Tony Teague

This is a problem that I can relate to. I bought RTR locos and had kit locos made for me over about a 10 year period during which I had no layout at all, and then it took about a further 8 or 9 years to get the layout to a point where I could start to get them out of the storage drawers. The result has been that each loco has to undergo a serious period of testing, back-to-back adjustment, oiling, and running in before it can be used reliably; sometimes this process has been frustrating and some locos have beaten me, and ended up in a drawer waiting for the next visit of the "loco doctor" (Tony W.)! To be fair, I have not yet reached a loco, whether RTR or kit-built that CANNOT be made to run well - it's just that some take a lot more effort than others, and although I still have a couple of drawers full of locos to go, I am getting there! Good luck when the time comes to get yours out of storage! Tony

These two L1's were built for me some time ago, and I'd now want to have included the lamp brackets which are conspicuous by their absence and need adding. Otherwise, they are nice models. Let me know if pictures of L's, H's or R1's would be of interest! Tony

Khris I am afraid that I have no idea but perhaps Mick or one of the other Pendon specialists can help! Tony

...and one more: Tony

Have been meaning to process some more of my Pendon shots, and so here triggered by meeting up again with Mick at Railex a week or so ago, are a couple more: I confess to having "interfered" with the sky as I was not happy with the Pendon ceiling! Tony

Hi Bryan Here now are a couple of shots of the lined olive version of the PDK L1: It is a nice looking loco and I think the PDK model captures it well. Hope these help! Tony

Hi Jack Just to add to the confusion, I'm not sure that your coach is in "Southern Railway malachite"; it looks more like BR(S) coach green which I believe to be a slightly darker shade; whether or not this is material / noticeable is of course a matter of opinion, and if it were weathered.... I am enjoying following your thread! Tony

Hi Bryan I have two of the excellent PDK L1's, one each in SR Maunsell olive and SR Bulleid malachite. For info, malachite liveried no.1786 is shown here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/115550-churminster-stowe-magna-southern-railway/?p=2644236 I will take a closer pic of it and the olive version and post them shortly. Good luck with the builds - it is fair to say that mine were built for me so I can't comment as to complexity etc. Tony

Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond. I have been away for a few days but now that I am back I shall try out the various approaches suggested. I'll report back on my success, or lack of it, for future reference! Tony

I have offered to assist the estate of a deceased modeller by disposing of a number of Hornby Pullman cars. Unfortunately, the modeller had started the process of removing the names from each of the Pullman cars, but none is completely or sufficiently removed to enable me to simply apply new decals without the remains of the old ones showing through. These are matchboard sided Pullmans and I am finding it difficult to remove the last remnants of the old names; does anyone have a clever way of doing this without damaging the underlying paintwork? - I don't want to get to the point where the cars also need a re-paint! All advice gratefully received! Tony

I haven't asked but these decals which are really for post-nationalisation stock, might contain what you want: https://modelmaster.uk/4mm-br-1948-1965-coaching-stock-decals/1999-mm4416-ex-sr-bogie-vans-data-panels-for-bys-pmvs-yellow.html Tony

Jack I use HMRS transfers for this sort of thing - unfortunately means placing each separate digit but I don't know of anyone doing transfers for a specific range of PMV numbers. Tony

Aha! I feel an alternate use of Rule 1 coming on.... (& on a Southern Railway layout who would know?). Thanks for your kindness! Tony

Many thanks for this, but how disappointing to find that it should not be teak! I had wondered about this because I was unable to find a relevant picture, but I went ahead because the Parkside Dundas instructions say "Painting: LNER body - teak..." Never mind, I enjoyed my one experience of teak painting and will soon cover it up. Thanks also for the links which are most helpful. Tony

You are right - I was talking through my ar$e - have edited original post!

Although not yet shown on the website, I know that Mike Radford of Electrifying Trains (in which I have an interest) has a casting for the pots; if you call him during business hours (0208 440 5918), he will certainly send you a sample. I believe that Peco do a suitable third rail. Tony Edited to remove erroneous reference to bullhead rail

Mick I'm afraid that I chose to experiment with my 2nd, less familiar, camera at that point, however, I seem to have two that are almost presentable! Tony

My good friend Mike Gascoigne, who has artistic skills some way beyond my own and has been helping me with backscene painting, has also turned his hand to modelling some dry stone walling. He built this test length from DAS clay carved with various dental picks and is now building a longer section (about 2'6") on the layout; I think it looks pretty good but it is certainly painstaking work. The layout does not leave home and so fragility is not a particular issue. Tony

I'd appreciate any help that the assembled company can provide, relating to a long wheelbase LNER CCT which I constructed some years ago from Parkside Dundas kit No.PC30. I am a Southern Railway modeller, modelling the period 1938 - 1948 and I built this for an inter-regional parcels train but at that time I was unable to discover what lettering and numbering was appropriate and where it should be applied - so the van has sat in a drawer ever since. I believe that a suitable number would be 1247 but I'd appreciate any help that is offered - perhaps someone has built some of these kits for the same period? Tony

Here is one from my Flickr stream that I hope fits the bill: It is "repatriated" 8F No.8274 on the Great Central (North) railway, as it enters Barnston Tunnel. Tony

I'd like to join others in thanking Mick & his colleagues plus Andy for what was a great day and a rare privilege. I shall definitely be back to Pendon for further modelling inspiration, but in the meantime here are the first two of my images, selected completely at random and with minimal processing: Tony

Here are a couple more from my Flick thread: Branch line in autumn by Tony Teague, on Flickr Wadebridge at speed by Tony Teague, on Flickr Tony

Returning to Chirminster locoshed, last mentioned in post #67, I have finally finished the re-cladding of the visible side & front end; it is back in position and the IRDOT detectors underneath it are working! Adding detail to the side elevation: The building back in place: Some ballasting, scatter & water cranes added around the building: Locos return to their home: All roads show on the Panel as occupied (excuse the temporary paper top cover on the panel which will eventually be replaced): Locos on shed are as follows (it must be early in the morning or a Sunday as the shed is full!), from left to right: Outside storage roads: E4 No.2473 by OO Works & behind it S15 No.499 from a DJH kit PD&SJR No.757 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' from a CSP Agenoria kit & behind it T9 No.120 by Hornby Inside the shed: H15 No.522 from a DJH kit & behind it WC no 21C120 'Seaton' by Hornby B4 No.94 from an SEF kit & behind it K No.2341 from an Ace Products kit (builder unknown) & behind that D15 No.472 from a PDK kit H No.1016 by OO Works & behind it, visiting LMS locos, compound No.1189 & Patriot No.5541 'Duke of Sutherland' both by Bachman O2 No.207 by Kernow / DJ Models & behind it Radial No.3125 by Hornby, behind that R1 No.1710 from a Q Kits kit, and B4 No.82 from an SEF kit. All of the kit built locos are by Chris Phillips except No.2341 which was bought on E-Bay. Before & After: Overall, I feel that it has been worth the effort & the locoshed now fits better with the station across the yard, however, there is still more scenic work to do, plus I still have to make a roof, and since it has never had one, this might be a bit more freelance! I will also need to do something about the small side building / engineering shop which is untouched Metcalfe, and then there is the need for a goods shed... Tony

Isn't one of the key selling approaches for DCC to attract those who are frightened of DC wiring? It seems to me that in reality one swaps wiring complexity for programming complexity - so you take your choice. My personal choice to stay with DC is driven by three things: I have no interest in some of the clear 'value adds' of DCC - such as sound, changing light configurations etc, and I have 200+ locos - so the investment would be substantial I don't seem to have problems with slow running that some do, yet I rarely clean my track Each to his own! Tony

At last an update on the range of barns that I was building back in post #57. They are now in their final location right on the edge of the town of Churminster, just beyond the Parish Church, and some "bedding in" has been undertaken, although there is a bit more to do; additionally the site across the road remains undeveloped and will have to be tackled soon: Please excuse the picture quality - the backscene has been painted but was not in place when the picture was taken and the "sky" has a very woolly edge - I will post a better image once the backscene is back in position. I mentioned when building the barns that they had an underlying purpose and this is revealed through the video: I finally installed the Magnorail cyclist! Please forgive the few adjustments that remain to be done around the change in surfaces, but overall I think he is looking good (as yet he has no name). Tony