Spitfire2865

Markits Is still trading. Its just next to impossible to contact him. Im currently waiting on an order I placed.

Track plan?

Seriously, what the hell was that driver thinking? Maybe we should make level crossing safety the next big thing after texting and driving.

Of course it cant happen out of nowhere. I never said that. But pushing the idea out as impossible hurts the possible preservation of history. I would have figured they would have scanned the documents already rather than having a room filled with filing cabinets. So theres that, the required website is something they already have, the societies website, all they would need is page listing the documents held. Most societies with a website should already have a few emails set up, but yes, email answering would be the weak point, and they would need a few people to do that. Finally, money. Maybe a reason why to join the society would be for ease of access, maybe have a limit to the documents allowed for non members, and if you really cared about the information so much, you would either choose to donate or join. Yes its not a fool proof plan, but its a start. To deny possibility locks off any chance of improvement.

Yes. Societies do a great job, but theres no sense to locking the information in a safe and giving only members the key. If they could give a better reason to join the society other than view records, they could still have profit from members and have a public archive. Though I must say. The L&Y society was VERY helpful in finding information on a van. I got quite a few photos and drawings through a conversation with their photograph department. Though my location may have helped in my success, he was very friendly anyway. Maybe having a more in depth email service. So you cant just go online and view them, but you can email them for something specific. It would give feedback to the society directly about where interests lie, and where they should focus their efforts more in presenting to the public.

Well, sorry no trains. Still waiting for the wheels. But I have been working on that Sopwith Camel kit from MONTHS ago. Over spring break, I found the kit at home and I figured Id finish it. And from there, Ive done a lot of work in the past 2 days. I had left it fully painted but the top wing, interplane struts, and landing gear were yet to be glued. I gave the wings a new coat of cream as it was a little thin, touched up the green, and put it all together. Looking at it, it seemed very empty without the rigging. Not being afraid of a challenge, I have started to rig it this afternoon. After two failed attempts, I figured out a good process and now I have 5 pieces of thread attached. Next is the tail rigging and then I need to find decals. Ok. I realize this is a train forum but we dont all do only trains. Can anyone point me to some good aftermarket decals for 1/72nd RAF roundels? I cant seem to find any. I would need early large roundels with white borders and a small fuselage roundel with yellow border for my swordfish, which is now next in line for rigging. Well. Hopefully Ill be back to trains soon. Though I fear I may need to rebuild the chassis as it developed a slight wobble when I added the interior spacers. Wheels will tell me if just the (hornblocks)....GUARD IRONS bent a bit or if there is a more serious issue. Edit for stupid mistake mixing up hornblocks and guard irons.

Im sure it shouldnt be expected of someone somewhere a distance away, let alone stuck in the USA , to go to some museum to look at a couple things. The reason we ask questions here is because we Cant do it ourselves. Nothing bugs me more than when I ask a simple question and people refer me to some expensive out of print book or a museum piece and I just sit here wondering if "New York, USA" isnt clear enough under my picture.

Pickups bent or damaged?

Now are you totally sure an Emily is still under there? Or is this like how if you change the handle and head of a hammer its really now a new hammer.... This is absolutely stunning. You turned a relatively useless toy into a work of art any modeler would be proud to have built. And it all goes to show what is possible if you try hard enough, and can work magic with decals.

Filler is your friend. Though otherwise, looking good.

Oh hell, youre turning these out like a factory! I wish I could work that fast, and in plasticard. This looks very nice. but...what is it exactly? Id guess either tube or a large coal.

The 4 plank is finished. The letters are hand painted as I cant get pressfix around the strapping. Spring break next week so Im leaving this workbench for a week, but hopefully after that, Ill have some wheels and finally finish the Jinty chassis. What I still fail to understand is why kit building is so expensive. Theres the kit, then wheels, motor, gears, and then whatever bits you decide to add after. Also Im having the hardest time finding materials for pickups. Im surprised I cant find an online shop which stocks both plain PCB AND phosphor bronze wire... Surely kitbuilding is intended as an alternative to RTR offerings, especially prototypes which are already covered by the RTR market. Maybe its to do with the times. What we can now get out of a box used to require actual modeling skill to achieve. Oh well. Id rather spend my hard earned money on something I can work on rather than a new shiny choo choo train in a blue or red box. Even if it does turn out to be 2 or 3 times the cost...

Would it be possible to fix the brass to the boiler/body and then slide the whole thing over the motor and then secure it to the frame. May be a tight squeeze and will be a bit awkward fitting and removing it if need to arrises.

Well then. I decided what to put on the MR underframe. A 4 plank wagon. Built up with wood, plastic, and a new material for me, card. The card is from the backing paper if a Smiths 3 link packet. Corner brackets have a new technique for me to represent retaining nuts, bits of square plastic strip. Its Ok, not perfect but I need to refine my attempts. Too thick chunks. Though with paint, I think it will turn out nice.

Well then, out of complete boredom, I added support couplings to my Furness van. Pretty sure the prototype wouldnt have carried them, but its half freelance already with the fudged dimensions and brake gear.

Some better photos of the final loco would be very nice. Even if its not a perfect representation of Trojan, its still A lovely little industrial.

Well then. Yesterday I bit the bullet and made up the coupling rods. I saw no way I could screw them up by the way they were designed, though Id like to soon get wheels to test it all and see if it does roll smoothly with rods in place. Rods were sweated together on a rather lovely winter morning, amd gave no issue at all. With them together, They look rather nice, except for where the front and rear rods meet, the etch overlay could have been a bit longer to better meet at the middle. Easier seen in the next two photos. Well, they fit on the chassis nicely, they dont seem tight at all on the jigs, but the real test comes with wheels in place. Note to future self, dont buy kits without first getting wheels.

Ive never heard of y hangers before. Though its a nice modification on the kit. Properly dirty wagons. You struggle with Cambrian underframes? I find their wooden solebar ones are fairly simple if youre careful and check it at each step, but I will never build another of their steel underframes. Managed to get my first and only level after riping it apart twice.

Wow. So lately being stalled on the Jinty due to lack of wheels, Ive been working on the Slaters 5 plank. Figured Id give it a bright colour, I went for a Cherry red. Though I still dont have a livery. I know not all PO stock was coal, so would any non coal company have any use for an open wagon? Would like a more goods oriented idea. And a bit of work on the Jinty. brake gear! The brakes were soldered up with a bit of 'encouragement' in the form of swears and sweat. And the brake hanger brackets were folded up. Need the wheels for the next bit. Still putting off making up the coupling rods. Need to brace it better so I dont end up with wonky ones. Though, there is no way for me to screw the distances up.

Ive already made up the chassis and the axles seem extremely free running after adding the middle frame spacers and getting room for the gearbox. The coupling rods still on the etch fit nicely over the ends of the jigs. I just dont know how to solder them. But in the future, Ill definately get those out of the way first. Can you give me any tips for sweating parts together? Thats more what I meant by tips.