dibber25

Sorry, I stopped making my cast parts about 15 years ago when my casting machine 'died'. It wasn't worth the cost of replacing it and I'd become tired of spending hot summer days sweltering in a shed labouring over a metal melting pot! (CJL)

Rapido will know exactly where you can borrow a pair of flares!

I think it's unlikely that there will be re-runs any time soon, due to the number of other projects to which MR is committed, but you can never say never. Both the J70 and the USA have shown the high level of interest that there is in the standard BR liveries, compared to specials, one-offs and earlier big four liveries, but predicting that balance for a production run is never easy. (CJL)

Anyone fancy a weathering job?!!

Certainly was! ....and at a time when a chocolate and cream one on the Western Region was already becoming a rare sight! I have a feeling that S2464 was particularly selected for Churchill's funeral as being a gangway vehicle to allow the Guard of Honour to be changed during the journey. Otherwise, presumably, the Edith Cavell van could have been used. Handborough, the day after, with the 'staging' that enabled the coffin to be easily withdrawn from the van, still in place. A crossover was installed to give the train direct access to the up platform from the down line, and a white post marked where the cab of the loco had to be when it stopped. The white post is almost certainly hidden by the chap standing on the down platform. (CJL)

There was, at that time, a certain kudos to having a corporate Coat-of-Arms - I'm not even sure the term logo existed at the time. There were, too problems with logos - remember the 'arrow of indecision' which looked absurd on the funnels of Sealink ships because the up and down lines had to be reversed, otherwise it only looked silly! (CJL)

Yes, I'm afraid MR-205 is now sold out. We were notified earlier this week. (CJL)

I have checked the references which I supplied for this model. It was practice for locomotives which had no obvious 'front' to have left-facing lions on both sides. That is what 18000 had. Though steam locomotives did feature a right-facing version of the early logo, the later version was put forward to the College of Arms for acceptance as a coat-of-arms. I once discussed this with a gentleman who rejoiced in the title of Portcullis Pursuivant at the College of Arms. He told me that two versions of a coat-of-arms were not permitted and that BR had been obliged to adopt the left-facing version of the later logo as standard, regardless of which side of the loco it was on. Though a few steam locos did receive right-facing versions before they were 'outlawed', 18000 had left-facing versions of the later logo on both sides, too.

Which version of the lion are you referring to, early or late? (CJL)

Yes, of course there will always be someone out there who knows more about a particular prototype than any one of us but in order to make use of his knowledge you've got to know who he is and how to contact him. That would require an up to date contact list of formidable length. And he's got to be willing to have his 'brains picked' and to respond quickly. These days, manufacturers often enlist the help of a known expert in the development of the model, so one can't use the same person as an expert reviewer. I have, in the past, occasionally made use of freelance reviewers because that person had particularly expert knowledge of the subject. It was seldom successful for a variety of reasons, such as keeping to deadlines and writing in house style and to agreed length. What the professional reviewer has - or certainly should have - is the ability to research his subject, knowledge of how and where to find the info and the ability to write concisely to brief and to a set number of words. That takes practice. He also needs the training in how to word criticisms so that they are understood by the reader and are not offensive or libellous to the manufacturer. I wonder how many of the on-line reviewers have been on a libel course? They can be surprisingly scary. (CJL)

One of the advantages - probably the only advantage - that the amateur on-line reviewer has over the likes of us professionals, is that he can draw much more quickly on the experience of a large number of other purchasers of the same model. This is certainly useful on the rare occasions that a model exhibits some electrical or mechanical fault which is only apparent in some specific circumstance. A retrospective review might be able to make use of that, too, but how long does one wait? Chances are, these days, that by the time the retrospective review was published, the model would have sold out. Modellers and manufacturers want and expect reviews to assist them when the model hits the shops and we frequently have to 'bust a gut' to get the research done, the model tested and the review written in time for the next issue. Right now, where do I find the dimensions of a 'Merchant Navy' without ready access to a research library - (watch them all say Wikipedia!) Then someone calls us average Joe model railway journalists! (CJL)

Hi, I'm an average joe model railway journalist - a pretty offended average joe model railway journalist at that! I started in 1963, so I also suffer from being a fairly experienced average Joe model railway journalist. Not that that counts for much these days, when anyone can set themselves up as a reviewer. We were an elite bunch. I once worked out that there were fewer than 20 of us in World. I was trained by Alan Williams, who pretty much set the standard for modern day model reviewing. I think the first thing I reviewed (or I remember reviewing) was the GEM FR 0-4-0ST Prince. I had to build it before I could review it. Today's average Joes seldom have to do that. It's just as well because with two or three new locos to review every month, they would't have time to build kits. But, judged from your comments, they don't know how to build a kit or how to research a prototype, how to compare a model to photographs (never mind where to find photographs) how to use a digital calliper to measure etc. etc. Your comments make me wonder if you've ever read a review. (CJL)

That's OK if duplication (which I personally dislike) results in two models of the same loco appearing around the same time, which did happen with one of the BR 4-6-0s if I recall correctly. However, things move fast in the hobby these days and it would not be fair to compare a 2021 model with one which appeared several years ago. (CJL)

It's easy to compare different types of car in the same 'class' - such as SUVs, small hatchbacks etc but how does one do that with models? If one compares, say, mixed traffic 4-6-0s the winning LNER 'B1' is no use to someone who doesn't model the LNER/ER. A Southern modeller isn't going to buy a 'Hall' just because a reviewer says its a better model than a 'King Arthur'. A comparison review is unlikely to convince an early 1960s WR modeller to have a Class 37 in preference to a Hymek. The best way to make comparisons is to read the original reviews of the models that you are interested in and make your own judgement. (CJL)

One of the pair was done up at Stratford works in GER varnished teak........and then scrapped anyway. I have a very nice photo of it ex-works, if I can find it. (CJL)

Anyone who wants to remake The Titfield Thunderbolt doesn't understand the original. (CJL)

The latest Rapido loco - the MLW M420 actually has the toilet modelled. As it is in the front hood of the loco, you can only see it if you dismantle the cab. (CJL)

I don't know of anyone who has converted the 'J70' to 'P4. I suspect much depends on whether you want a skirted or unskirted version and how much of the model you are willing to throw away. Unskirted would probably be easier provided you are not worried about the overall width. On the skirted version, even bearing in mind that 16.5mm gauge wins you a couple of extra mm to play with, it still proved necessary to omit the expansion links on the valve gear to make everything fit behind the skirts. The chassis and interior (boiler) detail of the J70 are largely die-castings held together with screws, which don't lend themselves to easy modification. (CJL)

Some of us survived on it quite well and it proves very useful for staying in touch during lock-downs - especially through local groups which have been a real help during lock-down in villages where local help can be very useful. For instance, when the milkman doesn't deliver due to staff sickness and several days of dry cereal and black coffee are in prospect. Yes, there are some idiots - but that is true of all social media - the trick is to be able to recognise them. Sorry if that gets me banned but so be it. (CJL)

You'll find it easier to find what you're seeking in books. I don't know of any magazine that's devoted solely to scratch-building and scale drawings, the market simply would not be large enough to support a regular publication. You could look for secondhand copies of such books as 'Historic Locomotive Drawings in 4mm Scale' which was an Ian Allan publication.(CJL)

I had proposed doing a loco and coach pack to cover the GER interest but there was no way the coach was going to work financially (without the Titfield version for which the licence fee would have made it impossibly expensive). Works rather differently if you're paying one licence fee across several different models, including a loco). (CJL)

The problem which defeated the original bid for a GER model remains - which GER livery? The vote was split very evenly. I have a very nice 3-D printed W&U bogie coach awaiting its turn on the workbench. Repainting a J70 into GER livery to go with it would not be a particularly difficult project. (CJL)

The 'J70' is a Model Rail exclusive. (CJL)

Yes. I have the Dapol one. (CJL)

Yes, it suffered in the scene where the passengers push the train and it thumps 'Lion' heavily from the rear. You can see the tender jump when it is hit. (CJL)