Richard Jones

Just to put my original query into context, I am on the other side of the world from my bookshelf and, in all probability, Hattons will have sold out by the time I am back in the UK and able to verify details of the composites.However (www.srg.org.uk/phoenix/maunsell.html) - there were 2 styles of composite - dia 2301 - 4 x 1st and 3 x 3rd, and dia 2303 - 3 x 1st and 4 x 3rd but there were no EXTERNAL differences between the 2 diagrams. Hence my entirely reasonable question as to the external view of the composite compared to the 1st (which is also 7 compartments) but I can't reach up to my bookshelf to check on!

Hi Cor-on4gt, Yes, the Hatton's website site is very good, and I have looked at the product pictures. The problem I have is that Hornby do not currently produce a composite (CK) and I can't access any prototype photos to check if the first (FK) or third (TK) could masquerade (with a change to transfers etc) as a composite, as my copy of Gould is 12,000 miles away! Best wishes Richard Note to self - must look to see if there is a Maunsell coach topic on RMweb, as this is the SECR Birdcage coach topic!

Hi Phil, Many thanks -found them on Hatton's website. I would like a set as ran, Ldn - Bog - Pmth, which according to the SEmG website would be BTK - CK - CK - BTK, so presumably the brake thirds would be suitable (renumbered) but, as I'm in the Southern Hemisphere and don't have access to my copy of Gould, can anyone tell me if either the corridor third or corridor first are physically the same as the composite and could be renumbered etc to represent them?

Thanks, Phil, missed those coming out, will have a look for them.....

I would make space for one of those, if it turned up!

Many thanks for the photos, Tony, they look excellent According to my emails,Hattons have dispatched mine,but I won't get them in my sweaty hands till we return from the Southern Hemisphere at the end of January - perhaps the composite will have arrived by then. All I need now is for Hornby to issue the high window Maunsell coaches in SR green.....

What sort of thickness ply do you use? It has got to crunch time and I really must start on my baseboards!

Oh dear! I should have warned you about O gauge - I have the Dapol KESR Terrier, being closely followed by a Pickering steam railcar from Steam and Things, and have just got an Alphagrafix Royal Saloon..... Remember the Borg - resistance is futile, you will be assumed!

Hope you have better luck than I did at Uni in the 70s - never managed to get any modelling done... Come to think of it, I don't get much done now!

Yes, very nice NPC stock - I think that this is the same vehicle that the Bluebell have: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/270.html

Do you add "droppers" for magnetic operation? - I can't see anything in the photos? I have s fair amount of copper clad, though usually use it for frame spacers on locos as I am "sold" on split frame pick up!

Hi, How do you mount your AJ couplings? Although I'm fine bending the hooks I always struggle when trying to fit them to a wagon! Any hints and tips gratefully received!

The "top hat bush" was just a more elegant way to give sufficient material for the fixing bolt to screw into - a suitable nut glued inside the motor would achieve the same purpose, and once it is tightened up, wouldn't be going anywhere even if the glue failed Just a thought There's always more than one way to skin a cat........

ps RDG tools list unimat pulleys as spares - it shouldn't be too difficult to bore one of these out to 8mm Cheers Richard

Hi, The top hat bush (and the 8mm bore pulley) were not commercial items, mine were made by a friend - I afraid you'll have to find a friendly model engineer with a lathe to turn them up for you. Best wishes Richard

There's an excellent book "Bridges for Modellers" (OPC) which shows details of prototype bridge construction to help us modellers get it right

Couldn't you paint a back scene on a pull down roller blind to complete the model illusion when you want to escape?

It moves! The first test run of the chassis for the Steam and Things kit of the 1904 Pickering steam railcar. and now with the body fitted..... Now to tackle the roof.....

Low melt solder will fix that a treat.....

I think it is a good idea to have several projects on the go at once - it does save getting bored, but I would only do those that I am interested in - currently I have two EM gauge layouts started (KESR & ex-LBSCR) but have also started a 7mm scale KESR "might-have-been" and have both OO9 and OOn12 (Rye and Camber Tramway) stock for other projects that may never get started! Variety is the spice of life, but it's too short to chop & change very often!

Here's a link on the Storeton Tramway (NOT a light railway despite the title!) - again was horse drawn: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=IwRJnQY4PhY Interesting where some of the output from Storeton Quarry ended up....

What a nice idea.... I've eyed up the Storeton Tramway, which was only a couple of miles from where I live, but don't think I will ever get around to it.....

Love the coal on the roof of the terrier!

This is really excellent model building to an exceptional standard of workmanship, but I can't help thinking that if you wanted an E5X (or E6X) it would have been a lot easier to adapt the Albion etched brass kit rather than throw away most of a cast whitemetal kit, or just buy the odd whitemetal parts from Finecast, though you appear to have scratch built most of the parts anyway!

Have you installed leds for signal lamps as well? It looks as though they are lit in the video