checkrail

Yes, got one of those on order Robin @gwrrob. Looks very nice. I have two of the Bachmann 1923 RCH pattern ones and two from POWsides kits. Also a couple of the Bachy Renwick Wilton & Dobson ones. I didn't know that Replica had done one (and with the same number as the new Rapido model!) The R,W & D ones are a dark red. My existing RW ones are black. The new Rapido 1907 type is a dark reddish-brown. What colour was the Replica one? It's got me thinking - were RW wagons perhaps always dark brown, misinterpreted by modellers and manufacturers looking at b & w photos? Or did RW start off painting their wagons dark brown, subsequently change to black, then change again to a dark red after merging to become R,W & D? Spent an interesting half hour the other day googling the history of the firm. Among other things I found a nice pic of their 1951 Hull-built collier "Renwick" passing Portishead out from Bristol. It was converted into a sand dredger in 1969. And surprisingly the company later branched out into running a. travel agency, having a shop in Torquay. Some stuff too about the company patriarch Cliff Wilton. But nothing more about their wagon fleet. John C. PS. Nearly forgot - it seems that Dapol once did a 5 plank R & W wagon in light grey. But I've never had much confidence in the accuracy of their PO wagons.

Inspired by recent gorgeous pics of 4930 Hagley Hall at Bridgnorth taken by @gwrrob Robin's daughter here's my 4975 Winslow Hall. A bit dirtier than the SVR one! It struck me that I don't remember seeing a preserved GWR 4-6-0 with the 'shirtbutton' monogram before. Nor do I think that Bachmann have ever issued their Hall model in this guise. (I customised mine a bit, and toned down the rather garish Bachmann lining.) There was a time when the monogram was widely disliked by GWR fans but that seems to be changing, probably in part a fashion thing with a revival of interest in 1930s modernism. Anyway, I like it and when I saw the pics of 4930 my immediate thought was, 'I've got one like that!', so out came the camera. John C.

Ordered some yesterday, plus a loco crew, so let's see how the new type lenses shape up.

The sequence ends with 5557 and train heading down the branch to Earlsbridge, wherever that might be. John C.

Now re-coupled at the branch end of the train ... ... and down goes the starting signal. John C.

Funny you should say that Phil. I found this morning that I had just one red Modelu lens left in stock, so I put it on the E95's tail lamp very carefully - using superglue! This where the compact and capable Panasonic TZ100 comes into its own. And its 'post focus' setting does half the work of focus merging for you. (My iMac and ffworks do most of the rest.) If I was using a big dSLR to try these kinds of shot I would probably have knocked half the layout down by now.

As 5557 runs round its train I note that another lamp lens has fallen off, this time from the E95 van compo. Now, where's that gloss red paint? John C.

Interesting. Might need a bit of surgery to handles etc. but maybe worth investigating.

5557 has just cleared the up end pointwork and is about to set back into the branch platform Nearly there ... Now just waiting to be uncoupled before running round its train. John C.

Here's a sequence showing 5557 retrieving the down Earlsbridge through coach for attachment to the branch train. John C.

I know what you mean - they drove me to distraction . I used to go through about 6 lenses to make one lamp. The other five either de-laminated, lost their sticky stuff or ended up disappearing from knife blade or tweezers. I now use gloss red or gloss white with a blob of gloss varnish on top when dry. It doesn't look as good as the original Modelu lenses but it's better than their current ones with their weird colouring. A pleasant young chap on the Modelu stand at Warley gave me a long account of the economic reasons they could no longer supply the original type, but I forget the details! I seem to remember that donkeys' years ago people used little coloured brilliants. Next time I'm in Hobbycraft I'm going to have a look at the craft jewellery section.

No, it was installed as part of a new roof and loft flooring job while Stoke C. was nought but a glimmer in my mind's eye. Wouldn't have wanted to install one above an existing layout! Perhaps it was a dull day when you visited. Lord knows we've had enough of them. Btw, it's pleasing to report that the nice double and single slips you built for me are still working beautifully.

Back to express passenger action. Launceston Castle heads for Plymouth North Road as a fitful gleam of sunshine* lights up Stoke Courtenay. * coming through the Velux window. John C.

Really enjoying seeing views of your layout again Jon - it's always been a favourite of mine. More please! Great looking track, regardless of your current ballast issues. And neat looking Mogul.

Lovely looking carriage Neal, finished beautifully. I think the 1934 livery suits them well.

Nice backscene.

You're still finding new angles Kevin. That one's great.

The other change made to the new Rapido wagons was to swap the 'orrible shiny wheels for Gibsons. At this price I'd expect the wheels to be either blackened or painted. Seems like spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar. And priming and painting bare metal wheels and cleaning the treads is soul destroying. Will the 44xx emerge with shiny wheels in the pony trucks? Don't think so. While I was at it I dug out the Rapido Toad which has been 'parked' for a while, as it has no current duties. Makes me wonder why I bought it (but see yesterday's post). It had the same treatment plus the fitting of lamps. I'd just run out of Modelu lamp lenses so improvised in the time-honoured way with white and red paint and a drop of gloss varnish. Now it just needs a bit more weathering below solebar level. You can see the slight misalignment of the Toad roof here. Rapido did warn that once it had been removed to open the interior for viewing it wouldn't go back on perfectly (in other words they cocked up) but it wouldn't be noticeable. It is. I tried supergluing it but to no avail. Wish I'd left it now - why did I want to see the inside anyway? You can see here that I have some reservations about Rapido, but they are very nice wagons. John C.

A good haul there Rich.

Look forward to those Robin. Have one of each on order. I suppose I'm really just duplicating kit-built examples, but one feels one must support the trade when it produces the GWR goods - until the bank card starts glowing in the dark.

Ah, that's better. The recent Rapido Minks and Opens after roof repainting, closer coupling and light weathering (mainly Vallejo black wash with a bit of umber. John C.

Been messing around fettling wagons today, and seeing these two freight trains passing in the cutting prompted me to reach for the camera. 6305 and 2818 doing the honours. John C.

I'm with you there John. I have two panniers, a 57xx and an 8750, and am holding back from ordering an Accurascale one. Just more of the same, and at least parts of mine were my own work/bodging. But small prairies are the locos I covet in numbers. I've got another Bachmann 45xx on the bench awaiting some fettling to add to the roster, and will be ordering a Rapido 44xx when I can decide which one. Although if an earlier type of pannier came out - a 2021 for instance - I think I'd go for it.

It always does!

Yes. Other ways include a bit of springy wire attached to the floor and bearing on the axle, or slivers of Plastikard stuck between axle and coupling mounting block to add a little friction. All need a bit of careful adjustment by trial and error. Of course steel axles don't help the situation and on many of my earlier wagons I replaced them with brass ones (sourced from somewhere in California!). Must get round to ordering some more. I seem to remember that they were offered in Imperial measurements, so had to order 1 1/32 inches for 26 mm.