Seanem44

For some individuals more than others. I imagine my follies into this would end with frustration and a model sitting in a trash can.

If that were the case then, why produce 20 different variants of the warwell? I know that the warwells are popular, but I think it's now more of people seeing the buzz, liking how the prodcut turned out, and finding a way to make it work on their layout. I understand they are still in use, so there is a far more practical application for them. Honestly, I wonder what kind of crowdfunding is required to start a commission for any stock in particular. That may in the end be the best approach.

Hattons, if you are reading, I think there is sufficient demand out there (whether vocal or not) for the commissioning of a proper GWR autocoach. I know there are some out there on the market. Hornby has one, but it is dated. Not only that, it is incorrect for most of the liveries it wears. I think its time we had a proper pre-nationalization autocoach. I know I would pay for one. Or two. Or three. Something that fits correctly in the 1930s and 1940s.

Well... I just put a preorder in for three Oxford Shermans which are due for release in the coming months. They are 10th Mountain, so probably the wrong camouflage but I can either repaint or come up with some backstory. They are the same cost as the Airfix models, but without the hassle of having to put together and paint them.

Is anyone familiar with milicast models? It seems that they have a few options. http://www.milicast.com/shop/product.php?productid=978&cat=66&page=2

Exactly. Sadly, I have a hunch that won't be happening. It could be they know the demand is there and are going to keep it paired with their warwells as a way to push sales. I hope not. I would preorder those Shermans right now...

Very interesting. This strikes me as odd that they would do this, given they are advertising a coming soon warwell with Sherman load. That sherman appears stock. I guess some Tamiya paint and a few decals would fix it, but then you might as well just buy a model at that point

Got my warwells two days ago. Three of them. Due to having just moved in a new house I haven't really had time to inspect them, but they seem great from the outside I plan on building a Minehead-esque layout where tanks train on the shore, so they will be offloaded at the station. I have an S15 which I am saying is on-loan to the GWR. I think that will be the loco to pull the warwells. Should look nice enough. For those looking for some good Shermans.... this is from Oxford models. Should be some good option for those that don't want to build. I purchased a pair of airfix cromwells and an airfix Sherman, but am not liking them so I might go this route. https://www.timetunnelmodels.com/live/catalog/order-oxford-76sm001-sherman-tank-10th-armoured-division-1942-late-2017-p-61396.html?osCsid=j1fgvj6f42l27vku43jhgdgoh2

I'm pretty sure in WWII they used chains... maybe some fine jewelers or necklace chains suitably painted would work fine.

So now with these coming out... anyone have suggestions on what to use for proper scale chain to hold down loads? Obviously a tank sitting on this has to be anchored by something. What do you all plan on using?

As another aside, Oxford models is releasing two die cast 1:76 tank models in the future. A Churchill is slated for this month and a Sherman for later this year. I imagine these would be perfect for those who are adverse to building the airfix models. Oxfords other items seem to be fairly detailed and with a little matt varnish and weathering would look great.

Just got the email stating that these are soon expected from Hattons. Really, they look great. I preordered three for my soon to be Minehead (or at least condensed) Minehead layout. My wife got me an S15 Wartime black engine for my Birthday, so I will likely run that with them, as it is "on-loan" to the GWR. Minehead was a tank training area on the coast, so having tanks offloaded there would be pretty accurate I imagine. I purchased two airfix Cromwells and one Sherman. The models seem decent.

Can anyone knowledgeable of this class advise if they were also ever used for light goods movements or shunting of goods? Thanks!

Well... this is the one I ordered and I am quite excited after seeing your photos. I need to hurry up and paint my crew then! And I am glad to hear she is a good runner as well! It will look lovely sitting in a box waiting for a layout that might take a few years to build

Ugh. Hate seeing reviews of poor performance. My wartime black weathered is on its way. It's not so easy for me if I have issues with an item, living over in the U.S. Finger crossed I have no issues with mine.

So I would assume a Creamery would not be close to a station, or at least close enough to model on a 14x2 slab of scenery? Would the likeliest scenario be to have a track that heads towards a creamery, and then just use the station to stage the tanks for delivery to the main line, etc.?

In planning my GWR Branch line (40s era) I want to incorporate some form of Dairy and a reason to run 6 wheel Dairy Tanks. I have tried researching the topic, but have not turned up much on the subject. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm trying to figure out what kind of building I will need size wise, etc. I am familiar with the haulage of the Tanks, and that one weighed as much as a fully loaded coach. I am also aware that one tank could provide a day's milk to 35,000 people. So I would imagine smaller towns might have Dairies that produced maybe 1 or 2 tanks a day on branch lines? Anyhow, any help on this subject would be appreciated.

Yep... we all have our favorites. I will run the Castle, prototypical or not. However, if I can have a legitimate excuse, it will make me feel slightly better

Fortunately the Castle was not the cart before the horse. While waiting to move in June into a house with a basement I've been slowly gathering up stock. 64XX, 56xx, a 14xx on order as well as a collett 0-6-0. Very much branchline-centric items. The castle was more of a want than a need. Same goes for the Olton Hall I picked up for 50 pounds. That was more or less because my wife loves Harry Potter and while vacationing in England in 2012 we saw her at the NRM. Gives my wife a reason to enjoy it. The Castle is just an icon I felt I had to have. Just a beautiful engine.

Yep... back to the Terminus. Maybe the best approach is what I thought earlier. Make a fun and engaging branch line layout based on prototypical branch line operations with an occasional war related plausible but not probable movement, i.e. Castle Pulling three coaches of Soldiers/Airmen in while leaving with a Fruit-D or Milk Wagon back for London. I suppose there's a balance somewhere.

Hmmm.... So then maybe a terminus is not the way to go, if I want to keep it true prototypical. Maybe a single or double mainline going past a small station with a fiddle yard on each end would be the way to go, in order to justify having the Castle I just purchased. This might also be interesting for two other reasons. As I plan on adding a milk facility, it adds operational interest in that a shunter could take the milk wagon out an attach it to the end of the 2 or 3 coach Castle (and maybe even a fruit D) to get it back to London expeditiously. The second thing this might do is help me avoid the clichéd GWR terminus. I had already planned to help solve that by having a WWII era layout, but this would further solve it. Thoughts?

Looks like it's screaming to be Modelled. The station that is, not the poultry and egg coach.

Well, here's a hypothetical then... if a branch was dotted red or red, would it be feasible for a large engine such as a Catsle, Hall, etc. to pick up good such as milk or fish so long as the branch wasn't to far off the mainline? Or would a shunter take those good wagons out to the mainline and couple there?

Wow... I can't even trust what I read in magazines What am I to do?

In this month's Railway Modeller, Kingsnewton is based on the Kingswear branchline. The author states that large engines such as Halls and Castles could be frequently found on this single track branch line.