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Yes . Following a review in Model Rail , I ordered a couple of OO packing cases and an N gauge . They arrived promptly . I have done a dry run ; everything fits accurately and , being plywood , they look authentic. Fair price . Yes , self assembly (Ho ho ) but again to state I’m just a pleased customer . No financial interest or connection. Hope this helps . Ken

Osborns models sell some nice laser cut micro ply packing cases . They do a couple of sizes . No connection.

Dear Johnster i like your choice of engine and admire your analytical, methodical approach. We share the same humour.This thread is very entertaining and I always look forward to new instalments but I’m as mystified as you by the intermittent shorting . I’m trying to be helpful so Grandma and eggs time . Do you recall you had problems with a tyre detaching from a Markits wheel ? And you superglued it back on ? Do you think that may be the source of problems? I know Araldite is non conducting but don’t know how superglue works . Ken

Dear2750 Papyrus I apologise if this question has been asked before , but have you read that marvellous book “2750 the legend of a loco” .? It must be 60 years since I found it in the junior library and I remember bits of it still .

Clever design and workmanship , Frank and it is coming along nicely . Thank you , too , for explaining your “mistake” which I call experience . It is so helpful to us lesser modellers to learn from your craftsmanship and example ; particularly that it is possible to rectify them and move on . Ken

Thanks , Phil , for jogging my memory! The cover to commemorate Queen Elizabeth the Second’ s coronation predates my reading the Modeller . What high hopes were around at the dawn of the new Elizabethan era ! Ken

I’ve been reading the Modeller for over 50 years and am surprised by the cover of the November 2021 issue . It features , for the first time as far as I recall , a product rather than a layout - Bachman’s new tooling and admirable Gresley V2 . The photos are great and showcase a fine product . But are they a form of advertising or even an endorsement? If so , will , let us say , Hornby or others have a “right to reply “ or their turn ? Am I right to believe that this the first time a manufacturer or product has taken the full cover ? Any comments? Ken

I agree entirely with the points you make . I’ve no experience of Shapeway but am enthusiastic about Modelu whose products are IMHO excellent . I am also a fan of Isinglass models and did a positive review in the EM Gauge newsletter followed by a longer article in BRM . The GNR milk van I built was an excellent fit , with fine detail and I can recommend it . I have no connection with any of the manufacturers noted except as a satisfied customer of Modelu and Isiinglass .

Thank you . I’ve read the thread and it’s instructive ! ken

I bought one of these 40 odd years ago and it came in a fictitious livery I may be wrong , but I identified it as an ex Hull and Barnsley railway refrigerator van . My source was “ Historic Wagon Drawings in 4 mm Scale drawn by Mr. F. J. Roche “ published by Ian Allen . Mr. Roche’s drawings should be approached with some caution . I substituted a 3H wooden under frame and bodged some detailing but it was 40 years ago! The chassis was so sweet running that I used the van instead of a spirit level !

Guy Williams covered the build in MRJ and discarded compensation in favour of substituting pin point bearings . I seem to recall the original design incorporated inside bearings and consequently there was a bit of friction built in .

Number 5 diagrams A26 and A29 please despite having a couple of old Airfix ones . Thanks again for all of the work that has gone into these educational and entertaining surveys .

My ( conditional) votes would be Number 1or Number 3 . If only one were to be made , I would prefer number 1 . As to why conditional; First I would have to be flush with cash Secondly , I would have to dream up a rationale such as a Director or VIP living “up the line “. Such a powerful or influential person who would be able to order a slip working out of Paddington and then attached to a cross country working . Or Rule 1 applies . On preference; I like Toplights . As always , thanks for a thoughtful well organised poll .

I achieved a similar result with some Bachmann PO wagons and Modelmaster water slides . The transfers really snuggled down with Micro Sol . To clarify , the PO were in an later BR livery so were repainted black. They run empty from London to the collieries

I converted a couple Airfix 61xx to EM EM gauge 30 odd years ago . The crank pins do pull out as others have said . I reused the original Airfix drivers on one , to represent the smaller wheels . I seem to recall supporting the wheels in a vice and drifting them off the axles with a hammer and drift . I hope this helps and look forward to seeing more . Ken A bit more detail , in case it helps . I reused the original Airfix drivers to represent the smaller wheels of the 81xx class .BTW , the earlier production runs had flangeless centre drivers and I replaced those with flanged . I may even have pushed the metal tyres off the plastic centres and then swopped tyres . It was 30 years ago so detail is hazy . I see you used pliers but I had a small square of metal into which I cut a slot when drifting the wheels off . Of course the axles were 1/8th diameter which was the norm then rather than today’s 3 mm. I cut longer EM gauge axles from silver steel rod ( Eileen’s). I dimly recall an article in the old Airfix magazine on doing this conversion. In that case I believe the boiler came from a Kitmaster City of Truro . Anyone remember which edition? Great project . Innovative approach. Ken

I converted a couple Airfix 61xx to EM EM gauge 30 odd years ago . The crank pins do pull out as others have said . I reused the original Airfix drivers on one , to represent the smaller wheels . I seem to recall supporting the wheels in a vice and drifting them off the axles with a hammer and drift . I hope this helps and look forward to seeing more . Ken

My votes number 2 H25 number 6 H57 . Thanks as always for such a well thought through and erudite poll . As to the potential for sales: I believe that there is interest from “serious “ as well as more relaxed modellers for diners/buffet cars generally. I guess the sales of the Railroad Hornby support this as well as the Maunsells . A new H25 to modern standards would surely complement the beautiful Hornby Coletts . 6 wheeled carriages have a cachet all of their own to add to their sales appeal witness the Hornby Pullmans . Finally, Peter Denny showed that adding a restaurant car to a set of carriages can not only update its status but also give another train of a different character . For instance , I run one train as a Paddington to Worcester as a humdrum cross country train . On its return , I add a a Hornby tarted up Railroad to give me a altogether more prestigious express . Two trains for the price of one coach . I suggest all of the above augurs well for sales .

The Taff Vale Railway Act 1900-1901, enabled companies to sue trades unions for lost profits due to strikes … surely not linked to being a profitable enterprise? Happily that iniquitous position was reversed in 1906 . Ken (with my retired HR hat on ).

Number 1 , please

Enthusiastically vote for Option 1 and thanks for a well thought out rationale .

Markits?

I was sorry to hear that Mick has passed away and send my condolences to his family and friends. Although I never met him , I followed his teachings and learned a lot from him . An inspiration . Ken

Thanks for a comprehensive reply .

I may be wrong , if so apologies, but thought it was the convention to use the locomotive’s coupling to couple to freight and passenger trains . I’d welcome comment from those with practical experience .

I recall that Douglas Bader had his MG modified after the loss of his legs . I gather he had more feeling in his left leg for accelerating and braking whilst the right was more or less in and out for clutch .