dpgibbons

And an MPD addressing a previous theme - the truncated station. Bournemouth Central MPD, a busy shed with a large mainline allocation, is only 2.6m x 0.5m in N modelled from the bridge at left to the station overall roof.

Continuing with the diagonal theme, here's an MPD layout idea. The diagonal bridge at Monument Lane would conceal a cassette fiddle yard or turntable, and the headshunt access maximises operational interest:

What an inspiring topic! I've collected a few ideas on this theme. A scenic break concealing a fiddle yard behind is a bonus as it gives you greater operating length. A perfect example is Ramsgate, where the fiddle yard would be concealed behind carriage sidings:

To quote FormLabs: "Orienting large, flat surfaces to an incline of 10–20º drastically increases the success rate. By printing a model at an angle, you are reducing the surface area of each layer while also decreasing the amount of contact the print has with the tank. Reducing the surface area means that the print is subject to less force as the build platform raises with every layer"

From what I've seen you'd get the best results on the wagon body by angling the print. FYI Scorpio do an N6, N20 and N21 and DK Parkin may still have ABS versions of the latter two.

The new Creality Falcon 2 laser engraver (reviewed here) seems to be an excellent combination of price, features and capability (22W, cutting up to 15mm wood in 1 pass). I'd be using it to cut 7mm sleeper base panels from Templot and for custom building structures. I have experience of laser cut designs using Inkscape, but up to now I've sent them to a commercial cutting service. Any thoughts please on whether this engraver is the one to go for?

Just musing here. With a live frog setup, the likelihood of shorts would be greatly reduced if the rail sections adjacent to the frog were never at the opposite polarity. This would require feeds to the point blades and the two rail sections adjacent to the frog on the exit tracks to be switched along with that of the frog, such that the disengaged blade and exit rail feed would always be disconnected rather than at opposite polarity to the frog. That could be accomplished with a double-pole triple-throw switch. I've not seen this done, so am I missing something or is the extra complexity not justified by the benefits?

Cola contains phosphoric acid, which is the active ingredient in many brass fluxes. But it also contains sugar, colouring and flavouring, none of which are welcome in a soldering environment. Metal kits are expensive and proper flux is cheap, so there's no reason to experiment.

Some useful prototype notes on GWR water cranes here

My factory sound-fitted B4 has just arrived in Oz. Decoder pcb, smoke box door and smoke box door surround were all detached, whilst the handrail had slid out and was half-way off its supports. No PCB removal tool either, not that one will be needed as the pcb is quite a loose fit in its guide slots. Nothing that wasn't easily fixed, but it's rather disconcerting to find an expensive sound decoder rattling around the box.

That decoder is rated at 1A, which ought to be plenty. I suspect that you have a wiring issue.

Presumably the factory fitted sounds are authentic?

Do all Dapol’s 7mm Sentinels have a factory-fitted speaker, and if not what size speaker is fitted in the sound versions please?

The first B4 shipment has now arrived at Dapol.

The B4 wasn’t on Dapol’s stand at GOG Barnsley, but the they told me that they will appear in stores in the next week or two.

AliExpress is by far the best source for cheapo China parts. You may well find your airbrush under several other brand names.

Simpler still, return it to the retailer. Who knows how long it will take Dapol to do the fix, and they won't fix the wonky lettering.

The modest price increase does not imply that Dapol have cut corners. Tooling is a major cost and that is borne by the initial production run, so that's a big saving for a re-run to offset higher manufacturing costs. One could blame the factory for the sloping lettering on the re-run, but not the nose-down appearance. That is a fault evident in the original production run.

The nose-down stance is also evident when the loco is on the rails (pic), and by comparing the angle of the footplate to the connecting rod. IIRC the original M7 batch were also prone to the condition.

Thanks, that thread has more info. I've now trawled through several of David Maidment's books with Edwardian era loco pics. Crew uniforms are mostly matching dark, high-button jackets/trousers; light-coloured jackets sometimes appear, but not light trousers, so presumably the light jackets are not simply faded: there appears to have been a uniform cap with a peak; ties are rarely evident; jackets are usually buttoned, but that's probably done for the photos rather than the footplate; waistcoats don't seem to be part of the uniform but were no doubt often worn underneath as they were common dress in the period.

Thanks, but there is nothing there about loco crew uniforms beyond the 1860s. Edwardian-period GWR photos show crews wearing mid to dark jacket and trousers and a cap, with ties and waistcoats optional. So I'm guessing the uniform was the same dark blue denim-like material (fustian?) worn in more modern times, which would have faded with washing.

I'm painting some 7mm Modelu crew figures for an Edwardian-era GWR loco. What would be the appropriate colours for the uniforms please?

The liveries animation page on the website here shows you the correct GWR coach livery for each period. Your coaches appear to be a simplified version of the GWR pre-1906 livery.

I'm pondering a circular test track formed from 12 identical portable baseboards. Ideally I'd get these laser cut, but certain joints would require tabs and slots cut at a 30 degree angle rather than the usual 90 degrees to the cutting surface. I have seen mitred joints laser-cut for hobby projects using a jig, but is this something a commercial laser cutting shop would be able to do? NB I'm in Australia so I'm unable to use the specialist UK laser baseboard makers.

It's probably that curious tallow wax finish known as "guivering", which cleaners often applied to GWR tenders at the time.