george stein

Thank you. So many of these common knowledge facts are a great mystery to us living in the USA. George North Carolina

About to start on a couple yards (OO scale) of GWR five-wire right-of-way fencing and realized I had no idea what kind of wire was used. Copper (greenish tint), steel (hints of rust), coated wire (black), etc. So,...what color fishing line am I looking for? Thanks. George North Carolina

Writing from the USA. Very nice. Quite informative. Permit a suggestion of an additional technique. As a OO GWR modeller an issue is how to do the big white letters fading or "running." So, instead of addressing the letters proper, consider a very slightly (progressively) lighter shade of the basic grey directly below the letters. The white, after all, doesn't disappear but washes down "discoloring" and lightening the grey base coat. Sounds odd, but try it. It's more subtle than streaking down the white paint directly -- and you're less likely to damage the decals (transfers). George North Carolina

Hmm, thanks Bob. It does look as if a very dark (midnight?) blue is appropriate for the station staff. Assume black for engine cab consequent of grease, oil, coal dust, etc. Thanks.

Writing from the USA, so pardon the naive question. Looking at color (colorized?) pictures of 1930s GWR engine crew & station staff, the uniform colors strike me as problematic as I anticipate painting OO scale figures. Yes, I know the written material says "black" but, at least for the station staff, the color "seems" to look more like "midnight blue" or a very dark "Oxford blue." That is, "almost" black but with a different "tone" or chromatic. Is this merely reflected light or a function of 1930 film? What am I seeing? So, in essence: how do you guys decide to paint paint your OO GWR engine crews & station staff to get both the "authentic" and "right" look? Thanks. George Stein North Carolina

Writing from the USA, so really basic question. Having almost finished a Metcalfe station platform, the instructions seem to show the adhesive "edge" strips go to the edge of the platform, but not wrapped around. My Scalescenes platform kit shows the white edge strips wrapped around - thus hiding the raw card stock face of the asphalt. So: (1) am I reading the Metcalfe instructions incorrectly; (2) if not, do you just use a black marker to color the raw edge; and (3) as I'm doing a 1930's GWR branch, is it correct or a myth that the white safety stripes were not introduced on platforms until WW-II as a consequence of blackout restrictions. Sorry about mixing practical and historical question. Thanks George North Carolina

Just a quick note: As these Econami decoders come "loose wire" and many UK Bachmann & Hornby steam locos already have an 8-pin socket installed, Soundtraxx sells (in sets of four) 8-pin plugs onto which one solders the decoder wires. Item number: 810123 Google it and you'll see better than I explained.

Thank you. Helpful comments. So, relax and enjoy the variety. George North Carolina

Very happy with mine; I especially like the guard's whistle and doors slamming (which you can choose how many doors) and the drive rods clanking when in drift mode. They have even replaced the sound of USA coupling with a nice banging of the buffers! My advice is to check the Soundtraxx website and download the appropriate (free) manuals. They have conveniently printed a small Union Jack next to any item (e.g., whistles, etc.) that differs from the standard USA version of the decoder.

Trying to put together a GWR Collett 60' coaches train, I have "Replica" and "Mainline" versions with WHITE roofs and the Bachmann Branchline coaches all have DARK GREY roofs. IF there needs be a consistent colour, which is it: white or grey? Thanks George North Carolina Oh, b-t-w, I apologize for the stupid things our Twitterer-in-Chief says w-r-t the UK (and just about everything else).

Check out the Airfix USA, British and German aircraft ground crew figures. Lots of general mechanic types. Mostly carve off the distinctive caps: rest are in some kind of workers' coveralls.

Very nice and, more importantly, captures that particular UK look for hillsides & banks. George North Carolina

Helpful comments. Thanks. Yes, Class "66" seems to have captured what I was asking about.

The Econami review (p.82) was informative and the first I have seen in a UK magazine. Did anyone in the office try the UK-sounds STEAM version. So far I have been using Zimo sound, but the price for the Econami (despite no 8-pin harness and need for a speaker) seems tempting. So...any opinions? Thanks

First, the article on grass banks is really helpful. Well done. Now, an odd question from the USA. While the impression MAY be from the strong lighting used in model railway magazine photography, it APPEARS that there is often a distinctive yellow, yellow/green, beige "tone" to UK grassy fields, embankments, etc. This does not appear to be "Autumn" dead grass, but rather an overall "lightness" to your "green and pleasant land." See especially the pictures of your well known Pendon museum -- all well before the current yellow rapeseed fields common today. Photos of hedges and trees appear quite normal. So, do I have the wrong impression based on magazine photos or, hopefully, can some of you share the secrets of the "lightness" of your landscaping techniques. Thank you. George North Carolina

Lots of useful info. I have the King James II and while the DCC 8 pin receiver is in the engine, I can't figure out where to put a (sugar cube?) speaker as the tender lacks the typical 28mm speaker slot. Any suggestions & advice much appreciated. Oddly, also, the tender is fitted with pickups on all six wheels. Does it transmit current through the drawbar? No wires between engine & tender. Help. It's a confusing model.

Good info. Keep it coming. Alas, Soundtraxx has informed us in the USA that these UK sound decoders MUST be purchased from one of the UK suppliers. Sounds like a real Anglophile is in charge! Piffle! Otherwise, what speaker did you use for the Prairie? George North Carolina

Thanks - this is really helpful. Assume, for example, the GWR 2-6-2 whistle would be pretty standard GWR whistle and "medium" engine could be almost any 4-6-0 or 2-6-0. Clearly the scheme is not "generic" but rather "representative" as opposed to, e.g., "YouChoos" specific prototype. I'll be curious to see UK reactions as the USA reception of the Econami line has been quite positive and, at least in my opinion, these "representative" sounds in USA steam locos have been very impressive. First project will obviously be the Bachmann Prairie - then the Hornby "Hall" after I have made the improvements discussed in the later part of the "Hall" string of comments. Keep your comments coming Ian. Again, thanks. George North Carolina

Ian or Paul. Sounds (no pun intended) really interesting. Neither Soundtraxx nor retailers have listed the "functions." (e.g., Guard's whistle???, etc.) If you can, please list the functions. Thanks.

Having read many of the comments on this site about using the Wills point rodding kits, I have a very basic, simple question. It would appear that the BASE of the stools to which the rodding connects is at the same level as the base of the track sleepers. Thus, assuming I draw a 1-1 plan, the key issue is to remove the plastic webbing of the flextrack, etc. where rodding crosses under the rails. Correct? Or do I have to plan for multiple heights & depths? (God forbid!) The rest of the stuff on the topic is well covered in various threads on this site -- which to an American modeller is invaluable. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experience. George North Carolina

thank you. Should have looked at Didcot site. GWR grey it is.

Back again. The "Old Time Workshop" transfers for the Parkside-Dundas GWR Mink D contain WHITE lettering, while the kit is molded in deep brown plastic. So, are these transfers, in fact, for a GWR GREY livery version or was white lettering used on brown wagons? BTW, the lettering for the GWR "Python" is yellow. Couldn't find colour pics on the web. Thanks.

Thank you. Very helpful comments. George North Carolina

Recently bought a number of the OO scale P-D GWR Mink D vans. While the instructions give suggestions for running numbers, there is no information provided for the "lower right" Tons & Tare. Haven't found a clear photo on the web. So, please advise: (1) Ton & Tare info for the Mink D; (2) were running numbers applied the the van ends; and (3) decal (transfer) suggestion to source these missing data. Thanks. George North Carolina

Great discussion: converting my Hornby "Adderley" to "Saint Edmund Hall" based at Oxford. HOWEVER, not even Peter's Spares can get the brake rods! (X6612 accessory pack) Any ideas for scratchbuilt? George North Carolina