Mike 84C

Bon Accord, I was in two minds to reply to your first post; which I do not think should have been posted on a group which is supposed to be for those who enjoy railways. I can read in the press regular items aimed at those of a certain generation, who bed block in the NHS, have reaped huge benefits from the increases in the price of housing, who live for far to long and enjoy final salary pensions. As we cannot know what the economic or political future holds for us as a nation or a global population, to state that the future is grim for young people may or may not be correct. My 35 yr old son would probably not agree nor my 24yr old stepdaughter. I am fully aware of how pensions are funded but who could have imagined that interest rates on gov;gilts and all types of saving would have been so low for so long, helping to drive down the worth of pensions? As an aside I worked for a well known global food company. I duly joined the pension fund and payed in my dues but did the company? not often as it was over funded! So I think I payed for my own pension. I am totally with you regards zero hours contracts, they should be banned, but young people seem to like them it gives them flexibility or so I read. But the young have not got a monopoly on large mortgage payments or a rising cost of living, I was in just that position in the 1980's but worked three jobs for while to keep a roof over our heads and it is only now my family has flown the nest do I have any money to spare on hobbies. And; I worked full time till I was 66 and part time as required till turned 69,this year. So enjoy your current final salary scheme,wish I had one, and enjoy this wonderful hobby.

As one of a certain age I get a little tired of being sniped at because I am allegedly so well off. My wife will probably be the last person drawing benefits from my pension scheme, the world moves on, I do not like some of its moves but we are powerless to stop them. We like railways but as one who has stood shovelling coal into a 9f for 140 miles, cleaned the fire and shovelled two lots of coal forward, better days? I did enjoy it then, I was a teenager, aged fifty plus hmm. Your suppositions suggest that children down mines would be ok or maybe we should all live in back to backs with a two holer down the yard. I have enjoyed watching this years Olympics, young British athletes proving to themselves, us and the world they are the best in the world, what comes over loud and clear, is there was a price and that was hard work and dedication. I was never an athlete but was prepared to work hard to get where I wanted to be like so many of us of a certain age.

I have severe model envy.

I was firing at 84C Banbury in the early 60's and well remember ovoids large and small. The small ones were worse on WR engines like giving stawberries to a donkey! and clinkered like crazy with lots of acrid yellow smoke. The large ones hmm, I remember fires that looked very pink when you relieved cockneys, which suggested a rough trip down to Bordesley but "she was always a goodun mate" My driver thought running the big bar down the box to see just how bad the clinker was, was a good idea. On Austeritys the tender always seemed as if it wanted to be in front of the loco and the strange bumping motion put small ovoids all over the cab floor so lots of them used to get shovelled over the side or just escaped. We had a nick name for those fuels but the world is far to PC for me to go further. I thought they were compressed slack with a binder to keep thier shape.

Kieran, my reasoning for the B12 chassis for a Baltic was the Hornby drivers are too small for a B12 but spaced close together and the trailing bogie plus cyls and valve gear from Peters Spares. But the body? all scratch built I think I believe Nelson posted a drawing, some while ago; can't remember which site though. A lot of work though. I like your 4-4-2t conversion for a Bandon Neilson tank which were very similar to your B&CDR loco.

I await with interest, scale large and small ovoids for our loco tenders. If somebody is tempted I have one of each. Maybe 3D printing is the way?

I too like the look of a Baltic, but dont hold your breath on it! Far to many other things to build before one of those.

Looks really good Kieran, which green did you finally use? as it looks rather good. I wondered wether a Hornby B12 might make a starting point for a Baltic? or is that putting ideas in your head!

You like it then Leslie!? Best drop a few hints for my big 70! Not till next year though. Mike

I dont wish to be to pedantic, as its a rather good photograph, but they are both wearing glasses and not reading something, so would have failed their medical's.

Anglian has put into words all the thoughts about LB that were blundering around my brain. Thank you.

Small boy on the platform at Banbury watching a Castle dash through on an up train. I remember the loco rather bouncing around as it passed "how does it stay on the rails Grandad?" c'ant remember the answer! Never thought I would work on the locos at 84C and a life long interest in model railways and railways in general that has seen me through some rocky times.

Kirley,that looks like a rather nice loco, invisible green i s a tricky one like improved engine green that looks like a sort of yellow! The Pennsylvania had Brunswick green locos, nine parts black one part green and I think they look black. So its down to what looks right to you but I would err on the dark side. Whopee! I got one of those guards duckets soldered up the most frustrating part of JM's kit. Hope you got a good tan in Spain Mike

Has anyone got a C class and a Director they dont want?

Bescot was very lively when I was there in the late 60's early 70's. Even watched the M6 being built. How the locals lived with the noise of those retarders on the down hump I shall never know. bescotbeasts posts are enlightening for me !

The three at P. Risbro i am certain they are Banbury men on the 4.15 ex paddington but I cannot remember their names. Will ask one of my old drivers next time I see him.

I think you have captured the rundown grimy railway of the 60's/70's very well. Just as I remember Water Orton from my days on the footplate at Banbury and Bescot. Loved the job but the uncertainty of employment was so depressing and the poor wages, I was only a second man at Bescot living in digs £ 14-40p for a bare week, ASLEF and BR did us no favours. I do enjoy your posts, there bostin! Mick

That looks really good, I don't often get diesel envy but the twins float my boat. I admire your confidence with the weathering !

Another talent added to your skillset! I did'nt get it so right at my first attempt with the airbrush ! Oh no! Mick

My wife buys me a copy of Aprils BRM and I see a rather nice Caley 0-8-0t in the build a loco section. Well done Steve

If anyone has a surplus Director and Wainwright C class at sensible prices I am interested. Mick

Thats a mega sized pump on a small loco! And didnt the US Army do a tank to tender conversion on one of the Davenports or a Baldwin that ran on the railway at Fort Bragg? I'm sure I have seen a photo of one, maybe In Touretts book on US Army locos? Mick

You will know when the mojo is back on track. I"m with you all the way even down to to the raging chest infection; so get yourself down to the doctors for some antibiotics! I have not touched the modelling bench for 10 days now. Just sit back and enjoy Christmas with your grandchildren because theres a New Year to come. Mick

Jamie, your crosti is looking really good, I would not bother to paint the cab roof cream. I believe they may have been that curious brown that the LMR used for its cab interiors or just plain black. All the 9f"s I ever fired the cabs were pretty dirty inside. So when I prepped a loco I used to pour oil from the oil can over the boiler back in the cab let it run down everywhere then when I had finished doing dirty stuff get the prep pipe and wash the whole cab inside, over the boiler back, roof as well! You stood in the gangway to do this or get soaked but finished up with a nice clean footplate and a shiny boiler back. All dry by the time you made the tea and a happy clean driver,always a good thing! 9f"s best engines ever, except the rebuilt crosti"s which were dogs.

Thats looking really good, the eye gets drawn to the curve on the cab roof which you have captured perfectly.