Combe Martin

Perhaps they're going to jump in and be the first to announce new 100% accurate ones so offloading the old stock while they can ?

There were some LMS built tankers that were re-numbered with a W prefix in BR days, the only ones I know about though were United Dairies/Unigate and Milk Marketing Board examples, whether there were any Express Dairy ones done so I don't know. But the Hornby model resembles an ex-GWR one, LMS ones had the brake lever in a different [position. My Hornby one is silver and labelled United Dairies with number W1954 which is actually correct for a Diagram 0.53 built for Alpin & Barrett who did become part of Unigate, so is correct. But, I don't have picture of a Diagram 0.53 tanker so don't know whether any of its other details are correct (ladder type and position, tank supports and number of them, filler position, etc etc).

Well firstly there isn't a kit available now, David Geen has stopped production and whether he'll restart is unknown, and also his kits needed a lot of skill to produce something good and would take me a long time especially as I want a dozen maybe ! However I certainly am prepared to modify the RTR examples and have already bought some Rumney Models etched brass parts sheets to use on the Hornby and Dapol RTR tankers that I've already got, whether they'll fit is another matter, as the Rumney gentleman didn't make them for this purpose. As far as buildings are concerned I knew when I started that there is nothing on the market (with one small exception) that faintly resembles any structure that I need so I'm already committed to that one. With all the work this is going to take, I was just hoping for a small short cut in proceedings especially as there are plenty of other modellers who would also like some accurate milk tankers. I was hoping to get somewhere before I snuff it !

No, but with just the one accurate underframe, and a couple of different tops.

Well I don't think that's a good enough excuse not to make them, ie just because someone wants to run a 10 or more tanker milk train and they might all be the same !, if that's the case they're no worse off than they are now, they havn't got them at the moment, in fact they're better off because they could mix them with the 2 current generic ones. Would most people be running a long milk tanker train ?, even though I want plenty of them the most I've ever seen leaving Bailey Gate on one train is 3, the rest will be on their way in, or already in the milk siding.

But what I'm suggesting is produce the one standard underframe with at least 2 different tops, and besides thats what weve got now, just 2 slightly different inaccurate generic ones !

There are also at least 2 real ones on preserved lines that can be measured, photo'd and scanned .

Yes, and very nice it is too. It is a combination of a David Gean kit with Rumney models variations added I believe, but lots of us are are not very skilled at producing something of this quality or dont have the time to make loads of them unfortunately.

I've posted this under Hornby because there isn't a place to address all manufacturers in one go and I have the impression (rightly or wrongly maybe) that out of all the manufacturers, they could possibly produce a model in the shortest time frame, and I'm getting on in years now and don't want to wait till I'm over 80. I don't however mind which of our lovely manufacturers does it. I just hope they all read this Hornby thread even if its not about them. Please please please can someone produce an accurate Milk Tanker. I am finally in the process of building my second and much more spacious version of Bailey Gate on the Somerset & Dorset main line. For those that don't know, it had a dairy with milk tankers going in and out several times per day (not just the afternoon 'Milky' from Templecombe), so I need lots of them. I've read all the comments about there are far too many milk tanker diagrams of just a handful of tankers each for someone to do one, and we already have 2 tanker models (Hornby & Dapol) that plenty of people buy. Well, both are generic, though both are supposed to be based on an ex GWR chassis, but between them there are major errors, and the Dapol one is inclined to derail too easily because it rocks on the centre wheel set, and its not just my one. I'm not going to go through all the errors here but on both, the most obvious one is the brake lever and what its supposed to connect to, I could be rude about it. I'm not even bothered about underframe details that cant be easily seen from a side on view, just what can be seen. There are lots of photos online and in books (a good example is 'BR Parcels and Passenger- Rated Stock Volume 2' by David Larkin. I know that the ex GWR underframe version was the most numerous, it also being adopted for the BR version, and there are more of these than others shown in this book. They were also seen all over the BR network, so why not just produce one accurate ex GWR type underframe with the 'large brake lever' not the earlier Dean-Churchward type of brake. Variations to what's put on top are ... the number of tank supports, 4 5 or 6 and their shape ... tank fixing straps, either wrap round or short (under an outer cover ?) ... ladder and filler position (central) or combined with a frame and platform about 2/3rds up the side and either placed central or at one end of the tank side. Using one standard underframe you could initially produce just 2 or 3 different models using a combination of the above variations. Just look at the published photos and pick a couple of different tops to model. I would suggest one with a central side ladder (there are plenty), and one with a side frame at one end (plenty of these too). Those are the most obvious differences, and then copy what the other variations are for the one you have chosen. If they sell well you could produce another slight variation next year. Surely its better to produce a couple of accurate models than the current generic ones using the excuse that there are too many odd feature combinations and too few of one type.

The Bournemouth West exhibition layout by Roger Sunderland and his friends uses a loco fitted DCC controlled uncoupling system attached to a Kaydee coupler. I believe it was a Swiss mechanism. They had it fitted to the locos they were using as station pilots. As far as I remember these were a Bachmann Ivatt 2-6-2 tank loco and a B4 0-4-0 tank loco. They've sold the layout now to another group that is still going to exhibit it, whether this includes these 2 locos, well I dont know.

Does anyone have a working ZTC622 Handheld that they are prepared to sell ? Many thanks, Peter.

Are there 2 versions of this book ?, mine, first published in 1986, has pictures of an empty Masbury in plate 53 !

My understanding re using a dpdt switch between a ZTC controller and the track is that its only needed on a 511. If you have a 611 this problem was corrected as the ZTC software was completely rewritten for the 611.

We have a set plus a track extension and extra coaches for our grandson. It seems well made and robust, no problems so far. The remote control has buttons for forward and reverse (3 speeds), stop, lights, various sounds, no twist control knobs. Our grandson is almost 3 now, but he does get distracted from it after a while (as a 2 year old will).

Yes those 3 make up set 967.

I've just put set 967 together by buying brakes 2849 and 2850 from the Hornby shop bargain tub for £15 each (OK I'm lucky, I live 5 minutes drive from the Margate headquarters) and I've bought composite 5713 mail order from Hattons (who still have more). Last July I bought the brakes for set 968 online from Hornby for about £23 and the Composite online from Kernow for £53. So it is still possible (maybe just) to put a BR 3 set together, Hornby have lots of other brake numbers available (I found the last 2849/50 pair) and if you cant find the correct composite you could always buy another online and renumber it. Some of the online retailers also still have some brakes available.

Many thanks for the above, I'm anxious to have as much time there as possible (the attraction for me is Templecombe) but short of travelling up on Saturday and staying the night in a hotel then, 10.50 is the earliest the trains can get me to Doncaster station, it's a long way from Ramsgate ! The furthest I usually go is the NEC, though when the Evercreech Junction layout was first built (early 80s ?) I drove up to Shipley (I think they built it) for it's first outing at their own show, but two long drives in a day is too much for me now, I'd be falling asleep on the way back.

I'm coming from Ramsgate by train via Kings X so the earliest I can get to Doncaster Station is 10.50 ... so I'd like to know what time the shuttle buses run as well, or is the ordinary service bus a better option ?

Are you saying that the old Airfix church kit can be used as the basis for a Dorset Central station building ?

This sounds like a nightmare, I'm glad I only model the Somerset & Dorset !

You've left out correct height corridor (gangway) connections.

Did you consider Templecombe (upper), I don't believe anyone's tried that ?, a nice mixture of S&D and Southern, or is it just too big to do it justice ?

Just one little point, the Doncaster exhibition is the 11th and 12th of February.

I'll throw a few comments into the froth about Hornby The majority of people that buy Hornby (or any other model railway equipment) are not on RMWeb, so we dont know their thoughts, intentions, reasons for what they do, or will do in the future. RMWeb is a small part of the model railway world. As far as why people get interested in railways I suggest its because primarily locos hauled passenger trains, which they hardly do now. Its the loco thats the primary interest. When I first started train spotting it was because the Golden Arrow was coming through Orpington hauled by an unrebuilt Merchant Navy though it might have been a Britannia. Yes I eventually started collecting the numbers of the EMUs but they were frankly boring compared to all the West Countries that came belting though on the coast trains. As I got older and steam had finished I went on trips and concentrated on a service that was hauled by a 40, 47 or a Deltic. I only used an HST if I had to. What I'm suggesting is that multiple units dont excite people as much as a loco hauled passenger train which is why Hornby (and Bachmann) dont make so many of them.

There is one loco/tender combination of Bullied light pacifics that Hornby havn't produced yet, but which is easy with no new tooling or livery details needed. ie a wide bodied un-rebuilt loco coupled to a narrow bodied 4500 gallon cut down tender. 34103 Calstock comes to mind but I believe there are a few others. A Bournemouth loco in the 60's it was used on the Somerset & Dorset (surely always a good seller) as well as the other Bournemouth duties. And I'm sure the gentleman just above would agree and like one too !