Johng

The Roley Moundings (Snowhill) one is very good, I have got one in my all to large 'too build' pile, all the castings, except the backhead are lost wax, the backhead being WM. The MM1 (JLTRT) has the benefit of a resin boiler, but you will need to check as to availability, Laurie of MM1 is a great guy and only to happy to help. There has been a debate as to the best, the Snowhill has a minor compromise to the wheel spacing to get the brake shoes in, this has often drawn comment, but you would never have known it, just use the coupling rods in the kit, they are of the right 'construction' in any case. There was an article over 2 MRJ's about its design and construction. There is a 2-10-0 version for sale on the Guild site complete with wheels. Usual disclaimer Trust this helps. Johng

Summer 1986, Jim Read articles, I have a scan of the page, if you pm me I will send it to you. Mike Bragg, an ambassador for micro layout is a personal friend and went on the build more (than a few!), I know, I have 2 of them! John.

John, Volume 9, number 11, page 27, Trust this helps, John

Was it in the Gauge O Guild Gazzette? if so then if you are a member you can download it as all the gazettes are archived. John.

Adrian Go for a log cabin without doubt, I did the exercise about 5 years ago, I ended up spending about 2k but I ended up with a 3m x 4m, 34mm logged wall cabin with double glazing, tilt and turn windows, the price has gone up a bit over the last 5 years the same today is about 2.7k. I started looking at sheds and the plans grew into the cabin in the end due mainly to value for money, the more you spend the more you got, beyond proportion. I got mine though 'Sheds Direct' ( no connection, other than a satisfied customer), I think it is called 'Shedstore' now, you can find it on the net, look in the log cabin section, I bought the 'Chiltern' due to the space I had, I treat it once a year with 'Creacote light' from Wicks. I am sure there are others. I don't live far from Malmsbury, the engine shed is still there, now an MOT station, I have some photos somewhere that I took a while back when they were re-opening the pit in the shed, the builders foreman thought it was all a bit odd, but hey. Regards, John.

Gloucestershire Gauge O Group presents the 36th 'Hardwicke Meeting' Event. Sunday March 24th 10am till 4pm Hardwicke Village Hall, Green lane, Hardwicke, Glos GL2 4QA (just off M5 Jct 12) Test track (2rFS DC/DCC), layouts, refreshments, Bring and Buy, Trade support, Refreshments. Admission £3.00 and concessions

Good honest review Neal, Picked mine up from Antic's today, with corrected 'running' direction, all part of their excellent service. This is a Richard Webster inspired triumph, innovative and accurate. I have driven one a few times and this catches the essence I'm sure. The ashpan is correct as it is lower than the brake gear for the rear axle- hence the double brake rodding, so compromise free. The 'working' valve gear adds to the fun with just that bit of movement to add interest. Opening doors on the BR one, different backheads on topfeed models. Full rivet detail, tank top detail, shrouded topfeed pipework... etc.. etc.... and padlocks, all for sub £200! Sorted, well worth the wait John

The 64xx were 'Auto Fitted',so could run with the autocoach, either hauled or propelled, when crewed by a Driver and a 'Passed Fireman', Typically the 74xx were not so fitted and all of the heavier 57XX,8750 and the 94XX were also not Auto fitted, however they could run with the Autocoach and did in the Stroud Valley on the Chalford Auto, but would need to 'change ends' and 'runround' the coach at each terminus to haul the train, all could haul the B sets. Johng

I concur, the panniers I think where saturated, the 94xx aside, and then only the first ten being superheated. The cover is a cover for the lubrication system, if you look closely you can see the two isolation cocks with the 'saw cut' indicator markings, take a look at other GWR engines, there is a cover that bridges between boiler cladding and smokebox which in essence is the same. The superheater header when fitted to a GWR locomotive was in the smokebox, not a nice place too work when it requires attendance I can assure you. John

Can't go wrong, the Ixion ones are great value, a full set of irons, oil cans and a working bucket to-boot and change from £4

It could be a critic with a chip on his shoulder?

It did indeed remain a hole, you could gain access to the repositioned sandbox filler cap through it or under the valance. The first 50 built had no keyhole and the filler was on the tank top, the remainder were build with the keyhole with the filler, The LMS issued a work Order in Dec 1944 for the removal of the pipe, this took time to complete, most likely a few years as the loco's were overhauled and lead to jokes about the 'Keyhole' ,aka 'clockwork toy' johng Johng

The model is correct, by the time of nationalisation the sandbox covers in the keyhole where removed due to water ingress which caused a problem, the cover was placed directly onto the sandbox itself, the order to modify the arrangement was an LMS one and it would be correct for some late LMS one not to have the cover in the keyhole, all locomotives were modified by 1947. Trust this helps, Johng

Hi Paul, I concur with Paul B's comments about numbers built and there widespread use, I was involved in a conversation with Richard (Lionheart) as a kernel of an idea to produce a model of the 82xxx, as I had some drawings. I have no formal connection with the project whatsoever, just a supporter of the superior quality that Richard has brought to the RTR market, either through Lionheart or Dapol, It may follow the upcoming 45xx in a similar production style and at a similar price? so about half the price against the original quoted spec. Room for optimism one thinks, Like the idea of the Ivatt, Johng

Some wonderful colour footage in the Jim Clements DVD series, some of the station name pronunciation a bit dodgy, some great scenes of the last years of the Chalford cars and the last trains from Tetbury and Cirencester.

Rod, I think you have summed it up rather well, the LMS Locomotive Profile's books help, they can be sub divided and it is a lot more complex, but again the same situation arises regarding changes during overhauls, the best advice is to try and get a dated photo and work from that, I do have two of the series on the Black Fives, interesting reading, well researched, a tribute to the authors, even they add 'if you know different',,,, In the words on Lieu Col AD Wintle "I'm never bored when I am present", Intrigued, semi confused no doubt. Good Luck, John

1462

The 'Peto's' book is very good when it comes to information relating to liveries and Top feed/boiler swaps, etc, You have too remember that locomotives sent for overhaul would be the subject of boiler swaps as part of that process and would be fitted with the next overhauled 'spare' boiler, it is possible for a top feed boiled version to be next outshopped with a non topfeed boiler and therefore the backhead will change as the clacks are either on the backhead or in the topfeed, which ever boiler is fitted, same is true for the Panniers, the backhead detail is NOT the same on both versions, Dapol have this right and no doubt it will be right on the 14xx. Great it coming, Johng

Glad to see you pushed the boat out with you spend at Guildex, no pun intended, so please amend to 'barge', no sorry .......narrowboat. More Mike Bragg 'ships' (masterpieces) on display, Ashwood is at WSM this coming Sunday. Nice one Mike, regards John.

14's and Autocoaches ran main line, Chalford to Gloucester, can just about remember it, my Auntie lived in the flats directly opposite Brimscombe Shed. It must have had an impact, now a choo choo driver on the ESR. Happy days, John.

Brian, You are right, well almost, for clarity, the injectors and water valves on the 9's are both on the firemans side (right hand facing the front), live steam feed from the manifold on the firebox top in front of the cab, your description of the action of the exhaust injector is spot on and the largest pipe in the selection under the cab feeding the low pressure exhaust side of the injector and an automatic shuttle to live steam on closure of the regulator. Good stuff, John.

Just some lateral thoughts regarding the cost of coaches, the reasoning around £200 a coaches surely shows that 'conditioning' or perceived value based on price in O gauge still persists, no insult intended. The superb 0 gauge RTR loco's that are currently on offer relate very well with their 00 counterparts at roughly double, using that simplistic concept the RTR plastic coaches at £200 a piece are overpriced and by some, use the 'double the 00 price' is more the mark, after all, artisan, hand built brass, fully painted are available from a reputable supplier for £250! Just thoughts.

Impressive, Baggeridge coal, rub 2 boy scouts together to light a fire and Hey Presto

Pleased your on the mend, never had you down as a miserable bleeder anyway, railway modelling is safer hobby than sword swallowing, honest....some say, leave the cuts to Theresa, although see seems to be practicing herself of late. Nice to see the trains moving, take it steady, regards John.

Chin up Mike, even when you plod you make better progress that me. John