LaScala

No thread as it has been a well worn path with Jazz, Sandy Harper x 2 and 5Bel all having done builds. Figured little interest in a 5th and the kit is good anyway with few pitfalls. The tender build is especially vanilla. The ex Javelin is definitely with Gladiator but the DA is virtually the same according to Sandy as he has done one of each. Certainly your pics look v familiar.

I have got as far as Slaters hornblocks on both axles and have more or less completed "body" but I'm puzzling how to adjust motion bracket(s) to fit Griffin slidebars and valve rods. I must say the Slaters hornblocks are very easy to use and so much cheaper than alternatives. As has been said before, the DA castings are superb. I compared them to Jazz's build of the Gladiator DDog and they are definitely superior.

Glad to see particularly as I have DA Duke on WB and by look of bits is very similar to your DDog. I have Griffin motion and have not yet worked out how to incorporate it under smokebox. Have never tried it before; have you?

I have just started the David Andrews Duke which I'm sure shares much of same basic design. Plain sailing so far and some good brass castings to finish it off.

Received mine in Australia today from Tower. An implulse buy that I don't regret. Yes, rods are on backwards and a tank vent is bust but buffers are straight. Packaging is excellent so reckon this breakage was done in China. No complaints at all and at price even the full ticket makes a mockery of Heljan floating well over 3 times as much for a GWR large prairie. Brake shoes are certainly clear of wheel treads akin to the PO wagons but overall impression is positive.

A speculative price is not usually pitched by a vendor who also simultaneously states he can't make sales!

Apparently it will be worth at least 500 quid!

Totally agree with this. Current value can only be a multiplier of net income (which would appear to be at or about nil!) and the display stock. I don't see there is much value in the etches if they don't sell and as the kits don't have wheels or motors their only historic cost is the metal and the etcher's fee. Even then a buyer would be unlikely to pay 100p in the pound. I must say the seller's complaining about the low number of kits sold looks like a massive own goal in this context. Kenton should look at Facebook to see what Lionheart have achieved in that platform before dismissing it so comprehensively.

Chris, Did you ever finish your kit? Hugh

Rob, When do these beauties get a run outside to the rhubarb? Would be good to see your considerable wagon stock getting some exercise. BTW I agree you have cracked the un painted wood look. It takes so long to do a full Martyn Welsh dry brush routine. I gave up with my cattle truck after about 4 or 5 layers when I put the roof on and realised nobody would ever know.

You could alert Prince Charles to an unpolished gem of 1960's architecture too!

Very neat work with those handails Rob. You have managed uniformity which will make them look real once painted and suitably "rusted".

I find clamp the sprue and use cutting disk in Dremel is much the best. You can leave a tiny whisker to nip off with cutters to avoid losing anything.

Have you considered ABS? Adrian is a frequent if grumpy poster on RMW under the adrianbs name. Adrian Swain on +44 (0)1202 672 891 The Zero Zephyr kits would seem to offer several possibles in whitemetal, eg 850, 2021, 1366 but as I understand it, no production for many years.

No 2 for my money trimmed up. The original is the worst.

Dare I sugest that chimney is too fat? Ozzyo had a battle with his 517 chimney a few months ago and turned up several before settling on a convincing one.

If you want a higher res copy, PM me with an email adress that will take bigger files than RMW. It's a medium format negative so can stand plenty of enlargement

I have been scanning some very old negatives over the weekend and found this one. It was taken by my Dad (who was a spotter) in I think 1939 during a visit to Swindon works judging by the other shots in the sequence. Luckily, he kept the negs in waxed paper albums so they are in good nick. This is heavily compressed so res isn't as good as it can be. Hope you find this interesting and good luck with resolving the issues.

You seem to have have excelled yourself Rob.

Thanks for update. I will have a job getting to Didcot this weekend given I'm in Australia however! The last thing someone actually doing the work needs is an armchair critic but that was not my purpose. I'm not doughting there was a heap of work to do, I was simply remarking that the GWS web site has been totally silent for getting on for 5 years. This is good reason for thinking little has happened particularly when 4709 has an excellent www presence and stellar progress has been made. Of course no rebuild is ever routine but a complete loco has to be less difficult than cutting new frames and then stitching 3 different locos (that had all been rotting away for 45 years) into one. I also remark that the railmotor site was updated monthly providing insights into a complicated recreation. Glad to hear there has been real progress anyway.

The 4079 “Pendennis Castle” Project Get the Latest News on the Pendennis Castle Project (Updated December 2009) Castle, Can you explain why this seems to be the forgotten project? 4 years + since an update on GWS website and 14 years since arriving at Didcot? A casual observer could conclude that there is little motivation. The other projects seem to chug if not speed towards conclusion, particularly 4709 and the County that are far more ambitious than a routine rebuild of a complete loco.

Does this moving malarky mean you have lost your vestigal garden roundy-roundy? You must be gutted?

Very good work, particulalry on the inside. No need to buy the Parkins overlays when you can do the details as well as you have. I hate to be a pedant but you have the brake lever guide/ratchet upside down. The wide end should be at the top.

What a good idea withe calves. I have 4 cattle wagons needing populating but like you have shied at the cost of a Slater's herd. Go mad with this little lot even if you have to re-sell the adults! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Britains-Freisian-Cows-and-Calves-Farm-Animals-/131178049523 or maybe this has some scope:- http://pegasushobbies.net/catalog/p170/%237006-Farm-Animals/product_info.html Looks like a Preiser herd is too dear but you get 3 adults ready for market: http://www.reynaulds.com/products/Preiser/65324.aspx

http://www.modernoutline.co.uk/modern_outline_006.htm