alastairq

Hi Jack....that really is repairable, and can be made relatively strong too.

I suggest taking advantage if the fact that many pilots were plated and/or riveted....possibly as accident-repairs?

Cleaning up the jagged edge as suggested by roundhouse is the first step..then some plasticard of appropriate thickness can be welded on....but for strength, why not cut out a piece of quite thin plasticard, to the shape of the left side of the pilot face, up to the draught box [for windy couplers?}... and glue that as an overlay [[after cleaning up the stripy bits first]...over the pilot face ...with perhaps some riveting or weld lines marked on? This thin plate would then support the repair from the front [if welded, especially]....

A bit of paint, and I bet no-one would ever, ever, ever notice?

Of course, I have two Athearn SW7/9's......neither of which I probably would use again [one has Ernst gearing!!!]...but I do not know whether the EMD chassis is identical to the Baldwin S12 chassis for a direct bodyshell swap?

I would be pleased to swap one of my shells with you.[chose,hand-painted BN green, or hand-painted UP yellow? Both decalled a long time ago, when my eyes were better, and I didn't shake so much!]

Better than spending money these days, eh?

Ps forgot to mention its great to hear the bridge timbers creaking as a loco crawls across and bits of dislodged 'stuff' gently rain down into the water. Can you get creaking timbers in DCC sound - might just convert me.

Civil Engineering's version of dandruff?

Whilst you're at it, why not a DCC-animated startled seagull taking off, squawking... whenever a loco crosses?

Have you imposed a speed limit?

[or do your operators simply...''bottle-out?'']

How often is the canal dragged for bodies?

Never mind the sounds, what about some 'olefactory airs?'

Marvellous.....thanks, Brian....your efforts with lacy complex trackwork in the past are what encouraged me to make my own....not quite to your standards, however, as an expression which involves fists and ham spring to mind.....

damn, I'm drooling all over the keyboard again! What marvellous stuff, Brian?

Off topic, is that a Tatra I spy [blue, with a fin?]

does the driver of the [3-wheeler?} yellow van often find himself in totally the wrong place,,,time and time again?

Terrible thing, getting one's wheel stuck in the groove?

Any ideas on how to discourage tight-rope walkers?

Which came first? the desire to build yet more track and finding the canal in the way?

Or the inspiration to model a gridiron bridge, then having to find an excuse for its presence?

Brian....a quick question..not about trackage, but about the canal?

What sort of height do you have for the quayside above the water? Is this dimension factual, or what you had to hand?

Also, what do you suggest as a minimum width for a canal spur? [ I take it you know more about such things in Europe....which is the information I'm interested in]...

BTW, bodies in the canal can be easily modelled, using the old Airfix figures..their faces come ready-grizzly, and they also come ready-equipped with concrete overshoes.....

excellent Brian.....any suggestions for effective 'check' rail representation for inset trackage, aside from more rail itself? [cost is crucial I'm afraid]

I like the big-wheeled tank.......have you noted the Highland Railway's 'scrap' tank, photo in link below? That has [had] a similar look, albeit a side-tanker....

http://www.ambaile.org.uk/gd/item/photograph_zoom.jsp?item_id=51159&zoom=2

superb stuff, thank you Brian.....does the algae in the canal water actually come and go with the seasons?

G'mornin' all...thunderstorms yesterday PM...got home just in time to find dry washing now soaking wet......managed to unplug computer just as storm went away......since I followed it all the way home from work, just knew it would get here faster than me.....d'oh!

whilst on the subject of large single[?] units....[i have a wreck of the old old old B/mann DD40....] a local [?] model shop has a used Athearn DD[35] in EMD demo colours....[around 40 quids I think?]

now there's a loco to send the neighbourhood lights to 'dim?'

sadly I have a lot of UP stuff as well...not modern...mostly what was around in the '60's and 70's....

great progress, well done.

what have you used for the 'inset track' on the quayside?

[is it putty, or plaster, or what?]