john new

Secundus is at Corfe Castle safely under cover in the goods shed. Appropriate as it worked in Purbeck.

Isn't that the snub nosed one that looks like it rammed the shed wall, frequently, and at both ends!

Thank you. Will use marked up as DVR on the under construction shunting plank, setting not yet 100% finalised but most likely to be (very) loosely based on a spur off the Derwent Valley Light Railway. That changed over time to DVR, from the original DVLR, perhaps to avoid clashing with the Swansea car tax place's initials when that opened.

Going through my bits box I came across two old metal Graham Farish 00 box van bodies, grey with vented ends (2 vents). I'd forgotten I'd still got these which I think my late father must have bought back in the late 1950s (possibly early 60s) as I vaguely recall them on our first layout decades ago. For sentimental reasons rather than just use them as grounded bodies I am looking at possible options to fit a roof and new chassis/under-frame to them, the originals are lost or too damaged to repair. Place of manufacture Bromley, Kent. Point of post - were they a freelance van design by Farish or based on anything prototypical? What's left of the original paintwork is a pale grey/possibly very pale green livery, suggesting ex-GWR, but there is no trace of any lettering or a BR ID number panel ever having been present. The variable widths to the end planking suggests that they are a based on something rather than a totally freelance design. Unfortunately I don't know enough about vans to recognise the type.

And also if you ever want to take it somewhere in the long-term the size of the smallest vehicle you are likely to own, now or in the future. A 7ft board wouldn't fit many cars. Also think storage. Having just downsized my car the experimental 3 x cardboard fruit boxes base won't go in and it is a b*****r to get up and down the stairs. Built for garage storage and use downstairs damp has meant if it is to be used it will have to be upstairs in a spare bedroom.

Improved - Moorthope, W Yorks thanks to community engagement, now it even has decent toilets and a nice cafe.

Concur, need to go to Sparkford tomorrow, the direct train from Weymouth still goes through the village and passes within 50 yards of where I am driving to. Unfortunately Sparkford station was closed in the 60s. A bus shelterised station would have sufficed.

The other tip I offer is don't promise it to a show before it is finished. I got totally burnt out as regards my modelling mojo due to that. Layout concerned still exists in storage but untouched for years and only partially complete. It will be finished one day but isn't a current project now my mojo has returned.

Also had a mod notice of post deletion (assumed to be of an accidental duplicate as nothing I'd intentionally written appeared to be missing) but it may have even been a triplicate as there was still a duplicate there until I actually changed the heading text to please delete and reported it. Perhaps, also, some Mod deletions haven't happened.

Will the cover mount be the DVD (Shop editions) or a ? (Now reposted in correct thread - duh!)

Without seeing the layout difficult to advise. Perhaps keep most of it black to save repainting, but add a white area with a lipped framing edge to it for the black text to sit on. You then have the equivalent of a signal box name panel. If not white for the background to the name panel perhaps an alternative company or BR regional colour depending on your time frame.

It was dry today so I used the day to work outside modifying the baseboard to make it suitable for wiring in the necessary isolating sections with everything underneath: a full update is on my website which is now back working again even if not 100% restored. The relevant post is here - https://island-publishing.co.uk/wordpress/2019/01/23/phoenix-yard-progress/ There is a little bit more to do, and the new sections need painting black, but it is one step nearer starting the scenics. I have added side rails and cross braces, 11mm ply with a 65mm depth. I have also offered up the layout to the ironing board intended to be its' sub-structure. The track plan is also having an additional L/H point added into the fiddle-yard. It won't go anywhere for now but is to facilitate addition of an extra L section to add more off-scene storage/stock interchange and to vary the basic eight wagons being shunted. As I am also having to add isolating/switched sections due to the insulfrog points proving unreliable I have also decided to swap the wire-in-tube for point motors. I know both of my brothers-in-law would have produced much, much, better outcomes to this woodwork job but as they are over 300 miles away I had to do it myself! The layout is also to sit on an ironing-board, a bit like Peter Leadley's Briding Noora as I wanted a quick and easy sub-structure. Whether the experiment works or not is something only time will tell. If it doesn't I do have spare trestle legs (from Screwfix) already available and a fold up picnic table but they are both a bit too low. I think the L side extension will aid stability and reduce wobble/topple risk. I would also like to add a bit of height to the back scene, what looked OK when I added them now looks to be too low. I have the hardboard, just a case(!) of adding it on.

Depends on the size you want to model, Birmingham New Street is the worst I can think of. Other than that just about any of the modern conversions to bus shelters and the like. Close to where I live Upwey, Dorchester South, Moreton & Wool fit that bill although Dorchester West, Maiden Newton, and Wareham amongst others still have some of their old character left. I guess therefore pick your location and see what survives/has been wrecked.

So is that when they would start to appear as static storage units etc?

Thanks Matt. Returning to OO after a 10 year break and side steps into some O9 modelling. Disappointed with these setrack points as the one's I'd used a couple of years ago on a layout for my grandsons were fine and reliable. I'm using setrack on a shunting plank because most of the track was already in stock.

A follow up question. These containers began for sea use in 1956 and, as mentioned above, on BR from 1967. Has anyone any idea when they started to be sold off and began to appear dotted around the lineside areas as store sheds and the like? An everyday sight these days but, despite seeing the transition era first hand, I have no idea when they began to appear as statics.

Further to the above I bought another one today. I can confirm my observations on the above, no longer any tabs on the switch blades.

Thanks. will do a Thanks Mark. LNER era so will do a well work stained grey. Wasn't sure if they would have been black as I've seen other wagons in black.

I have three Triang/Hornby NER Coal/coke wagons in the old blue plastic which I've owned for years and want to repaint into the correct to prototype livery. I have seen them as models in grey, the preserved NER hoppers at Goathland are in grey, and also the models were at some point released in what I guess is a Hornby spoofed Bannockburn IIRC PO livery. I know they won't be true scale but what colour should they be if I repainted them? Weather worn grey, black or? Genuine question relating to what colour the prototypes were. Mods - if this should be under model queries not prototype please move not delete.

I think the twist for older models is (a) are they valuable now and (b) have I a sentimental attachment to them, perhaps because they were gifted by a passed on loved one. If (a) but not (b) I would tend to sell on now and replace with a new item whereas in scenario (b) probably leave them unaltered but not wrapped in cotton wool/un used.

Consider the possibilities of damp if using a garage/shed and use of greenhouse heaters etc, Where I live now on the S Coast my garage is too damp but where my Mum still lives (N Yorkshire) her garage would be reasonable to use as the area is much drier. Stuff my brother in law has stored there in his garage is hardly effected.

I like them for ideas, current layout based on the Inglenook track/siding design if that counts (internet sourced though not from a book). Definitely want to build Minories at some point but currently have no space to store if built.

Thank you, I wasn't aware but equally hadn't looked.

Having had a few years out after getting burnt out building https://www.island-publishing.co.uk/son%20of%20card_challenge_07.htm against an exhibition deadline (and not getting it satisfactorily finshed) may well have another go at brass. I did get the scratch built traverser done for Pebbles End with everything parallel so I've more confidence now than when I did the railbus. The just started shunting plank will need some bespoke items not available r-t-r long-term and I've got my mojo back currently. Will look at those S Eastern kits.

Thanks for the tip off, went into the nearest Lidl's and bought one earlier today plus various accessories. Not a store we usually shop at.