hayfield

I have only seen the photos of both the flexible track and turnouts, they are so much better than what was on off before. Peco must be congratulated in making this product available Its never going to please everyone, but those of us who build track also make compromises as some of the parts are just not available. On a personal note I think this will give trackwork a much needed push towards better looking models and will give track building a boos and hopefully an increase in parts available

It all depends on what you are trying to achieve with your modelling, if you are trying to copy a preserved line, then fine build/buy stock which is on the line. There is also another way making a fictitious layout based on either a preserved line or in the style of a preserved line. For those who have a wide interest in stock from several regions its the perfect solution

Bernard Quite agree with you about both the price of the machines getting much cheaper and the print quality improving, but go back 20 years and how big (and expensive) were photo copiers, 15 years ago scanners were self contained and expensive and what ever happened to fax machines The little thing under my computer does all, even in colour and for about £30 10 years ago my golfing buddy who is a jeweller pain over £20,000 for a 3D wax printer, and took several house to print off the items (several were done at the same time. It revolutionised his business and quickly paid for itself quickly. 5 to 10 years time we will have far cheaper hobby style machines making parts in easy to use machines

Could the shorting issues be down to the gauge being 18 mm not 18.2 mm owing to its age, The motor is something like a Phantom (my W&H reference books are in the loft

Saving a third off the retail price is very good, many change names and or numbers on locos they pay full price for, and decent metal parts far superior to plastic ones

I was told by a chap who owns a company producing plastic mouldings that moulds can be made in the far east at a fraction of the cost in the UK. not just wages reducing the prices, but modern computer controlled machines that cut the moulds. Peco wrote an article in Railway Modeller about their investments in both CAD and computer controlled mould making machinery. Then in a few years we all may have high quality 3D printers at home, times are a changing

But with Peco owning Parkside, perhaps availability may be greater within retail outlets creating a new demand for plastic wagon kits

With the progress on the house renovation/expansion having taken much longer than expected all I have been able to do is look for bits and pieces, so frustrating !! Still work on the railway room recommences next Friday with the removal of the wall which separates the part of the room in the old house with the new extension, perhaps by the new year It will be ready for model making and a layout.

The trailing axle bit is in the photo, that's why I suggested either a new chassis/mainframes or perhaps using etched hornblock guides. The Brassmasters site is very good and below is a link to the drawings for the loco http://www.brassmasters.co.uk/4F%20assembly%20drawings.htm My other thought was that certain parts could be used with other kits. It certainly would make a nice project for the long winter nights ahead of us, only for a competent modeller, a definite NO NO for a novice. I do actually have an EM gauge compensated chassis made from I think an Alan Gibson set of frames, but hoping they will fit a Wills SR Q class loco also a set of Alan Gibson 3F frames. The 4F was built to 00 gauge, could a set of Gibson frames be sweated on to the existing chassis? though if Brassmasters are willing to sell a chassis etch that seems the best solution

Are not the Great British Loco's scanned from actual models ? Seems to be no real copyright issues there

Just a hint of the condition of said 4F Most of it just needs a good clean and the paers which have become un-soldered, soldered A few bits flapping around, nothing a soldering iron cannon remedy The chassis is the main issue, I would go for at least new mainframes if not a new chassis. Those who like to fettle, could with a little skill fit new etched hornblock guides. Now on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122789051664?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 with a full set of photos Not for the faint hearted

Phil has both invested his savings and given up paid employment to take over this business. He needs it to be a success more than we need the parts. From the discussions I had earlier in the year the stock came a bit jumbled up and required far more sorting than expected and the contents in the boxes may differ from what's written on the outside. I am certain in due time all will be well, but I think there may well have been unforeseen issues arise. I will give him a call, but it may well be best to allow him to catch up rather than chat

Brian I know very little about injection moulding except from conversations with Peter the previous C&L owner, these moulds do either require repair or replacement over time. Peco have invested huge sums of money in both the software and hardware to produce these moulds, plus have the ability to produce the parts in house. They are in a far better place than small cottage industries to retain the quality of the kit component parts

Liam The best option is the thick sleepered track, as its about the same height, which uses the Exactoscale fast track bases, if you use the thin sleepered track then lay it on some thin card

The 4F arrived and is a Brassmasters in a bit of a sad state, still Mashima motor with a Highlevel 2 stage gearbox and a set of 20 mm Markit wheels. The loco body has been badly paint stripper with several parts becoming un-soldered and the chassis is slightly damaged, still the parts I wanted are fine, the kit is a far better quality kit than I expected and should recoupe some of what I paid for the whole lot I also received the Keyser Terrier, better built than I thought but heavily painted. The chassis needs a complete clean and oil, the motor smokes which may just be down to grot on the armature, if not I have a spare motor. The good news is its all the older pre-plastic wheels and motor, will it convert to EM ? not too sure, the first job will be to find the Nucast chassis and build it to EM gauge Finally I received a lot of street lamps and signals and yard lamps (cost about a tenner) three of us have been asked to decorate a Christmas tree with a model railway theme at the local parish Church's Christmas tree festival, thought these may make a nice decoration either on the 009, 00 or 0-16.5 loop (hoping to have three loops each with a different scale/gauge running

I have known a couple of horror stories about probate and people leaving monies to charities where simple things like the amount left if before of after taxes paid (leaving the amounts left to loved ones reduced), in both occasions the charities were just money grabbers and had no concerns about the other beneficiaries, certainly those involved were less than charitable to the surviving families. A duly qualified person would have foreseen the pitfalls and in the long run been far cheaper.

No sorry just cannot be bothered to do it, but it will also devalue the project for whoever buys it. I don't know if it was either poorly built or badly stripped of paint. All the main parts are there with the exception of one of the tender bits and perhaps the lubricators. If I were going to do it I would either change the chassis or buy some Gibson mainframes, as a part of the chassis has broken, though I guess a skilled person may be able to fix with some form of hornblock overlay. Looking at the price of a new one, it will make a good winters restoration project for someone with a bit of etched kit building experiance

A truly sorry state of affairs which everyone is a looser

Not had a chance to speak with Phil recently, and it seems he has his hands full so distractions may interrupt resolving them. Just a case of bearing with him a bit as he gets a grip on what,s happening. Knowing Phil he will iron out these teething problems

Thanks very much, had a look on their website and it looks like theirs. Someones bound to want to have a go and several options re the chassis available

I bought a lot off eBay which was a loco and some parts, in said lot is an etched LMS 4F with a resin firebox, boiler and smoke box, the etched chassis has inside motion within the frames. The tender looks to be etched brass, the cab may be nickle silver Please can anyone tell me the maker of the kit please, the previous owner has written Midland Fowler, but my knowledge of things LMS is very limited. The previous owner tried to refurbish the loco, but several parts have come un-soldered and they managed to break one of the frames, I bought it for the motor, gearbox and wheels, so intend to sell the kit as a restoration project and wish to give an accurate description Thanks

On the two or three times I have had an issue with an eBay purchase paid by Paypal the problems were all resolved within days, this was when eBay owned Paypal though

Are the remaining moulds any good? if so and the business folds might be an opportunity for someone

Giz Our roof has a 12 degree pitch, we had a single story extension built 3 meters out and needed this shallow pitch to keep the top of the roof below the windows. The building inspector explained the importance of smooth tiles to stop such ingress when its blowing a gale and raining at the same time. Our roof faces south and the prevailing weather is from the south west. Good to know the building regs are there for a reason and work As I said, wrong tiles and may be not overlapping each other enough. I could be wrong but I think a local builder said these tiles will work on shallower roofs than ours

You are quite right about paying the correct money for the job, on the other hand if you can employ the tradesman directly this can be beneficial. But that does not mean using the cheapest person as this can end up being the costliest route