Prometheus

D'know, I think I'd rather like an Armstrong Utility....... .....to go with my Daimler Dart, Riley 2.5 RM Drophead and Alvis TD21. Ah, those wish lists... Tony

Thanks for that Dave - a new roof would be helpful. Alas however, they do not have the printed side that I'm looking for: the Craven Llewelyn coal truck. Tony

And well, in spite of an earlier intention to never build another Peco ‘Wonderful Wagon’, here is a model of a Worthington brewery van. Actually, I didn’t build this one but I did restore it. Acquired with badly corroded wheels, a broken roof and a detached side, I re-wheeled it in new bearings and carefully reattached the detached side. The other side was not removable and although I was able to clean off some of the excess glue applied by the original builder, it is not quite as tidy a job as the restored side: it's tolerable though. The roof is another old Peco part from the bits box and has been cleaned up, painted and glued in place. Bachmann couplings have been attached in place of the originals and the shiny plastic chassis toned down. This van runs extremely smoothly and the sprung buffers and axle-boxes work well. I know that these aren't everyone's cup-of-tea but they have a delightful vintage air and as long as great care is taken in attaching the paper sides, they can look quite convincing. If we don't rescue them, they'll disappear completely eventually, lost to a mass of out-of-the-box replacements. I'm beginning to find these addictive... The usual problem encountered with second-hand Peco vans involves very poorly folded-over paper ends, the original builder having relied rather too heavily on lashings of some ghastly adhesive to hold the fold in place with the consequence that it has leaked out everywhere and spoilt the appearance completely. There's little to be done in those cases [unless you can obtain replacement sides] and I'm constantly surprised by just how bad these bodged jobs are: a carefully scored fold, held in place with PVA, provides a invisible joint. But it's easy to be critical. Tony

'...getaway people...': those Super National adverts are so evocatively period. Tony

My earlier comment about the use of five different adhesives in this construction may have caused some surprise ! For the record then, epoxy resin to secure the underframe parts to the inside of the diecast lower body unit, and also to attach the Bachmann couplings to the lower part of the buffer beam, liquid poly to attach the roof to the upper body unit, superglue to attach the brake gear to the underframe, the brake levers to the sides and the completed upper body unit to its diecast base, impact adhesive to secure the printed sides to the body and finally PVA to ensure that the fold-around corners stayed put. I looked but I couldn't find any use for Sellotape ! Is this a record ?! All joking aside, whilst I said I'd not build another, there is one coal wagon that I'm hunting down, the Craven Llewellyn version. But that's it. Absolutely it. Life is problematic enough assembling old K's wagon kits..... Tony

This chappie ? Tony

Yes, these are the aluminium ones, complete with burrs as you have experienced. They are astonishingly light too, you could be forgiven for thinking that they might float ! Tony

And here they are - the axles are 28mm long. there are no manufacturer's markings. Tony

Likewise - long, rounded axles. Tony

Thanks for that - I was interested in the history of these wagons. I guess the wheels that came with the kit may have been the original purchaser's substitutes then, although they were in a sealed grease proof paper-type bag. Anyway, they've gone ! The buffers on this one are metal and one shows some signs of jamming already. The sides could be 'improved' [i suppose] by gently scribing between the planks with a soft pencil to introduce some shadow. I'll leave well alone however. Tony

I never got around to building one of these until yesterday. I doubt very much if I'll ever build one again, either. Five different types of adhesive [CA, PVA, liquid poly, impact and epoxy] conspired to hold everything in place however, although the fold around corners were absolute blighters. It is extremely free running, but with replacement wheels in better bearings. The original Peco wheelsets were horrors and appeared to be crudely lathed aluminium affairs which ran in deep brass bearings that were hardly any better. The axle holes were so deep I simply inserted replacement plain bearings into the original bearing cups. The kit cost 50p, very recently, in a junk shop. Having assembled it, one can see that not much has changed since 1954, although then they must have been the bee's knees.... Those brake levers do stick out rather but the buffers and axle boxes spring rather satisfyingly. I'm not sure that I'd call the latter compensation however. Anyway, a nice little period piece. Tony

Thanks - convincing too. Tony

What bogies are you using under your Siphons Lofty ? Tony

Be gentle with me as I've strayed from the path rather with this one. It is, of course, a BR Palvan. I know that, you know that. So don't get too excited over the livery choice ! This was bought for £1 in a recent club sale. Poorly made with - as usual - no floor and so bowed sides it also had plastic wheel sets none of which would sit on the track simultaneously. The Triang couplings were attached with what looked like most of a tube of Seccontine. I'm fairly certain that the buffers came from another kit - they seem a little long. Fortunately, a quick boil released all of the old glue and cleaning up and reassembly could commence [with a floor this time]. Why the livery ? It came with it and I rather liked it. I don't usually do 'never were's' but Rule One and all that. Anyway, it runs beautifully. Tony

Thanks Mike [and all, too]. I had planned to only use superglue gel for the very narrow upper ends to prevent any peeling away. This bit: Tony

Thanks - if it works for you it'll work for me ! Tony

I generally use 2-part epoxy of superglue for attaching / joining parts when modelling. I think that an impact adhesive would be more appropriate for attaching Comet brass overlays to plastic coach bodies however. Can anyone advise please on the most suitable make of impact adhesive ? Thanks all Tony

Join me please in a hearty laugh... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Cooper-Craft-Railway-Train-Model-Vintage-Collectible-1970-circa-England/360962819260?_trksid=p2054502.c100229.m3211&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D37628%26meid%3Df057d0e509934a92b35467e9621ed0da%26pid%3D100229%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D360962819260 It keeps cropping up, 'a fantastic edition for any collector of models...'. Tony

Beat me to it ! Very sad - anyone know if it is beyond repair ? Tony

Fairwood gets very occasional interesting visitors. The most memorable was back in '99 when Air Atlantique DC-3s flew in as part of their oil dispersal duties following the Sea Empress disaster near Milford. I saw three Daks on the apron at the same time, a wonderful sight but - ALAS ! - no camera. We also had a Mosquito overfly some years back. Sadly, all of the de Havilland aircraft left to relcolate further south years ago - it was always good to see them out and about [there was even a Sea Devon in one of the hangers]. In the mid-90s Antonov transports [with Russian registrations] were used briefly to fly live calves out to Europe, before the tade ceased. Tony Tony

Absolutely - the Breitling Connie. I think possibly the most beautiful prop-liner ever [although others do come close]. For good measure, the same Connie. Tony

Flypast at Fairwood Aerodrome [laughingly known as Swansea Airport] Farnborough a few years ago Ditto Almost impossible not to get good shots of these, they are ludicrously photogenic... Couple of weeks [i think] before the crash. No time to set it up though, it just suddenly appeared behind us and then was gone. I've posted this before. It is, genuinely, upside down. Tony

Thanks Neil - I have the original ones then. I'd already noted the problem of the tumblehome -v- the flat inner face of the look-out. Some careful filing awaits. Ratio LNWR look-outs are a much better fit [perhaps I should have whispered that...]. I'll not be using them though. Tony

That's correct, in so far as the kit goes. Some had their look-outs removed in later life however, the opening simply sheeted over. I chose to model that variation for the first rebuild. The next one will have its look-outs attached though. Perhaps you could help me with something. The look-outs I have for the other model are white-metal mouldings. They are quite nicely done but they are somewhat on the small side - not hugely so, but their panelling will not line up at the top and the middle with the panelling on the coach side. Are your's similar ? Thanks Tony

The latest in my crusade to restore old K's shockers. I acquired two of these, both dreadful but each worth working on. This is the first. Lots of compromise but it looks OK from three feet and runs absolutely beautifully [white metal bogies help, as do self-adhesive tyre weights]. As for the Parcels Van branding, well I've not found a photo of one to evidence it but I've not seen any commentary to say that one never existed either ! Anyway, Rule One.... I've always liked these 40 footers but they do change hands on eBay for astonishing sums sometimes. Tony