Woodcock29

Hi Gilbert and others I have had a very close look at the original photo as published in the book and I would say its actually only a rimmed chimney. The underside of the small rim is significantly darker than the rest of the chimney. The angle of the photo makes it look as though its flared more than it is and I only got this book recently at our last annual BRMA Convention in Canberra so its already proven useful despite the fact it doesn't really suit my pre-war period. But then you can never have too many books on eastern subjects! Andrew

Actually A2/2, A2/3 and all 3 versions of W1 (Hush Hush, skirted streamlined LNER and BR!) Be interesting Tony to hear your comments on the models down the track! Of course I don't expect they will go anywhere near pulling a train of 13 kit built coaches! Edit comment - of course the posts above were all made whilst I was trying to get onto the Hornby site and then writing my short post! Andrew

Its pleasing to see people talking about prostate cancer. I wouldn't have known I had prostate cancer without annual PSA tests from age 50. I was also in a high risk group with both my father and maternal grandfather having had prostate cancer (each of which doubles my chance of having it). I had a slightly elevated PSA for my age when I was about 58, so the GP referred me to a urologist. He suggested a biopsy, although there were no physical indications I had a problem. The biopsy showed two small spots of cancer cells, so my PSA was monitored 3 monthly for 12 months with minimal change and then I had a further biopsy which found a few more spots of cancer cells, so I made the decision to have my prostate removed which occurred early in 2015. I didn't require any further treatment but have regular PSA tests, which are now on a 6 monthly frequency. PSA tests might not be the best answer for monitoring for prostate cancer but its probably the best we have at the moment. Too many men aren't prepared to talk about their health but its important that we do, particularly if we want to see our grandchildren grow up and to complete the vast store of unmade kits that many of us have! I became a member of what we call 'The Wednesday Club' when I took early retirement at 56. 'The Wednesday Club' was a group of 6 BRMA members and one former member who operate each others railways on a weekly rotational basis. Apart from railways we regularly talk about our health issues. The group now comprises only 5 as 2 have passed away over the last couple of years. I'm the youngest by quite a few years! Andrew

We're safe here in Adelaide, but have had quite a bit of smoke haze at times, particularly from the two main fires nearest to us. One in the Adelaide Hills is about 50km away and has burnt close to where a couple of our British Railway Modellers of Australia members live but I understand they haven't been affected, other than being evacuated at times. The other is still burning out of control on Kangaroo Island about 100 + km to the southwest and has burnt about 25% of the island. Fortunately today we've had a cool change come through but with no rain. Sounds like we'll have months of this as the longer range forecast is for hotter than average January and February. Andrew

Great stuff Graham! I've just started building an articulated triplet from three of Dan's D&S Howlden 6 wheelers (BT, C and T). Not sure how much undergear I'll put on but I do have a set of Frank Davies extras etches for Howldens. I then have a couple of twins to do, including a pair of Frank's Dia 146s into a twin and a basic pair of Dan's thirds. Then my ultimate will be the Louth Quad from Nick Easton's etches but all those will have to wait another year or so due to other priorities. Must go out to the shed to continue the project now. Happy New Year to all Andrew

So am I, exceedingly picky actually as its a key to the face of the loco as is the smokebox door. In fact I made comment on the chimney, dome and safety valves being too tall on the RMweb thread on the Oxford N7 at least twice earlier in the year or last year - after we saw photos of the pre-production models. I'll probably only buy one if they produce it in red lined LNER livery with this boiler and then I'll have to change/modify the boiler fittings. The black LNER model they have produced with the Belpaire firebox should of course be lined in red. They only went plain black from 1941 onwards. Andrew

The N7 looks good. However, I believe Oxford have made the chimney, dome and safety valves too tall on this round-top firebox version. According to the Isinglass drawing the flowerpot chimneys fitted to N7s were 1'6" compared to the original GE chimneys which were 1' 10 1/4" . The chimney on the model appears to be the same height as GE chimney? I did a review of the previous LNER version for our BRMA journal The Clearing House - I'll send you a copy Tony by email for interest. Andrew

Models I've built or substantially worked on this year included the following:e: A Craftsman C12 bought unmade secondhand. one of my first attempts at lining with Bob Moore Lining pen. A Nucast D2 My old Bec D11, originally built in the mid 70s when I was about 20, subsequently upgraded in the 1980s and used this year with a bit more upgrading as a trial for the red lining - which on this is a combination of Bob Moore pen and a bow pen. I might get around to adding brake gear to the old Triang chassis it runs on which is now fitted with a Buhler motor with Ultrascale gears. This year I knocked the top of the tender out and completely rebuilt that with correct water pick up arrangements even though the tender body is too wide. I also replaced the cast beading on the splashers with brass strip, the splashers having been increased in height back in the 1980s upgrade. It still needs to be glazed and have a crew fitted. An upgrade of my original Craftsman C12 built in 1979. Additional details added such as vacuum and steam heat pipes along the valance, steel windshields in front of cab opening, new whistle, new buffers to suit the change of number to a loco shedded at Boston in the late 1930s, chassis overhaul, including new axle bearings, new Mashima motor, Comet gearbox and flywheel added. Lining with the Bob Moore pen - obviously that skill is still very much work in progress! A Bachmann O4/3 conversion which was actually done late last year but not photographed until now, using a WR ROD model, with the better footplate (correct length to wide section over cylinders and the bolt heads on front frames) and correct cab roof for the ROD versions (rear angle iron further forward). I decide to build one with a flowerpot chimney for something different. The chimney is a shortened Bachmann J11 chimney that was surplus after fitting a Robinson chimney to a J11 a few years ago. Its had the my normal chassis upgrades - raised cylinders - realigned to centre of driving axle and pony truck set further back. I did another this year for a mate who has modelled Nottingham Victoria. A rebuild of secondhand 51L or original D&S NB cattle wagon A rebuild of a secondhand D&S NE fitted cattle wagon Completion of a secondhand D&S GE horsebox, it probably should have vac pipes as well or instead of the Westinghouse pipes Completion of a secondhand Parkside LNER Dia 5 Horsebox for my horsebox train Completion of a secondhand Chivers NE 4 wheel CCT , one of which I had been looking for, for quite some time. A D&S GN 6 plank open. All the above that are fitted with Kadees will run on Gavin Thrum's new layout based on Spilsby. I have worked on other stuff that I have probably forgotten about and am now building a Howlden triple articulated set from a D&S BT, C and T for Gavin's and my layouts. Andrew

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Tony and Mo and all readers and participants. I expect to post some photos of what I've built this year later in the week. Andrew

Its interesting how we perceive loco looks Tony (G). I like most of the GC types, except perhaps the LNER L1 and S1 but as to diesels I found the Westerns ugly, worse than the Warships but find the 68s quite interesting and certainly not ugly. I took photos of some of the new Chiltern 68s when at Marylebone in 2017 when I was going to Railex at Aylesbury and also the electro diesel version, the class 88, when on a RTC Cumbrian Mountain Express in 2017 behind Scots Guardsmen. However, I find the 66s ugly. Andrew

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Interesting comment Barry Ten. To me the chimney, dome and smokebox door are all part of the face of a loco and if they're not correct it ain't right. So I'm often to be found sourcing replacements. Currently I'm upgrading an old Craftsman C12 I built 40 years ago as it will be running on a new exhibition layout later next year. I contemplated changing the smokebox door because its diameter is too large and its missing the seating ring, but as its solidly glued in (built before I did much soldering!) I've decided at this stage not to attempt it as I would have had to drill it out, even though I do have a spare LRM door to fit. Andrew

I might have misunderstood your comment but the Aussies are playing Pakistan in Adelaide tomorrow, which is the game I'll be at. England is playing in NZ tomorrow. I do agree with your comments on England's ability though! Andrew

I'll be there for Day 1! Although forecast doesn't look great for the remaining days - so might actually have a 5 day Test? By that I mean we might get a few shower interruptions, like a normal English summer day. Andrew

Jesse Have a great trip and time at Warley. Hope the ankle is getting better. Say hello to Tony and Mo for me when you stay with them. I had originally hoped to go to UK this month myself for Spalding and Warley but it didn't work out. Maybe next year after we've hosted the BRMA Convention in Adelaide. Andrew

Talking of rare sightings. My clearest memory of seeing an A4 when I was child living at Potters Bar in the early 60s was of seeing Golden Plover in the down slow platform one weekend morning with my father. Given she was always a Scottish A4 this seemed unlikely at that time unless she was on a running in turn of some form. The answer lies in Yeadon Vol 2 where there is mention that she took over the up West Riding at Doncaster on 30th March following a failure by D9015. 60031 was at Doncaster for a non classified repair from 27 Feb - 23 March. On the 31st which was a Sat she returned north on the 10.20 am Kings Cross - Leeds which must be when I saw her. Interestingly she was back the following day on the 6.45pm from Doncaster but then returned home on the 2nd April. Andrew

We actually went to the museum at Temora on our way to the recent BRMA convention in Canberra, its certainly worth a visit and is extremely well set up. Little did I know I would see so many of the aircraft flying less than 2 months later!

Not that I'm aware of. The Mk VIII in the photo was the last Spitfire delivered to Australia in 1945 and restored in the 1980s by the late Col Pay. It was acquired by David Lowy for the Temora Aviation Museum (in NSW) in 2000. It flies in the colours of Australian ace Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes. Andrew

Correct Andrew

Strange when trying to add a new post RMweb brings up my last post like others have indicated previously! Whilst we're on the subject of cameras I've been using the amateur range of Nikon DSLRs which generally suit my purpose. Currently I use a D7000 and before that D70s. In the 'old days' I was an Olympus man and thought the Zuiko lenses were second to none. However, for model railway photography I've gone over to using a compact camera, in fact the Canon G12 like that used by Gilbert Barnatt on his Peterborough North thread. Now for something completely different (I hope Tony doesn't object) I've added a few photos I took at an Air Show here in Adelaide last weekend which show that even with amateur range cameras and lenses its possible to achieve quite reasonable outcomes. These were taken with the D7000 using a Nikon ED 70-300mm lens. Obviously not of professional standard they still look quite good - I've done a small amount of work on them mainly to crop a bit and to adjust the lighting. the variation in sky blue is interesting but that varies as much depending on the angle of the sun of course. Andrew

Hi Jesse The terminus does have storage loops at the other end, but these are incorporated with a loco depot to give the storage loop operator something more to do. Andrew

Hi Jesse The lowmac looks like an old Ks kit to me. I've got one my Dad built in the early 60s and also an unbuilt one I picked up on eB.. The one Dad built I've lettered as an LNER Mac NV. The Dapol (formerly Airfix) plastic kit of a lowmac can be made into a reasonable model of an ex GE Mac K Andrew

Thanks for your comments gentlemen. I actually cut the expansion link to shorten it as I did with the B17. I then filed it to remove the coating, thinking it should be brass underneath but it still won't solder, even with my normal rugged phosphoric acid flux. I need to solder the end of the expansion link back on, although I could make another end piece from brass or nickel silver fret waste. The motion bracket itself is exceedingly fragile and has broken off so that also needs to be soldered back on. I 'll have another look at it another day, when I might be less frustrated! Andrew

My plan failed! I found that I could not solder the Hornby valve gear parts - most annoying. Particularly as I managed to do this on a B17 a couple of years ago without any issues. So I'm not sure what material the valve gear is made of? On this subject the problem of the angle of the eccentric rod does not occur on the Hornby A4s as the motion bracket is set higher. Andrew

On the subject of Hornby A1/A3 valve gear I have studied one of mine closely tonight having been aware for a long time of the shortcomings. I have decided to modify one and see how that comes out. I have also compared a Hornby set with a Comet set for an A3. interestingly the expansion link on the Hornby valve gear is only 1.2mm longer than the Comet version, I thought it might have been more. I will shorten mine and also intend to reduce the height of the motion bracket which is also a problem - and this is on one of the earlier Flying Fox models not the later version with the thicker top piece. I have previously modified a Hornby B17 which suffers from similar faults. I hope to report back in a few days. In the meantime here are a couple of photos showing my attempts at learning how to line with a bow pen and Bob Moore lining pen. The boiler bands have been done using HMRS Pressfix lining. The D2 still needs to be toned down somewhat. Its abit of a pity about the Kadees but both of these will operate on an exhibition layout where Kadees are in use. The driver in the D2 is rather high up due to the footplate being somewhat high but will be replaced with a sitting figure when I get around to painting one. The C12 is a Craftsman kit but with LRM smokebox door, safety valves and chimney. Also the dome and chimney have been replaced but I can't remember whose those are, possibly the chimney is Gibson. The D2 is the old Nucast kit but with a Graeme King J6 smokebox door and LRM chimney, safety valves and whistle. The lining on both is not great but hopefully is partly hidden by weathering on the C12. The camera can be quite cruel! Andrew