autocoupler942

suggest a check is made on 2MM november diary as I can only see this listed at Warley on sunday - no mention of saturday!

Last century, when I ran Shop 1, at Y/E stocktaking time I had to count the whitemetal track chairpins. Just as Nigel does later, I counted out a small amount and I then popped into my local chemist with the whole bag. After explaining my madness (and what the castings were for) the weighing was kindly done and the maths applied (not forgetting to add back on the counted-out packet) - Who remembers the little brown packets quite often with a description note in Phil Kerr's hand? By the way. my old departed car was renowned for being a mobile foot bath as it let in so much water through the baulkhead and into the passenger foot-well. A Ford Puma - obviously! Probably a Friday afternoon model when the caulking stock supply had run out. If you look up the problem on-line there are 25 pages of comments and 25 ways to fix it. I cured it by taking it to the dump!

Don't quite know where to post this - Will anyone be driving past Stevenage on their way to the AGM? My faded sight forced me to discontinue driving and I now suffer chronic leg arthritis so I can't even use the train. I do have a Blue Badge which would help parking at Keen House. Andrew 01438 728573

with reference to lubrication to eradicate the switch blade squeak you could try a very light application of graphite powder. I bought some years ago in a small puffer bottle and showed it amongst the tools in the photo on the cover of the first edition of the Beginners Guide. A minute quantity applied with a small brush should restrict where it goes - I don't think you'd want the powder on the running surface! I've just looked up the photo and Easy Slide is the name. Can't remember where I bought it! Maplins? Eileens?

The above photos remind me that Aldi's are advertising A4 cutting mats for £2.99 a pair (in a choice of colours). Available instore this week from thursday 15 sept. My local store seems to sell out of any advertised items very quickly so best to get there early. I'm not sure what the current exhibition/model shop price is but these seem to be a bargain @ £1.50 each! Almost disposable when they get in a bit of state!. Aldi ref: 072723090099701 ps They also do an A3 size @ £2.99

So just which tender axleboxes are still available? There is rather a muddle with the shop listing as far as descriptions codings drawings and diagrams! The whole area of tender axleboxes needs a complete review and update in my opinion - across all regions. No wonder current 2mm'ers just modify N stock or go for non-tender locos. How did the old whitemetal moulds just disappear? Someone must be sitting on their whereabouts!

For roofs I have a huge stock of venetian blind slats both plastic and ali. I use the special snapper trimming tool available to cut the curved profile to length as this provides a neat edge. I found that cutting by knife or scissors makes the trimmed edge curl or wrinkle! Anyone needing some stock just send me a SAE. Andrew 01438 728573

Reminds me of Mike Bryant's spacers.There must still be plenty about in gloat/stock boxes! Thoughtful padding (plastic to the MBM units or pcb soldered inside the frames)? I am sure this is a path Mark Fielder must previously have trod?

I am worried that I'm not getting any recent entries on screen. Most recent have been 1 on the 3rd (Ian Smith) and 1 on the 4th july.(squirrel). Am I missing out or has communication wilted? I would not be surprised if it is my computer at fault - it's never been right since TalkTalk went up the wall back in May. Any IT doctor near Stevenage with time to spare would be much appreciated - could also rummage through my gloat box if interested?

Is it just optical dilusion or is the coupling rod out of horizontal in the photo posted by strangely green?

stand pipe and drinking troughs? Could have been squeezed on the etching between the rails?

Hi Jim I know interlaced sleepers is your prototype specification but I am curious (on the prototype) about the sleeper support for the left divergence (between the first and 2nd crossing). Obviously you have had all the full size info!. I once read that crossing timber arrangement is an art form especially when things get complex. Were the sleepers all 10" wide? Like I said, I'm just curious!

I'm confused as to whether you are confused as to which 10000 is being referred to!. The LNER 10000 ran with a very high pressure boiler and known as the Hush-hush as it was built under a degree of secrecy by Gresley. Later designated class W1 with 4-6-4 wheel arrangement. I'm uncertain how long it ran before a rebuild. On the LMS ( and later all around BR) there were a pair of diesels nos.10000 and 10001 which often worked in tandem. There is (was) a kit for these. As far as mystery gas turbines go there was also the GT3 early in BR days - a loco I never did get to see. In fact I didn't even know of it until several years later as it appeared after my early spotting days and before Beeching.

I was trying to tune in to BBC 4 (without success) but just happened to catch a program on BBC Alba (at 9pm tonight). Although it was heavily subtitled it was mainly (if not all) on Highland Railways but I could recognize Kyle.

Hi Nigel Now I know why you were into a T9 a short while ago! Couldn't fathom it out at the time - thought it must have been an order for a customer - but no !?

Is the partially blocked off reg plate 000.............? Most appropriate for 2mm ! Of course, I might have mis-read it - failing sight being a reason I decided to give up driving and modelling.

Hi Jeremy Any chance of a directly overhead shot of the vacinity of DR137.T8 ? I can't remember whether the switch blade tips (not those at the K) have to be in line. Templot wasn't around when I did mine and I don't have the Association Track book to refer. I made mine (a 1in10) some 30 years ago on C&L drawings just as an excercise. I never did get round to use it so it's still in the box!

Having now found the page and drawing in question I agree it is very fuzzy. Even with the use of a powerful loupe the figures defy positive deciphering without guess work. Apart from anything else there is no mention of the diameter of the pillars. Perhaps if you ask Mick Simpson (editor at the time of publication) he might have the original drawings still on file or he could check with the author.

Can you verify your reference as.in the 2MM Association Magazine. April 2005 page 31 is an article on a Dapol 1400 and no figures? Let me know and I will then check dimensions for you.

Trying to find Maunsell coaches on Hattons? Go to Hattons N gauge > coaches > Dapol. You won't find them listed under the first 2 eras but instead scroll down to show all > page 2. The first one ilisted is not flagged as pre-order but I guess that's another mistake they've made. There are 8 to choose from but, as yet. no images for brake-ends.

I guess the residents just can't wait for the flymo to be invented to mow their sloping lawns grass - but then they'd need some storage sheds!

I'm not sure if I 'sent' my post yesterday correctly as it has not yet appeared. I'll repeat it here. From memory I believe the Asssociation shop used to stock a 6mm 10-spoke wagon wheel many years ago. The ones to ask are Jim Watt or Phil Copleston. I think they were made by the late Cliff Newall (?) If you can source any from members' gloat boxes be sure to check for wobble and concentricity - a problem of the times! In the meantime I will see if I can dig out the appropriate shop price list (1980's/90's) and let you know - but the items must be long gone!

I have pointed out quite recently that basic handheld Pentrollers can fetch about £100 and the more sophisticated one you have was commanding over £200. If you want to let it go for 99p I will have it and gladly pay the postage!!! Please don't just give it away as the recipient will be taking advantage and laughing at you up his sleeve.

Since my message yesterday on accessing Finescale Ebay have now deleted the ability to select it following my suggested path. They must be employing IT kids who only ever had a roundie-roundie train set!

I'm still checking daily for the missing Ebay Finescale category in case they realize their ineptitude and restore the status quo. What I have found so far if you click "rare scales" and scroll down the options displayed on the left as far as Scale (gauge) Click on See All at next menu tick Finescale and then Apply I'm not sure how up to date the resulting listings are as there weren't any entered today (although loads are still going on Rare Scales. I was always in the habit of watching what was showing up in Finescale just out of general interest but I don't think I'll bother any more. It's too much like hard work going through all the rubbish on the new listings - skipping over the Del Prado entries was bad enough! If you looked at "auctions only" you could miss out on something - likewise restricting to UK only can miss out. ( I got a Fairburn brandnew for £60 including post from Taiwan) Perhaps RM and others could put pressure on Ebay but I'm sure we are such a miniscule proportion of their overall trade Ebay wouldn't care. What other auction sites are worth a following? Has the RM one settled down yet?