BMacdermott

All the very best to Ben in this role. Brian

Congratulations to Rails on this highly anticipated announcement! The loco has been steadily climbing through the ranks of The Wishlist Poll and was in The Top 50 in the 2016 Results. (The Poll didn't run in 2017.) Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello everyone Although I never actually met him, Ben and I spoke many times by letter and phone over the years as fellow members of the Steam Railway Research Society. He personified the term 'dedicated researcher'. If you can get hold of his books (titles below), I'm sure you will agree with me. (Triumph & Beyond. The ECML 1939-1959. Challenger Publications, 1997. The Route of the Flying Scotsman. Part 2 of Triumph & Beyond. Arcturus Press 2002.) Brian

Hello TMC Class 325. Brian

Hello Legend For the benefit of readers of this thread, I can add a little more information from Pat's book (The Story of Rovex, Vol 1, 1950-1965). Pat says that the CKD series was introduced somewhat as a last minute decision and to compete with the Kitmaster range. The 1962 catalogue made no mention of the kits but they had been added to the price list by May. Initial offerings were the Princess Elizabeth loco and Maroon Mk1 Sleeping Cars. Those - and the later Compos, Brake Seconds, Buffets and Full Brakes - were supplied as two coaches in one kit. They were apparently designed to be cheaply assembled in the first place, so there wasn't much saving to be had, although the public, of course, expected them to be cheaper. The compromise was two coaches in a kit. The loco was forty five shillings - a saving of fifteen shillings and five pence. The Sleepers were seventeen shillings and sixpence - a saving of four shillings and four pence. Although the loco was available from 1962 to 1970, the coaches - and the EM2 electric loco - were more confined to the period 1962/3 to 1965/6. (A B12, a Hymek, a Crane Wagon and three Blue-Grey coaches were added later, but no details are given apart from those coaches being supplied as singles.) Not surprisingly, the Princess was the most popular. They made 6,600 in the first year dropping to around 4,000 a year thereafter. It came in about 60 parts although many of those items were screws or washers etc. The motor was, in effect, 'ready made' as was the loco body and tender body. By comparison, Bachmann's A1 Tornado consists of 334 parts - the loco and tender bodies alone accounting for 120 parts. Their Mk2a TSO coach comprises 90 parts. (Source: Bachmann catalogues.) Brian

Hello everyone Positives and Negatives of Kits and RTR - V2 Many thanks to those who have made suggested additions and amendments to the original Draft. As noted on the original, the aim of this PDF (attached) is to provide a clear, unbiased appraisal of the pros and cons - particularly aimed at those who want to 'cut to the chase' and not wade through nine pages of debate. There are some 'gems' in there but they are often hidden. As you will see, the 'positives' for both are about equal, but there are a handful of extra 'negatives' on the kit side. If you are considering taking up kit building, don't let that put you off! Many will already have a well-ventilated work area and a minimum of tools to work on basic wagon kits. We have noted that some kit providers have poor instructions, so it might be worth contacting your chosen company before you commit to buying and check what instructions - if any - they may have. I checked some companies purely at random... Mercian Models and Genesis both have a policy that if you damage any parts they will replace them if you supply an SAE. Mercian added a rider: We want you to succeed! DJM has a video guide to loco kit building by Tony Wright - all 5 hours 38 minutes and 30 seconds. Whatever route you take, I hope you enjoy it. Brian The Positives and Negatives of KIts and RTR V2 12.3.18.pdf

Hello OnTheBranchlIne A factor that I took into detailed consideration when planning the height of my layout was: Can I reach all the switches on the control panels without 'awkwardly bending'? Brian

Hello everyone Final Call for Comments - Draft Positives & Negatives of Kits & RTR (see post #106) Can I please have any further comments by 16.00 Monday 12 March? I will then publish the table here. Brian

Hello Chris I'm sorry, but no we didn't go into part-built kits, but - on reflection - it would have made for some good info. I have just looked back at the incoming data and it does seem - from the few relevant answers - that (possibly) the '50% rule' might apply to part-building. Brian

Hello Chris I ran a 'Kit Survey' on what was MREmag back in 2014 which had 104 respondents. The results (below) concur with you. There were 40 replies from those who had between 1 and 9 kits. Of those, 7 said they probably wouldn't make any; 18 said they would probably make some; and 15 said they would probably make all. There were 64 replies from those who had more than 10 kits. Of those, 2 said they probably wouldn't make any; 32 said they would probably make some; and 30 said they would probably make all. There was no requirement for respondents to state how many kits they actually had, but some offered it voluntarily: 12 had between 10 and 49 kits 8 had between 50 and 99 kits 7 had more than 100 kits (with one stating 900+) Brian

Hello 2ManySpams That is why I constructed the draft table at #106. Brian

Hello Jeff I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum to you by the sound of things - and I say that not in the 'you vs me' context, rather that we all derive pleasure from our models in our own way. My layout is heavily based on operation and can purport to be a number of different places within the bounds of modelling licence and they include Oxford and Exeter Central. Just mentioning those names will give a clue to many that I like the variety and complexity of main line operation with plenty of attaching and detaching, shunting, carriage and engine rostering etc. This is all based on many years of research and studying WTTs and Carriage Working Notices as well as having some personal memories backed up with speaking to railwaymen of the 1950/1960s steam era. As noted elsewhere, the time I can spend on my railway is unpredictable - maybe 10 minutes here then two hours there followed by another 40 minutes sometime later. My 'system' allows me to pick up where I left off with no apparent break in proceedings. Seamless. Hence, my appreciation of RTR but with a smattering of kit-built wagons. Brian

Hello Jol Have you read the whole posting? I did say that I have added 'Skills acquisition' to the kit positive side. It is a truism that time is a negative factor when measured against RTR. Brian

Hello Paul There is a difference between 'time per se' and 'appropriate time'. I am one that 'doesn't have time' due to caring activities. I am writing this as my disabled wife is currently 'safe' - but she might not be in a few moments if she needs to move from room to room and has a risk of falling. Hence, having a soldering iron in one hand and a tube of glue in the other is not an option. Brian

Hello Jol You have misquoted me and put a different slant on the matter. What I actually said was: Kit builders need to develop skills over time. The key factor there is 'over time'. I agree that it is great to develop such skills for all sorts of reasons...but many simply don't have time. I will, however, gladly add a note to 'KIt Positives' to that effect. Brian

Hello Jol The purpose - as stated in my posting - is to sum up the comments into a clear, concise, balanced report. Readers can make what they make of it. If anything comes of this, I sincerely hope kit makers will heed the comments about instructions. I know that I have ruined a number of wagon kits because of poor instructions or diagrams. Brian

Thanks Andy I already have the statement below under 'KIt Positives' (but I have added to 'RTR Positives' that they facilitate cut-n-shuts etc). Brian Enable layouts to ‘look different’ to many on the exhibition circuit.

Hello adb I already have down that 'skill takes time to acquire', but am happy to add these two: Risk of uncertain outcome (breakage, irrevocably gluing a wrong part upside down, nothing to show for your money if it goes wrong); Cost of handing a part-finished kit to an (increasingly scarce) professional for completion. I haven't referred to 'loss of parts' above as many kit providers seem happy enough 'to help out' when needed. However, it does become a problem if the kit is no longer produced etc. Brian

Hello again Andy...just had a thought. Is it a positive for RTR? (I already have a 'RTR negative' that states that RTR can be expensive.) Brian

Thanks Andy. Can you suggest a form of words that I can use to cover that, please? It's not really a negative of RTR, nor is it a positive of kits... as it's RTR(!). Hope you see the predicament. Brian

Hello everyone There has been much discussion so I thought it might be helpful to present a 'summing up table' - but please note that this is a V1 Draft Only. I would very much like your input as to anything I may have missed, under-stated or over-stated. After a day or two, I will re-present the table with amends in red. This could then be used by new readers considering kits or RTR as an 'executive summary' - in other words, it cuts to the chase. Those of you who know me from running similar ventures on (what was) MREmag will know that I do my utmost to remain impartial and present the facts. Please do not accuse me of bias in any direction! This is a working draft. Many thanks Brian PS I'll spell 'Positives' correctly on the PDF next draft! The Positves and Negatives of KIts and RTR V1 Draft 9.3.18.pdf

Hello everyone If you can access the 'old films channel' - TPTV - they are showing a superb 20 minute documentary about Heathrow in the early 60s this week. Brings back memories hearing inbounds being told to 'report passing the Outer Marker' and seeing 10L markings! Schedules: Thu 8 March - 13.35 Sat 10 March - 16.30 Sun 11 March - 15.50 TPTV is available: Freeview 81 Freesat 306 Sky 343 Virgin 445 Brian

Hello Chris If no-one here comes up with an answer, you might find something via the link below (but seems to postal only). Looking at other photos, it certainly seems to have a West Midlands look about it. Brian http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/features/index4.shtml

Hello everyone I'm sure Phil Parker will make a great success of this Newsletter. I will look forward to seeing it develop month by month. All the best. Brian

Hello everyone Many congratulations to TMC on another highly anticipated announcement! The loco has been in the High Polling segment of the annual Wishlist Poll since 2015 and finished in approx overall position =63 in 2016. We wish the organisations involved every success with the venture. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)