Jol Wilkinson

The lamps may also have been moved "outside" so that they could be seen from the loco (the small white light to the reverse of the red lens) to indicate that the train was still intact, but I can't recall where I read that.

Only the small windows at the plain end and inner end of the veranda were glazed. The red tail lamps were positioned behind the holes in the van ends.

A bit more progress with the LNWR Jubilee. Boiler soldered with the formers in place and, firebox sides formed. Smokebox inner wrapper, front and outer wrapper fitted (in that order). The boiler is held in place by two 10BA screws under the smokebox and one through the cab front into the firebox back former. I've removed the central casting sprues from the brass cast chimney, dome and safety valve and have "machined" the undersides by polishing on a piece of 600 wet and dry wrapped around the boiler or smokebox to get a good fit. The valve chest cover has been fitted and the dummy inside valve gear added to running plate/cab assembly, followed by the front splasher sides and tops. The brake gear is made up, the front axle and hornguide bearings assembled, connecting and coupling rods reamed to the the crankpin bushes, etc. so moving forward steadily.

True, however my point was that collectors who don't run their models are just as guilty of the same misdemeanor those that buy kits but don't build them. Yet amassing a collection of RTR stuff is more acceptable than a collection of kits. Building an EM or P4 layout has always relied on people making their models. Even if we want the OO RTR manufacturers to produce "convertible" locos and stock, I consider they would not see it as worthwhile, partly for commercial "insufficient demand" reasons and partly because they would have to rethink their design and manufacturing approach to accommodate what would be required. DIe casting for example doesn't provide sufficiently thin sections for clearance for P4 (or possibly EM) wheels - even some white metal kits have the same issues. The vast majority of 4mm scale modellers are totally wedded to the concept of OO and increasingly reliant on someone to produce their models for them. Why would Bachmann, Hornby and the others bother to swim against the tide for little or no commercial benefit?

And how many RTR locos get bought and just put in the display cabinet? People who proudly claim collections of one, two or more hundreds of locos surely are no different to others with a stack of (probably fewer) kits.

Are the majority of OO (and N) modellers bothered with better track/wheel standards? I think not and therefore the likelihood of "starter" P4 for young beginners is not likely to get off the ground. There wouldn't be enough support and the entrenched attitudes that OO is acceptable would be a great barrier. I have visited clubs where there has been positive discrimination against EM and P4 and have met modellers who have no idea that there are other track/scale/gauge standards other then OO and N. Against such a background, the young/new modeller is unlikely to get much local support for doing something different. With the increasing quality of RTR models and the move away from making and painting your own models, it is difficult to see things changing from today's status quo. Perhaps more enthusiasm for making models, rather than collecting RTR products, should be the first objective. That might lead to people having more interest and enthusiasm for the finer track and wheel standards (finer as in nearer to scale).

Joseph, any deviation from the established P4 standards will affect the appearance of pointwork, one of the most visible benefits of P4 modelling. Perhaps the most sensible commercial proposition would be EM, which has some compromises (compared to P4) that might make "mass" production more achievable. Jol

Ian, P4 is quite different from OO in that the wheel/track tolerances don't allow for the type of trackwork "accuracy" most OO modellers are used to using. Loco and stock design/manufacture would need rethinking as tolerances for outside valve gear, wheel clearances, etc. are different. For example, thick plastic bogie side frames or wagon underframes are unsuitable for the outside dimensions of P4 wheel sets. Can plastic moulded steam loco bodies provide sufficient clearance for P4 wheels? You might not need compensation/springing for short wheelbase diesel locos, but that only would work with well laid track. The S4 Society produced a small batch of ready converted RTR diesel locos several years ago and the SLW models are available in P4 but have only produced one type. albeit with many livery/modification variants. Modelers who take up P4 or EM standards recognise that they have to work to tighter tolerances in everything they do regarding track and the running gear on their stock. That's not difficult given the tools, jigs and components available but does need more application/dedication/thoroughness than most OO modelers may be used to having to use. As the OO manufacturers have successfully focused on "easy" modelling, including ready painted buildings, etc. the challenge of taking up something a bit more demanding is not likely to find many takers from their target audience and regular customers. Jol

Could it also be that railway modelling can be, like some other hobbies, a solitary activity without the need for social contact with others? If people with Autism and Asperger have difficulty in relating to and being with others in a group environment, then they are possibly drawn to modelling (of any discipline) as a satisfying, solitary activity. When an individual with ASD gets involved in a group situation it can be very disruptive and damaging to the group's cohesion. At what point should the group's "health" take precedence over the individual's?

Another example of the perceived importance of Ferrari to the F1 circus. I believe it started when Ferrari threatened to leave F1 and consequently received a bigger slice of the cake for just turning up.

Surprised you didn't know if you have followed F1 for any time. It was Johnny Herbert.

London Road Models also do etched kits, wells, etc. for 42 and 50 foot CS turntables. There is also 60 ft version in the pipeline.

Transport costs are the same for one or two days, so the savings are not as great as some assume they would be. And, as you rightly say, the effort of collecting a hire van, loading it, etc. for just one day is a bit less appealing. If it ain't broke - as some like to think - there is no need to fix it.

Suggested you try a 5 to 10 percent solution, then rinse thoroughly with clean water (no responsibility taken!). With etched kits the Cif option always works for me. If adding w/m parts I usually use adhesive, but even if soldered on (Carr's 100 deg.) that approach stilll works.

Ian, my preference is for someting a little more modern. "Who knows where the time goes?" Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny's equisite voice. "Going down slow" Eric Clapton Jol

Iain, we are currently on holiday with friends in Portugal, one of whom is a recently retired industrial chemist, so I challenged him for an answer. If using phosphoric acid flux it is probably creating lead, tin, etc. phosphate. To remove/nutralise that a caustic soda solution should work. Check this with the Head of the Science Department. The late John Hayes, whose work appeared in the early MRJs, used this approach to clean/degrease his work at the end of each session. His models, before painting, were always immaculate - as they were when finished.

The LNWR put the Brake or Luggage classification first, which seems sensible. So you could say "it is in the first brake third" and know what is meant.

Ivan, FE-123 is reputedy very good, as are the Bilt Hamber products. I don't have any corrosion problems with our MGB (that I know of!), but have used FE-123 in a couple of places on the vertical upper seams inside the boot where there is very slight surface rust, as a preventative measure. Seems to work well.

Have you got any P4 profile wheels to go with them?

I don't know if the MOT covers unsafe load, bodywork unsafe for pedestrians, vehicle likely to cause mirth, etc.

As a member of the MGOC forum, it is clear that a number of otherwise well meaning owners don't have the experience, knowledge or expertise to maintain their vehicles correctly. A MOT provides a safety check and I responded to the Government proposal (one of about 1300 people to do so) requesting that the MOT be retained or replaced by a specific, safety related, Historic Vehicle Test. We now know the results of the Government review - which will be happily accepted by some.- and from which it is clear they have picked the easiest and probably more popular option, using some rather debatable accident/injury data to support their decision. A MOT garage, with good business sense, could do well to offer a safety test service, using the MOT as a basis but excluding the irrelevant emission test criteria. I will still get our MGB tested, either way.

Regrettably, Facebook has almost become a necessary evil. Increasingly it is the means by which small businesses promote their products. Frustrating when looking for a restaurant in a foreign city to find that, if you don't subscribe to FB, you often cannot find what's on the menu, etc. Likewise, the BBC News, etc.have Twitter and FB sites through which you are invited to get more up to date information. The LNWR Society now has FB pages, without access to which I am denied information they put in the public domain. Yes, I can join FB but I don't want to have to add yet another outlet for my personal data. Is privacy an issue? What internet data gathering does could be likened to stalking. Does that seem too dramatic? If someone followed you about continually and then started knocking on your door trying to sell you something, then you might get rather p*ss*d off. However, it seems to be seen as acceptable though electronic data gathering. From my wife's experience running a charity book sales outlet through Amazon, I still feel that profit comes before the businesses (people) they "serve". However, they and others like them have become so large, their grip on our daily activities are now beyond control.

Facebook is US owned company. It has US profit before people culture, like Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, Google, Microsoft and many others. Do not be surprised by anything they do or don't do.

Paul, thank you, indeed it should so prompted by your comment, I have amended my post. Jol

The instructions include some info on where to start the first curve, starting from the back. I use a pair of pliers with one concave and one convex jaw (supplied by Phil at Hobby Holidays) to form the curves, a little bit ar a time. I used to form the curves around the shank of suitably sizes drills, butfind the pliers better. A pair of square flat jaw pliers are also useful for flattening out bits that need it. N/s is stiffer then brass but I didn't need to anneal it.