Roger Sunderland

You lucky man. Along with Dewsbury this was my ultimate favourite layout. Will be following with interest.

Everyone in the hobby is indebted to Bob Essery in some way or another. He produced so much invaluable historical data and information, often with others. He was an inspirational modeller as well. RIP.

Well I have raised this subject on another part of the forum, but didn’t get any replies. Bearing in mind the flack Tony has taken from a certain quarter, I’m beginning to regret bringing it up here. I am also of the opinion that Tony’s engineers train is perfectly acceptable, looks the part and that 99% of people would not find it out of place. I have now had some helpful advice by PM and have found a picture on Paul Bartlett’s site of the Holbeck staff riding van. It is a Gresley ex GN composite brake to diagram 218F. Andy Edgeson at Isinglass Models has it on his to do list. I’m going to scratchbuild the tool van.

Tony I hope you’ll forgive me if I use your thread to try and get some accurate information on breakdown crane support vehicles. I wonder if anyone has any information on the type of support vehicles that might have been used on cranes in West Yorkshire during the 60’s. I’m looking for tool vans, mess vans, staff riding vans and any other support vehicles, wagon or coach, that were in use. Liveries and numbers would be useful. I’m not overly concerned about modelling a specific breakdown train eg Holbeck/Wakefield as just getting the type of vehicles right for the time period and area. I have made enquiries on the forum before with absolutely no success so here’s hoping some of the very knowledgeable people on this thread might be able to help.

I’d just stop using Visa , their fees are greedy and excessive.

Only ones I’ve tried/know of are Alan Gibson. IMHO dreadful things to be avoided at all costs. They simply don’t work well below 7mm scale. Wiper pickups on loco and tender wheels, if possible. However, this is easier if using Markits wheels with only one side insulated.

I would suggest you have a look at the Wright writes thread on this forum. Within the last month there has been a detailed debate on the best motor/gearbox combinations. Pictures are included and from the discussion you will deduce a complete list of the major suppliers. Personally I am a fan of High Level products. Hope this helps.

I use Kadees on all freight stock, locos and coach rake ends and have found them almost faultless in operation. Separation is only an issue if couplings are not all mounted at the same height. They are, after all, the standard coupling in the US - think of those very long freights. I don’t think they would be so popular if separation was a problem.

My commiserations Clem. To many it is an annoying problem but to a modeller it can be extremely frustrating. I note your work around and will give it a try, thank you. Since the start of the pandemic I’ve built a large number of loco and coach kits. Maybe it’s because I’m forced to take more time over them but I think some are as good as anything I’ve done previously, not all though.

Hi Tony Your comments on waning abilities had me nodding in agreement. About a year ago I developed the same annoying twitch in my right hand when soldering. It was diagnosed as benign essential tremor (BET) which is ,apparently, quite common. I’m right handed, mostly, but it has not stopped me building models. Over a period of time I’ve learned to use my left hand more. It helps but if you’re holding an item with the right hand it can still be tricky. I find I use all sorts of gadgets and and tricks to get the job done. All in all , it takes a fair bit longer but nothing’s defeated me -yet!

Thanks Markw, that then is a possibility, I could probably live with that.

Many thanks for this, I will give it a try.

Indeed, you are correct. I don’t believe Comet do a diagram 1900 12 wheel dining car kit. Does anybody have any pictures, or a plan of the sides? Alternatively what are the differences between a diagram 1900 and say a 1901 or 1902 which Comet do do?

Thanks guys. The picture shows it as a first class dining car(should have mentioned that) so I think the prize might go to Wickham Green too.

Please can somebody help here. I have a partial photo of an LMS 12 wheel dining car in a Liverpool/Newcastle service around 1963 . The caption says it is M34M but I have failed to find which diagram this is, having Googled it and trying to see if Comet do a kit for it. Anybody throw any light on it please?

I’ve had a lot of success with Halfords Matt lacquer. Very good over their own paints.

Another sad loss, condolences to his family. Wonderful kits and glad many are still available under the PDK banner.

On Slater’s website there is a motor/gearbox combo, ready to fit, which they claim is a direct replacement for an RG4. At £84 it’s even dearer than the DJH one. Has anybody tried one of these?

Thanks very much, both of you, a PM has already winged its way to Gilbert. I use Kadees on the ends of all my coaching rakes, have for a long time, and on freight stock to allow uncoupling but I’ve experimented with a few solutions for coach rakes, I even had some 3D printed for use on our exhibition layout, Bournemouth West. Have to say though these Hunt couplings are the neatest solution yet, so easy to change a coach, split up etc, plus they look good and keep the sock at a fixed distance apart.

The DJH motor/gearbox was included in a DJH kit of a black 5 I recently purchased on eBay. It is huge but ok for a large bodied loco like this. It runs very well but no better than any of the High Level boxes I’ve made. To be honest I find building a sweet running gearbox as satisfying as a good looking model and at £79 a pop I’m not going to be queuing up for the DJH ones.

Hi all Appologies if this is in the wrong place but…. Ive tried these couplings with Bachmann Mk1’s, the stepped type, and am very pleased with them. However I also have a large number of the recent Hornby Mk1’s with a NEM pocket fixed to the bogie but no cornering cams. Would like to mix these with the Bachmann Mk1’s if possible. Has anyone tried this? If so which couplings did you use on the Hornby Mk1’s please? Also have a large number of Hornby Stanier coaches - detail ones with NEM pockets and cams, not Railroad types. Same question here- what type of Elite do people use to get good close coupling and is it possible to mix these with Mk1’s stock?

Very worthwhile choice. Doesn’t look to be as much detail as on the etched kit from McGeordie, which I’ve built, but looks good nevertheless.

Definitely the right- not as chunky!

Definitely passports and mask wearing, plus more space, reduced crowding at peak times (booking?) and barriers further back to protect the exhibitors. My personal view is that GETS has not done any of these and that puts the operators/exhibitors at a higher risk.

GT85 is excellent and not the same as WD40. It’s recommended on here for just such a task as oiling Portescaps by many, including me.