CEINEWYDD

Couple of comments folks.......I have now had a think about the "jig" issue. The answer is so blindingly obvious I can't believe I have been mulling this over for years and have not spotted it. And yes it involves hacking up a perfectly good unused kit side. The obvious candidate for GWR being a Comet side with lots of doors and a brake end - preferably with hole for door handle and grab handles already etched . (E129 E147 ?) A reason for using E129/E147 is that these have holes for the additional handles for the Guards and Van doors already etched. They also retail from Wizard models at about £10.50 a pair, which I think is a bargain. Most, hopefully all, GWR coaches used standard sized doors with handles in identical positions. Soldering 'L' shaped brass section into the windows of the donor/sacrificial side to provide a constant fixed position against the victim side : And 'U' shaped section at the top to slip over the victim (won't work with Westdale for obvious reasons) . Mark and drill any additional holes (door bump stops, door hinges). Then slice off a wide enough section of the donor coach as suggested by Darwinian above, and use the resulting template to drill holes in the victim side in rapid succession. One advantage of using a non corridor coach side is that Comet supply these in pairs, and having - with luck- produced the aforementioned jig, a test run against the second side can be carried out. OK, I may well end up with handles and hinges in marginally the wrong place on various sides , but a) I have about 30 or so kits to make, so speeding up the process will help, and b) have you ever looked at photos of rakes of GWR coaches? No consistency at all in styles or types. I suspect that BSL and Westdale might have marginally different dimensioned windows from Comet, so different jigs for these types. Has anyone tried this approach, or any potential defects that they can see? All suggestions, constructive preferably but not solely, will be appreciated. p.s. Some time ago I used some two part Epoxy resin sold in the middle aisle of a well known discount supermarket which was sold as '5 Minute' rapid. It set rock hard in 5 minutes, so no time to adjust anything. at all. Otherwise perfect.

I have just read in a book that the GWR used to send white fish (from Milford Haven ??) across channel to France. Can anyone shed any light on the route/ stock used? I have seen pictures of Southern railway stock with oodles of alterations to allow this. Would these have been used?? If not what? Thanks for any info.

I too have a stash of westdale & BSL kits, some done, but the majority still in "pending". The BSL kits that have been done, I have used Araldite to stick sides ends and roof to each other - ends and sides first, then when set firmly (24 hours) the roof. I did try superglue for the Roof/sides join but that was awful. I would support the view that cleaning the areas to be glued with fine sand paper literally just before applying glue is the best approach. I was told in school (last Century) that Aluminium does not 'rust' but it does oxidise creating an useless surface for gluing. One thing I struggle with, is marking the door edges. Any suggestions good people???? (My son has suggested I make a jig so I can drill the holes for grab handles, door handles and bump stops too. He has a M. Eng. degree and I suspect my modelling skills fall far short of his estimate.)

Lots of info on this thread. Just a question to the tame geologist - Reading the Keith Turton books etc there are loads of reference to Gas/steam/foundry/coking / manufacturing coals , but I can't find anywhere that explains what causes the differences (except for anthracite which apparently has less arsenic and was used in the malting process. Introducing arsenic into the brewing process was not a good idea). Now I assume that gas coal had a higher volatile component, and cooking the coal in the ovens drove it off. So far so good. But was the usefulness of the other types because of the presence (or absence) of other chemicals and compounds, and in different proportions?? Anyone point me in the right direction (bearing in mind it's 50 years since I just about passed Chemistry 'A' level????

Somebody has raised the issue of council tax and HMRC allowances. Before you go down this route be aware that when (IF?) you sell your main residence, you get exemption from capital gains tax (Currently 40% of profit). If you claim business use relief, then this can/will be used to claw back some of that relief. i.e. it may cost you more than you have gained. Don't ask me to work out some figures as it is 53 years since I did 'O' level maths.