Grampus

I am looking for a couple of unbuilt Chivers' excellent 4mm Crab (RC445) or Lamprey (RC444 or 446) kits. Just wondered whether anybody might have a couple of redundant examples in their stash that they would be prepared to part with, please? I would just like a couple more to make up a reasonable length train, having built several previously and then left it too late to obtain any further examples direct from source. Please PM me if you can assist. Many thanks. Yours hopefully, Paul

A good show again yesterday, with lots of quality modelling. I really liked the venue: readily accessible, with plenty of easy parking; a decent-sized hall with aisles wide enough to be able to stand and enjoy the models without being trampled. All this and it's only half an hour(ish) from my house - excellent! Thank you to all concerned. I shall look forward now to the post-modernisation show in the same venue in October (17th and 18th). Best wishes, Paul

Glad I ventured out this afternoon, despite the weather. I had a thoroughly good time at the show: personal favourites were Brighton East, Boston Frodsham and of course, Bournemouth West. Normally I am not a fan of smoke generators in model locos, but whatever the team are using on BW, I thought it really added something on this occasion. Well done all and thank you. Hope everybody got home safely. Best wishes, Paul

DRS Crewe on a mission and 37420, thank you both very much. I confess I was so surprised (shouldn't have been, I guess!) that I forgot to look for the numbers, even assuming I could have read them through the mess! Best wishes, Paul

Evening all, I wondered if anybody might be able to help me identify the pair of 20s I saw this morning on a RHTT service just east of Kiverton Bridge, headed towards Worksop at 0925, please? The lead engine at the Worksop end was in Harry Needle Orange; I couldn't honestly tell what colour the loco on the back was! Grateful for any help, please. Many thanks.

I did just that yesterday afternoon and had a thoroughly good time. As usual a well-balanced, well-organised local show, with something for everybody and without the, sometimes pressured, atmosphere of some the bigger events. As always I came away with a couple of items that I didn't know I needed - certainly when I left the house at any rate - and I also enjoyed a rather good bacon sandwich! Good job all - thank you. Best wishes, Paul

Thanks for a great show and well done to all concerned. I spent a very enjoyable, relaxed afternoon at the show today. A good selection of layouts, with plenty of space to observe them and soak up the quality of the modelling. I shall look forward to the next one. Best wishes, Paul

Very pleased with mine, which arrived yesterday, though grateful for the thoughtful provision of spare buffers since mine appeared to have a rough shunt on route at one end - easily sorted though. Well done, Kernow. What a wonderful model. I am absolutely certain they must have passed Chard at some point, heading for Eastleigh for repair, and therefore heading past my locale - probably in the dead of night when nobody was watching though! ...Or at least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! If pressed, IMTS also applies! Best wishes, Paul

Fantastic - how great to see a pair of 50s in such splendid condition passing through Salisbury once again. Quite made my evening - thank you. Best wishes, Paul

Evening all, one from the Ecclesbourne Valley gala last weekend:

Mark, for what little it is worth, I would leave well alone- I think the steps look spot on: they already look pretty lightweight to me. Perhaps once they are primed and toned down?... Best wishes, Paul

Great service from Hattons today. Having recently bought a couple of OO Warwells, one of the pair arrived slightly damaged, with one of the end jacks loose in the packaging and broken. A brief email to Customer Service resulted in the swift dispatch of a replacement jack, which arrived safely in the post this morning. First class service, I thought, particularly over such a small item. Well done, Hattons - thank you very much. Paul - a happy customer.

Rob D2, thanks for the gen. So sorry i have not replied previously - missed your response. Cheers, Paul

Inspired choice! Thank you - I've ordered mine!

What a great show - I had a really enjoyable day today, so huge thanks to all involved in putting on the event, particularly given the difficult circumstances leading to the change of venue. I am so glad that I decided to make the effort and pop over. For what it's worth, as a punter, I thought the venue worked well and was a big improvement upon the Town Hall in terms of space, light and temperature. My only observation for the future, should you choose to use the same venue again, would be that a few hints on parking would have been welcome: however, a little google-fu last night gave my an idea of what to expect and I found safe, on-street parking easily and within a few minutes' walk, so no real drama. I saw some fabulous, inspirational modelling: my overall favourite was 'Parrot Hall' which, I thought, oozed real railway atmosphere ( - in a good way!) but in a manageable space; and Hornsey Broadway was just staggering. Add to that the welcome news of the forthcoming Cavalex KFA/PFB warflat and I went away a very happy bunny. Thanks again - I hope that all the workers actually manage to find some time to enjoy the modelling. Best wishes, Paul

Just outstanding - I especially loved the panned photos of the 47s at speed - about as close to reality as its possible to get in model form, I should think! Paul

One more from me this evening - went for 'arty' this time!

Evening all, after a splendid day out at the GCR Spring Diesel Gala last Saturday (13 April) here are a couple of 50017 'Royal Oak', looking Glorious in the Superb sunshine...

Andy, Just a brief note to say how much I enjoyed the book; the images captured the era perfectly for me and brought many a smile. Looking forward to more of the same. Best wishes, Paul

Chris, hope you do. I was really quite taken with your layout from this picture: I would like to know more. Very clever indeed and has given me a few ideas for a plank I happen to have waiting in the garage for inspiration (where it has been sat for a while!). Best wishes, Paul

Great, thanks for the steers: the website is particularly useful. I now know that the loco was fitted with a Clayton boiler originally, and from what I can see from various photos, the outlet was plated over by the time I am interested in. It appears to be in pretty much stock condition, so fits my requirements nicely. Sad to see it was involved in an accident later on and cut by 1990. I would still appreciate folks' thoughts on which Bachmann 47 would be the most appropriate starting point (though of course availability is also a factor). Happy modelling and best wishes, Paul

Smashing picture. I remember seeing it at Westbury as I passed through on the Friday(?) beforehand and wondering what on earth that was doing there (having no knowledge of the presence of 27s at Swindon at the time). Unfortunately I did not make it to the open day - couldn't face another trip on the same route over the weekend when I was commuting to Bristol and back every day at the time. Oh for the longed for time machine! :-) Best wishes, Paul

Afternoon all, I would like to model an early 1980s Western Region-allocated 47 as I remember them, running through Salisbury, day in-day out, on stone, oil and MOD traffic: tired-looking BR blue and workaday dirty. Inspired by Rivercider's smashing photo of 47235 at Salisbury on MOD traffic in the early 1980s here: https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5495/11855823335_ea1064d893_b.jpg I decided on that one since it was one of the CF-allocated examples that turned up with regular (then monotonous) regularity. I particularly like the numbers above the cab windscreens to give it just a touch of individuality. Fond, rose-tinted memories now, but in truth, back in the day, I never took a huge amount of notice of them. One 47 looked much like another, though I was always impressed by the sheer size of them, particularly when viewed at ground level from the adjoining car park ( - and the odd, occasional 'clunking' noise they made as they cooled down.) There are plenty of other photos of said loco on the net, showing both ends. It looks to be fairly typical, with plated headcodes and the additional headlight. My question is ( - got there eventually!) was there anything unusual about this particular example? Also the inevitable one, I'm afraid: which would be the best Bachmann example from which to start? As a non-47 specialist, I am slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number which have been released in all sorts of flavours. I am happy to paint-strip and detail/re-spray as required, but clearly I would like to pick the closest example as a starting point. I know there were some issues with early ones which featured 57 details such as riveted windscreens and additional cabling on the bogies, plus occasional ride issues. Would the steam heating boiler outlet have been plated over by that time? Grateful for any advice, please. Many thanks, Paul

Just goes to show what turns up when you aren't looking. Until now I was completely unaware that Swindon had ever overhauled 27s - Wish I had known at the time. Mind you, I was a bit busy! Best wishes, Paul

Funnily enough, after posting here yesterday evening, I googled (other search engines are available...) Swindon Works Open Day, 1979. Imagine my delight when the first picture that came up was of Western Prince, with a gang of folk waiting to cab it that day. Didn' t see me though, which was just as well. Also enjoying the banter on here! Best wishes all, Paul