neal cooper

I had a trip out to the Diesel Gala at Chasewater today, and with this thread in mind took what photos I could of these three locos. ‘15099’ (is this an ex Worthington loco mentioned earlier in the thread?) was giving brakevans rides. What a fantastic clatter they make on the move, with a klaxon for giving warning. Lovely loco!

Low winter sun and a coat of primer shows up the extent of filling and rubbing back still required. It’ll be a miracle if I keep all the door stops intact, but they’re easy enough to drill and re add if necessary!

I haven’t made much progress on the build as I have been clearing other projects until the last few days when I got some impetus to crack on. Taking another look at the Cheona book image I’m using as inspiration whilst trying to sketch out a possible interior layout I was stunned to find another V hanger in the image. It is amazing what you can find by using an old school magnifying glass! Right up the left hand end, hidden amongst the clutter of vacuum and steam heat pipes is an offset V hanger which I surmise supports the rod for the location of the brake handle on the other side. I have proceeded on this basis. I’ve also bit the bullet and started on the steel panelling repairs which remove much of the original charm of the vehicle. I haven’t slavishly followed the original picture as I wanted to retain a bit more of the original panelling! It’s early days on this work, and it will need a bit more filling and a lot more careful sanding to get a good result. Thank you to all that took the time to answer my original request. I should have used a magnifying glass in the first place...

This thread hasn’t had a lot of attention lately, but I hear we made it into the latest issue of Hornby Magazine that hit the shelves this week. I haven’t had a copy of the magazine yet so can only hope the article reads and looks ok! Here are some photos taken at recent shows to liven things up on here a bit!

I’ve been pondering that too! Thin styrene filling pieces, filler and lots of rubbing down I suspect. I had previously contemplated leaving the panels alone and living with it, but the mix of panels and sheeting is rather distinctive and I really should have a go. Probably should have done this before assembling the body, but see the above procrastination! I’m going to build this with a brake lever on the left hand end on the opposite side as per your odd one out photo above. If a photo turns up proving me wrong, I can always modify it when the step boards get damaged!

Thank you Penrhos1920, those pictures are very useful! So on the vehicle you photographed there wasn't a brake lever on the other side? That explains what I could see from the photo in the Cheona book. No V hangers for a brake the other side because there isn't one. This raises a question for me. Were these vehicles except from the legal requirement to provide a brake on each side which led to so many vehicles getting independent brake levers and single block on the previously unbraked side to meet the requirement?

Thank you Paul. This one has Dean Churchward Brake http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/gwrdeptcoach and is one of yours too! I'm led to believe from a Facebook post to the same question that the brake lever was at the right hand end (as you'd probably expect) and I'm assuming the absence of a corresponding V hanger to hold the non brake handle end of the cross shaft is explained by it being mounted on an underframe member nearer the centre of the body and hidden, and not on the back of the solebar.

I am trying a small conversion of the Slaters 7C04 all third kit into the Staff and Tool coach W14913 featured in the Cheona Publications book British Railway Engineer's Stock - 2, page 41, top photo. (I don't want to post the picture for copyright reasons unless advised otherwise). I'm stuck with regards to the brake gear arrangement. The side in the photo is relatively straightforward, but I'm seeking advice on what was normal practice for these vehicles when converted to include the solebar mounted handbrake so I can have a realistic stab at the unseen side. Would it be identical to the pictured side, with the brake lever towards the right hand end? Or would it be mounted directly opposite the one visible in the picture (and modelled in the photos attached) and therefore towards the left hand end on the opposite side? I appreciate that it wouldn't likely to be on the same cross rod as this would give the opposite action for putting on the brake to the one shown, but in the picture in the book there is no other V hanger visible for another 'right hand' positioned brake on the unseen side. Some advice on how these vehicles were arranged after conversion would be appreciated, or better still, is there another picture that shows the other side of a Dean Churchward brake, hand lever fitted coach out there? Any help would be most appreciated!

My layout and others will be at the De Havilland clubs open day tomorrow. Come and see us and support this local club who are raising money to keep their club rooms open. http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/15105-DeHavillandModelRailwaySocietyOpenDay

Horseblock Lane will be at the Milton Keynes show tomorrow http://www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions/ and RISEX 2017 next weekend http://www.rdmrc.org.uk/Risex%202017%20Poster.pdf. Hope to see you there!

Congratulations Ben and Mike, I'm in for three at least. Excellent choice of prototype with a useful chassis to use in the future for other projects no doubt. I would be interested in a plain or simply numbered variant too.

My work in progress, just awaiting final weathering and crew.

My work in progress, still needing final weathering.

I ran thin superglue down the side parts of the ladder to help capture the rungs before they disassembled themselves just as a precaution.

Quick question for the assembled expertise here. When first introduced in the steam era, did these locos carry shed plates, and if so where? My book collection hasn't revealed a picture of one on an 08 yet, but all mainline diesels carried one if not two in the early sixties, so I'd be surprised if none of them carried one. What do others think?

Show bookings for Horseblock Lane for 2016 for those who are interested are as follows: St Albans CMRA show 16th and 17th January. http://www.cmra.org.uk/stalbans.html Luton MRS show 9th April. http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/11870-Event Basildon MRC 2nd and 3rd July. Whitewebbs (Enfield) Transport Museum 24th September. http://www.whitewebbsmuseum.co.uk Wycrail (High Wycombe) 5th November. http://www.hwdmrs.org.uk/wycrail/

We are at the Shoeburyness Show this weekend. I've never been before but it looks a good large show with a comprehensive variety of layouts. Come and say hello if you see us there! (Guide below says we are OO, but we are N gauge....) http://www.shoeburynessmrc.co.uk/2015-exhibits.html

All set to hit the road in the morning for the East Ham Finescale Show in Rainham. First 2 day show this year and I'm knackered before we start! If you see us there come and say hello, you can probably have a go.... http://www.ehmrc.org.uk/exhibs.html

Horseblock Lane is at the Chelmsford and District show this Saturday 24th October 2015. Have just had a quick hoover and test (retro 37 style) to ensure all is well before the show.

Here are a couple of shots of the layout from the Beaconsfield show.

Show invite update! We have committed to exhibit at the following shows. East Ham (East London Finescale) 7th and 8th November 2015. http://www.ehmrc.org.uk/exhibs.html St Albans (Chiltern MRA) 16th and 17th January 2016. http://www.cmra.org.uk/stalbans.html Luton April 9th 2016. Basildon 2nd and 3rd July 2016. Whitewebbs Transport Museum, Enfield, 24th September 2016. Wycrail 5th November 2016.

What a cracking project! I could never achieve the complexity of this, but it's great to see you build and master this layout design.

Just a quick note to say we are at the Beaconsfield Exhibition this Saturday 4th July. Come along and say hello!

Horseblock Lane will have a run out at the following exhibitions this year. Enfield Town on 27th June Chelmsford on 24th October Shoeburyness on 21st and 22nd November We are available to fill in at short notice at exhibitions needing to fill a 6x6 foot space as long as we can rustle up a crew! If we fit the bill please e-mail me at nealscooper@aol.com.

Have you seen this layout on another Forum? The catenary is fishing line for the contact wire, tensioned with springs, whilst the catenary wire and auxilliary wire are made from the stuff that knitting shops sell to keep cuffs a bit tight. The droppers are made from single strands of multi-strand electrical wire with small hooks on them top and bottom. They're are absent between contact and the auxilliary wires but I don't think it's particularly noticable. The pans run on the fishing line and lower as the wire lowers under the bridge. I helped detail the layout, but can claim no credit for the construction of the overhead. OHL features on pages 5-6 of the thread with an additional description on page 10. http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=14741.msg268010#msg268010