Star-rider

Yes, very happy with mine too - very heavy, a capable hauler and a tender that will accept a good sized speaker for good bass sound. Back on the topic of the Dean goods, I'm afraid mine too (DCC sound fitted) needs a poke with the finger at low speeds but it's OK when up and running. I don't know how to start sorting it out. Pete.

Here’s the paradox – If we get impatient and demand our models within three months of announcement, we will get what we get. On the other hand, if we can bear to wait eighteen months and the manufacturer is minded to engage with people (who are cleverer than me) who have a knowledge of the subject we may get something more generally accurate – but still not an exact replica of a certain vehicle on a certain day. I’ll live with it coming along in a few weeks and then decide if I have the talent to make a few changes if I feel it necessary. I’ve fitted enough roof ventilators in Comet coaches over the years. Pete.

My Bachmann “Kinlet Hall” has never been a perfect runner, I put it down to being just a 3-pole motor. Despite its “Desigin Clever” origins I much prefer to run my Hornby “Adderley Hall”, which is a lot smoother. At the time of its release it was a very good value loco, enough so for me to overlook some of the shortcomings in the moulding. If they ever re-release it, I may put myself in the queue. Pete.

Your toplights look nice, better than the one and only attempt I had with a Slaters kit. I could never get the roof to sit properly on one corner. Personally, I won’t go there again and will hang on for the Dapol corridor versions to displace some older stock. If it’s 7’ bogies that you are looking for old Airfix/Mainline/Hornby “B Set” coaches are a quick reasonable source, the coaches go for next to nothing on Ebay. I’ve a couple that I may put to market soon, but I know that as soon as I do I’ll wish I kept them to scavenge the bogies for a kit build. Do you ever attempt the brown lining that was applied below the cantrail? It’s something I struggle with – I recently enquired of Railtech if they would consider producing a transfer for it, hopefully I will get a reply soon and will share the outcome if it is of interest. Pete.

My own need was for an A10 70' first recently received from Blacksmith, hopefully the Kernow bogies will look alright under this. Mark's photos suggest that fitting an NEM socket or tension-lock could be a greater challenge than I had hoped though. Pete.

Amongst many things, it’s little gems of information like this that draws me to this thread. I was about to press the button on some 9’ American bogies on the Shapeways site yesterday until I saw the shipping cost. I quite like the SRMW bogies, but the price of getting them here is a deal-breaker these days. Such a shame they can’t be sourced from UK production. Anyway, a pair of the Kernow ones have now been ordered. I’ll have to see what I can do about couplings, the 3D prints include an NEM socket but I’m not sure what provision the Kernow moulding has. There’s always a way… Pete.

I'm in exactly the same position. I've replaced a lot of plastic wheels with packs of Dapol metal spoked and disc types, but there really isn't much that can be done with the early D couplings.

This is an interesting discussion regarding what coal wagons might have plied their trade and has motivated me to read up a little more when I can. So far I have resisted the PO offering from Rapido, nothing seemed “local” to me, but reading though the observations above, maybe I’m being too parochial. I was considering selling on a lot of my South Wales liveried wagons in the belief that most of them would have spent their lives simply working from a colliery, running down a valley and discharging their load at a Swansea or Newport for export. Based on the comments above perhaps some of these may indeed have trundled up through the Black Country. I’d considered getting a few wagons marked up for the Earl of Dudley’s railway which ran close to where I live, but then reflected that they may have simply ran between the Earl’s Baggeridge Colliery and his Round Oak Steelworks and not on the wider network. Perhaps I need to get down the local library…

The roof tanks look smart on the E112 - what are you using? They look like the ones I used to fit, which were whitemetal and purchased from 247 Developments. It's another thing that I have exhausted my supply of and they're no longer listed. Pete.

The new Rapido rolling stock looks nice again. I have four items pre-ordered with RoS, but have fallen victim to the Expired Credit Card During Long Wait syndrome. All sorted out over the phone, so only a couple more days to wait. Also three Banana vans coming from the opposite end of the country, I guess that as these were a slightly later announcement my payment card must have had acceptable dates!

Interesting to see the Y4's included, I'd rather lost track of their expected delivery date - they've not been showing on Rapido's schedule. It looks like there's seven items about to hit my payment card then, plus the cost of paying the wife to go somewhere so the she does not see the parcel arrive...

Back on the subject of window grills, Mark Seward (Blacksmith) did come back to me following my enquiry and as promised, here’s the result. Firstly, the 70’ First kit I was after was available as a etch only so I have placed my order. I didn’t enquire deeply, but it suggests that some etches are ready to go, so it’s worth making contact if there’s something you’re after. Cost to me for the etch only was £48.00, there are no prices on the website just yet but that will hopefully give you a clue. He does indeed offer a brake van grill etch, price to me was £5.50. If you don’t need a lot of them this may be the way to go for a single etch. Pete.

I too would be happy to be involved in splitting the cost of a Brassmasters bulk order for window grills, but let's see what the response is from Blacksmith first in case that's a more viable option. With regard to 14mm wheels I usually just buy the Hornby or Bachmann 14.1mm ones which are always on the shelf somewhere. I don't know if this is some sort of Faux Pas with regard to GWR models but you only actually see the bottom few millimetres! In fact I'm literally about to place an order somewhere - the Bachmann 36-033 are just shading it on price at the moment £17.95 for 10 axles at Rails of Sheffield.

Just a follow-on regarding the window grills - I've noticed that the new Blacksmith website is now (sort of) up and running and I've made an enquiry about a 70' First which is hopefully my next build. While requesting a cost for this I've enquired if he does a window grill etch as I've picked up a hint that something was in the Blacksmith range historically. I will of course share any information. Pete.

Unfortunately the Brassmasters' minimum charge is now £20 and as there is nothing else that I need from them I would have to buy 10 etches to get my money's worth. Factor in another £4.00 for P&P and it gets expensive to finish off two or three coaches. Looking at their exhibition diary I can't see anywhere I'd be likely to attend this year so that avenue is closed. Logically perhaps I should ask nicely if Wizzard would add something to their Comet range - this is where most of my kits are sourced from and I'm sure that I can't be their only customer in need. The subject of corridor handrails has vexed me as well. Some of mine have a length of Microstrip painted red/brown but most run without. If the diagram of coach has a good continuous run of corridor it's worth a go, but where there are intermediate doors it's best left alone.