Loconuts

We are all assuming that the Swanage Railway are just going to store is under a tarpaulin, they would be idiots to do that. To get that loco steaming again would be a big crowd draw in a tourist area. It will be well looked after and made the 'Star' of the line. People seem to forget that they have the M7 there. As to the politics of why this has happened we will never know, however putting out for loan would condemn the loco. I know of one NRM loco that has been on loan to the GWS at Didcot for a number of years. This loco needs a new boiler but the NRM will not pay for it. That loco is the Wantage Tramway 'Shannon' (Jane) which held the distinction of being the oldest working steam loco in the country. On my last visit to Didcot a year ago it was not even on display but stuffed in a shed. As to rotting coaches, this is a problem for a lot of preserved lines getting the volunteers to work on them. Everyone wants to work on the locos not the coaches so it takes longer to get a coach refurbished than a loco. The only coach that I know that was restored quickly was the GWR Steam Railmotor. However the coach body sat around from the 1970's with no work being done on it. Loconuts

Well it looks as though someone is going to do one.

Sorry Chaz, I was quoting a quick e-mail I had received from my friend in Canada a while ago. I did not read it correctly and he did put in the link that Don quoted in his post. As to a drawing, I might have one but will have to dig the book out if I remember where it is. John

Will all models come with a DVD showing how to remove it from the box?

Incidentally (and off topic) that's not the way I do removable signals. My plug in bases are not much bigger than the foot of the post. Sadly US ng lines had no signals that I can include on the FVRR. ​Not quite true Chaz, if you look at photos of the depot buildings you should see what looks like a double arm signal mounted on the building. This is a form of signal called a 'Train Order Board' and acted like a starter signal. Grandt Line make a moulding of this item if you want to include one. However you are right about no signals on the Narrow Gauge or on many of the SG lines, trains were worked on Train Orders. ​As for covering your tree base how about a fallen branch or even a stack of sawn logs, just some suggestions. ​John

Y You are talking to someone who use to live in Yorkshire!!!!!!! Loconuts

Hear hear that that man, far better to return it to its stomping ground where it will allow much interest rather being stuck away in the North East. As a local resident of Dorset I look forward to its arrival and I would be happy to help get it steaming again, it will look a treat running in the Purbeck Hills rather than the grime of the North East. Loconuts

Hi Chaz Can I suggest that you put a large circular base on the tree and then bury it in a recess. The same trick that is used on removable signals. This will allow the modeling of the roots and blend them into some ground cover. John

I think we are getting the wrong end of the stick over Martin's comments over Tony Wrights efforts, the point he was making that both he and Tony are aiming at the same thing. A dream project with the clock ticking against you of your time on this mortal coil. Nothing to do with gauge wars. I am following this thinking myself working on my last project and with a narrow vision of only that project. No side line projects, however tempting they are. I also know that the editor of this issue is following this way of thinking. Maybe a few more would do well to look at this rather than sitting around waiting for the next box to arrive from China. It does not have to be a big project, even small projects can provide years of entertainment as your modeling skills improve. Loconuts.

I did not know he had sound fitted locos. Loconuts

ARRIVED TODAY, all I can say is another cracking issue Grommet. Loconuts

It would be no good if it does not fit in the loading gauge so size is important.

Waitrose? yee gods you are posh. Morrison's for me.

I think the evidence is in front of your nose. Bearing in mind this is a new venture for Heljan it is obvious they would want to cover all bases over these models and the 009 market is not as big as the 00 and 0 market. I personally believe that these locos are going to prove popular like the Hornby Pecket, even at the higher price. No matter what caused the price change we the consumer have two choices, purchase them at the higher price or not purchase them, the choice is yours. But if I was a betting man I think the former will happen with the models selling out in days. Loconuts

​I did not suggest that Heljan has put the price up, however it looks as though they have slashed their discounts to the retailers. Loconuts

Is anyone surprised the price has risen, not me as it was on the cards for months. Why? Brexit, the value of the pound falling, rising production costs in China and the rise in oil prices. Added to that we also have the situation being forecast about wages not keeping up with inflation. Cardboard modeling here we come. Some manufacturers are starting to cancel projects others are putting their prices up in line with their costs. RTR is never going to be cheap again, prices are going to continue in an upward spiral. Oh I forgot, in 2 years time we could be paying import tariffs on Heljan products Sorry to be the voice of doom and gloom but at least the sun has come out down here in the south. Loconuts This has been the discussion across many sites on the RMWeb for a couple of years

It is not just a man thing, women do it as well but bigger and better. My wife has lost the car and she once lost our eldest son, forgot she had him with her and returned back home without him. Luckily he was safe and well parked in his pram at the local supermarket. Loconuts

There was no intention in sounding combative in my post, too many people are taking crap photos on their i'phones and publishing them and thereby not doing the subject justice. Madder Valley is a early layout that came into being long before RTR and is a inspiration to anyone and Andy's photos do that (superb photos). As to whether you have to live near Pendon to help out is also a myth, although I was fortunate to live up the road in Abingdon at the time they had many members who lived a lot further away. I believe I am right in saying many of the figures used on the Pendon scene were produced by an artist who lived in California. Guy Williams lived in Bristol and he was a regular visitor, pre M4 days, arriving in his mini, not an easy journey. If you want to learn how to do real modeling and not rely on the latest imports from China then join Pendon, they are a friendly crowd and are only too willing to pass on their knowledge. Loconuts

Did you get permission to publish these pictures from Pendon? Also if your trip to Pendon inspired you, did you join Pendon and offer to help out. It is well worth joining as you will meet the modelers that built these models. I joined in 1972/74 and met such as Guy Williams who passed on advice on Loco building and it was through his help and advice I went on to build 7mm scale locos. Also I was privileged to spend time with Roye England, visiting him on a Wednesday evening every week watching him work and picking up lots of tips on the technics he used to achieve those results you see on the buildings. Many of todays well known modelers started out by being involved with this project and going on to be involved with the MRJ. I started there running Dartmoor on either Saturday or Sunday afternoon and went on getting involved in the modeling. What stopped me continuing, it was all down to a new wife and a house to do up. 'Oh' happy days. Loconuts

"How to get lynched at a Model Railway Show" is the title of this topic, however I think it should the Exhibition organisers that should be lynched. I visited a general Model Railway Show this weekend and my first impression on entering the show was that I had walked into a well known Model Shop in Liverpool, everything was straight out of the box, layouts being clones of each other, no care by the exhibitors to put on a good show. I experianced a diesel loco where the sound decoder had defaulted to factory settings and was emitting steam sounds and none of the operators had noticed. A 57xx pannier tank which was sound fitted which did not sound like a 57xx, as a matter of fact it sounded more like someone dragging a file across some tin plate. It was also emitting 3 beats per revolution and I am sure they only had 2 cylinders. Also there were the usual crop of exhibitors sat talking to their mates behind their layouts and nothing moving. Trade stands selling the same old boxes with very few specialist traders, I went there to get some scenic materials for my layout but I walked away without spending a thing apart from my entrance fee and also the snacks were not bad. The only layouts that broke the mould were the narrow gauge ones and very nice they were. Does this qualify me for a lynching? Loconuts

Japanese knotweed?

The photo of the water tank in post 962 is a model of the Baker tank and is a lot larger than the one Jeff showed. Baker tank still survives on the Baker hiking trail in Colorado (plenty of photos on Google). John

Hi Chaz Which one have you got? I have a model of the Baker tower (C&S) which is being used as a temporary one. One day I shall get round to building a correct D&RGW version. John

Looking good Chaz, but you will have to get on the water tank treadmill as well or your locos will go thirsty. Have you left room for one? They are fairly large structures usually mounted alongside the mainline. John

Don't be silly, the weather is bad. Damian is lucky to have a pub to visit. We have 3 pubs in the village and two are shut for re-furb. Guess we will have to cook our own Sunday dinner. Loconuts