Alex TM

Hi everyone, Finally gave in, and ordered the NCB one. It arrived today, and it's been out for a spin on the plank. Runs well straight out of the box; looks fantastic. I seem to remember seeing a photo of one in use with the NCB Opencast Exec in Scotland at one point, but it wasn't a success. Thanks and regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks for those responses; all very helpful. I must admit I hadn't noticed some of the less obvious differences such as the roof height. It looks like one of the ex-BR ones in industrial use may be the more realistic way ahead. regards, Alex.

Hi again, Tonight seems to be one of those where there are more questions than answers. I've just put up a thread asking aboutYEC locomotive differences, and modelling them. I also wondered about the potential of the soon-to-arrive Heljan Class 07 and it's conversion to the industrial locomotives from the the same manufacturer. Any thoughts on this? As ever, thanks in advance for any guidance. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Further to some interesting posts on here, and some pictures found in print and online, can anyone advise me as to the differences between these locomotive types that would impact on modelling them? I am particularly curious in regards of the DJH BR class 02 becoming one of its industrial cousins. Thanks in advance for any guidance. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, A former colleague of mine was stopped by the traffic police, who claimed he was doing 110mph; he retorted that he could not have done so as his car was only capable of around 100. 'Fine' said the officer, '100' it is! It certainly wiped the smug grin off my colleague's face. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, To return to BOGOF (& 3for2) for a moment, I agree with the poster who commented on it as a means to dispose of unsold stock, and to do so quickly. There is, though, a positive way of using the free item if it's food and it's 'spare' - give it to the local foodbank! We encourage folk around here to do this, and it's been a big help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, The extra width you've now added will help. A friend works in Gn15, using Peco 0n16.5 flexi track, and successfully gets it to work in the kind of radii you're thinking of. Another track option, though not cheap, is Kato unitrack. They manufacture a 550mm radius curve; it's pre-ballasted, though this helps give it some additional strength and rigidity. Here's a reference number for it: K2- 210 - Curved Track Radius 550mm 22.5 Deg.( Pack of 4) Hope it's of help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Jim, That's a theological debate all of its own! Regards, Alex.

Hi again, This gets more interesting as it develops. Two thoughts that may be of help: 1. If you haven't already done so, have a look at Portwey on this forum; it's also been in the RM. Here's the link http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/81305-portwey/ 2. Don't worry about not being able to get three car units into all your platforms; the real railway here has the same problem. For example, one day last year I had to travel from Chester to Edinburgh via Crewe. As we arrived into Chester I could here the driver clearly exclaim "not again!" as our four-car set was routed into the shortest bay in the station (3-car unit maximum). Actually, what he said was far more colourful! Hope the blog works for you. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Interesting idea this, and it'll be great if it works. Kr00zA: I've seen elsewhere that the pug and Peckett (and probably the Hattons' Barclay too) will go round curves almost as tight as these will be. The challenge will be that some of your curves may have to go down to below those that would be deemed as tight in 'N' gauge, and I'm not sure that would work. If you don't build your own points then I think the radii will be far too tight to go round (peco points will give a radius of around 17", but to keep it all within a 2' wide board you'll need to drop down to around 8" radius or less to fit in the outer circle). The tightest that I have seen on a scratch built point is around 12". (All that said, the pointwork around the former Victoria Quay, in Edinburgh, is mostly intact, and that looks to be tighter than scaled up set track would be!) Corbs has a good idea around using a curved point but I think that, too, will have to be self-built for it to stand a chance of fitting. Sorry to be so negative. Regards, Alex.

Funny, but I think it was the same last year too.

Hi everyone, True story time: I have just been asked if our local church is having a service on Christmas Day; I responded in the affirmative. I was then asked on what date. I replied, thinking the questioner was joking with me, that it was the same date as last year. The response was - how do you expect me to remember when Christmas was as far back as a year ago? Not a joke - but it did leave me both laughing and crying. Regards, Alex.

Chassis the wrong way round? Shouldn't the fuel tanks be at the no. 2 end? Also no handrails to the cab front. Still think it's a good model. Regards, Alex. Happy to be corrected.

HI everyone, We're in the odd situation of living in a tied house, so get no choice in the number of rooms, their size, or layout. I am also obliged to keep a number of the rooms for specific purposes (e.g. visitors staying over, and a study). These requirements often lead to the house being big, old, damp, and near impossible to heat! The big downside is that posts change every five to seven years, and this means another house move. Yet, with all these negatives, we've always found a way of having a crafts/modelling/railway room as there has always been a house with a room that's always too small to be really useful as a bedroom (or for much else). The art has been to negotiate with my wife as to what rooms suit our interests best; it also helps that the railway room is solely my responsibility in terms of keeping it in a 'satisfactory state' (we share the rest). Regards, Alex.

Hi, I think this trio are related to my mum's cat - it's a psychotic, human hating, vicious ....... Regards, Alex.

Hi Rob, Nice conversion. If your ETHEL is unpowered would it be worth simply removing the motor, wiring loom, etc, and simply replacing the wheels with Bachmann or Hornby 14mm coach wheels? Over the years I have had a number of these locos, and have also run them on Peco code 75 (flat bottom) track but with no problems; if we're talking about the same track, is it worth checking the back-to-back of the existing wheels? Hope something there is of help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, If you are not against renumbering the loco, it may be worth trying out the following: 1. Use the following link to work out what other locos would have had the same body variations as your model: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/6622-class-08-09-variations/?p=55482 Your model also has the additional boxes fitted when it became dual braked - these aren't covered in the link, but a photo search will help check that. 2. Then use the previously given link to brdatabase to see the allocation histories. This site also allows you to search for sheds, and to then get a snapshot of the allocation on any given month and year. Hope this is of help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Rich, Thanks for that. I think I have some microsol hiding at the back of a cupboard. All my previous experince of doing this has either required a full repaint, or has been with a Bachmann loco (using thinners and a cotton bud). Regards, Alex.

Hi Martyn, Like this a lot. Particularly impressed with some of your loco and wagon conversions. In terms of "Islwyn", did you work from drawings, or work out the sizes from photographs? Thanks and regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, In the next couple of days I will be collecting a pair of DJ Models J94s in LNER livery; they're going to be changed to NCB back livery. As the models are of unmodified Austerity tanks, and are already in black, I am hoping to get away with re-lettering them. Can anyone advise on the best method to remove the manufacturers' original markings? Thanks in advance for any help given. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Many thanks for those suggestions and the link. This may lead to a renumbering of my Hornby 08 ..... Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Some time ago I was asked if I knew of any class 08s that were in pre-TOPS blue; fortunately I knew of a couple of examples from the Southern Region and could point my friend on to the relevant images and sites (this was thanks to members of the forum, and their responses to an earlier request). The question has come up again, but with a bit of refinement: does anyone know of any class 08s that were in blue, with pre-TOPS numbers, and allocated to the Scottish Region? I have looked around online, and cannot find any photographic evidence. I realise that quite a number made it into TOPS while still painted green but, given the size of the class, I would have thought at least some up here made it to blue first. As ever, thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, I realise that it's been nineteen months since the last post on this thread, but I wondered if there had been any developments in the story of this layout, i.e. does it still exist, being exhibited? Regards, Alex.

Sorry to go off topic, but curious. Yankee Tank?

HI Andrew, As with some of the above comments I would suggest that timber platforms would have been rare. That said, I have encountered 'temporary' surfacing formed from heavy plywood sheeting covered with something akin to coarse roofing felt to reduce slip hazards. Hope that's of help. Regards, Alex.