M.I.B

There don't seem to be any chain pockets Robin, but they are a hefty item to be dragging on and off repeatedly. CONFLATs have very obvious chain pockets/lockers, and their chains are not so chunky as those needed for a 40-50 ton tank. So the pockets would not be small if there were any. They wouldn't have travelled in the armoured vehicles. So I can only say that they stayed in place. Happy to be corrected if someone knows there was a locker underneath - but given the size of chains i doubt that.

94XX in green suits my time frame and location. I also have a whitemetal kit one which is about to get a recent DCC pannier chassis etc under it. But you are right on the numbers an allocation - it's not a long list for the green version. Only marginally longer than the 97XX class history and allocations......... So well done for them to make it in green, especially considering that the green one differed from the black one in more than just the smokebox number.

I have a 6944 in that condition based on that photo. I hadn't planned on a second one, but I started with the Shapeways 8 wheel tender chassis and to fit the 8 wheeler into my period (post WW2 to BR) it has to be 6951. Had 6951 been an unmodified or early Hall it would probably have been green or lined green. But then again there is a chance that it could have been black.......... I have already taken my Bachmann Hall start point apart and again I'm looking at removal of the "box" which supports and fixed the nameplate in place. it's hidden on named engine models, I have a spare reverser rod ( this is only half seen and hence half moulded on the model). But on the fireman's side there is a moulding which again is abbreviated on the model and I need to extend. I can't remember how I did this last time.

If they did, but the time 94XXs were in service, cleaning to that level was restricted to express engines. These were mainly , in GW days, Paddington area workhorses. There might have been copper underneath but not seen for long............

Tenders weren't always painted to match especially during WW2 and shortly after - the engine would go into the works minus tender hence tender swaps. Tenders would be on a different maint schedule hence why sometime an engine "loses" a tender inbetween shop visits. There was a photo doing the rounds on the web until recently of sister engine 6944 in "as built black" at Didcot or Reading with a lined green 4000 gallon. Hence why I think that 6951 would have been seen un-named, in black with a lined or unlined 8 wheeler tender showing the G**W logo. This batch of engines seemed to be named when they went in for a "heavy" which for this batch would have meant a colour change, and removal of the plated up window apertures on the cab sides.

I have perhaps a dozen mixed axles of wagon/coach size. All from RTR - no Gibsons or Romfords. Any use? I will post at 2nd class "Large Letter" as the envelope won't be big.

Thank you Richard. I can fill in some of those gaps, with info from reliable sources such as photographs. I will wait a while to see if anything more comes in before I post the results. Your dates for 5001 and 5032 don't tally by the way. I agree on 6951 filling the time gap between 5017 (verified on many sites) and 5068 (verified by a photo and the unique timestamp of the "British Railways" scripted tender). 6951 was not named at this time and would have been out-shopped in black with plated side windows (plated not shutters - there was a difference) There are a few photos of other members of this batch in this condition.

Tank Transporters had them too. If you wanted to heat up a tin of beans and make a couple of cups of tea at the same time, you put a dent in the beans tin and sat it on top of the exhaust stack, and used the BV (Boiling Vessel) for making a brew. When the dent popped out or when you couldn't touch the can with bare hands, you knew it was time to eat - as long as you opened the tin carefully (think of tomato sauce at 300C and 400 psi.............)

That is one of the versions. It lists more allocations than others. All of the versions are the same up to and including 5017 The Gloucestershire Regiment. Between there and 5094 it differs. Not trying to create problems: just trying to get to the bottom of this. Thanks for posting.

There is a post on the UK Prototype pages regarding Mr Collett's 8 wheel tender. It seems there is more than one version of the allocation history doing the rounds (I have found 4 different versions all with errors it seems) . And there seem to be missing chunks/allocations (Post 5017 for example). I'm posting this on here, where the GW aficionados lurk, to see if any of you can add to the discussion: photos of it in use, confirmed allocations (with references if possible) Thanks.

Outstanding work John, not only on the tank weathering, and the WARFLAT, but the shackles and loading are perfect. That is the standard and pattern which perfectionists should aim for. Apart from your buildings, which I am always envious of, this is in my opinion your best piece of modelling.

There is some very conflicting information about this unit: It's GWR days are fairly well documented on easily accessible sites (BR Database) but it's BR days aren't so well defined. Even in this post there are allocations missing from some people's lists, and other lists are in possibly the wrong order: Examples include: 1. 6905 Claughton Hall gets a mention in some places and doesn't in others. (There are references to photos of Claughton Hall). 2. 4093 Dunster Castle is listed in some references , but the BR database entry for Dunster Castle does not list this tender from ever having been fitted. 3. 5904 Kelham Hall is listed as having been associated with the 8 wheeler in some references, but not others. 4. 7904 Fountains Hall is associated with the 8 wheeler in some references, but not others. Beverston is a definite "milestone" in the series because of the "British Railways" script on the tender. April 48 onwards. So where was the 8 wheeler allocated from Dec 45 to Apr 48? (5017 received 6 wheeler #2615 in Dec 45)

Does anyone have information which will help me identify the correct livery for 6951 which was given the 8 wheel tender after The Gloucestershire Regiment, and before 5068 Beverston Castle. There are lots of photos of this tender in BR livery, but few in GWR. From other info I gather that Beverston gained the tender in April 48. 5017 got a 6 wheeler in Dec 45. So (Impney Hall) 6951 had the 8 wheeler from about Dec 45 to Apr 48 , which is before the engine was named, got a heavy and presumably got a green repait and cab windows. So 6951 was black with probably an unlined Green G**W 8 wheel tender OR Unlined black G**W 8 wheel tender Any help in confirming please? Thanks

Exactly what I am doing on my latest 28XX project. Unlined green is an easy transformation. Don't forget to add bufferbeam numbers in lieu of the smokebox ones.

My Lima SIPHONS are shown on Page 10 of my saga as per the link in my signature block.

All depends on the purchase price and shipping price. On the CROCODILE L kit I think i paid about £20/£25 before it would be released and delivered.

Their quality is excellent as is their packing and dispatch time. And unique models command a higher price than something you can get from your local shop or box-shifter. HMRC was onto my order like a tramp on chips, but I had factored this into my "is this worth the ££ I'm paying to have it?" calculation.

A mighty Antar: still in service in the 80s! Happy days: trying to get up and down the gearbox without knocking too many teeth off the cogs.......and the Polish/MSO drivers in Germany..........and too much vodka........

The ramp wagons were WD property I believe and would therefore have been the same livery as the WARFATs and WARWELLs - a gungy green colour would not be wrong. They would definitely have some sort of registration/serial number - everything has a number in the Ministry. How many Sgt Majors does it take to change a light bulb: One. Two, three, one................... As for photos - more likely to come from the military history circles than railway circles - if lads with box brownies only took pictures of engines, I can't see them bursting with enthusiasm for ramp wagons. However there will somewhere have been some sort of instruction manual for the ramp wagon and that's your best source for a clear clean photo. EDIT - what about books/websites on Longmoor, Marchwood or Bicester military railways?

Not a pile of other photos because most of the other work was simple "re-names" (and coal and crew and fall plate if needed). Hornby's Knight of St Pat became 4031 Queen Mary. A black BR Hornby Grange is now unlined green ( late logo) Longford Grange, complete with low coal level in the bunker, And an ex-set King ( forgotten which now) became the youngest King (in my period anyway) - Willy 3. I also made a start on a pair of TSOs based on the Hornby "Night Mail" coaches - chassis replaced with Hornby LMS 57' versions. I think one will be "all over" brown whilst the other will be C&C. Some spray painting was also done, but the finished projects are a way off: 4961 Pyrland Hall in unlined green late logo - but due to an accident with a hairdryer this Hornby engine will have a Bachmann body ............(oooops). This also has an ex 2251 tender bearing the "GWR" logos 4943 Marringdon Hall, also unlined green. 4942 Maindy Hall in unlined green 2845 for a conversion to oil using 3d printed parts. and an Oxford Dean to all over black. 7204 has made a re-appearance for the fitting of the Brassmasters detail kit, and of course the three panniers for new DCC chassis are still underway. Plenty to keep me sane over winter. Hope that you are all happy and well.

Shock, horror! I have had a week off work!!! In fact it was the second week of my summer holiday!!!!! This means I am not expecting to be in the office much in December as I have been told to take all my remaining holiday. But there will still be emails to answer and calls to make......... I have done some modelling and I will post a few snaps over the coming days. Firstly 41977: This took 4 nights to paint by brush, mainly because of the nooks and crevices etc. And another evening session to letter up. I have no idea why this behemoth had "Common User" logos, but it did. I didn't manage to put the "Tare" logo on, mainly because the HMRS sheets don't contain an italic number large enough. I will let myself off though because I did manage the Centre-of-Balance logo on the low loader body: thh "C" overlaid with an "I" which is exactly how I did it. The transformer load is gloss green, and the suspension plated are red lead. I did read in a number of places that such plates were fitted to the transformer for transit only and were made just to under sling the load inside the girder frame. This frame did come apart so that the transformer could actually be loaded sideways!!!! before the side was refitted. However man-handling the girder side would have needed a considerable crane. The low loader body looked a little bereft and I remembered something about Deam bogies. In the Russell wagns book, there was indeed a photo of the "spare" body being stored on an old pair of Dean bogies. A Railroad clerestory donated a pair of bogie which lost their running boards and couplings, and gained some girder lengths and some wooden dunnage, care of Swan Vesta and Costa Coffee............. The packing is a little taller than in the photo but I had to do this because of the height of the pins. As per the photo there is also packing on the rail tops as well. I will grubby them up a little. There is only one fault with this excellent model - no handbrake levers. I have some in a "bits box" and will add them someday.

Off on parade this morning. Lest We Forget. We will remember them.

The items on the left seem to be turnbuckles - Most have a hook on each end or they can be anchored to the load bed (of whatever). A good driver or loader will always keep them oiled and extended so that when you chain down you: 1 Hook the chain on the load ( usually using a shackle) 2. Pull the chain tight. 3. Slip a chain link inside the hook on the turnbuckle (not hook through link), 4. Wind them in, thereby tension-ing the chain. A slack driver will keep them as they were last left, and thereby have to faff about winding them back out before he starts - bad drills (: If I caught drivers or No2 drivers doing this sort of idleness they got extra work in the evenings when everyone else was tucking into a Herforder........ Remembering Absent Friends today.

Top lights? New Saint? Manor? Have a good day and pop into the car museum if you get a spare hour.

Forget James Brown - Shakey was the hardest working man in music in the 80s: most teenagers, and yoof with any cred hated Shakey, so he could only hope for support from the OAPs (and ex teds) and the little kids who watched him on things like Cheggers Plays Pop/Runaround/Magpie etc. Yet he still cranked out a massive number of top 10 and 20 hits without the support of the average record buyers!. Not to be sniffed at. "......what's that secret you're keepin'.............."