Jol Wilkinson

David, do you know how the crane was supported. That has been a bit of a hold up for Dave Smith's design for the 4mm kit. Jol

His models were also dioramas, in which I believe he used perspective to create a sense of distance. Given the period in which they were built, I think that they were quite remarkable. Edited to add that the JN dioramas are in the Conwy Valley Railway Museum. They were restored by members of the LNWR Society. There may be another one elsewhere. When I was a Trustee on the LNWR Committee, there was some concern over their future as the "title" to them was rather confused. The Society believed they had been gifted to it, but could find no documentation to support that, so became involved in restoring them for public viewing.

More choice if you buy RTR products. Those Small Suppliers who do such an excellent job in supporting those who prefer to create their own models, do something different, provide greater choice, etc. don't even get a look in. I suppose that's simply the power of the market for consumer goods in play.

As a modeller of the pre group period, 4mm scale, 18.83 gauge I found little I could vote on, other than best layout and exhibition. Even those were from shortlists that excluded some of the best shows I have attended and layouts I have seen..

Your reply rather indicates that theses suppliers are "resellers", not manufacturer/retailers, which is what Bill was referring to. Reordering stock and maintaining a "live" ordering website probably takes up a lot of their time, but they may not be tied up actually making anything.

Tony, presumably you have no experience of the special type of camera used by Estate Agents. They can make properties, rooms, gardens, etc. look larger, brighter and generally better than they really are. Perhaps we should all get one for photographing our layouts. Happy New Year, Jol

How can it be safer than walking into a shop and handing over cash, presenting a cheque or using a credit card? Online shopping is popular because it is convenient for some, suits the lazy and is often the cheapest option. I increasingly avoid online shopping because purchases have been delivered to the wrong address or claimed to be signed for when left outside (including at incorrect addresses). I have other reasons but those are outside the reason for this discussion.

There was a fashion for importing Japanese motors into the UK by those wanting Japanese "reliability" at a low price. S/H Japanese cars are apparently inexpensive owing to their vehicle ownership laws, which partly explains why they dump a couple of boatloads a week in New Zealand.

The concept of market research is a red herring for most model railway small suppliers. Kit sales volumes are low - probably far less than most of you realise - and it is difficult to "find" the potential customers among those who indulge in the hobby. If you poll one hundred model builders (as opposed to RTR collectors) you'll be fortunate to find more than a very few interested in a particular model for a particular railway in a particular period. Seeking "Expressions of |Interest" is probably the best way about it and asking for a very small deposit possibly helps identify the real potential buyers. So I think that works for Bill's relatively low cost wagon kits, but might not for an etched loco costing £100 or more unless you asked for a higher deposit (£20+?) . That might be counter productive unless the supplier had good credentials/reputation and provided confirmation that deposits would be returned in the event that the model didn't materialise. So EOIs, if genuine, can to some degree protect a Small Supplier from the risk of developing/producing a kit only to find he can't sell enough to cover costs and provide a profit (AKA an income). Elsewhere, some products on the market have been funded by someone sufficiently well funded commissioning what they want, and then allowing it to be made available for general sale, again protecting the producer from the risk. The RTR market is somewhat different, with extensive wishlists, frothing, critical appraisal/criticism and polls. However, give the development costs and production volumes, the manufacturers probably still have to rely to some extent on the "ooh, isn't it pretty, I must have one" mass hysteria that seems to surround new RTR announcements/releases.

John, many works used red lead as an "undercoat" as part of the paint process. Did Doncaster do this? If so, then it may be that they then used a coat(s) of red paint or varnish on top of that. The LNWR had "dark red" cab interiors (that's about as good as the description gets) and as they used red lead as a primer, so I suspect that is why they ended up like that. Jol

For the simple reason that many who express an interest in a forthcoming product, often don't buy one when it is available. There may be several genuine reasons, change of modelling interests, financial situation, etc. but there is also the "enthusiastic outburst", followed by "indifference". This view is based on more than twenty years assisting a kit manufacturer. This seems to affect the Small Supplier, but judging by the frothing over RTR products, may not apply with Chinese imports.

The track plan is drawn and the double slip built, so no turning back. We've been held up a bit waiting on some new laser cut point timbering, but things should be progressing again soon. As members of a S4 Area Group we wouldn't see the point in building to OO standards (even if we decided which version to use) as we are comfortable working in P4. If you would like to join us and build Cockfield to 18.83 gauge we would be happy to welcome you. We meet in Colchester once a month, although several members get together more frequently and some do "homework" on items for Lavenham.

Depends on your definition of "right gauge".

The North East Essex Area Group of the Scalefour Society have embarked on building a model of Lavenham, between the two bridges and set in the last days of steam. Unfortunately it isn't as well documented as we had hoped, being a small country station of little interest to the rail enthusiast of the day. We have accumulated as many photos as possible, OS maps, etc. and several members have made a site visit, although there is little of help still extant. The sidings were possibly shunted by horse as far as we can work out, as the headshunts feeding the line alongside the buildings to the right are very short and wouldn't accommodate a standard GER, LNER or BR loco and a wagon. Who used the sheds and for what is also not yet clear.

It might help if you amand the topic title to include the make zndmodel of the kit.

It depends on what you hear/see/read. On the one hand homelessness now at all time high, critical level, etc. Food banks on the increase. Increasing obesity through eating cheap, high sugar and high fat, food and resultant poor diet. On the other, forecast people will spend £900M on Christmas presents for their pets. At least, I think that's what the BBC news presenter said, I can't really believe it. Clearly some people aren't suffering from an ongoing recession.

Mike has beaten me to it, just as I was up in the workshop taking a photo. Note that this LRM kit one has four "planks" in the coal space door, only one "standard" and no tap.

The previous owners of the moulds were able to produce kits from them. I believe Paul Dunn was offered the opportunity to buy the machine they were used on, but declined. The machine in question was pretty much a standard, small, low cost machine. It seems his attempts to modify them/his existing machine were not successful.

Not to hand, John. As it is 1 degree and raining I won't be going up to the workshop today, but might be able to take one tomorrow. It was my first build of a NER tender and I just followed the instructions and drawings. I can't recall if the few publications on the NER had much info or photos of the front of the 3038 gallon tender. Jol

I think that Mike may well have the facts right. The marketing of the 4mm and 7mm ranges may have been "exchanged" but production remained at the original location. I have also been told - by someone who would know - that Paul Dunn's moulding machine would not accept the moulds he did take over from elsewhere and that in modifying it/them he failed to get production going again. So it would appear that he may only be able to supply the plastic kits that were already in his range and those items that are manufactured outside, such as brass etchings.

Dover or Lemon sole? Would you prefer your haddock battered or in breadcrumbs?

Guy, I think that the Exactoscale products formerly sold by C&L may remain the property of the person that commissioned them under the Exactoscale name. That seems to be the situation with the wheels. Hopefully these will become available again, certainly as far as the C&W wheels are concerned. Jol

John, from the photos of the tender, it looks as though the coal space surround is upside down. Jol

Or, as this is a model railway forum: A 4mm LNWR Chopper Tank, built from a London Road Models kit. Painted by Ian Rathbone and requiring final detailing. Going back to the OP, I have original type NWSL chopper with the hardboard base that distorts. I would certainly now go for the Chopper 2 in preference.

Phil, you are simply being introduced to the benefits of using consistent standards for wheels and track. A look at the DOGA site will show how the various dimensions relate. Jol