ROSSPOP

Was`nt happy with the roof sides, so have added a roof strip which i think has improved things. Roof needs re-painting with a darker grey, but will do that when I visit her again when in 4mm mode. Meanwhile, I have added the pipework front and back and will need to paint these red left and yellow right.

........... So, lining and lettering have taken ages.............. For the glazing I like acrylic sheet 0.5mm from Yorkmodels as it`s easy to score and snap. I lay it in place and gently flood the edges with watered down Glue an Glaze. Leaves a clear tough bond with no overspill on the front of the model. Perseverence roof is a vac formed moulding which needs trimming to fit...... never was an an easy task. Not a perfect job but I`m glad that task is done. Just the vacuum pipes to fettle and fit , so she should be finished this weekend........

Hi again BlueWotSit Dont be put off by any negativity......... I have sucessfully reduced my soldered connections to an absolute minimum for years in both 4mm and 7mm modelling by using so called suitcase clips and also ribbon cable. There are three reasons for failure using these 1 Poor quality product and crap plastic 2 Using the wrong cable. 3 Incompetent workmanship. As an extra insurance try and use clips with double blades..... These are from Farnell.co.uk. I use cable from Expressmodels And everything else from Allcomponents Obviously dropper wires need soldering Regards John

Take a look at Express models website as they have complete kits for non soldering systems Regards John

This may have been discussed before and I`ve missed it............... but....... Whereas the WWW. has affected peoples shopping habits on the high street, does the panel think that the internet has had an affect on railway modelling magazines? I no longer find any of the modelling magazines of any attraction to me and hav`nt purchased many for the past 10 years, however, I enjoy the contents of four railway modelling websites now I`m retired and to me they all provide the interest, inspiration, aspiration and information that once I looked forward to in the monthly maggies...........

Hi Martin I did,not discover any complaints with the Scotsman and Hatchette have been very good at sorting the production issues with Mallard. You are probably at a disAdvantage not having a subscription. John

Again I have read (somewhere) probably in my other GWR passion that shunting was done with at least single push pull coaches still attached. I`m sure it would be too much hastle and time consuming to keep disconnecting three hoses and a coupling at every shunting turn, particularly if it was just a couple of wagons. John

Thanks Barry I remember having trouble lining up the tabs on the body with the slots in the chassis, so I removed all tabs except for one at each end of the coach. I never used the supplied bogies. I think Rod Neep's kit designs were pretty good. John

Thanks Corbs I don't know exactly but I've seen many a photo of push- pull locos sandwiched between the coach and a short pickup goods train, so this pic may be showing the return trip of just the brakevan. John

I `m a great fan of Tamiya modelling products especially their masking tapes and masking rolls with attached plastic sheet. Having trolled the website it seems that in LMS days the driving ends were painted maroon but when repainted in BR livery they were mostly black. Rightly or wrongly I`ve opted for black ends. Partitions and seating are done.......................... I`m never sure what the colour scheme should be. I`ve used HMRS LMS coach lining and after some struggle one side is complete....

That`s encouraging Horsetan, thanks and for introducing me to RT Models...........

Having been back up in my attic rummaging around I found the very first RTR loco I purchased from Bachmann in 1999. According to a few RMWeb threads , this particular early example 31813 could be a victim to `Mazak Hypotrophia` I prefer that to `cancer`............ ...............................................rather like this example on Ebay................................................................ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-OO-GAUGE-32-152-N-CLASS-BR-BLACK-EARLY-2-6-0-LOCOMOTIVE-31813/201436800836?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33834%26meid%3Dcecf8f40ed64425bbf020e4710eee1af%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D201436800836 Or should I assume that after this amount of time my loco is safe ?????????? I do hope so as she is a particular favourite being the first RTR I ever converted to P4 and now I wish to upgrade further............

I `ve nearly finished the BR 1P so here is the coach......... I changed the bogies to full MJT parts and MJT Sprung buffers. The roof is completed so its just the interior and coach lining to do....... This was the inspiration........

Nothing too exciting about pickups and every railway modeller swears by his or her method. When I built the chassis I had been trying sprung pickups and it was built using them. I was never happy and I`ve tried Jidenco`s, Alan Gibsons, Kean Maygib`s and they have all been unreliable and some have come apart or have been too strong and have acted as brakes !!. I ended up trying these coiled spring types , but I could see them from side profile, having said that I have them on two other 4mm locos and they are very reliable. These on the 1P interfere with the sprung axles and one has left in disgust !!! My other successfull type of pickup arrangement I use in 7mm and 4mm. At the end of the day I like to clean and adjust pickups when required , so I like to be able to get at them. So out with the carborundum disc and chop some phosphor bronze strip. I use a rivet punch to make a dimple at the end and then use various shaped bends to improve and increase the pickup pressure on the wheel rim. I find with this method you can get maximum pressure with minimal braking affect and no interference with sprung axles. As an added insurance against possible shorting out in tight spaces I give them a couple of coats of gloss black enamel as insulation.

Thanks Jub. 10 years ago I looked on Bill`s website and his 1P chassis was in preparation, and taking a look today ,it still is which is a pity as I like his stuff........... I guess if a RTR manufacturer produced a 1P Bill might kick start production....... I used a Jim Maidment chassis kit which he used to produce in 4mm for his SDJR version. Sadly he died in 2010 and his 4mm and 7mm ranges died with him. Cheers John

There is only one use I can think of and that is placing it at the end of a scenic break under a bridge linked to a sector plate......which would act as the missing toe end John

The complicated bits are now done ..... Next stage will be new pickups, one new sprung buffer as after 10 years a rear one had rusted up and sheared off, and then a bit of paint touching up and she will be done......

I changed my mind about using Alan Gibson`s backhead castings as the motor I have used slightly encroaches onto the bottom of the backhead space, so I decided to fabricate my own half backhead that will be seen through the cab side. It sort of looks LMS`ish....... The space betwixt drivers and bogies I think will look better with a firebox bottom (nasty affliction for some) It was a bit of a fiddle but I`m pleased with the fit....

Duncan Models produce strips of corrugated metal to which I soldered brass angle strip.... I think I also fabricated some hinges on the other side..... John

Yes they are Craig...... Out of the platform kits, I scrapped the platforms as they are too thin. The fencing is good but more suited to the alternative GWR shelter available at Duncan Models. Cheers John

Thanks Mark I think your right they did and they were also shedded at Bedford which is my home town.... I wont be exploring the attic for a while as the whole job has aggravated my knackered back ....... hey ho! the challenges of railway modelling.... Seniority/senility are terrible things.............. john

Hi Craig There are no makers of `refined` GWR Pagodas in 7mm or 4mm that I can recall. Your right, Skytrex do a resin effort in 7mm, but the roof is wonky....the sides are not too bad and if you are prepared to kit bash with a slitting disc you can turn it round to make a half decent model........ john

Thanks bg and mikkel...... yep, I`ve decided to just make a few adjustments, namely to move the front sanding gear as I think that this was done when she was refitted anyway, it should be behind the front steps. Fit some cab flooring and a backhead and add a loco crew to fill the cab and some glazing. She also needs a change of pickups and I shall have ago at filling in some space between the drivers and rear bogie. I`m rather pleased I did`nt scrap her all those years ago as you say she`s got a bit of character about her. It has puzzled me as to why I had fitted her for push pull and further searching in the attic has unearthed a part finished Perseverance LMS push-pull coach !!!!.... More of that in the next episode........ Posting off an order to Alan Gibson for some cast backheads............

I`m actually heavy into O Guage since retiring, but I need a break from my 7mm Diorama layout, which has fully occupied my time this year, having made baseboards, track, laid track, wired track, and finally tested track....... I have kept a selection of my 4mm modified and kit built stock and it was while I was `stocktaking` I came across a 4mm project I put to one side in 2005 having built it the year before....... She`s not `state of the art` and there are a few errors and compromises to be looked at but I`m thinking seriously about spending a little more time on her....... She is based on a Craftsman models kit with a different chassis assembly and even has Ultrascale wheels. I `improved` the buffer beams by using Cavendish MR sprung buffers and various vac piping to produce a push pull variant....... I used a variety of parts from the bits and bobs box to replace dome and chimney and added the obligatory lamp irons. I can`t find the photo I worked from but she is based on 58051 that was based at Leicester and finally Highbidge. Anyway.... after a decade I think she has a quaint charm about her and am considering working on her again...... The lining as a bit poor and she has those wonky shaped cast whitemetal splashers,but with weathering etc and a bit of detailing inside the cab...... i think she might be worth saving..... What do you think ????????

Just to say that my replacement wheels arrived this morning with new axles. They are all concentric this time and `quarter` nicely. There is a little movement on the squared axle but nothing that will cause trouble. I shall probably permanently glue one wheel in place on each axle using Loctite when I get to that stage. John