Armstrong440

Is that an O5 4-planker? And could I convince you to part with it?

Been there. Then, when the mojo comes back, I go to RailWells and see Coopercraft selling miscellaneous bits and pieces, buy nothing, then a few days later discover he's effectively out of business. Oh for some O5 wagons...

People who spout on about locomotives that look wrong without the correct headcode, then uncouple their stock with a giant hook from the sky.

I'm no expert on NE wagons, but is this for real? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/O-Gauge-kit-built-LNER-20ton-twin-bogie-cattle-wagon-/322790781611?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=UeGOZaA1dV4x7c%252Fz8GcIze9p5lw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Does this still qualify as madness? It seems to be becoming the norm. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Unmade-D-amp-S-Models-4mm-Scale-DS502-GWR-10T-12T-O-F-Brake-Van-12T-Dia-AA16-/322858930317?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=UeGOZaA1dV4x7c%252Fz8GcIze9p5lw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Not sure why they're using a 4mm coach to give a sense of scale...

I know it's not railway-related, but wha...??? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PROTO-TOOLS-1200R-M-METRIC-OPEN-RING-BOX-WRENCH-SPANNER-SET-7mm-to-24mm-MINT-co/332031787475?hash=item4d4ea301d3:g:BlYAAOSw5cNYKgNW

One for the livery experts... Is this supposed to be brown, red or grey? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G-G1-GAUGE-1-KIT-BUILT-GW-GWR-20-TON-BRAKE-VAN-WAGON-2123-WREXHAM-NICE-ei/331126952505?hash=item4d18b45239:g:CJ0AAOxyOMdS-T0L

The roofline looks rather uneven though!

I'm wondering at how new the wagon is. The exterior seems very clean, almost glossy, with not a trace of limewash. The interior however looks a little pock-marked. I believe that limewash was applied to the full height of the interior, so I would assume what we're seeing is rather knotty wood that has never been disinfected and hence a brand new wagon. Similarly, I would assume that the holes for the GWR plate would have been drilled as a matter of routine during the course of construction, for the plate to be affixed at a later stage. So their presence should not be taken as evidence that the plate was ever actually fitted.

There is a larger and better-exposed print of this same photo in MRJ 24 where Martin Goodall builds a selection of GWR cattle wagons from various kits and bits. The article extends into MRJ 25, but contains no discussion on liveries.

Gosturd has taken to selling "kitbuilt" models which have just been (badly) repainted / relettered.

Words are just so inadequate... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GWR-Cattle-Wagon/122640905208?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D46150%26meid%3Dafefae371b6e40c1aaf44e55df274d03%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D122768043061&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

D&S GWR Loriot L went for £42. If they are collectors then it's an expensive hobby they've found for themselves.

Who do you think I am? Gosturd?

...From a different angle.

Not sure if this is a K's, but sometimes the frustration just becomes too much...

I was amazed a few weeks ago when my new passport arrived via first class (unsigned for) mail.

Whereabouts in Spain are you? We live in a small fishing / tourist town in Andalucia, and I know of two academic supply stores that sell Sharpies. Maybe not all the colours of the rainbow, but the basics are there.

So... If someone wanted to commission a new injection-moulded wagon kit, who could he turn to? Coopercraft is dead, taking Slaters with him. Parkside is with Peco, who have their hands full. Cambrian is intending to sell up and semi-retire in a few weeks. Who else is there?

Was there a return address? If so, then I find it highly unlikely that both address labels could have fallen off / been damaged to such an extent that the parcel couldn't have been delivered somewhere. Are RM under any obligation to open the parcel and see if there's an invoice inside?

It was also GWR practice to have larger coaling stages at the top of a slope, where the coal wagons would frequently need to be pinned down while they were unloaded. The solenoid-operated pin between the rails, bearing on a wagon's axle, is both simple and effective.

No, you're not missing anything. They have a link on their home page, but no kit listings at the moment. They're still in the process of transferring the moulds and getting their house in order.

I have little experience of building Slaters' kits, but have worked my way through a good fifty or more CC kits in my time. Yes they were groundbreaking when they were first issued, and the detail in the mouldings is still good by today's standards. But the opens lacked interior detail or full interior depth, and the vans represented relatively uncommon wagons. Many improvements - both aesthetic and functional - could be made, with varying degrees of difficulty, to produce models which would eventually satisfy even the most demanding of tastes. So they were good, but certainly not without their flaws. And now Coopercraft and Slaters 4mm are moribund. A great loss to the hobby. It seems that the time has come to draw a line under this episode of modelling history and to look to the future. Can we do without the kits we've lost? Or will there be a move to replace them in some form or another? If so, and assuming the old moulds are life expired, or otherwise unavailable, and development needs to start anew from square one, will the kits be whitemetal or resin, etchings, injection mouldings or 3D prints? What do people think should happen? What would you like to see happen? What do people think the market will support?

D&S 502 GWR o/s frame brake van just went for £51 on eBay. Sheesh...