LNER4479

Cripes! That's got us all fumbling for our OEDs...

Fair point - but the prototype picture for the Up Main signal is indeed a concrete main post with two concrete dolls. The 'fantasy' bit I suspect is the length of the bracket over to the left. Not sure that would support it's own weight, let alone the doll, without some serious bracing.

That's the one; see you there

Well, it's nearly show time again (CMRX at St Evenage) and, as always, the last minute feverish(-ish) preparations. Foremost amongst this has been the last main aspect signal for the layout (did he actually say 'last'?) This is at the south end, for the 'Up' trains (ie heading towards London). As I have designed it, one post has the arms for the two running lines (main and goods) which is something of a contortion of history as there were separate posts in practice as there was a scissors arrangement for trains to swap between the running lines - not replicated on the model. One of the posts is however shown in the pictures as a concrete post junction signal (nice!) so I chose to use this as the basis. It's probably pure fantasy as I'm not sure that concrete components were ever used quite like this. But hey - rule 1 and all that What I do know is that the arms shown correspond to the signalled moves that are required to take place at the south end so that's good enough for me. Bit of a crummy picture of it in position. But it should give some idea. (who left that screwdriver lying around like that?) Of course, a new signal in position requires copious amounts of wiring to get it interfaced with the control system so here is Andrew on a typical whirlwind trip to the north east doing the honours. One or two other electrical improvements as well, including some additional electrickery to the road system at the south end. Look out for that if you're coming to the show; otherwise, a full report afterwards.

I 'spray before I lay' with the track curved to roughly the final shape to avoid the problem highlighted by John. Sometimes there is some disturbance of the paint, particularly at the rail ends which tend to want to spring back straight. But a quick bit of work with a small brush afterwards attends to that. In terms of the colour of paint you use, I'm wary of using an orangey rust colour, as seen on some layouts. That is more typical of disused tracks. Rail that is in constant use doesn't go rusty to the same extent and I prefer to use a browny-grey colour. Humbrol M29 is ideal and available in spray form.

Whilst in Carlisle, C&M Models is 3 mins walk from railway station. (edit - beaten to it whilst I was typing!) On your S&C day, you could make it a round trip by getting off at Hellifield (allow time for tea room, admiring beautifully restored station canopy and observe operational semaphore signalling) then travel to Lancaster (scenic run) before returning over the Shap route (noting that you'll be doing Shap on the day after anyway). As a further variation, alight at Carnforth for the Brief Encounter tea rooms. Carnforth to Lancaster is a more frequent service so shouldn't get too stranded - and there is a model shop on Carnforth station. Finally, you could always investigate doing Carnforth to Carlisle via the coastal route as an alternative to Shap?

6205 was uniquely fitted with an outside motion bracket which facilitated activation of the inside valves via rocking levers from the outside valve gear (thus doing away with the separate inside valve gear altogether). This arrangement was effectively that adopted for the Duchesses (albeit far more elegantly), hence 6205 was a prototype for her younger sisters in that regard.https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/446419381797402754 I doubt very much that Hornby will ever produce a version that accurately portrays 6205 in this manner. However, top marks to Margate for tooling up for different versions of the slide bars and motion brackets for 6200-6201 versus 6203-6212. Meanwhile muggins here is now pondering what to do with his half modified old Hornby Princess. Hey ho...

Wow - that cab view is simply awesome. Not only for the detail that's been added but the viewpoint just makes it look so convincing. Pretty handy too for detailing yet to come on the 4mm version. Putting my railwayman's cap on for a moment, would it not be the case that the sanding gear would be of most benefit for goods locos, when hauling being pushed by partially or totally unfitted trains descending significant gradients?(!) Yes - I agree, check photos - but in terms of explaining why some tenders had them and some didn't, perhaps the idea was that they be prioritised for goods locos? I wonder which tender Bachmann crawled all over when doing theirs - the NRM O4 perhaps? (I think that was the first GCR loco they did)

Do pay attention at the back there! In my spare etch box I found a window frame. I removed the centre window bars until I had a very slim 'T' shape then bent the two horizontal legs up into a 'U' shape, with a little tweak the other way at the top end. I obviously made a reasonable fist of it? There should be another bracket (a sort of half 'U') which goes further back along the rave for the far end of the fire irons - one more for Mike's additional mini etch pieces, perhaps? As a further suggestion (Mike?) a pair of support brackets for the brake cross shaft (to solder on the sub-frame at the front) - you might just be able to see them on my underneath picture. Looks like Tony (t-b-g) made some up for himself as well. I noticed that Tony also included the sandboxes at the front (two shallow 'D' shaped boxes either side on the footplate). They're not shown on the original drawing for the Standard 4,000 gallon tender but are shown on the equivalent for self-trimming variant. They are however included on the Bachmann 4,000 gallon tender so could have been a later addition?

Thanks for the mention Tony and I'm sure you weren't trying to be controversial in saying what you did above (in red) but, in the spirit that you very much advocate on this thread, I feel I should point out that the B3 etches have been produced by Nick Easton; my involvement has merely been to coordinate the whole thing, with just a little bit of input to the design process. I look forward to the day when your set of B3 etches rises to the top of your inexhaustible build pile; in the meantime, here's the prototype build getting close to completion.

Well, nothing like a holiday season to spur progress on the modelling front... The tender is now essentially complete. Front end detail, including water scoop wheel, water valves, fire iron holder (bent up from a spare etch window frame!), brake handle and brake shaft Rear detail including lamp brackets, handrails, steps and guard irons. Buffers currently on order. Underside, mainly showing brake gear. The rear two stretcher beams aren't quite right but they were doing nothing in the spare etch box. Looking nice and homogeneous matched up to the loco. No further need for the Bachmann J11 tender. Now just need to finish the detail on the loco and we're done.

Very interesting photograph. A possible explanation is some sort of freight or ballast working. Loco could be en route from Tebay shed - with no outward traffic it is simply taking the brake van with it and propelling it to save a run round manoeuvre when it gets to where it is going (Low Gill, Grayrigg, Oxenholme?). I agree that it looks to be travelling 'up', in the Lune Gorge.

Hi Al, Having studied drystone walls quite a lot over the last couple of years(!), for me your top stones are too uniform in shape (look a bit like a load of books on a shelf). Try doing a length with top stones more randomly shaped, irregular angles. Graham (trying to be as constructive as possible )

'Steam in the Blood' by Dick Hardy was recommended reading for me when I was a BR management trainee. Very good if you're in to the whole management-staff relationship thing.

I think, Tony, that the majority of railway modellers are loco-centric when it comes to stock! Mea culpa I think, when it comes to layout stock, it goes: 1) locos, 2) coaches and 3) goods / freight (I much prefer word 'goods' for pre-'68 layouts incidentally) Aside from the locos, like yourself, I try to at least put some effort into assembling reasonably representative passenger stock rakes and must of my stock is uniquely numbered. Not so goods stock, unfortunately. My best effort to date is the fully fitted van train on Shap which are largely Parkside kits, all individually numbered. It's only when I see the exquisite attention to detail lavished by Jonathan (Wealleans) on his goods stock (other notable wagon builders are available) that I realise how much of a specialism / art this is within the hobby. It is a shame considering that, pre-'68, goods traffic was the pre-dominant source of revenue for the railway. Passenger trains - especially express ones - were a bally nuisance most of the time as they disrupted the steady 'conveyer belt' flow of the former (four-track stretches of railway excepted). And photographic books of the era don't exactly help either as most photographers saved their precious camera roll for the prestigious express passenger trains. And tended to photograph at weekends (when traffic patterns were different), as paid time off work on weekdays was a rare commodity. The poor ol' goods train doesn't stand a chance does it?

Yo Ali G! Well wicked dat you is modellin' de C&HPR ... I think that's enough of that sort of talk. Great to see you with your mojo back and embarking on a new project. Struck a chord with me straight away as I used to think nothing of pedalling me push bike over the Cat n Fiddle road from Macc. to Buxton and back ... about 35 years ago! Always used to gaze on that surviving stretch of C&HPR trackbed as I free-wheeled down into Buxton. Looking good already and I'll keep popping in for a look. Re the drystone walls, if it's not too late then take a look at my Shap thread for a completely different - and just as time-consuming(!) - way of doing dry stone walls.

Recently, Grantham's electronic whizz Andrew has come up with a electronic drive control system that provides protection against burn out. About half of the Grantham signals have now had them fitted and they worked without any trouble at the Wakefield show. It's way beyond me in terms of the electronics involved but, if anyone's interested, I can try and get the details off Andrew. Having previously bought the motors from Gaugemaster, I have bought recent batches from a German-based on line shop which, despite exchange rates and delivery charges, worked out somewhat cheaper. Worth shopping around on the web.

... hopefully not an ex-GCR / LNER 9P / B3. First batches of production kits already shipped out to prospective kit builders (some of whom call in here from time to time). Hopefully we'll see some of the finished products in due course.

Yes, that was the idea. Seemed a bit simpler than hinged lids which was the original suggestion. Looking good, ducky - keep going

I've just ordered Christmas Pie for festive meal out this Friday - yum! Bakka Thanett

Been a while since any update on the B3 build that started all this off. Been a bit busy with show commitments last month; however, tender construction has been taking place in the background (the Bachmann tender that it has hitherto been towing has just been for show). I have obtained a set of etches from Mike Edge for a standard Robinson 4000 gallon tender, which is also in nice n easy-to-solder nickel silver, of the same thickness (16 thou) as the loco etch so should look nice n homogeneous together. Here are the basic tender frame parts going together. A simple sub-chassis is provided, which can be removed via a couple of 12BA bolts. Here is the start of the tender tank, which caused me to stop and think through the best order of assembly to make overall construction as easy as possible. In the end, I decided to start at the top and work down. I've sweated on the four lifting links from the underneath (I reckoned this was more or less impossible once the complete box is assembled) and am now making up the coal shute assembly. Sides and ends prepared. The flares are separate pieces which I've soldered on first prior to bending as I find this easier. The inner support midway along is - I think - meant to be a former for the end; however, I felt that the end was strong enough as it was and I found this inner piece more useful as shown (even though there are separate inner supports provided). I soldered it in a specific position such that it would line up with an edge of the central wheel cut out in the base for ease of soldering. The coal shute assembly has been completed. Now with the tops flared and the basic tank assembly complete. The base has been prepared and can be seen test fitted to the frames. I could test fit the tank over the base in this configuration and check for a snug fit before final soldering up. The fit of the parts is excellent. Now assembled and showing the end detail (lamp brackets and handrails). I end up soldering the latter in place before fitting the base as, again, it was much easier to do. Latest picture from a few nights ago, showing fitting of the coal raves in progress. I've bent up the support brackets from scrap etch as shown; not only does it add a bit of detail, but it also does the job of the real thing by adding a little extra support. I sliced a little off the top from the rear coal plate as the very helpful pictures recently posted on this thread showed that this plate didn't quite go up as far as the top pf the raves. Meanwhile, the loco itself has been on its travels again to a most appropriate location. I'm sure I don't need to tell you where the location is? Valour was of course a regular on the Manchester-Sheffield route in the 1930's and there are plenty of pictures giving testimony to her visiting this location on numerous occasions. This is a layout I am helping build and whilst I've done the trackwork and electrics, the owner himself can take a bow in terms of the impressive scenic work. The layout should be quite a stunner when it is finished.

Coaches all the work of Jonathan Wealleans. A potted story of the build is dotted around his workbench thread; all I know is that they were from a variety of sources: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/892-west-end-workbench/page-42 Next public outing will be at CMRA Stevenage, 12th/13th Jan 2019

A cunning one, I hope?

Thanks John. I knew he didn't work the 6th March train northwards - the historical article that Jonathan pointed us to makes that clear. But, being a King's Cross man, did he not ride out on the cushions in the morning? That was what I was referring to. Or had he lodged in Newcastle the night before?

Something along those lines. Bring along your graph paper, pencil and eraser...