brianthesnail96

At some point this year I am going to learn to build brass kits, and will most likely start with a Connoisseur wagon- from the reputation Jim's kits have it would seem a sensible starting point. So, yes please to the step by step account from me, I think I'd find it very useful indeed (not least for working out tools and techniques). Watching with interest

And a cracker it is too Paul- more evidence for my arguments though Don't get me wrong- I'm all for industrials in proper liveries, but any industrial is better than none, and the only way we'll get more is if the existing ones sell well... and the wider the range of potential buyers there are the better the chances that they will. The "serious" industrial modellers will buy one regardless

It proves you've got some workable CAD data with which you can produce something that (to my untrained eye) would appear to be approximately the right size and shape- the same data will presumably then be used to produce the moulds etc, although that's an assumption on my behalf. It suggests more progress than a handbuilt mock up anyway.

Oh, so what? We've finally got a reasonable representation of an industrial diesel in several variations and all we can do is grumble about what blummin' colour it is! If it offends you that much get your paints out and change it... as many people have done with the chain drives on this thread already. At least it's in an authentic livery, even if it's not one in ran in while in commercial use. It seems a sensible choice to me- appeals to the (generally younger) audience who like to run a "preserved" railway scene (usually as an excuse for a variety of regions, eras and liveries- any why not), the "I've seen this one" and the "it looks pretty" collectors, and the "generic industrial to shunt my indeterminate industry" modellers. All of the chain drive releases were clearly tied in to a specific industry which would have excluded the latter market- I've not seen many models of the Cattedown bitumen wharf for example.

Seem to remember one of the Leodest & Larivane fleet is a Voirrey is it not? You know you're always more than welcome to drop in on us on your travels Sir

You'd have thought I'd have learnt by now wouldn't you... this one does have a French engine though! Part of the justification for buying him (he came named by the way, it's in tasteful stick on chrome letters on the leading edge of the bonnet) was to transport lumps of Marina around, as well as model ralilways. Laura loves him (especially now he has fluffy faux tigerskin seatcovers to match Mud), I'm really starting to worry about her... Barnaby- will do- GlosG0G Hardwicke show in March is a possibility, but I'll definitely post on here when there's any news

Click Here- this will lead you into the survey It's not of any interest to me- but I'm very happy that the hobby is moving in a direction where people are actually proactively trying to fill some of the gaps in the model market, instead of sitting whinging about why no-one is releasing "their" model- and that there's a supplier prepared to support them. Keep it up folks- and good luck

Far more important than the Hornby annoucements (Well, as I expected there's nothing in it for me, how dare they not release an 0 gauge industrial locomotive lettered for a 1960's tar distillers for less than the price of a bag of a Tesco sandwich, grumble grumble whinge whine whinge grumble!), we've taken another step towards taking BT&S on the road- I've bought a van. No, not a Slaters one. Meet Lenny. He's an ex- Royal Mail LDV Pilot crewbus and he's terrible, but once I've removed the poor attempt at a camper conversion there should be plenty of room to stick BT&S in the back, all on the level floor minimising the chance of damage. He even looks like he's been painted with tar... For some reason I can't get the forum to accept photos from Photobucket without major faff? Anyway...

What a cracking photo! Here to save everyone searching

This, along with the announcement of Bachmann's 64xx, is one of the few things that has made me question if selling my 00 BR (WR) BLT and moving up to 0 gauge was the right choice. I didn't even bother buying one of the Hornby autotanks for it, they look good for a model of their age but don't stand up too well against the Bachmann 45xx/ 4575 and 57xx in the appearance stakes- and fall down further when it comes to running (from previous experience!)- I bought another pannier instead. A couple of DJ/ Hattons ones would certainly have made an appearance though... Fortunately my decision to go 7mm was the right thing to do- the Hunslet Austerity is one of my favourite classes, I'm very much looking forward to the DJ Models one

No idea on accuracy, and there's a few prominent mould lines on the pipework- but it looks so lovely in that livery I think a lot of people will be more than happy to overlook a few foibles of detail (if, indeed, there are any!). I'm trying to work out how I can justify getting one into a 1960's tar distillers...

Dave wrote an article on BT&S (including some of his excellent pictures) for Railway Modeller, featured in the December edition out now (along with a couple of other layouts of interest, including the fantastic "Tucking Mill"). I have a stash of wagon kits to keep me amused over the festive period, and a bit of a plan regarding bracing the backscene and making the layout more transport proof, hopefully at some point early in the new year we'll get it together and running again

Had a day off work today with nothing planned, so decided to break out the paints and have a play with the Dapol open wagon that started my 7mm meanderings. For a first attempt at weathering in any scale I'm quite pleased- admittedly the wagon isn't particularly suited to BT&S, but it might get the occasional outing, and anyway it's unsuitability is why it was targeted for practice! It's not quite finished- I need to sort those couple hooks for starters, and I want to try using more powders too. I pinched the other half's decent camera to get some better pics, the Fowler got in on the act too. I eventually want to repaint it, but that will require considerably more bravery than slapping some acrylic on a under utilised wagon... I think I might have to sent it off for a sound chip first though.

Couldn't change the name if I wanted to (which I don't), it's writ large on the wriggly tin "factory" building that hides the fiddle yard, and on half the wagons too Fear not, I'll carry on posting in this thread- as I said before, there's nowt drastic planned- mostly a few minor repairs and arranging some form of box for additional protection when in transit, and some more substantial legs. This, along with a bit of wiring work (adding connections between boards mostly, and a movable "groundframe" to control the points from either the front or back depending on mood, location etc, is planned for over winter. Have been a bit distracted for the last few weeks, preparing for & taking part in a 2000 mile classic car run in a friend's car, and now trying to sort one of my own for the NEC classic car show next month. BT&S will see more attention over winter, it's in a warm house (in fact the main board is on the dining room table, I'm lucky enough to live with a very tolerant young lady...) not a cold garage I need to build a few more wagons too, which I enjoy- and learn to paint them, and make them dirty!

Laura sez "Hello Mister Neil"! I do indeed recall... it'll have to come visit someday (and you can have a laugh at the Marina fleet as well )

The new owners of Bury, Thorn and Sons are pleased to announce that they have replaced their poorly suited motive power with a more suitable design for the operations required. Yes, somewhat predictably, it's an Ixion Fowler. I want to be able to get something running that will sit well on BT&S, and something that will be reliable too- with my budget effectively it was a choice between a Hudswell or a Fowler, not wanting to risk an "ebay special" kitbuild. Having spent ten minutes looking at both in the Antic's warehouse shop and considering, the Fowler won. The BT&S tanker fleet also got to stretch their legs on the Golden Valley MRC test track a few weeks back, probably the longest run they've had!

Will indeed keep you posted Mark- no immediate plans as I say, nothing in 2015 most likely but maybe 2016... An Ixion "Fowler" is a strong contender Martin, I struggled to decide between the 04 & a Fowler when I bought it (the 04 won on being more in keeping with other club member's layout, the mostly commonly exhibited is a diesel depot) and made the wrong choice! Unfortunately I can't stretch to a Manning Wardle at the moment.

Indeed Following a renewed threat from Dave that he was going to lop a foot off the end to fit it in the shed, I thought I should probably stop umming and ahhing and make an offer. We negotiated a price for the layout plus a significant proportion of the tanker fleet, as to me one didn't make any sense without the other, and Dave was good enough to deliver it on Sunday. I don't have any huge plans to be honest- I intend to make the layout more resilient to transportation, which will involve a bit of thought. I've no permanent home for the layout, it will go up in the garage but I'm one of those odd folk that uses it for keeping his car in so it can't be a permanent fixture (being a modern integral garage it's approximately the same size as the average car...), so it'll have the occasional outing to the local 0 gauge mob's meet instead. No immediate plans to exhibit but it's something I've wanted to do so definitely an option in the longer term. Other than that it's just going to be a case of repairing some of the odd minor bits and pieces of damage as a result of it's journey from the Northlands, add a few extra touches here and there and tidy a few bits up (mostly the backscene to be honest, which has warped slightly in places- not that you can tell from the viewing side). I'm really pleased with it- it includes so many features that I'd always wanted in a layout, such as inset track, weed grown sidings, deep "ballast", a gated siding, industrial grime and grot... Really glad that some of the stock has stayed with it as well, Dave's custom transfers for the tankers really help set the scene. No locos sadly- in fact I only have a brassworks 04, and that doesn't fit!

He's gone and got distracted playing with plastic aircraft I'm sure he'll be back soon...

What a refreshing change from the "I want the moon on a stick, and I want it yesterday, and I want it for pennies" that seems to be the norm in some quarters. I'd love one, but my kit building skills are non existent and I somehow don't think it'd be the best place to start- but I'll wait patiently to see the fruits of other's efforts for my part. I just hope someone does one in red- it suited them far more than it ever should have, in my opinion anyway!

She is a big old lump isn't she! I love the weathering on Elijah.

Can you get "Magnadhesion" wheels in 7mm? Some cracking photos of one of my favourite classes- thank you!