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The height is set by shimming on the washer, and the assembly is then locked. The tyres are wide enough to stay on curves. I decided on this arrangement as there is very little clearance between the outer wheel faces and the cast Cartazzi frames.

Here's my solution to the pony wheel problem. Because of the long wheelbase of the Raven A2, the axle runs in a round tube, itself in a square section tube that is free to move up and down in the frame slots. I utilised Hornby flangeless wheels, to ensure there would be no derailments on curves, and I still need to do final spring adjustment.

I wonder how the new B17 will ride, as it is being built with cannon axleboxes.

Still on the back-burner due to a house move. The chassis has been modified for P4, with Nick Easton's footplate etch replacing the cast item, along with a cab etch, and a modified SE Finecast A1 boiler

I find carriage building a complete chore-boring, repetitive and time consuming. I acquired a number of part built carriages from a deceased estate, and although all were around 90% completed, no roofs were fitted. And no wonder-marrying up cast ends to aluminium roof sections, marking out ventilators and deciding where to locate the securing screws has to be the most difficult job, as far as I am concerned. After finishing this lot, never again.

Commiserations, Clem. I am an admirer of your work, and your approach to modelling. Keep it up for many years yet, and inspire us all with your layout.

It's your railway-if that's the way you want to present Little Bytham, fine! I cannot imagine anyone visiting the layout and pointing out electrification warnings and nameplate backgrounds spoil the effect-unless they are didactic clowns. Surely the aim is for an overall convincing effect that LB does superbly in my estimation. And if you want to run Paddleboxes and GWR, so what? They are all fine models, and have LB as an excellent backdrop.

With modern technology and computer drafting, skills required are much lower and the development cost is coming down.

Powered chassis required for project-body immaterial.

Impressed with the detailing that you are fitting to the D20-it really does lift the model. If you are looking for accurate Westinghouse pumps, the Markits range have excellent turned items.

I was interested to read of your observations. I think for a four-coupled locomotive could be more prone to binding due to 1. Mis-matched coupling rod hole centres and 2. Excess slop between pins and holes-I think that a close fit is required here.

And another example from an article from way back. Must finish mine.

Here's one from an article some time ago-repaired modified body and a great paint job.

833753234_LimaLMSCCT.docx

Try a Stanley knife blade to open up the slots

I think that modelling telegraph wires is a waste of time, and detracts from the overall effect. The one layout I did see with full wiring, the owner complained that the wires were a dust magnet.

Is that why BR had to build so many brake tenders?

The low-rated types-class 20 and 37 with proven engines were a good investment. High speed untried classes such as the 17, 21 and 22 were a disaster. CIE could have told BR how useless the Crossley engine in the class 28 was. The myriad of different types for similar duties was a waste of investment-it may have been great for the modeller-but trying to run a railway with unreliable motive power is a different story. Imported Alco-Goodwin off the shelf products could have covered most of BR's requirements with 8-12-16 cylinder configurations of the same engine and drive trains. It is interesting to see the 59 and 69 class being rebuilt with American technology, and the American engined 66, 68 and 70 in service-a commentary on UK motive policy

I am always intrigued by What Ifs? What if WW2 had not happened, and the electrification of various lines had gone ahead on the LNER? What if the LMS had introduced a fleet of Turbomotives? What if the LMS and LNER had co-operated on diesel development? What if the GWR had decided to import German hydraulic locomotives? What if BR had developed a Standard version of the GWR 47xx class? What if BR had been allowed to import proven American diesel locomotives, instead of the duds they were lumbered with under the Modernisation plan? What if the ECML was electrified after completion of the the WCML?

Good Luck with the build. As far as I am concerned, Falcon Brass kits should enclose a warning about buildability, and a suggestion that all parts should be carefully checked against a drawing.

Great for keeping slices of Charles and Di wedding cake in

After the discussion on stripping metal bodies, can I be advised on stripping plastic bodies, as the products I have work poorly on Airfix N2 paints.

Any chance of a YouTube tutorial on this extraordinary weathering?

What glues are you using?