84B Oxley

Wow, the George Alan Siphon G! That takes me back, the first etched brass kit I ever built, before I learned to solder. If I remember correctly the instructions advocated the use of the then-new superglue. IS12 was the one it recommended and it did an excellent job. The finished model was streets ahead of anything else at the time but was sold many years ago when I moved up to O Gauge. Thanks for the memories. Jeff

Brian West Country looks the business but sorry to tell you that I think you have the eccentrics on the centre drivers in the wrong position, they should be behind the centreline of the axle, not in front. I'm probably not explaining myself very well but have a look at this photo and, hopefully, you will see what I mean. Should be very easy to sort. Once you have the cylinder drains on you may find that they interfere with the swing of the bogie wheels, leading to derailments. I had to tweak mine on Westward Ho. Jeff

Andy Liberal amount of oil on all joints before applying paint. Works for me. Jeff

Brian Sometimes you have to be pragmatic.........I took the bogie wheel splashers off after a few trial runs, not worth the bother. So far, nobody has noticed (but they all will now!) Jeff

Brian Coming along nicely, I finished one of these just before Xmas, mine has the 4500 gal tender. A superb kit with loads of 'fiddly' bits, like the tender lighting. The loco lighting is just as much fun, the conduits and wiring seem to have been slightly different on each loco, even in preservation days. The biggest problem I had with mine was with the pony truck as the injectors foul it; move the truck forward a bit to clear and the ashpans cause the same problem! A very fine balancing act. Looks like you have this pleasure yet to come! The end result is a lovely model, mine is done as 'Westward Ho' because my wife comes from that area. A shame that this kit is no longer available, I think I had the last one. Photograph shows it running at Preston last Saturday. Jeff

And now the photo........I have since removed the ladder at the bonnet end as I don't think it would have been fitted in the Rail Blue era

Chris https://www.flickr.com/photos/brianews/albums/72157627006237682 Some photos of Brian Daniels' build of an 06. He may have some cab interior shots. A photo of mine here too: The cab seats attach directly to the sides of the cab, just below the windows. I have seen a photo of the cab interior but can't remember where. Sorry! Hope this helps Jeff

Inspiration? 26029 on Preston Group's layout The real 26024 passing through Princes Street Gardens in August 1986. Jeff With apologies for double picture.............

Pete Top casting is, I think, connected with the AWS. I believe it is called a timing cylinder and sits in front of the firebox on the driver's side running plate. The two castings on the right look like lubricators which sit on the running plate close to the boiler. Not sure about the bottom one but it could be connected with the AWS and might go in the cab. Hope this helps (a bit!) Jeff

From the CAD on Tower's website it looks like the model will have the correct bufferbeam profile, not the compromise it has been in the past using black paint. Progress! Will be in the market for a LLB one myself. Jeff 37409 at Eastfield 15.08.1986

And here is the real thing when it was working in the Warrington area in August 1989. I suspect that the cab doors would probably be the steel type but, naturally, you can't tell from my photo! This photo also shows different sized cabside numerals from yours but these could well have changed over the years. Depends on the exact year you are modelling. Not meaning to nit-pick, just observations. A nice job there, you should be proud of it. Jeff

[ I have glued my couplings in place with epoxy. Seems to have done the job as last night I had it pulling a decent rake of parcels stock on the club layout. 47494 has been weathered, coaled and had lead fitted in both bunker and smokebox as I noticed that other people's models were a bit light-footed. Just needs a crew now. Jeff attachment=914419:20171016_212940.jpg]

The chimney is only very lightly glued on so would be very easy to replace. How do I know?.............. Jeff

The 03 was advertised at Telford by Heljan as Q3 2018 and with alternative chimneys. Jeff

Just as interesting as the 25/3 is the fact that Heljan are doing the original 20, i.e. with disc headcodes as an 'exclusive' with Hattons, later this year but at £550 rather than the £470 of the headcode box version which is due soonish. http://www.hattons.co.uk/294331/Heljan_2006_Class_20_in_BR_blue_with_full_yellow_ends_1980s_style_warning_flashes_and_headco/StockDetail.aspx Jeff

The wheels just don't look right in the photo on Tower's website, the rims are far too thick. Body looks excellent though! Jeff

A bit like this? Photographed on the Preston O Gauge Group layout. Jeff

I presume you know that Railtec do a full transfer sheet for the Fruit D? They were out of stock for ages but have them back in now, just got a set for my WEP one-an enjoyable kit to build as you have found. Jeff

James You won't regret building this kit, mine was a pleasure from beginning to end with no problems worth mentioning. I used Slaters' wheels and an ABC/Maxon combination for power.With plenty of room for lead in the boiler it will haul a good load, with just a hint of slipping on start. Just like the real ones! I also added the inside connecting rods and crank axle but am not convinced it was worth the effort, I haven't seen them for years! There is a lot in the kit, as you will find out. I recorded almost 450 very enjoyable hours on construction, including painting and lining (a mixture of Fox and HMRS). Photograph here was taken on 'Sykes Bridge' when it was on the exhibition circuit. Good luck with it! Jeff

To deactivate the red tail (not 'brake' !) lights there is a small and inconspicuous slide switch beneath Number 2 cab. I am on DC only so can't programme them out. If, as I assume, you are on DCC there may well be another way. Hope this helps. Jeff

Looks very good but I'm not sure about the wheels, the rims look too thick to me. Maybe it's the angle of the photograph. We'll have a better idea when the Big Prairie emerges. Jeff

John Thanks for that. I usually use 'Heroes of the Footplate' figures which I get from Invertrain but 45009's come from JPL Models' scrap box! They are just up the road from me and I popped in to see what they had got. Another source would be Omen Miniatures and I'm sure there are more out there. Jeff

Here is my 45009 on Preston O Gauge Group's layout yesterday at the head of a rake of Heljan stock, I wasn't going to buy a Peak until I saw one at the club last Monday night; somehow I found myself in Hattons on Wednesday buying a weathered blue one! In my view it is just about Heljan's best so far and difficult to fault. The only problem I have had so far is that only one of the lamp brackets has survived its first outing so I have used the spare ones (which are not a straightforward replacement job), and reinforced the very frail bends with solder. Time will tell....if they don't stand the test of time I shall scratchbuild some new ones out of scrap etch, using thicker brass. The inner sandboxes have been removed and the places where they came from weathered to match the rest of the bogies. Since these photos were taken, I have removed the boiler steps access steps from Number 2 end bogie. The small lower bodyside grilles have been replaced with the plated over ones that Heljan supply-a very simple job as the factory-fitted ones just push out. A driver has been fitted in each cab too. (Incidentally, the body fixing screws are easy to undo-unlike the 37!) I like the Heljan weathering but may well add a little more of my own. It looks to me as if the worksplates are etched ones as opposed to the printed ones that might have been expected-a nice touch. Jeff

Knocks my plans on the head then! Thanks for pointing it out. Back to drawing board. Headlight is a simple matter, grilles maybe not. Part of me wishes you hadn't told me and part of me is grateful.... Jeff

Large Logo Blue model not inaccurate....but you would have to leave one snowplough off if you want 100% fidelity to prototype! Photograph taken inside Inverness depot on August 25th 1984. Jeff