ChrisN

In this case though, I was wearing a mask, so I may not have been that audible. Also, I had left my grey suit and bowler hat behind. I knew Stephen instantly of course, he had a name badge that said, 'Stephen Lea'.

No problem. It was good to meet you, talk to you and see some of your models in the 'flesh'.

Gary, Glad things have worked out in the end. I can imagine it is difficult working in modelling, then going home and thinking, 'What shall I do to relax? I know, what I have been doing all day!' Maybe not. Are you still selling 3D prints? I am not about to send you a big order, but I have just primed to two kits you sent me, so watch this space. No, not this space, my space. The layout is looking good. Interesting idea with your signal levers.

Nick, Actually, I, er, have one of the old Manors. There might be a few pictures taken of the Manor at the head of a rake of Collett coaches, bringing some young ladies to the barracks in Traeth Mawr. The barracks was repurposed as a training base for the ATS. The GWR painted the station in Cambrian colours just to confuse everyone, 'There is a war on you know!' It will not be permanent. I know nothing about the GWR, but having something of a right time frame that I can run is nice. Glad, you have not felt unwell, I would have expected your treatment to make you feel tired, but it was a while ago now.

Mikkel, Having turned the axleboxes around, the holes in them are not central, and the springs are now pushed up. (That is probably why I did it wrong in the first place. It would therefore seem that if when building these you can get the paper springs to work, probably by fitting them first, or at the same time as the W irons, that would be better. Pictures to follow.

Tony. Thank you. I am feeling better now. I have been working on the siphons slowly, but I thought that it might be helpful if I finished them off quickly. The four wheel one is not far behind. What I have not said, although I may have said it earlier, is that I calculated how many milk churns it would take to have a line of them next to the edge on either side. I then ordered in bulk from Dart Castings and have used copious amounts of PVA to stick them in place. They are just visible, but it does give them a bit of weight.

Mikkel, Thank you. Yes, I am feeling better now. Having spent ages looking at the axleboxes, all I can say is that when it is on its roof they are the right way up! 🙂 Thank you, I shall sort them.

I have been doing a little modelling. I am supposed to be making windows for Mr Price's house, but I have not been too well recently and when I had some time to do some modelling I wanted something where I did not have to think too much. Added to that, Tony, @brumtb, has just got a book on Siphons, and although I am progressing the two I have, very slowly, I thought I would try and finish them. This is the last image I have shown with the roof on, and painted with shellac. I have not been very diligent about taking pictures, but I do not think I have missed too much out. These are the springs that came with the kit, and in the top left is a Dart Castings' spring. Notice the size difference. I had laminated them all, but as you see there are only five. This is because they were too flimsy to put in after I had put the W irons in place. If I made one again I might just try and put them in at the same time as the W irons. The view from Underneath. You can see that the whitemetal springs do not really fit, so the paper ones would have been flat, but would have to go in at the same time as there is no room between the W irons and the edge of the MDF base. I had to cut the whitemetal springs to fit over the edge and around the W irons. I have also trimmed, at @Mikkel's suggestion the brakes, and have only broken one of them. This was carefully put aside in a container with useful bits to be firmly fixed at the next modelling session. Before the modelling session I was asked to tidy my modelling desk as we had visitors and yes, it has been put somewhere safe. When I find it, I will fix it in place. I have also put in a vacuum brake cylinder. I drilled a hole and pushed the Dart Castings cylinder into it, fixing it, like the springs, with superglue. All the springs in place. I have used my patent six wheel system which is a variant of the MJT six wheel wagon system. It might have been better, to remove the W irons for the central wheel from its holder as it raises the central wheel up a fraction. When I got this far I tried it on the layout and found that on the point leaving the fiddle yard when the point was set at the smallest radius. it derailed. I checked and the siphon rocked with the central wheel as pivot. The W iron support, I noticed was higher in the centre, and was raising the wire that keeps the central axis in place. I filed down the central part and now it seems to be fine. If it is not, then I shall have to take more drastic action, but probably behind closed doors. Next time, the central axis will just have W irons. Finally, I have fitted the top stepboards, I think that is what they are called. 10 x 125 thou Evergreen strips, firstly stuck in place with PVA, then superglued when the PVA was dry. The lower stepboards next, for, perhaps, the next time. If you have been, thanks for looking.

Firstly, I have to say that I have ordered a 517, just the one. The red framed version, 832 I think the number is. I have wanted a 517, so this is an easy way to get one. Unfortunately, 832 is a London engine at the end of the 19th century, and the make things worse, the only 517 in North Wales at the time was based at Bala. However, it will appear late in the day instead of the 645, or even, If I m as quick doing locos as everything else, it may be in charge of at least some of the Dolgelley trains that do not run through to Ruabon.

I may see you on Sunday afternoon then.

Will you be there yourself?

Your wish is my command: Didcot Railway Centre (websds.net)

Great Western Railway Journal Nos 74, Spring 2010, and 75 Summer 2010 has all you ever wanted to know about 517s. That is until you have read them, then there is lots more you want to know.

A Metro tank has been mentioned. Well, in Pre-Grouping days the Metro and 517, were in different parts of the country, well nearly. This of course means that if a Metro were produced, in early Pre-Group guise, it could well attract another batch of modellers. Just saying. Of course what is really needed is a Sharp Stewart 2-4-0, and a Sharp Stewart 0-6-0. 🙂 Shame that saddle tanks did not last longer.

Paul, All gone by Nationalisation. What sheds would they have been in for the GW&GC?