SM42

Throwing a loop is exactly what it has done. The brakes on mine would work. That bit is right Appears I have the dog clutch on the wrong side (compared to the photo) and I'm not convinced that the prototype has four shoe gear as the photo caption states. It looks very empty on the far side of the underframe in that photo with only one set of safety loops visible. Plate 62 in Essery Vol 1 only has brake shoes on one side and confirms I seem to have put these on the wrong side. Ho Hum. The end also looks black, (now I look closely) but I can't tell in that B&W picture if there is a hint of grey around the end vent or if that is just light coloured dirt or if the whole end is just very rusty and dirty The instructions are lord knows where now. Probably turn up in about 10 years, bit like the half finished kit did. Andy

Thanks Wheatley Grey all over seems most likely then and the van in the photo was of a one off Still managed to get the brakes on backwards though If I can live with that the colour of the ends is a mere trifle, but interesting to speculate all the same Andy

Thanks John. That is what I suspected until I happened upon that photo and the doubt crept in. The instructions disappeared shortly after completion of the build and are either in the modelling room detritus or being converted to something else in a factory somewhere, hence the fall back onto the photo search when it came to painting an applying decals. It is currently grey all over, I just can't decide if I dare to do the ends black or not. Andy

Missing visiting the in laws Can't understand much of what they say most of the time but the hospitality, love and mutual respect are clearly understood. Video calling just isn't the same Also missing visiting the land of Mrs SM42s birth. The food, the SM42s, the sometimes utter bewildering craziness and the often common sense things and attitudes we don't have in the UK Now I'm enjoying the almost empty roads on my commute to/from work. The joy of approach control traffic lights, less maniacs about, less drunk pedestrians, unlit cyclists and on a sunny day absolute heaven. Takes me back to when I learnt to drive, there was more space on the roads, it was more civilised and it's at least 10 minutes quicker each way. Andy

Not sure if this should be here or in the help and tips section, it sort of fits both Having a little bit more time on my hands of late, I have built a Parkside 0 gauge kit of an LMS D1832A van I am modelling BR period so into unfitted BR grey it will go. The question is what colour were the ends painted? The colour photo on the front of the Geoff Gamble Railway in Profile Series book on vans (No 3) appears to show such a van in grey with black ends. Is this an optical illusion? I suspect it isn't looking at the contrast with the grey sides Is this a standard paint scheme for these vans or just some one off meaning I can get away with all over grey? For the sake of my sanity in applying the decals I have opted not to copy the photograph exactly but to use a ready made number and use the photo as a guide for painting and weathering, so I could apply rule one, but it would be nice to know if black ends were a common feature or not. Thank You Andy

Hartlebury Station Box has a little brick lean to building at the Kidderminster end of the box. Literally three walls and a door, break the ice in winter style. It was out of the box, down the steps along the front wall and turn left. Great fun just after the shower of freezing rain when there was an inch of ice on everything, steps handrail, ballast the lot. . It is just visible in the 2009 Google Streetview of the box. Henwick I think has separate brick built affair at the Malvern end. Blakedown was in cubicle built at the top of the box steps. Out the door, sharp right Three Spires Jn was the same I believe. Kidderminster had an internal toilet near the top of the internal stairs on the back wall at the north end of the box. Aston SCC, or Vauxhall Shunt frame if you prefer, is similar, but no internal staircase in this instance. Meaford Crossing had a seperate brick outhouse at the north end Brereton Sidings a portaloo at the bottom of the box steps Bringing it back to wooden style Midland boxes Now Oakham, it appears has a little separate brick building, just about big enough for a toilet and maybe a sink, between the box and the platform. Whissendine the same. Ketton possibly as well but hard to tell from Streetview Frisby has a sort of plywood portacabin looking thing at the bottom of the box steps Lichfileld TV Jn's toilet was built on next to door. Sort of floating in mid air held up by thin legs and luck it seemed. A very Heath Robinson looking thing There are mutiple solutions to this problem as can be seen. The little brick outhouse seems the most likely though with a wooden construction Midland box. Easy enough to knock up with some embossed platsicard. Flat concrete slab roof sloping away from the door will do. In terms of catering, a sink with hot and cold tap, normally on the back wall at one end, Maybe a kitchen type unit underneath, maybe not. Some had drainers true kitchen sink style some did not. Hartlebury had a hand basin style sink under the window at the crossing end of the box on the rear wall. Then of course there was the ever present baby belling oven. In fact I don't think I have ever been in a signal box without one. Somewhwere there will be a fridge shoe horned in, either a mini or standard sized one. Hartlebury's was between the chip shop style panel and the front windows Kettle, fridge or anything else involving making tea / food could be on any available flat surface designated by the resident staff for the job. Over the fire / gas / electric heater a piece of string between two nails for drying tea towells and used tea bags for making tea for visiting managers. You kept the unused ones for yourself hidden away in your locker. Judging by the pipework on the outside of the real Oakham box visible in Streetview, the sink was just inside the door on the left and appears to have kitchen units underneath as can be seen through the conveniently open door, which suggests a stainless drainer sink The below view of the interior of Meaford Crossing around 1993 shows the ingenious home made kettle shelf, the edge of the cooker on the table and the grey staff lockers behind the levers on the right. The tea bag washing line was on the left of this view above the gas fire on the back wall, directly opposite the train desciber VDU seen in the centre of the picture (one on from Colwich, time to get Church Road CCTV crossing closed (camera's already on), pull 23, move to the pedastal and close the crossing outside, pull 25. check for slot from Stoke PSB, ask for slot from Stoke PSB and pull 22. ) Andy

Whilst this is a time of stress, anxiety and, for many, overwhelming grief, there are some very fundamantal positives to be found amongst the heartaches By and large the crisis has brought out the best in people. It has restored faith in human nature and the realisation that if we work together we can achieve some quite remarkable things that don't involve personal financial enrichment. (yes there are those who are making money or political gain out of this but that is a constant of the modern world) We have come to realise that there are lots of people out there doing jobs day in and day out that we take for granted, even abuse, mock and insult sometimes and, without whom, our normal would not exist. We have the time to catch up with those who we haven't spoken to for a long time or very often, (especially as we now only have the internet or phone to keep in touch.) We can afford the time to listen, even relish the opportunity of having some form of contact, that we are taking some form of control in a situation we have no control over. We no longer have an excuse of having to be somewhere else. In short we are doing that most human of things, being a socail animal, but against the odds. We have time to reflect on our own lives and appreciate those things that really matter to us. Possessions are not important. They may give us comfort and an element of happiness, but in the grand scheme of thing they are irrelevant. How you live your life has been exposed down to its bare bones. We can take the time to re-evaulate, check or change our priorities and ultimatley may come out of this feeling better about ourselves and where we think our lives are heading. Even if we may have many more challenges in life, financial, emotional or otherwise we can take comfort in knowing we have had the time to plan, prioritise and declutter both physically and emotionally In short, whilst these are unusual, unsettling and emotional times, we should grasp the nettle and do something positive for the future. Andy

I've got a couple that i recently found in the bottom of the cupboard and are now surplus to requirements. Both in a reasonable condition and boxed, although one has had the couplings moved backwards on the bogies to reduce the gap between vehicles. Andy

The only aside to that would be if changing from a red base colour to white top coat, for instance on a tank wagon. IIRC a grey undercoat / primer stops the white turning pink. Andy

There are as many answers to that as people on this forum. Some use enamels. some use acrylics some use both It all boils down to personal preference. Unlike Brossard I don't prime plastic kits. I'm too impatatient and so far no issues without primer. Metal work always gets primed. I alos tend to brush paint wagons rather than spray. Just my preference Humbrol has some issues with quality and consistency. In my opinion it seems to be variable at best. Matt dries gloss etc. This can vary between colours and tinlets, but they still form part on my modelling palette. I just accept there may be the occasional issues and matt varnish is then the answer. I find some of their range a good match for what I consider to be a good colour for some models I also use Revell which seem to me to be far more consistent and are stocked at my nearest model shop hence I use them more, but as before some Humbrol colours are better for railway colours than any of the Revell range. I also have some old Railmatch, and Pheonix in use as well as a couple of old Airfix tinlets that are still useable. I think you could easily go out and find many colours and ranges at your local shop (whenever they are allowed to open again) and see what suits you best. It really is a matter of personal taste and seeing what you get on with best. In my case, based on sheer numbers, in order, it's Revell, Humbrol, Railmatch and Pheonix. Andy

Guy thanks for clarifying the number Ian Allen 1985 shows it as an OHLM pantograph coach and at Rugby. Andy

Looking at my Ian Allen of 1985 it appears that the ADE numbered stock was spread all over the country. I can't make out the number in the picture above but here are a few examples with the locations given. These are I believe locations at the time of printing and not necessarily orignal allocations, but does show a number of possible locations that were not necessarily an in store location. ADE320580 ex E86872E Romford ADE 320582 ex E82399E Carstairs LDE320750 ex E82331E Wigan Bamfurlong Andy

Be careful. If it's one thing I've learnt, brownie points arrive singly and depart in multiple. Bit like 153s really Andy (who's taken delivery of his parcel even though it missed yesterday's pick up slot and she was down Tesco too. Yay!)

In these times of staying at home , you need to worry when he leaves a hump in the garden and his missus has "gone on holiday" Blast ! I'd forgotten she won't be going out. Do you think DPD will deliver while she's down Tesco? Andy

Curtain twitching is very catching, a bit like panic buying it creeps up on you and puts doubts and fears into your head. These extraordinary times will bring out the best and worst in people. The neighbours had a delivery of garden supplies yesterday. I know cos it went dark in the lounge when the truck pulled up. Good for them, but I wonder how many thought, "How dare they? What are they doing?" Gardening probably. One thing I did learn though was that there is a local garden centre doing mail order. Just don't tell Mrs SM42. I've got enough jobs to do as it is and I'm hoping the lack of supplies excuse will reduce that list. Andy

To me early bauxite is a little more orange than later freight brown. I've used Humbrol 133 but was not 100% convinced for my taste. It's acceptable but nearer to the later freight brown than early bauxite to me. I see it as a sort of in between shade Humbrol's 133 is also a semi matt colour which could, of course, have coloured my judgment, but that helps with the application of decals and as a bonus sealing the decals with a matt varnish knocks it back anyway. Humbrol's rust (I forget the number now) just looks wrong but I do sometimes use it as an undercoat for bauxite on lighter plastics Mixing matt and semi matt has not been an issue in my experience. I was doing just that for quite a time before I realised I was doing it. Just grabbing colours that looked right to mix together without paying attention. Things did turn out a little more on the glossy side though. It's a matter of personal taste and perception in the end and as has been said, consistency of colour across wagons of the same colour is not often seen. Andy

I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but I feel that if we are confined to barracks, so to speak, then the ability to get our non essential shopping still, is a bonus. If it were a problem then it would have been shut down two weeks ago. The Govt have acted to discourage us from congregating around shelves in shops but has not told us to give up entirely. Mail order is available at present so I see no need not to use it. It could easily have been closed down too. I have made my first order today since shut down to replenish the consumables. Will I do it again? Definitely, Do I feel guilty? No, but then I don't feel 100% comfortable either. Maybe the curtain twitchers are having an affect, maybe the ever present only go out to shop for necessities etc message is generating subliminal feelings of guilt about buying non essentials. Maybe I'm worrying about the mechanics of accepting a delivery whilst maintaining social distancing. Maybe I've become paranoid that every object is alive with vicious germs plotting murder. Who knows? We are living in stange times. Normal has changed. It's bound to have an effect. I expect that delivery services will be under increased pressure, because despite popular perception, not all shopping is via the web, and things may take longer to get to you. There are no doubt some businesses working hard to adapt quite rapidly to 100% mail order, some with reduced headcounts too, which may affect dispatch times. Other traffics may take priority with the courier firms as well , but a delayed delivery is a small price to pay for being able to hobby shop at present. As always with our suppliers, use 'em or lose 'em, ( and the latter is a real possiblilty now,) although we may need to use them in a different format to that which we are accustomed. On the bright side there should be less "sorry we missed you cards" being used. Andy

My vague recollection of the inside of Stechford shunt frame (on the outskirts of Birmingham, the former Stechord No 1 SB) were that the levers remained, the block shelf remained with some rudiementary indication apparatus, some of the low wooden lockers and basic sanitary ware. There were a lot of white levers and some may have been removed before I ever got to visit. I photograped the outside but unfortunatley I don't recall ever doing an internal shot. Andy

I'm just amazed I recognised some of these. Equally amazed by how things have changed too Andy

My first thought was Tipton area towards Birmingham, with a route indicator for the Princes End branch, but did Wolves box beat the OLE? Did the branch still exist at the same time as Wolves PSB? Beaten me with this one Andy

Top one is Birmingham International alongside the aiport (on the left of photo I think) on the Birmingham side of International station https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Birmingham+Airport/@52.4558271,-1.7327867,202m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4870b0deff56c9e3:0xd7fab23579355bb!8m2!3d52.4523821!4d-1.7435071 Bottom one approaching Bescot under the M6, possibly Bescot Curve Jn, photographed from the curve, Walsall line to the left https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Bescot,+Walsall+WS2+9BS/@52.5650279,-1.9950013,339m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4870989a5bc77cc3:0xc624ac10c394d338!8m2!3d52.571494!4d-1.998578 Middle one looks familair but can't place it Andy

Oooh Now you say that yes it is Oxley not Duddeston. Not enough incline for the flyover to Proof House jn The building on the left is a giveaway now I look again. Ooops Well done Andy

Middle one Oxley again from Wolverhampton end of viaduct. Oxley chord line diverging to right in foreground First one Basford Hall South looking towards Stafford? (Sheer guess) Last one Willesden?? again a guess Andy

The last one looks like Duddeston or was it known as Vauxhall then? Vauxhall Shunt Frame, now known as Aston Signaling Centre on the left (this end of teh box is Aston SC, the far end still Vauxhall Shunt Frame) Vauxhall flyover in the distance Train is on slow lines, Photgrapher on down carriage siding with I think New Street's 75 (?) signal in the foreground Middle one could be Oxley, view from the signalbox Andy

Oh Lord. Now you lot have started something. Where did I leave those Red Panda kits? Andy