Henley-on-Thames - GWR in the 1930's

[Tim Dubya]

42 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

The last I heard, Dapol wanted to evaluate the sales of the mainline and city carriages first before pressing ahead.

 

That bodes well, I've bought two of the M&C toplights and I had absolutely no intention of doing so until the Sunday before last, looking through the thread it appears I am not alone in that respect.  I will most likely get a pair of the corridor versions.  That should be enough for this Southern modeller...

 

 

Edited February 27 by Tim Dubya

[Neal Ball]

1 hour ago, lezz01 said:

Have you tried Gibson's? For the wheels I mean.

Regards Lez.

 

No I hadn't tried there, but thank you.

 

1 hour ago, Star-rider said:

I too would be happy to be involved in splitting the cost of a Brassmasters bulk order for window grills, but let's see what the response is from Blacksmith first in case that's a more viable option.

 

With regard to 14mm wheels I usually just buy the Hornby or Bachmann 14.1mm ones which are always on the shelf somewhere. I don't know if this is some sort of Faux Pas with regard to GWR models but you  only actually see the bottom few millimetres! In fact I'm literally about to place an order somewhere - the Bachmann 36-033 are just shading it on price at the moment £17.95 for 10 axles at Rails of Sheffield.

 

Excellent thanks for the Rails comment. I'm placing an order with Rails....

[St Enodoc]

9 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Does anyone know what’s the score with 14mm dia OO wheels?

 

9 hours ago, Star-rider said:

With regard to 14mm wheels I usually just buy the Hornby or Bachmann 14.1mm ones

I generally use Hornby ones these days.

[Coach bogie]

David Geen kits sell this etch in nickel . Might be worth a call as he still sells some of his range.

 

GW/O1 - Double Door Grills

GW/02 - Large Single Window Grills

GW/03 - Small Single Window Grills 

GW/04 - Stowage Van Window Grills

 

 

Mike Wiltshire

Edited February 28 by Coach bogie

[franciswilliamwebb]

20 hours ago, checkrail said:

When building my first brake coach I puzzled over this for a while until the penny dropped: it's so the guard can get his hand through to turn the door handle from the inside.

 

The exact number of GWR guards who went on to pursue successful gynaecological careers is still unknown to this day 😉

[sjrixon]

I spoke to Dapol at Warley.. They said they were doing the Toplights..

 

Sales of the current coaches were positive, so they were going ahead. 

 

Fingers crossed. 2025 is fine as I've spent too much this year and it's only February! 

[Neal Ball]

20 minutes ago, sjrixon said:

I spoke to Dapol at Warley.. They said they were doing the Toplights..

 

Sales of the current coaches were positive, so they were going ahead. 

 

Fingers crossed. 2025 is fine as I've spent too much this year and it's only February! 

Thanks for this. 
 

I certainly know what you mean… I’ve just looked at my stash of carriage kits - there are six I have yet to start on!

[Neal Ball]

Its arrived! Steam Railmotor no 97 arrived courtesy of DHL today - don't ask about the duty and charges payable.

 

I carefully unpacked it; held onto the chimney; watched the motion, carefully put it onto the track and set it to work as loco ID 03

 

 

 

Gorgeous model - although I am surprised that the sound is so low.

 

Blimey that search light on the front / rear is bright!

[M.I.B]

9 hours ago, sjrixon said:

I spoke to Dapol at Warley.. They said they were doing the Toplights..

 

....... I've spent too much this year and it's only February! 

I couldn't simultaneously click on "like", "info" and "agree" all at the same time as "thanks"!

[Neal Ball]

Whilst waiting for the SRM to arrive, I fished the cylinders; soldered the axle pins and fitted the decoder and stay-alive.

 

At speed step 10, it runs very slowly.

 

 

It's only a short video - the decoder etc. has now been squeezed inside.

Edited February 28 by Neal Ball
typo

[Coach bogie]

10 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Thanks for this. 
 

I certainly know what you mean… I’ve just looked at my stash of carriage kits - there are six I have yet to start on!

I am down to my last two 'shorter' toplights. Only a few 70 footers left on the shelf. I never appear to have enough thirds when making up trains so Dapol could be solution. It depends if Mark Seward beats them to market with his Blacksmith C30/1

 

Mike Wiltshire

[Neal Ball]

21 minutes ago, Coach bogie said:

I am down to my last two 'shorter' toplights. Only a few 70 footers left on the shelf. I never appear to have enough thirds when making up trains so Dapol could be solution. It depends if Mark Seward beats them to market with his Blacksmith C30/1

 

Mike Wiltshire

That looks very nice Mike. When you return to Aus, you must have a suitcase just if kits to build 😎

[Coach bogie]

33 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

That looks very nice Mike. When you return to Aus, you must have a suitcase just if kits to build 😎

Plus others I pick up. I bought this pair in Aus. Not part of the plan but could not resist as complete with wheels

 

[Nick Gough]

19 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Whilst waiting for the SRM to arrive, I fished the cylinders; soldered the axle pins and fitted the decoder and stay-alive.

 

At speed step 10, it runs very slowly.

 

 

It's only a short video - the decoder etc. has now been squeezed inside.

Nice, smooth running Neal.

[Star-rider]

Back on the subject of window grills, Mark Seward (Blacksmith) did come back to me following my enquiry and as promised, here’s the result.

Firstly, the 70’ First kit I was after was available as a etch only so I have placed my order. I didn’t enquire deeply, but it suggests that some etches are ready to go, so it’s worth making contact if there’s something you’re after. Cost to me for the etch only was £48.00, there are no prices on the website just yet but that will hopefully give you a clue.

He does indeed offer a brake van grill etch, price to me was £5.50. If you don’t need a lot of them this may be the way to go for a single etch.

Pete.

[Penrhos1920]

On 26/02/2024 at 10:27, Star-rider said:

Nice to see your carriage builds still coming along Neal.

 

Can I ask what you do (if anything) about the window bars / grills in brake coaches?

 

I bought a couple of the Brassmasters ex Martin Finney etches from an exhibition a couple of years ago but have exhausted my stock now.

 

These were described as "GWR brake van window grills" so were probably intended for a Toad rather than a coach, but something seemed better than nothing.

 

https://brassmasters.co.uk/images/Finney castings/E7.jpg

 

I understand that Brassmasters are exhibition sales only now, so I've no idea if I would be able to replenish.

 

A bonus question for an extra point - any idea what colour these window bars would have been painted in the 1930's?

 

 

 

I think I bought my most recent window grills from RailTec.  But I can’t find them on their website.

[chuffinghell]

1 hour ago, Penrhos1920 said:

 

I think I bought my most recent window grills from RailTec.  But I can’t find them on their website.

just had a look on @railtec-models’s website. Is it these?

 

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3397

 

these?

 

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=977

Or…..

 

 

Edited February 29 by chuffinghell

[chuffinghell]

I appreciate it’s not correct but I used some off cuts of fencing for the window guards on my Hornby B set….

 

 

….as well as painting the drop lights and the addition of window decals….

 

….steel buffers, modified close couplings and custom transfers from @railtec-models

 

 

 

Edited February 29 by chuffinghell

[Nick Gough]

Last time I needed window grills I drew them on a pc, printed them on clear acetate (for Overhead Projectors) then glued them behind the glazing.

[MrWolf]

When I upgraded some Airfix B sets half a lifetime ago I scribed the bars onto the back of the glazing and gave them a wipe over with black paint.

[Neal Ball]

Yesterday the Steam Railmotor was stretching it's legs during its running in turns - it merrily ran round the (continuous circuit section) at Henley-on-Thames in both directions for a couple of hours.

 

The SRM was able to run into Platform 1 and 3 with no issues, but the motion guards caught on platform 2. Although that is really the mainline arrivals platform, I decided to change the guards for the slightly smaller ones.

 

Here she is seen in Platform 3:

 

 

At the same time, I was adjusting the County tank (I am having trouble getting the tension right on the front bogie) and that was in Platform 1 with the SRM in platform 2.

 

Of course, its possible that these two locos would have been seen together - possibly not at Henley, maybe at Reading.

 

 

Who will be the first to weather their SRM?

 

I will continue running it round the railway for a few more hours before I add the passengers and crew.

 

In the meantime, I am hoping to be able to finish off the County tank next week.

[Harlequin]

Have you fitted the smaller "scroll irons"?

 

BTW: That's the correct terminology - at least for the most visible vertical parts. In the prototype they are part of the suspension system that holds the body above the power unit.

 

[Neal Ball]

1 hour ago, Harlequin said:

Have you fitted the smaller "scroll irons"?

 

BTW: That's the correct terminology - at least for the most visible vertical parts. In the prototype they are part of the suspension system that holds the body above the power unit.

 

 

Thanks Phil, Yes I fitted them and they were sufficient to get into Platform 2.

[Harlequin]

9 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

 

Thanks Phil, Yes I fitted them and they were sufficient to get into Platform 2.

Oh yes, you said so. Duh!

(Sorry.)

 

[sjrixon]

SRM looks good at Henley... I know what you mean about weathering, I think mine is going to have a clean roof for a while yet..