Mike Huxley

You gotta laugh when you see people buy an item on ebay and pay more a fair bit more than you can buy it direct in the shops or from the suppler. Bloody hell, it's £77.50 from Slaters and there are retailers selling them for less. Item number:222452647735 O GAUGE SLATERS GWR COACH KIT - MINT Winning bid: £83.05

Hi Paul, I thought it was about time you chimed in, and thank you for that. To me it is of consequence that they got the diagram numbers wrong. Suppliers of models should do their research correctly before producing and advertising a model. After all there are so many experts that can give them the correct information, like yourself. My argument is, GET IT RIGHT, FIRST TIME. Mike

CME, I think we both should grab our coats and run ... BTW, both of the opens that I have, the grey and the unpainted planked, have bowing in the centre, not too bad, but still there. Not so bad if it was bowing slightly outwards, as this did happen after time, but I've never seen a wooden wagon bowing inwards yet. Well time I stopped bitching about Dapol, after all I do love their 08. One of the best running Locos, straight from the box that I've ever had. For the price I don't think anybody should knock it. Cheers, Mike

Mark, That's exactly what I'm saying. These wagons are not 1/039. IMO it would be better if Dapol had listed the model as Early BR or Ex LMS. Please don't get me wrong, I welcome ready to run models of this standard and will support by buying them when they fit my period and needs. But as a wagon freak I like to have them as accurate as possible.

Well I think this description of the Diag 1/039 sums it up as correct from first building. I am sure that variations existed over the years. I do feel that Dapol should have mounted this on the same underframe as their 12ton vans and the Diag 1/044 that they produce. Example taken from "British Railway Wagons" by Don Rowland

Here it says. Dapol 7F-053-001 5 PLANK WAGON CORRUGATED END DIAGRAM 39 B494990 IN BR GREY Also this. Dapol 7F-053-003 5 PLANK WAGON OPEN DIAGRAM 39 M424330 IN BR NATURAL

Well my friend, just look at Pauls site and look up O39. Dapol should have put the underframe of their O44 model on the O39 to make it correct. See here. http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brclayliner/h1121606#h7fa150a http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brclayliner/h1121606#hcbc8a04 just a couple of examples. Mike

Hi Gents, There's something that troubles me a little over the Dapol open wagons listed as being Diag O39. In all the references I have looked at, this diag had brakes each side, was vacuum fitted and had tiebars between W irons. However the Dapol model has single sided brakes, not fitted and no tiebars? Who is right, Dapol or the official Diagrams? Also, all the pictures on Pauls site show the same as well. Cheers, Mike

LOL, Dapol can't run their business well. Three weeks ago I ordered an O gauge BR Mineral wagon from them that was still advertised as available on the website. Good delivery, the package arrived 2 days later. On opening it, I found that they had sent me an O gauge 6 wheel "United Dairies" milk tanker. They cant even control their order and despatch department, let alone forecast correctly what and when they are going to produce the next model. Needless to say, I said "Thanks for you mistake" .

Paul, Just out of interest, what are the main differences between the BR diag 500 and the 504? The length over headstocks are the same, wheelbase the same. Surely it's only minor variations that can still be built into a Slaters kit? Mike

Rich, You are 100% correct. Clayhoods, 9' wheel base 16' over length, 5 equal planks, end door. They were only used within Cornwall for taking clay from the drys to the ports of Fowey and Par.

Chris, As with anything, it's an unknown quantity. However, my personal feelings are, that you see so many Cornish branch lines built in "O" gauge that I'm pretty sure the uptake would be large enough to warrant producing them. If the price was in the range of Dapol ready to run or Parkside kit range, then I know I would want to have a dozen at least for a start. Mike

Steve, Some pictures of Wenford Clay dry and clayhoods, taken in 1981

Steve, I know how it is about "Not just right" layouts. I've had a look at you last Clay layout and can see why you want to go back to that. For many years now, it's bugged me that Parkside produce a lovely 4mm model of a clayhood, but have not done one in 7mm yet. I have contacted them several times and I always get the answer, "Maybe in the future" Grrrrrrrrrr .. well that was over 6 years ago, I'll be dead before they make it at this rate. One suggestion on your new layout, if you don't mind. Please make sure that the whole area of the clay works is coated in a dusting of off white. That stuff sticks to everything once it gets damp, even the buildings. Keep up the good work, look forward to seeing more. Mike

Steve, Shame you ripped up your previous layout, as it was looking great. However, I understand the urge to go back to China Clay lines. There is a definite attraction for them. One point I will make, and I hope you won't take offence at it. The Skytrex wagons are NOT correct Clayhoods. Clayhoods, UCV, in TOPS, were 16' overall length, with a 9' wheelbase and have an end opening door. Unfortunately, there is no manufacture of this type in "O" gauge. The only thing I can say is, if your not that worried about correct diagrams for wagons, then the Skytrex models do look the part. You could always use Paarkside kit GWR 12 Ton Open Goods Wagon 032/33, which is a good representation of the Clayliner wagons that were just tarpaulin covered, and were used to transport clay to the Midlands and the north. The other one that can be used for this trafic is the Dapol 7F-053-005 5 plank corrugated end BR Diag.44. Anyway, I look forward to seeing the China Clay line develop. Cheers Mike