Bluemonkey presents....

It is a shame as they are nicely detailed and very fine etches not sure if they can be extended. Ambis do make larger ones though.

Ebay pay the money to your bank direct. PayPal is completely avoided by the seller now.

Those are the etched shackles and hooks from Ambis Engineering that I used for the chains on these wagons and the warflats. But you are right they do look rather like couplings.

I have a First Direct account for this exact purpose. Now having to disclose account details to ebay I was advised by the helpful First Direct staff member to use the details for the automatically linked savings account. This account can only be paid into and not directly pay out of. Those funds have to be internally (by yourself anytime instantly) transferred to the general account in order to access the funds making them safer.

Many thanks. I can not take much credit though as the sleepers are laser but wood and only received ink washes from me with a hint of gunmetal drybrushing.

Fiddly, frustrating and tedious are the polite words I can muster for the conclusion of a build which must have been started about two and a half years ago! Still need completing and then a little paint/wash and transfers but here's a taster; Probably worth it in the long run, at least that is what I keep telling myself.

Great idea on the switching mechanism.

I wish I had opted for Electrofrog points but way back in the early days and in my ignorance all mine are Insulfrog and I am expecting to wire each isolated section Like the good old days. I will be wiring for at least two weeks solid.

I understand that they have had some problems with the email system and not receiving a lot of emails. Best bet is to keep trying with the telephone. Took me a few attempts but eventually was answered and the order discussed, updated and received within 2 working days thereafter.

and this group; https://www.facebook.com/groups/921387308231483

You'll be able to start your own non-group soon lol. Sadly I had to join however I have been rewarded by finding a specific group of interest, knowledge and skills.

I think my dog has managed better results and she is half blind! However you do have a finger print from the probable pi$$ artist you could use that as forensic evidence to charge and convict someone of model butchery! On a serious note Chris you are right to expect better and these are poor even by a mass produced product standards, not to mention the poor customer service. Even if they feel the standard is adequate you are the customer and you are not satisfied. They should have at least offered to replace with unpainted figures and offer a credit for your returned monsters figures. At least then you would have been mildly happy, could return the offending articles and they would have kept a customer as well as another potential order with the credit of which they would benefit from as well due to profit margins and resales. Thank you for the heads up, I'll stick to what I know rather than experimenting with these new products.

I smell shill bidding, as with a lot of the recent madness!!!!!!

Looking really good Rich, nice sharp distinction between chocolate and cream.

Looks brilliant, love it. Need your own printer. May be a late Birthday present for Sarah?!

Not sure about TPOs but I am with you that siphons remained brown bodied alround.

Outstanding modelling Mikkel. Great step by step guide as well. Certainly adds to the scene and appears as if it has also been in situ. Fabulous.

Here's the offending object. Has a real coal load (removable) as will all my other open coal wagons. It is unfortunate about the floor as the internal side detail is rather decent especially as black. The other, pre-coloured one is not painted on the inside which is typical if not again disappointing. As the sharp eyed will have spotted I am yet to finish off those loaded sleeper wagons. The securing chains, loops and tensioners are next on the hit list, especially as the flats are now done I have run out of real excuses.

Made a start to one of the three Cambrian pre-printed sides kits and instantly wish I had not bothered. I appreciate these are old kits but the packet did have a sticker stating, new and improved chassis easier fixing. Well hate to have had a go with it's predecessor. None of the parts fit and needed considerable adjustment whilst the brake gear disintegrated on attempting to clear flash, not even the V hangers and axle boxes aligned from side to side. The wagon body mitre joins were too angled and the floor piece short. The lettering is not that brilliant either but expected on the older prints. Overall very disappointed. I my eyes a kit, especially one with pre-printed wagon sides, should be an exercise is construction the pieces as designed to make a decent representation of a wagon, coach etc. Should the builder wish to add or enhance construction/fixing/parts that is their personal choice but not one that should be imposed by the quality. Basic kit construction should be something of pleasure rather than frustration. That said I have finished the wagon as best as I can; filling as required the wagon mitre joints, replacing the floor with plasticard, adjusting the solebars to align the axle boxes and extending as required, shaving the buffer shanks so they are somewhere close to fitting the associated body, reworking the recess for the bearings to sit, repositioning the V hangers to align with each other and having to replace the brake gearing completely from the spares box. One excellent feature though Smiths 3-link coupling hooks fit the buffer beam without any further drilling or opening of the hole. I think the other two can wait for another week, month, year, possibly decade! Shame though as the other two have a better quality of transfer print. Onwards and outwards.

The Cambrian one I was working on seemed even more brittle. To the point where I had to completely replace both the brake parts, luckily I had some spares in the 'spares' box. Even the floor in places is opaque!

Thought I had forgotten something. I am looking for 4mm OO gauge please.

Looking for a complete GWR Siphon F brass kit should anyone have a spare or a surplus kit, please. Thanks to all in advance.

Ade this looks fantastic. How have you attached to the insulators please? Any good for 4mm? Cheers

Well Folks there has been plenty of bitty modelling going on. New pre-printed wagon made up with removable coal load from the branch, the warflats are finally complete. All hooks, chain links and tensioners in place to secure the loads. Only took 4 days to the get the chains made up! Now for the sleeper wagon chains Snaffled some more pre-printed wagons from the bay, these are Cambrian ones. The last kit was a Slaters one with odd opaque type plastic for the underframe and that seemed very brittle compared to the rest, almost 3-D printed like in appearance but obviously not. I have decided to have these new 3 kits as a diversion from the sleeper chains to keep me sane. Once I am done with them it will either be finishing the siphon C and cattle wagons as I am waiting the transfers or to start the two loco kits I have selected.

You have to be very strict with yourself though. I know if I started I just wouldn't go back lol.