Mike Riley

I received my KoGC from Hattons on Saturday. I was disappointed that it doesnt have a representation of the valve linkage. Then I saw the pictures from NZ and that example has the valve linkage. So is it just mine or are there more out there with this prominent feature missing? There was a surplus of oil and I had to clean the backs of the drivers well to get decent electrical pickup. And tweak all the tender pickups. And I think the DCC socket is the wrong way round to suit most decoders. Even in the "display" position, the tender drawbar leaves much too large a gap. I've made a new drawbar to correct this but when the fallplate is down level it fouls the tender handrails. Another thing to be tweaked. The bogie wheels will be replaced with Gibsons in due course. Other things I have or will fix. But the valve linkage? Mike

Thanks, Buffalo. Have yet to see one in the flesh. If Andy Y still has that example he might see if he can put it back into shape? It's good to know that you can separate the body from the running plate - makes it easier to fit a speaker in the bunker. Regarding missing lamp irons, see the bunker on 7202 in last month's BRM. The "extra" spares are easily dealt with. Thanks for noticing that. They should only be on the left side I think. Mike

Looking at the cover of the latest BRM (weathered 5205) it seems that the running plate is not straight with visible gaps between the running plate and the underside of the tank. Possibly the weathering has highlighted this. Is it just this particular example or are they all like that? There is also a missing lamp iron. something evident in other review examples. Mike