Crantock

Its actually not too challenging to do. There was a drawing in March 2016 Railway Modeller. That article has all details but says there are no photos of the tender front. "the Stanier 4-6-0s of the LMS" (Rowledge & Reed) p70 has one. The tender is wonderfully angular so easy to do from plasticard. I scanned and printed the drawing, flipped and printed again. Then used 10 though transparent film and pressed the rivets through, glued to the sides and made a mould. I did the same for one of the hybrid 3500 slab sided tenders but less successfully . Right, I've never attached photos - but here goes. Iphone at night and i seem to have had some coal discolour... Tender, Master and QC fail..

There is no information vacuum. Those on their mailing list have received 5 emails in 2021 already.

Some people who spend too little time on Companies House are jumping to conclusions. Jim ain’t a happy bunny to judge from the mail he sent. The company struck off has always been dormant. That is obvious on Companies House. What it was set up for is his business. Nowhere on the MM website T&Cs etc is the word Ltd used for the business. Most partnerships don't have to file accounts only LImited Liability Partnerships. Companies House Records are poor at mapping multiple directorships. Jim’s comms skills are odd but give him a break.

Well interesting developments. It will be interesting to see Hornby and Hatton coaches side by side. I worry the takes on the colour - eg LNWR plum might not align as these are not long established RTR colours. To me the glaring omission from product lines are pre-grouping brake vans. These open up a goods train of readily available private owners. Perhaps too company specific for the generic approach.

Many thanks for the update. I appreciate that you are innovating and respect that you have tweaked your website model. The only query I have is that it is a bit confusing that the 4mm LMS wagons folder is illustrated with an LNWR van (great kits by the way) that is not then listed inside.

Well its nearly 4 months in. We still can't see a way out. But COVID is really just accelerating the collapse of the model shop. There are other threads for shops remembered but stepping back the number that have closed within my range (from Birmingham) is massive. Of those that remain I struggle to see those that are described as an "Alladin's Cave" surviving. The cramped messes of yesteryear are history. There will be two clear changes. Things must be clearly displayed so they can be found. Rummage boxes are obsolete. Shoppers will change to "Ask" rather than "look". Quick in, quick out. Of the existing shops in my area I can see those like Footplate in Kidderminster & Cheltenham Model Centre surviving. However, not all is doom and the failure of many other high street retailers must open locations and reduce rents. Perhaps though the model needs to move closer to the European one where pricey products are displayed in quality shops. There can few other businesses where so little attention is given to display presentation for such a high price range item. I suspect manufacturers would welcome that.

The shelfspace in Birmingham devoted to books and models has collapsed. On books one of 2 Waterstones has closed and the survivor seems to have lost much of at least one floor if not more. WH Smith is now a ground floor shop that shouts "short lease" and a large upper floor has gone. Ian Allan has gone. On models - Modelzone, Modelzone in WHS, Ian Allan, the Wonderful World of ......short leases, the wargamers hole under the library etc all gone. I will visit Tornado some time but they don't seem to have abandoned IAs short opening hours policy. Visited Parabellum on Vyse Street (military but some limited use for paints) but I need to lose weight before I next visit as its a bit tight. Exhibitions are the way forward for me.

Yes but York there has been a 247 stand in the same place for years. York is also known for good trade. Good trade attracts those looking for trade attracts more trade. Its a virtuous circle but is currently working in reverse in many places. Specialist traders also get profile which drives internet sales. I attend a lot of shows and 247 had a change in ownership and, to me is a trader on the up. It is becoming an at show go-to place for Romford/Markit bits as well as the nameplates. If Cardiff was not too loss making you might consider revisiting, it might take 2 or 3 years of visiting before custom builds.

An excellent exhibition. I am sure that when I first visited they were using 3 halls, though one had little in it. It seems to be both bigger in a smaller space. Exhibits were almost all of the best quality. One niggle, a bit under toileted for the number of visitors.

A sad loss. It was a well organised shop. However, I tend to pick most books up at shows. The City Centre has moved around a bit and retail has moved towards New Street. There are some large offices opening where the Library was and on Broad Street so footfall will rocket. Can see why rents would rise. There was a Mcdonalds under the library snd now there is none between New Street and the Broad St entertainment district so its a possible.

I would hope that as a hobby we can be understanding about this. DJ has tried to to something and has ultimately not succeeded. I have lost nothing others have lost amounts that by the nature of the hobby they could do without. DJ will have lost more. No doubt in time he will have something to say but lets remember there is a man and a family out there. Lets be supportive at this stressful time and lets not hound him out of an hobby that has been his life.

I was obviously not clear on my thinking. In speculating it was an ash hopper, i was thinking of the part that lifted the ash into the overhead hopper, not the skip wagon. similarly, the attachments points that did not look purpose built were those on the container not the conflat. Still, speculating having been borne too late and lacking reference materials to hand.

I don't buy that those are on the wagon long term. The points to which the chains are attached look like they have another function. The sides are not absolutely flat which is odd as is the fact that the near side is empty. Speculation - does anyone know what an ash plant hopper looked like? ie the bucket used to collect and then elevate ash to be deposited in an open wagon.

Well lets just throw in some random names we have read about: "4mm Job Lot Etched Brass Loco Tender LNWR? LMS For Kit Built OO EM O4" Brand: Comet "etched brass loco tender fret Came from a collection with various LNWR items so possibly of that origin".....or not https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4mm-Job-Lot-Etched-Brass-Loco-Tender-LNWR-LMS-For-Kit-Built-OO-EM-O4/273629591296?hash=item3fb5983700:g:hZ4AAOSw6KxcJhw3:rk:5:pf:0 Well I would say it was 3mm based on the ruler and the Stanier tender etching is quite clear "Produced by HB Holland, J Barry & AG Walker". Maybe of use to someone.

I'm not sure either of us are helping the OP but.......Aesthetically it should be 120degrees as the locos were 3 cylinder so the crankpins needed to be 3X120. However, I struggle to see how anyone can notice that and practically on a model would 120 degrees work as well as 90 degrees? I suppose it did on the real thing.

Mike, Please would it be possible to indulge us with a link or product number. Somewhere here I think https://www.soldersonline.co.uk/dept.aspx?id=196 By the way, taps are useful when soldering nuts to models as those less competent tend to find solder creeping into the thread. A quick clear out with a tap is easier than desoldering and restarting with a fresh nut.

Well I visited on Sunday. It was a good exhibition but there were no stunning knockout new exhibits for me. Indeed I notice the first X pages on here are all about trade and to some extent I felt the balance had shifted too far to trade. Perhaps enhanced by my first going to D area. The count of exhibits was perhaps increased by the MOMIG contingent but I did feel one of the 3 or so test tracks could have been replaced by a quality O gauge roundy roundy. As someone who is OO the shock is that to me the top layouts were Wickwar, Berger Hall and Halte Tombroekstraat (yes its bold as i have cut and pasted) Yes two of those are MOMIG. It was the lighting that made the difference. Lime St was top of the 4mm. The sight of something big like a Royal Scot looking small is achieved so much more in the caverns of New St than on a Shap model. Trade was mixed. Lots of box shifters but the junk pushers had clearly been steered to up their act. Some key traders missing which the organisers need to watch.

I've never been before but might give it a shot this year. It fills a Wigan sized gap. Andy Y mentions honestly the good points and car parking is amongst them (though some snowflakes on tripadvisor seem to want it floodlit). However, not stated anywhere is whether the parking is free. It may be taken for granted but, you know how it is, we've just passed Warley weekend and its infamous parking so I thought I would ask.

One thing about the headband is that you can still wear safety specs under them. Depends what you are doing but I always where safety specs when soldering. You may be happy the specs version gives coverage but i chuck it up as a thought

I have an Optivisor and it is very comfortable which makes all the difference. I have a Draper version with light which is unusable as is uncomfortable and just generally inferior. Do not underestimate the importance of the word "comfort" over features such as lighting. Be aware on internet purchases that I bought an Optivisor as an import from the US but would have been cheaper from UK once added VAT and Post Office £8 fee for collecting VAT and the hassle of going to a post office.

I think its horses for courses. Me, I just put mine in the waste paper bin. Shock. Horror. But I live on my own, no kids in a set of flats where I empty the bin into "paladin" refuse container that is lifted into the back of a bin lorry. From there it will go to be recycled and I would be disappointed if there was any manual intervention. I would take a different approach if I had kids or there were bin liners being carried by dustmen.

I have topped out on locos and further purchases will be selective and likely to be kits. I find the biggest danger is me and impulse buys at shows. Failing to look for obvious faults etc. Then finding you have bent or missing buffers, missing whistles, safety valves, steps etc etc. A show produces pressure of "will someone else get it". In contrast an Ebay auction actually comes with a description which often flags a fault and usually photos you can study at leisure. The only pressure on Ebay is to pay too much but that's manageable. I showed a colleague at work a loco on Ebay. I explained it was a "handbag" - it would cost too much, I did not need it, I had no possible use for it and I couldn't justify buying it. She was very helpful and explained that if it made me feel good about myself it was worth it.

Popped in. It’s a good show that has grown but is still a local show with some stars. For me Brettell Rd was a delight. Will spend time on the website. It’s one of those where you have to look carefully for the extra details. Loved the rain soundtrack. Campbell’s quarry was also good. Again a case of taking the time to realise you are looking at 2 working diggers that work in different ways to to modern hydraulics.

Thumbs down. Just lacked production quality

I would go for 247. The LNWR ones are old technology, note the “require cutting to shape etc”. I have used both.