LNER4479

Used it once -100% satisfied. So, I guess that time will tell but off to a good start. The only thing to point out is that, for this particular locomotive, due to relatively long wheelbase over the coupled wheels, the middle-to-rear spacing is fractionally too long to use the jig as designed. I had to (very carefully!) extend the rear slot by 1mm. But otherwise no problems. (thinking on, I have used it for a further time as I made up a second set of frames for Graeme to use to mount the footplate/cab test build as his reference for the boiler manufacture. It too went together fine but I haven't fitted any wheels/rods to it.)

A few more views from yesterday's 'shoot'. The final view is the complete resin set that Graeme has developed - the idea is that a chimney and dome will be supplied according to builder's preference.

One thing to point out if I may? The etches for this kit are supplied in nickel silver, not brass. If you've not worked with nickel silver before then you'll find it a revelation compared to brass. It accepts solder easier (partly - mainly? - because it doesn't conduct the heat away so fast). If you've done some etched brass soldering of wagon chassis and carriage bogies then it should not be beyond your capabilities. Just steady as you go, taking each joint in turn. Meanwhile, a significant milestone was reached today with the successful marriage of boiler and chassis / footplate: I'll post some more details later (still en route back home at the moment) but a very enjoyable joint session with Mr King the resin-meister resulted in this. All coming together very agreeably. Talking of Warley, both Graeme King and myself will also be demo-ing at the show and we plan to have the loco as shown (possibly with an assembled Mike Edge etched tender replacing the stand-in Bachmann one) available for examination on Graeme's stand.

The penny's just dropped - I think you're referring to the items in this picture (I originally thought you were referring to items as supplied in the Poppy's kit) Unless I read them wrong (quite likely!), I believed that the instructions referred to fitting the blue tube pieces to the outside of the alignment bars, having the effect of clamping the bars against the outside of the jig. That will hold the bars firm but leaves the frames in the middle free to move on the bars. I couldn't see therefore how to hold the spacers in place between the frames so that they were snug in their half etches, allowing the soldering iron to be wielded without fear of the assembly slipping at the vital moment. So I elected to use the blue tube pieces as shown - but then I thought there was a risk of the heat from the iron melting the tube material ... so what you see are simply pieces of 1mm card with a hole in the middle which the tube pieces clamp up against. The card acts as insulation to protect the tube pieces from the heat. As shown, the whole thing is still free to move about in the jig; however, I didn't find that a problem as it was quite steady in practice. I guess a couple of bits of sellotape or blu-tack (other sticky products are available) could be employed to stop that if necessary. I am aware that some people solder the spacers to one of the frames first before fitting the second but I prefer to have the whole thing set up in a jig first as shown to avoid any risk of things not being square and true. All I know is - and as the video hopefully alludes to - I have a sweet and true running chassis straight out of the jig without any tweaks being required. Hope that helps?

Oi! What about a bit of Sir Viss Onear... A splendid time was had as always at Ducky Towers yesterday. I broughted my proper-ist camera along. I was going to take some photographs of the electrickery but: a) it's boring b) SOSJ's meister-in-chief was concerned about such images appearing in public (I think he doesn't want to show everyone else up with his impossible-to-achieve standards in that department) Instead, our intrepid camera man trudged up the line to the tunnel to observe the civil engineers at work. But, finding none, he recorded these scenes instead. A mockery is being made out of the rather splendid tunnel mouth by using cardboard. Here, someone looks to be thinking about elevating the land over the yard of fiddling The 'save our cardboard' campaign appears to be working as it has now been substituted by some 6mm plywood. At this point, the navvies spotted the man with the camera and made a hasty dash for the brew hut. These three pieces of wood have been cut oversize for now and a jigsaw (with a few pieces missing) may yet be wielded in anger to trim them to a more accurate shape. The discerning viewer might be able to detect two supports projecting out over the fiddle yard area. The idea here is for a series of scenic trays, with integral backscene, that can be lifted off for access on the odd occasion when an erroneous entry into the Dee-See-See controller sends one train careering uncontrollably into the back of another in that area. Not that that will ever happen in practice of course... Apologies for taking the thread off topic for a moment.

6207 rules OK!(a cracking name for a steam locomotive if ever there was one...)

And then there's the fella whose constantly harping on about this that and other fault with latest RTR release... Sir Mone a Lotte Better not go into how his good lady got her name..

Good old GEM angle cranks still going strong... https://anticsonline.uk/N1587_MerControl/2410313_GEM-Mercontrol-Angle-Cranks-1002.html

Slight pause, but nothing sinister - been away for 10 days or so at the end of last month. Chassis is now complete Front end looks very 'busy'. The diagonal rod is the linkage to the cylinder drain cocks. Partly to prove that it's finished on both sides(!) Prominent here is the rear sand box. The front one is all but obscured by the motion bracket and steps - but it is there! Finally, as promised last time, some video to prove that it all works You should be able to see the inside valve gear working on the second pass. On the final two runs, look carefully and you should be able to detect the valve rod moving back and forth. Hopefully shouldn't be long now before loco and the trial resin boiler casting are united for the first time...

Awww He's up above the streets and houses now. (unless St Peter's heard the rude version)

Yey - way to go Duckie! Remind me, what obscure LNER J-something-or-other class of loco is it? Come to think of it, wot's it doing so far south-west at Seaton Junction? Lost da Plotte

Tertiary suspension, Clive - all them springs in the seat cushions. A M Fourfan

The popular spot always used to be from a footpath that heads south from the Sandiacre road on the East side of the line. Great view of the whole complex from raised land if you walk along there far enough. Take a pair of binns. with you, mind!

Another vote for back row, third left - and I have met you ... Once.

Have you tried speaking to Sir over on Wright writes? He's pretty hot on stuff like that.

Midland Hotel, Derby and Crewe Arms Hotel, Crewe - 'the Officers' Mess' - favourite venues for us more northern chaps. And an honourable mention for the Brunswick in Derby, albeit not so much for meetings as after work 'relaxation'. Still going strong, with its micro-brewery.

Good question, which I can comment on, hopefully reasonably knowledgeably... 100 miles between water stops for Tornado is about spot on. On the Top Gear race special, which I was fortunate enough to be on, water stops were at Grantham (105 miles), York (189 miles), Tyne Yard, where more coal was also taken on (approx 266 miles) and a final 'splash n dash' top up at Berwick loop (not sure of mileage) - that latter was a real grand prix pit stop, I think we were stationary for 6 mins, just long enough for the 'Aberdonian' HST to get past us! Over on the West Coast, the mileage between stops has to be less, particularly on the northern sections due to the greater effort required for hill climbing; however the loco can still do Preston-Carlisle (90 miles) on one fill. A good indicator back in the day was the spacing of the water troughs which were every 30-40 miles generally speaking. A complete fill could never be guaranteed so crew would bank on 2000-2500 gallons per dip. The logistics behind 4472's famous 1968 non-stop run all hinged on this. Apparently, half (ie every other) set of troughs had been taken out of use by that time (those left still being retained to fill diesel tanks for steam heating boilers). 4472 did of course have two tenders but critically only a seven coach train which greatly reduced water consumption.

Boris for Prime Minister! (no - not THAT one)

Ees nice! Going back a bit, though. That looks like 5305 in SLOA days. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

They have a castle and some gardens. And the railway station is quite impressive. Most other things are out of town, eg Linlithgow for Mary Queen of Scots history lesson Falkirk for a spin in a big wheel North Berwick for National Museum of Flight and the seaside What's not to like?

Got no photos of that

Has he fallen in the water?

Ooh, don't get me started...

You av been added to ze list.

LNER - Late & Never Early Railway The 'in' joke was more of a Hornybee Dublo one: