Zippyrascal

Would anyone know if S-Kits is still trading? I'm looking for contact details as I'd like to buy a few wagon kits off him, namely the JXA Yeoman bogie aggregate wagon. Thanks David

I have attached a photograph of a Queen Mary Brake Van taken at Dover Town Yard in the late 1980's. Being green, brown colour blind I have a question in relation to the livery. To me the photo looks like the livery is bauxite brown with yellow ends. However, I understand that these interesting vehicles also appeared in DCE olive green which is very similar in colour and is difficult, almost impossible, for me to distinguish. The vehicle looks like it's attached to a Cargowagon flat, would anyone have any information what the requirements were for brake vans during this period and in this location, I assume it's because of dangerous goods being conveyed in the train? Incidentally, my profile picture is of a very similar vehicle only this time taken at one of the BR open days at Aylesbury in the mid 1980's. The proud looking railwayman is my late farther, Frank Hewer, who at the time was a train crew supervisor at Aylesbury. He was doing what he loved the most, playing trains!! As always any advice or help greatly appreciated. David

Thank you for all the advice. The photographs on Brian Daniels Flickr site are extremely useful, thank you!!

Hi, Does anyone have any information or contacts please where I can find good quality 4mm (1:76 scale) British Army vehicles suitable for MOD trains in the late 1980's early 1990's, ideally suitable for trains representing the build up of equipment for the first Gulf war in 1991? I have attached a list of vehicles and equipment which are applicable: Tanks FV4030/4 Challenger MBT (Main Battle Tank) FV4003 Centurion Mk.5 AVRE 165 (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) Armoured vehicles FV101 Scorpion CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) FV102 Striker CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) FV103 Spartan CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) FV104 Samaritan CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) Ambulance FV107 Scimitar CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) FV432 Trojan APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) FV432 Trojan APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) Ambulance FV510 Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle MCV-80 (Mechanised Combat Vehicle) Ferret Armoured Car Self-propelled artillery/mortars/rockets FV432(M) Trojan SPMC (Self-Propelled Mortar Carrier) M109 155 mm SPH (Self-Propelled Howitzer) M109A2 M110 8 inch SPH (Self-Propelled Howitzer) M110A2 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) Anti-aircraft Rapier Field Standard B1(M) Stationary SAM (Surface-To-Air Missile) Launcher Rapier Field Standard B2 Stationary SAM (Surface-To-Air Missile) Launcher Tracked Rapier TR1 Mobile SAM (Surface-To-Air Missile) Launcher Javelin LML (Lightweight Multiple Launcher) SAM (Surface-To-Air Missile) Launcher Artillery and Mortars L118 105 mm Light Gun 51 mm Light Mortar L16A1 81 mm Mortar Engineering and recovery vehicles FV4205 Chieftain AVLB (Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge) FV180 CET (Combat Engineer Tractor) FV106 CVR(T) Samson ARV (Armoured Recovery Vehicle) FV434 ARV (Armoured Recovery Vehicle) FV512 Warrior MCRV (Mechanised Combat Repair Vehicle) FV513 Warrior MRV® (Mechanised Recovery Vehicle (Repair)) CHARRV (Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle) Command vehicles FV105 Sultan CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) Other vehicles Land Rover Defender Leyland 4×4 4-Tonne Lorry Bedford 4×4 8-Tonne Lorry Mercedes Unimog Support Vehicle FV620 Stalwart Amphibious Truck Harley Davidson MT530E Scammell Commander (TK/TPTR) Tank Transporter Scammell Crusader (AVLB) Bridge Transporter Scammell S26 Self Loading Dump Truck Armstrong 500 Leyland DROPs (Demountable Rack Off Pickup System)

Hi Temeraire, A lovely little layout from the best period without question. Always nice to see a 50 at the head of a MK2 rake!! I've been looking at your military vehicles with interest as I'm modelling some MOD traffic myself. Would you mind telling me where you got the UN lorry carried on the Warwell from please? All the best David

Thank you!!

Would anyone know where I might be able to obtain accurate drawings for BR period rolling stock please? In particular I'm looking for drawings of the following vehicle types: BR MK1 RKB (diagram 25) Air brakes wagons TOPS code: BHA BGA PWA RM74 Plasser & Theurer ballast cleaner Any help greatly appreciated David

I've been converting as batch of standard GUV's into the NLX/NPX corridor variant of the vehicle so I have a bit of experience in the subject. The short answer is yes they can. There are two screws at either end of the body shell which you'll need to remove first and then it's just a case of gentle running your finger nail carefully under the side of the body as the windows have a fixing to secure the body to the chassis. All the best David

Much appreciated thanks Jason!! All the best David

Comet Models produce some nice etched brass sides for the MK1 RKB (diagram 25). They are already pre-folded so there's no need to roll them. I bought the sides from Wizard Models at Warley last year so they should still be available. www.wizardmodels.ltd I'm going to fit the sides to a Bachmann MK1 and then plan to use parts from various kit manufacturers including Southern Pride to finish the coach. I hope this helps David

Hi, Does anyone know if this website is still active and the drawings are still available please? I placed an order a few weeks ago and haven't heard anything, the contact details for the phone number don't seem to be correct as the number doesn't connect, does anyone have an alternative please? www.pdhdrawings.com Thanks David

Hi Ben, I'm pretty certain that it was in Rail Express magazine a few months ago that I read you would consider a 4mm scale version of the IZA Cargowagon twin if there was sufficient demand. I may be wrong but could you confirm either way please? I'm certain that if the finished wagons are as good as the samples in this months Rail Express then they will be a huge sucsuss in either scale. All the best David

I had heard a rumour that Revolution may also produce the IZA in 4mm. Let's hope it's more than a rumour!!

As somebody who's interested in AC electrics the next few months promises to be extremely exciting with the forthcoming 4mm releases of the class 87 and 90. It's the former which I would like to ask other modellers opinions of as I've been studying the photo's on Hornby's website for a few weeks now of the class 87 and to me something doesn't look quite right with the cab fronts. Obviously this is only personal opinion and I'm happy to be corrected but as someone who spent many years working with the prototypes when they were employed on the principle express passenger work on the WCML I would like to think that I'm not just having a senior moment. The cab front directly under the windscreen should be flat and if i'm not mistaken the Hornby adaptation looks to have a gentle curvature. Having not seen the test models in person I hope this is something which can still be corrected and/or isn't noticeable on the actual model as it would be a great shame (especially for Hornby) after waiting for all this time for a new high specification model of these fabulous loco's if they don't live up to expectations. I would be interested to hear others modellers thoughts???

Hi, I'm looking for the Hurst Models etched MK2 kit to convert an air-con MK2 into the High Speed Track Recording Coach, with the post 1989 window configuration. If you have one which is surplus to requirements please send me a PM and we can go from there!! All the best David

Some time ago I stumbled across this interesting photo of an engineering train at Stratford with a lowmac wagon (ZRW DB904135) in the consists. As I am no expert in these vehicles I was wondering if anyone could tell me what variation of the lowmac this is and importantly if there is one similar available in 4mm either as a RTR model or as a kit? All the best David

If anyone has an A1 Models etched 57ft Observation Saloon kit surplus to requirements I would be interested in buying it. I want to model a specific saloon which can't be done using the Bachmann model without modifications to the body whereas the A1 kit has the correct window and door pattern. Please get in touch if you have one for sale All the best David

Hi Shed. Thanks for your reply. I thought perhaps it was a kit, albeit a very similar model to the Bachmann saloon, not that I profess to being any sort of expert in the subject. I found a lovely photo of 999504 whilst still under BR ownership in InterCity livery and really fancy building one for my layout. I once had a ride around Kent in the NSE inspection saloon whilst working for Eurostar, motive power for the day was 33103 and in truth I spent more time in the loco cab than in the saloon. There is a rather nice kit available of the NSE saloon 975025 produced by MARC models www.marcmodels.co.uk Whilst on the subject of Eurostar, I tipped off an old boss of mine who's also an avid railway modeller as to your layout and thread on RM Web as he worked at Stewarts Lane for many years before joining Eurostar. I'm sure he'll enjoy looking through your photo's as i'm sure it will bring back many happy memories. All the best David

Thanks Bomag, most useful!! I've found one picture so far in NSE but i'll keep hunting, these things always seem to turn up when you least expect them too!! Thank you!!

Hi Shed, Please can you tell me if this is a Bachmann saloon with the first door re-positioned to represent the correct configuration for 999504 or is it a kit built model? Thanks David

I've been looking with interest at the PH Designs etched brass overlays to convert two MK1 SK's into translator (barrier) vehicles for some time. However, as nice as they look in 'Arlington Fleet Services' green livery, they are of little use in this condition to somebody who models the late British Rail period towards the end of 1980's and early 1990's. So far my research hasn't managed to uncover any really good photographs of these vehicles during their working lives under BR and considering that the conversions were carried out between 1979 and 1980 I'm surprised how few decent photographs their are on the internet or in any of the books i have in my library. Any help,discussion or especially photographs (particularly blue and grey or Network South East) about these interesting vehicles would be greatly appreciated.......

That's useful, thanks John. I thought he would have posted on his website that he'd ceased trading. I guess i'll just have to see if i get a belated reply.

Good evening, I have recently been trying without any luck to contact Andrew (Hurst Models) re some of his detailing parts which are now showing out of stock on his website. I've sent a couple of emails over the past few weeks but haven't had a response. Does anyone know if he is still trading only it's unusual for him not to respond within a few days of contacting him, especially given that I want to make an order for quite a few of his excellent modern image accessories? Thanks David