Dzine

Hi Folks, does anyone know how to contact Chris Ellis. I used to write for Scale Model Trains many years ago and had heard Chris was poorly and wanted to catch up with him. Regards Paul

Thanks Rufnut and Titan, Just coming at it from a different angle, the R159 double ended diesel loco and R55 single ended loco have a similar high top bogie mounting. I suppose my question is do you know wheel centre dimension on these and how it compares with the Budd, though from catalogue images I suspect there might be some difference. Sorry to put you to more trouble and please say if it becomes a burden. Kind regards Paul. PS My dilemma is, I've been offered an unpowered version in excellent condition for £30 and also have been looking at a brand new still sealed in box powered version for £125 ( from a very reputable seller I regularly deal with).

Hi there, so in theory it might be possible to cannibalise a Hymek motor and wheel sets (having discarded the frame) and mount it inside one of the plastic Budd bogies (acting as a cosmetic finish), recognising the whole thing might need a mounting of some kind. Regards Paul

Hi Folks, Was the Budd Railcar power bogie used on anything else. I've had an offer of an unpowered Budd and wondered how easy and cost effective it might be to make some sort of powered up alteration? Kind regards Paul

Hi Steve, Perhaps we should ask eBay to take you on as an administrator/vigilante for all model railway sales!!!!! Seriously though, back to those wonderful layouts of yours, generate as much time as you can there. As always thanks for your support, if change is to come about it's often at grass roots where it starts, well done you. Kind regards Paul

Exactly Steve, just what I meant and you were brave enough to mention, or at least hint at, one particular well-known retailer. I feel sure there are many more modellers out there who feel just the same, though I'm glad you received a great response from at least one Ebay seller, which just goes to show how people can be encouraged to do the right thing. Take note PMP!! (in earlier post)

Hi Folks, I'm a bit old in the tooth now and you get to that age where you've just about got everything and the railway stuff you want is so specialised that family and friends have little or no chance of identifying the bits you want/need, unless there's a massive overacted hint! Due to ongoing ill health I still haven't spent last years birthday money, so what with that and Christmas it's amounting to quite a bit and a bit of retail therapy works great at such times. Now, I've made a couple of purchases from, well you know where, and they're from reputable dealers, you get a feel for the good ones, it's in the description and the words used and what I'm about to say has no bearing on those folks who were given outstanding Feedback. There's a but coming and it relates to all the toads I had to look at before finding a prince. Overly high prices are often a giveaway, and photo's of dross that are fit only for the bin are just as bad and it's not just the fly-by-nights but some of the mainstream, so called good guys! So when, referring to a loco, it only says, "tested", what does that mean; it goes one way, both ways, it's as noisy as hell or quiet as a mouse. What about, put it on a track with five coaches and see out fairs, specific things that we can measure, show us the wheels up close and personal, muck, pits and all and beware of any seller who won't take returns. It doesn't matter how good the deal looks, I won't touch em, if your products great they should fly off the shelf and you should be prepared to take it back if something is wrong. Now I could go on and on, you're probably saying that already, but it's been bugging me for a while. Surely I'm not the only one? Look forward to hearing your thoughts. Kind regards and a belated Happy New Year, Paul

Thanks Dave, I found a way round it. The two termini are shown in reasonable detail, albeit heavily compressed or modified (or both in some cases). I decided to leave some sections on a multiple choice basis (you can choose your own favourites) leaving purchase of the book to any potential builder if they so wish. It's good to know they're available and I'll mention the detail in the script. I have to say, some second hand book purchases and model railway equipment have become ridiculously overpriced, often with vague descriptions that are either untrue or frankly of very little use. I think there's probably another topic here, it's been bugging me for some time. Thanks again, Paul

Hi Mike, although not one of mine, the plan comes from the Peco Narrow Gauge Planbook. Regards Paul

Hi Roger, Have enjoyed your work on the Ashover Railway. I'm currently working on my next article for Model Rail magazine and hoping to design a 009 layout that includes as much of the branch as possible. Do you know if any of the published books contain all or a substantial amount of track plans? And perhaps most important can be purchased for a sensible price! Kind regards Paul

Love the scenic carry through beyond the backscene aperture...well done you. All the best Paul

Don't apologise for the sketch, it's perfect for the job. You should have seen my first attempts, they get better the more you do. Kind regards Paul

What a fab job, I noted nothing posted since early August, How you doing? Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, We're trying our best to help the Llangollen Railway, see Preservation section of RM Web, following administration they're in need of a massive cash injection. I've been a guest of the railway recently and met many of the hardworking volunteers, some on every day projects others on the grand, and almost finished, scheme for the new terminus station at Corwen. To all my friends in model railways, those who read my regular articles, private clients and the wider modelling public please give to their cause, however small, £1 will do but if you can give more, including time as a volunteer. There are full details in the Preservation section, please help me to help them. Thanks in anticipation and kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, Please have a look at my comments on the Llangollen Railway in Preservation, RM Web. I need your help. Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, We've been trying to help the Llangollen Railway during their current difficulties. So far that's included a six page awareness raising spread in Model Rail, Issue 290, donations of new books to sell in their shop, together with a modest number of initial donations. Let me show you some of what we've said so far; WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER It was with great sadness that I recently read the plight of the Llangollen Railway, and was moved by the uphill struggle undoubtedly facing all those involved. The potential loss of such a beautiful line, a particular scenic favourite of mine, fired my thoughts into action. Real railways, whether preserved or part of the national network, and railway modelling go hand-in-hand, with each providing substantial benefit to the other, not only in terms of cash, but the resource they provide our modelling efforts. Imagine our loss if there was widespread collapse in either preservation or the modelling hobby! And yet, it doesn’t take much to turn things around; whether that’s when a modelling exhibition hall is trashed by a few idiots or a preserved railways’ future hangs in the balance, we are undoubtedly all in this together. So what can we do? Not just those of us at Model Rail, and our readership, but the wider modelling community too. Please help me to help them. If you can, please make a donation to llangollenrailway.enthuse.com, Full Steam Ahead Appeal, or pay by cheque (made payable to the Llangollen Railway Trust), addressed to; The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen, LL20 8SN, or by bank transfer; Sort Code 538103, Account 23423455, £1 will do, but send more if you can. If everybody involved with the magazine and online forums donated, then it would run into tens of thousands. If you have time to give, the railway needs a number of volunteers, so please speak to the Llangollen team. Help me show the Llangollen Railway that we care about their terrible plight and that we can do something really tangible, to Make a Difference. Thanks, Paul. PS Please ask if you need to know more.

Hi Bazzer 42, Good to see the Pwllheli plan inspiring you. At 62 you've got loads more layouts to build. I'm 70 and still going good!! Will watch this develop, looking forward to it. Kind regards Paul

Thanks for all of that John, I love the books, their quality, and suspect the information contained within is pretty accurate. L Ashwell-Wood is also a favourite of mine, I have a fab copy of the 'World's Railway's.......' and would love to be able to repeat some relevant sections, for people who are too young to know the works, in Model Rail but cost and copyright, I think might be prohibitive. Kind regards Paul

Cheers Andy, I wish I could illustrate that well, but I'm stuck with being a designer first and an artist second. Kind regards Paul

Hi John, Fantastic, the books give a great insight into what was happening at the time and they look fab too. Just for my own interest, do you, or anyone else reading this post know who did the cover artwork? Kind regards Paul

Hi Andy, Many thanks for that. They're a fab little book, packed with info and probably pretty accurate given the author. I have No. 5 and just ordered No. 3 The Cornish Riviera. No. 4 seems to be quite rare, given the lack of sales on eBay and the like. Fortunately, I'm only after the ones that affect the Western Region. Once again many thanks for your help. Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, I'm doing a bit of research on these booklets. They were published between 1955 and 1958, a series of 8, as follows; 1. Elizabethan 2. Royal Scot 3. Cornish Riviera 4. Does anyone know what this one was? I've looked on line but there's no info available. 5. The South Wales Pullman 6. The Queen of Scots 7. The Royal Wessex and The Bournemouth Belle 8. The Irish Mail Can anyone help with identifying No. 4? Regards Paul

Hi Nile, many thanks for signposting weeduggie2. Hopefully my other post will help him. Kind regards Paul.

Hi weeduggie2, I think there might have been some confusion! Reference on page 21 refers to the track plan top right of page 23, in that the footprint can be measured from the model track plan, together with an estimated height, as you said, from the 3D. Hope this helps. Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, I've always thought that Recent Retrospective Reviews would be helpful, garnering feedback from the first purchasers on what they found in real life. Then we'd really have a helpful idea of what we're going to get and avoid situations like the first Heljan Garratt. It would have to be fair, balanced and structured and would take a bit of effort on behalf of those collating and producing the results, but it would certainly enable all of us to make a more informed choice when we buy. All the best Paul