pugwash

I've bought quite a few items over the past month for making some brass coaches, chassis as well as a NG loco kit. Generally, items by mail order under £20 come with a high (>10%) cost for shipping/postage), but this is low compared with a journey to a specialist shop or waiting until the next exhibition which the trader is attending. Generally I use google to search for specific parts, as many of the traders websites are not easy to navigate - Brassmasters is one of the better ones. Brassmasters were very helpful, and replied quickly to my email, and the items arrived next day after a BACS transfer had completed. (As good as Amazon and cheaper delivery) Worsley Works are have also been very easy to trade with - again rapid dispatch for items in stock, and just a week's wait for etches that were out of stock. 247 Developments also supplied by next day (first class post) - online catalogue, order via email and BACS. Wizard Models, have a fast and easy service through their website but a bit of task to search through, especiallya as many items don't have an illustration. Branchlines appears a little quirky having no website, but respond quickly to emails and will attach PDF catalogues if asked. They have a load of hidden gems and service, even on larger items such as kits, is very quick. The only hiccup has been (unusually) Alan Gibson - Colin responded within a day, but trying to get a payment through (by card) has been really dififcult as he's currently changing phone provider, and the voicemail box is apparently full this morning. Hopefully, just a few days to sort it out. Some of the smaller traders (e.g. Peter Mullen at 62C) balence their specialist service with a full time day job, so things are a little slower - but it's a case of use it or loose it, and we need specialist traders. Overall I'm really pleased with communications and deliveries in the trade. I try to avoid phoning the smaller traders as they are (hopefully) quite busy enough, and an email is easier to respond to.

Jon, What an eye opener your folded interiors are. I have been using solid seats in my LMS coaches but of course these are plain painted. Your prints are far more realistic as you've captured the cloth design in the print, which looks very authentic when viewed through the windows. I'm certainly going to try the folded seats on future coaches and I'm now wondering whether to print a patterned material on a lightweight paper and "reupholster" my earlier efforts. Thanks for sharing this with us. Chris

Many thanks for sharing this Ray Your excellent photos helped tell the story. Seems a very basic QC error in manufacturing... and not one but two faults. How's it running after the mods? I was severally tempted... but on reflection probably not after reading about the problems experienced by you, Rob and others. Chris