dibber25

It wouldn't be a magazine in 1953. Modern Transport was a newspaper "The Times of the Transport World" until taken over by Ian Allan in 1963. My first job at IAL in late 1963/early 1964 was as a messenger boy between IA's new base at Shepperton and Modern Transport's old offices in Fleet Street. (CJL)

No. A few of them had red numberplates but not many. Swindon didn't like red plates.

I shall be in the market for one of those as soon as they are available. Many thanks. (CJL)

The original 'letter' was one of those classic stir-up pieces designed to get people talking. Suddenly there will be a lot of people talking about the Purbeck Gazette who had never heard of it before. Most probably written by the Editor or one of his staff in order to sell papers. I once had a boss who used to say, at our planning meetings, 'Go on, pick a fight with someone. That's what sells."

Fine. No further comment from me. (CJL)

The booklet was not proof-read by anyone who is on the current editorial team. It was probably prepared and proof-read by Rapido and I have no doubt that they are happy to deal with customers direct, as most of their products are sold direct. However, you must - surely - appreciate that if there are faulty 16XXs, Model Rail needs to be aware of that. As I said before, there are financial implications in the replacement of faulty models and if an issue is to be resolved effectively it is better for Model Rail to deal directly with the designer rather than introduce a third party who has not been involved in the preparation of the model. Anyway, you clearly have chosen your course of action. I would simply ask anyone else who has a faulty model to contact Model Rail or Kernow MRC in the first instance. (CJL)

The problem with going direct to Rapido is that Model Rail is the commissioner of this product. Rapido UK was not involved at all. We at Model Rail need to know if there are faulty models, and to keep track of how many, and what the faults are. There may be significant cost implications for Model Rail and we also need to be able to assess the extent of the problem. There is no address for technical problems because the models are commissioned and progressed by the editorial team. At the present time, we are 'out of the loop' with regard to the particular problem with your model and when we are discussing future products that's not a good position to be in. I appreciate that Rapido staff are very approachable but this is a Model Rail product, made for us by Rapido, and it was bought from Model Rail. We may well need to seek technical advice from Rapido but we have channels for doing that. If a model is defective, it should be returned to Kernow MRC for replacement. (CJL)

On GWR boxes, the black iron railing around the lower part of the windows allowed the signalman to lean out for token exchange without leaving his box. (CJL)

If there is a problem with the model, you should really notify Model Rail initially, rather than dealing direct with the manufacturer. (CJL)

I'd go with AY Mod with regard to Highley, except I think they spoiled the rural setting with that engine house. Before that it was such a tranquil place, almost hidden in the woods down that steep hill. It was even better as it originally was with the footbridge across from the hill. Last time I was there, several years ago, a 'Western' was working one of the trains, and I was invited into the station house for coffee by the lady who lived there. It seemed to be a lovely cosy home. Arley is a delight, too, and I remember that from its final BR days with one track centred between the two platforms. In those days, of course, there's the wonderful story of how - after the colliery closed and the railway was dead - BR continued to run one train a week......... just to take the signalman his pay packet! The tabloids had a field day. Some things, preservation can't replicate. (CJL)

It seems that not all the '16XXs' carried the 'A' power class and the model is generally decorated according to photos. I have a random half dozen here - Nos. 1646/1655/1664 have the A. Nos. 1609/1661 don't have it. The power class was usually black on a coloured route availability circle. The 16XX was uncoloured (so unrestricted weight-wise) and consequently does not have a coloured circle, just the weight code. I have not been able to find a white transfer as such, but if you have a collection of part-used decal sheets you may find something that will do the job. I looked through my drawer of left-over decals and - For instance, Cambridge Custom Transfers sheet BL166C - Toad brake van markings - has lots of place names with the letter A in them that looks about the right size. (CJL)

The review samples are out - Ben dropped one off to me today. (CJL)

Any thoughts on modelling that board and batten? I'm thinking (most unusual for me) build in styrene sheet with half-round strip glued to the surface. Heck of a job, though. (CJL)

Like I said, I'll give the OP a refund for the product he thinks is sharp practice. End of story. But for now, I've got some lamp irons to fit on a 16XX, which ought to be a much more enjoyable way of spending a Sunday. (CJL)

These 'package deals' are grocery promotions. If you buy from a newsagent, the magazine is on its own, for the usual cover price of £4.70. Grocery promotions are designed to attract potential new buyers who don't have any prior knowledge and don't usually go into a newsagents. Magazines need to find new buyers all the time in the hope that some will become subscribers. Magazines are suffering a torrid time at the moment as the lack of high street shoppers has hit news trade sales hard across the board. I'm sorry if you feel that you have been hard done by. Send me a PM with your name and address and I will personally re-imburse you the £1.20 price difference. (CJL) PS I apologise to Andy for discussing a Model Rail matter on this forum - hope I haven't overstepped the mark.

I'm thinking of it but I've no space left so something has to go and I really don't want to break up any of the layouts/dioramas I've built. I've just bought myself 1646 - I already have five of the others - only two of which are actually mine. The rest are pre-production samples and belong in the Model Rail store cupboard if we're ever allowed back to our office. Might just build that lovely little station building for now. (CJL)

Thanks, everyone. There's some really useful pictures there. Is the building material what the Americans would call board and batten or is it a strange style of metal cladding? Many thanks for all the help so far. Looks like we aren't going to find a clear view into that alcove on the platform side. (CJL)

It is fitted with plunger pick-ups. It is intended for minimum second radius curves. Fox etched plates are a perfect fit over the printed plates. (CJL)

Someone has to do the interview and write it up. On Model Rail, that someone is the Staff Writer. Not rarely -it's every issue, sometimes more than one layout. (CJL)

I've got hooked on the Dornoch Light Railway but apart from a VERY thin little booklet I can't find much. I realise that this is the farthest, most inaccessible corner of mainland Scotland but I'm still surprised there isn't something a bit more thorough by way of a publication. In particular I'm seeking photographs of Dornoch station building. I have a modern view of the 'street' side but I could really use anything that shows the platform side before it was converted. Is there, perhaps, a drawing, or does Dornoch appear in one of the Middleton Press books? (CJL)

Yes, the chassis access is great this time, unlike the J70 where you effectively had two bodies to remove to reach the chassis. Just in case the RMwebber who is converting his to P4 needs to know, the running plate/splashers unit is a plastic moulding, not a mazak casting. (CJL)

Sorry to hear that. It's an analogue DC model so it should be tested on analogue DC first and if it does not run there's np point testing it on DCC. You would have to fit a decoder to do so. We've not had many 'duds' with this model but if you get one, simply return it to Kernow and it will be replaced. (CJL)

I understand that all pre-orders have now been fulfilled. If you haven't received yours, it may be that your card details are out of date and that you haven't received or responded to a request for updated details. If you haven't yet placed your order, there are still stocks of all 22 versions. (CJL)

International money speculation is not a skill that many model railway manufacturers possess, I suspect. As to the costs in US$ - all of it apart from the British mark-up and VAT. (CJL)

The word 'tooling' was a momentary mental slip. The word 'production' would have been better, as the larger part of the cost is actually the assembly rather than cutting metal or producing parts. The rate of exchange can also make a big difference as, regardless of location, one is required to pay in US$ at the going rate at the time of payment, and it is impossible to predict that 2 years in advance. (CJL)