merchant wagon (I'd like some more of these). This needs weighting, a light weather, and couplings. Next is an round-ended wagon, I think LSWR or Brightonian in design? It's a Kenline kit, there's 3-plank open in a box to be finished as a companion. It'll probably run with a tarp for variety. 

 

 

Ah yes... The LBSCR. I'd forgotten I had a GAP J tank kit from some years back. I tried stripping the paint and it didn't go too well. A complete strip and rebuild is in order, I think. I need to decide which of the two it will represent, in time. As for the E4? The body is in decent shape, though the paint leaves much to be desired, but it needs some work. The mechanism works just fine. That paint mismatch is ridiculous!

 

 

Finally, just a demonstration of how dinky a Stroudley looks beside a Pullman behemoth. The umber needs patching up, as does the cream, the roof needs painting and the cable trunking repairing. I've built an interior for the Stroudley, and the underframe is more rigid now. It'll see buffers, battery boxes (unsure of positioning for this carriage - comparing with Billintons, they seemed to have the boxes either offset to one side or dead centre?) and some other gubbins. The Pullman... intimidates me, that's still a project I'm wrapping my head around!

 

I'd like to finish at least one thing this year!

Edited February 27 by AVS1998

[Sophia NSE]

Finish something? That's crazy talk!

[Dana Ashdown]

On 14/03/2024 at 09:03, Sophia NSE said:

Finish something? That's crazy talk!

From experience, I'm afraid it will only get worse!

[AVS1998]

An update, entirely unrelated to my 'usual' modelling. Some of you may remember the novel I set out to write some years back, set in the early '20s and with dozens of non-sensical plot points. I've decided to mostly scrap the novel, strip it back to bare bones, and start afresh. Some details are being carried over (Blackstone being the main setting, the family Beauclerk, Irish fiancé), but a lot is being overhauled. I've been doing a lot of fiction writing recently anyway, and finally feel up to the task of trying to bring this project up to my current standards. 

 

To start, I'm adjusting the time period to around 1910-12. I feel that's just as interesting as post-WWI, but gives more scope to explore the fear of the 'unknown', given world events (and those on a more national level); The third Home Rule Crisis, labour strikes and protests, transition from the Edwardian period, rumblings of war in Europe. On a more 'positive' note, 1911 saw the first celebration of International Women's Day, though I'm reluctant to rebrand Lady Beauclerk a suffragist or suffragette. It seems too paint-by-numbers and 'safe'. Whilst Rebecca* is a typical lady of her era (skilled in languages, writing, dance, painting/sketch etc), she's also attune to some social issues, assisting at the local hospice, attending events in her capacity as a landowner, and, as the eldest daughter, was also due to inherit the family house** (her father hasn't expressed any other wishes).  This particular branch of the Beauclerks are recusant, and have, through Rebecca's mother, family in Yorkshire and Northumberland. The fact she has been raised Catholic but is marrying an Ulster Protestant is a point of interest; he's still going to be a Nationalist (I'm trying to treat carefully with the use of republican/nationalist labels, as they're still complicated to navigate). 

 

There will be a chapter or two set in Tipperary (the real Beauclerks held lands and an estate there,  Newtown Anner House) where the Blackstone Beauclerks visit, perhaps for a spring holiday. It's an opportunity to see Rebecca out of her natural habitat, to explore contemporary issues of religion, statehood and the anti-British movement, gender issues, etc. Making such a trip (and writing these themes!) will be a challenge;

 

There's the obvious SECR - Liverpool route via the LNWR and connecting with a ferry there (to Antrim or Down, or south, to Dublin or Dún Laoghaire), or heading with the GWR to Fishguard for Rosslare. I've probably missed some options - there's a lot to sift through - but I'm trying to think whether it makes sense to spend more time on a train and be on a shorter sea crossing, or to have an even split and take rooms in an hotel overnight. The LNWR option seems to make the most sense, as there were direct trains from Kent/Sussex at the time, they operated ferries across the Irish Sea, and probably had through ticketing arrangements with some Irish railways. On the other hand, travelling via the GWR might also be a sensible option as there were some through coaches/trains to Birkenhead and Fishguard (possibly Plymouth, it's hard to tell from the mess of the timetables!) and it would be a more direct route south of Dublin. The jury's out. Then again, she may have travelled to Belfast or Dublin and met her fella there, then they travelled down with family as an entourage. So many options! There's a possibility that the family may have been visiting relatives in Yorkshire, also, and travelled via the L&YR, and taken the Fleetwood boat service to Belfast (if they weren't keen on Liverpool). Trains obviously follow thereafter - the GNRI and GSWR, I do believe? 

 

Maunsell no longer features as a character. He's redundant. As is the nonsensical daft CIWL Conspiracy. I'm not sure if there will be a railway-related conflict anymore (it seems silly to try to force it). Instead, I'm swayed more toward a struggle of identity and agency for a titled lady of Catholic heritage navigating her adult, married life. It's also a story of disillusionment with the Empire narrative. I want to write a chapter (based initially on an idea I had of her attending the Imperial War Museum's opening in October 1920 at the Crystal Palace) of Rebecca's discomfort with displays at the 1911 Festival of Empire, and her unease at the 1911 Fleet Review (coinciding with confirmation of her pregnancy upon her return to the London house). 

 

Seeing as how Rebecca won't have served as a nurse in a war, writing in the character of Peter Barnes-Bell (whose name I may change, I'm not so keen on the surname anymore), son of @sem34090's original character, the shadowy Missenden, is tad more difficult. He may be revised to instead be a longstanding pen-pal of Rebecca's that she made during a family holiday to Cromer (one of many popular Victorian resorts). He's still Missenden's son. They have maintained correspondence for over 15 years and met a few times in London - slowly generating rumours. This makes more sense to me, rather than the formulaic ''she's a nurse he never forgot'' plot I originally ran with. 

 

Thus far, I'm happy with how the novel's threads seem to be coming together. I'll likely post an update on here when I've written a trial chapter again. When I'm back in England, and have an opportunity to do some modelling, I'll try to tie that in with the novel works, also. Some fictional stock may ensue (who am I kidding, of course it's going to happen... You should see my stock lists. Stuff of nightmares. Or dreams.)

 

. . . . . . 

 

*I'm still workshopping her name. Rebecca seems to fit for now. I did toy with Francesca, or Diana. She's a distant cousin of the fascinating Beatrix Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans, who is around seven years her senior. Both have Irish connections through marriage, and Rebecca has fond memories of attending the wedding in 1897. 

 

**Female inheritance, historically, is perceived to be 'messy', but still possible. If I've read this article properly, inheritance of property by a woman was perfectly acceptable and normal (if entails and such nonsense weren't in place), however, the transfer of titles which are frequently tied to the estate are less likely. Thus, while Rebecca can and will inherit her home, she will not be able to pass on the peerage of Blackstone. 

 

 

[St Enodoc]

5 hours ago, AVS1998 said:

An update, entirely unrelated to my 'usual' modelling. Some of you may remember the novel I set out to write some years back, set in the early '20s and with dozens of non-sensical plot points. I've decided to mostly scrap the novel, strip it back to bare bones, and start afresh. Some details are being carried over (Blackstone being the main setting, the family Beauclerk, Irish fiancé), but a lot is being overhauled. I've been doing a lot of fiction writing recently anyway, and finally feel up to the task of trying to bring this project up to my current standards. 

 

To start, I'm adjusting the time period to around 1910-12. I feel that's just as interesting as post-WWI, but gives more scope to explore the fear of the 'unknown', given world events (and those on a more national level); The third Home Rule Crisis, labour strikes and protests, transition from the Edwardian period, rumblings of war in Europe. On a more 'positive' note, 1911 saw the first celebration of International Women's Day, though I'm reluctant to rebrand Lady Beauclerk a suffragist or suffragette. It seems too paint-by-numbers and 'safe'. Whilst Rebecca* is a typical lady of her era (skilled in languages, writing, dance, painting/sketch etc), she's also attune to some social issues, assisting at the local hospice, attending events in her capacity as a landowner, and, as the eldest daughter, was also due to inherit the family house** (her father hasn't expressed any other wishes).  This particular branch of the Beauclerks are recusant, and have, through Rebecca's mother, family in Yorkshire and Northumberland. The fact she has been raised Catholic but is marrying an Ulster Protestant is a point of interest; he's still going to be a Nationalist (I'm trying to treat carefully with the use of republican/nationalist labels, as they're still complicated to navigate). 

 

There will be a chapter or two set in Tipperary (the real Beauclerks held lands and an estate there,  Newtown Anner House) where the Blackstone Beauclerks visit, perhaps for a spring holiday. It's an opportunity to see Rebecca out of her natural habitat, to explore contemporary issues of religion, statehood and the anti-British movement, gender issues, etc. Making such a trip (and writing these themes!) will be a challenge;

 

There's the obvious SECR - Liverpool route via the LNWR and connecting with a ferry there (to Antrim or Down, or south, to Dublin or Dún Laoghaire), or heading with the GWR to Fishguard for Rosslare. I've probably missed some options - there's a lot to sift through - but I'm trying to think whether it makes sense to spend more time on a train and be on a shorter sea crossing, or to have an even split and take rooms in an hotel overnight. The LNWR option seems to make the most sense, as there were direct trains from Kent/Sussex at the time, they operated ferries across the Irish Sea, and probably had through ticketing arrangements with some Irish railways. On the other hand, travelling via the GWR might also be a sensible option as there were some through coaches/trains to Birkenhead and Fishguard (possibly Plymouth, it's hard to tell from the mess of the timetables!) and it would be a more direct route south of Dublin. The jury's out. Then again, she may have travelled to Belfast or Dublin and met her fella there, then they travelled down with family as an entourage. So many options! There's a possibility that the family may have been visiting relatives in Yorkshire, also, and travelled via the L&YR, and taken the Fleetwood boat service to Belfast (if they weren't keen on Liverpool). Trains obviously follow thereafter - the GNRI and GSWR, I do believe? 

 

Maunsell no longer features as a character. He's redundant. As is the nonsensical daft CIWL Conspiracy. I'm not sure if there will be a railway-related conflict anymore (it seems silly to try to force it). Instead, I'm swayed more toward a struggle of identity and agency for a titled lady of Catholic heritage navigating her adult, married life. It's also a story of disillusionment with the Empire narrative. I want to write a chapter (based initially on an idea I had of her attending the Imperial War Museum's opening in October 1920 at the Crystal Palace) of Rebecca's discomfort with displays at the 1911 Festival of Empire, and her unease at the 1911 Fleet Review (coinciding with confirmation of her pregnancy upon her return to the London house). 

 

Seeing as how Rebecca won't have served as a nurse in a war, writing in the character of Peter Barnes-Bell (whose name I may change, I'm not so keen on the surname anymore), son of @sem34090's original character, the shadowy Missenden, is tad more difficult. He may be revised to instead be a longstanding pen-pal of Rebecca's that she made during a family holiday to Cromer (one of many popular Victorian resorts). He's still Missenden's son. They have maintained correspondence for over 15 years and met a few times in London - slowly generating rumours. This makes more sense to me, rather than the formulaic ''she's a nurse he never forgot'' plot I originally ran with. 

 

Thus far, I'm happy with how the novel's threads seem to be coming together. I'll likely post an update on here when I've written a trial chapter again. When I'm back in England, and have an opportunity to do some modelling, I'll try to tie that in with the novel works, also. Some fictional stock may ensue (who am I kidding, of course it's going to happen... You should see my stock lists. Stuff of nightmares. Or dreams.)

 

. . . . . . 

 

*I'm still workshopping her name. Rebecca seems to fit for now. I did toy with Francesca, or Diana. She's a distant cousin of the fascinating Beatrix Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans, who is around seven years her senior. Both have Irish connections through marriage, and Rebecca has fond memories of attending the wedding in 1897. 

 

**Female inheritance, historically, is perceived to be 'messy', but still possible. If I've read this article properly, inheritance of property by a woman was perfectly acceptable and normal (if entails and such nonsense weren't in place), however, the transfer of titles which are frequently tied to the estate are less likely. Thus, while Rebecca can and will inherit her home, she will not be able to pass on the peerage of Blackstone. 

 

 

Looks good. Don't make it too "Downtonish" though.

 

One thought - would readers confuse Rebecca with the first Mrs de Winter?

[AVS1998]

I'm very much trying desperately to avoid writing Downton! And I did question whether Rebecca would be a bit too precise, but, looking at popular late 1880s' girls' names, I'm rather underwhelmed by the selections, so I'll stick with Rebecca for now. It might change. 

[Northroader]

Pre WW1, surely? Best route, from Paddington to Fishguard, then there’s an overnight boat to Waterford, not the Rosslare route, pretty run up the estuary to Adelphi Wharf, then direct to Tipperary.

She will end up as “Becky” anyway.

Edited March 26 by Northroader

[AVS1998]

32 minutes ago, Northroader said:

Pre WW1, surely? Best route, from Paddington to Fishguard, then there’s an overnight boat to Waterford, not the Rosslare route, pretty run up the estuary to Adelphi Wharf, then direct to Tipperary.

She will end up as “Becky” anyway.

 

I was referring more to the original 1920s setting, with the social and political fallout of WWI settling down. And thank you for the route, I'll take a look into that! 

[AVS1998]

I'm bored of cleaning and packing and cleaning again. There's only so much you can do per day during a house move.

 

As such, I've been pondering on how to re-use the rather nice (well, I think they're nice) Hornby Mansell wheel sets left over from the six-wheel carriages. They're inside-bearing, and followed a very simple retaining principle on the models, just a simple 'U' slot that clipped into the chassis. Now, I know that Slater's coach kits used a similar principle for a while (scroll about halfway down until you get to the bogie discussion), and that's a very tempting prospect. Something like that in a bogie, made from plastic sheet or brass, with proper bearings, set within a cosmetic brass/whitemetal bogie frame. It would need a decent amount of weight to it. My main concern though is whether the wheels would be free-running enough in internal bearings, especially metal-on-metal. I know some modellers had issues with the Hornby generic six-wheelers not holding track very well, with the bearing system possibly having some influence on that. An alternative to this would be to use inside compensating units, but that gets pricey quickly. 

 

I suppose another option (albeit potentially expensive, and pointless), would be to replace the axles with longer pin-points. But why do that when I could use better wheels on projects? And that's a fair question, one which could be asked about why I'm thinking of reusing the Hornby wheels in the first instance. My reasoning is twofold: one, reusing the Hornby Mansells might (Might!) save a little money and if it means not having to buy additional wheels, perfect. Secondly (and perhaps more importantly), I just want to try. 

 

It's all just ideas, at the end of the day. I might not use them again at all. 

[Dana Ashdown]

Personally, if the wheels are good, I'd try replacing the axles with pin-points. Otherwise, what about trading or selling them for something else.

[AVS1998]

The donor for the O1 arrived a couple of days after I'd flown back to Belfast in February, and now that I'm settling back in at my parents', I saw fit to dismantle the Dean Goods and see what work would need doing. 

 

 

First things first, there's a bit at the rear of the chassis which would require chopping away, and a nub on top of the motor, in order for the motor to fit in the boiler properly. Inside the boiler might need some light grinding, too - we'll see. The wheels fit fine in the slots, though I'd still like to add some proper inside bearings to ensure good running. Also to be carried over would be the DCC socket and tender pickups. 

 

What did become apparent, however, was the GAP O1's slight dimensional compromise. It isn't awful, especially if you're using a 'generic' 0-6-0 chassis (say the Hornby Jinty), but for my purposes I think I'll cut away the splashers and move them around a little to match the chassis better. 

 

 

(not the best illustration but I think it demonstrates what I'm trying to explain). 

 

I'm afraid to say the Lord Nelson Baltic is a no-go. I went to take the body off the chassis, to evaluate the chassis and body separately, and the valve gear decided to start falling apart. So, I'll be offering that for spares/repair. I'm sad to see it go, even if I didn't want the damned thing in the first place!

 

I'm also looking to sell my Maunsells; they're too modern, and utterly redundant on Blackstone. They're a bit tired, and the 'inside' carriages of the set have been fitted with floor-mounted Kadees.