wainwright1

Are the sides moulded in clear plastic. The ends on the brake coaches appear to be, which has caused a problem with light leakage as the paint appears to be quite thin. I am currently awaiting some LBS&CR coaches with lights, so have not been able to check this for myself yet. Ray

Quite right Pete. As you know, some of the converted ones also got sent to the Isle of Wight and gave good service there. They were primarily ex LC & DR coaches. There were also sets of unconverted 6 wheelers which were kept as stock for Summer excursions and hop pickers, which would also be low priority for re-painting and probably just varnished. These were stored in such places as Blackheath and Crystal Palace High Level for much of the year. A lot of ex SER 6 wheeled stock was recycled by cutting and shutting to form bogie stock for early EMU stock in the 1920s. So not a lot of them remained to be sold off for bungalows or garden sheds and to be potentially preserved at a later date. Are you getting any snow on the Isle of Wight ? All the best Ray

For clarity lets look at the livery details with specific reference to SE & CR 4 wheeled and 6 wheeled coaches. The point of reference is SE & CR Carriages by Phil Coutanche, with permission of Lightmoor Press. I have also spoken to some fellow members of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Society to confirm details. The SE & CR existed as a joint management committee from 1899 to 1923, a total of around 24 years. To summarise: The original liveries of the two constituent companies would have continued for a period - Varnished teak for the LC & DR and deep crimson lake for the SER. After 1899 some coaches were finished with stained and grained upper halves and crimson lake on the lower half. I am advised that there are no known pictures so presumably a relative few. From 1901 all coaches painted deep crimson. This would have become uniform across the whole fleet for up to 10 years or more, covering 4 wheeled, 6 wheeled and bogie coaches. I have been told that this was basically a continuation of the SER Crimson. (As used by Bachmann). From 1910 it was noted that some coaches were appearing in a lighter shade than previously used. This would probably be restricted to new and front line stock in particular the 60ft stock as produced by Bachmann. Older coaches especially 4 wheelers which were getting on for 40 years old and mostly heading for scrapping, would not likely be repainted, but more probably re-varnished. (Which would in effect make the colour go even darker). In 1914 the Great War started and there would have been cut-backs in materials including paint and reductions in manpower to apply it. So the application of varnish may have become more the norm to maintain the finish on the coaches when possible. During 1916 they started painting coaches in a dark umber without lining which continued up until the grouping in 1923. (As used by Bachmann). I would therefore that assert that the following would be the appropriate for models: Deep Crimson Lighter Crimson Dark Umber 4 wheeled coaches All Unlikely Unlikely 6 wheeled coaches All Very few, if any All Bogie coaches All New and frontline All So to finalise: Yes the SE & CR did use two shades of crimson paint, but I would definitely say that the lighter livery used for a very few years, which Hattons have chosen and shown on their preproduction models is incorrect for four wheeled and probably six wheeled coaches. Maybe its not too late to correct it ? I am advised by a member that the Bluebell Railway Coach Department painted their coaches to match original Dark Crimson paint samples found on their coach bodies, and it is quite possible that the Lighter Crimson colour that the K&ESR have applied is inappropriate for those particular coaches. Interestingly, there is however scope for Bachmann to do another run of their 60ft stock in the lighter shade of crimson if they are interested. Ray

Is it pull along or sit on ? Sorry, I thought I would inject a little humour. All the best Ray

Three cheers !!! Ray

Hi LBSC123. There is/was a sailing barge museum down at Kemsley on Milton Creek, fairly close to the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Steam Railway. Visited it quite a few years ago. They did have a couple of barges under restoration and a small museum building with some very interesting displays on the barges and other local industries including especially brick making, with strong links to the area in London where I live. Definitely worth a visit if it is still going. All then best Ray

Kushty ! Right up my street, well almost. Ray

Available in Sainsburys. Ray

Even Oxford have slowed down particularly on the bus front, not much due in the near future. Though they do have potential for more new liveries on existing castings/mouldings. So lets hope that they are just having a temporary breather. Mind you, Corgi Original Omnibus (part of Hornby), has just about dried up, unless you want Boris Buses. It is interesting that a lot of their old tooling was used to produce models for Atlas Editions, although apparently to a lower painting specification. Ray

Aah yes. The colour that Hattons should paint their SE & CR 4/6 wheelers ! Ray

Very true. I am surprised that they have not opted to produce a few new models of the many types that are available after they took over the assets of EFE, both buses and commercial vehicles. Then there is also the Scenics range of cars and commercials which they have done absolutely nothing with. There must be some potential there, if only for a trickle of new models to keep enthusiasts interested. Ray

It is all in the hands of Bachmann. Ray

Looks more like badly moulded with the plastic not flowed into the mould properly. All the best Ray

Four months later and still no sign of these vans. I have two on order. Any chance of an update ? Many thanks Ray

Hi Philip. I assume that the 4mm railway items have gone to another new owner ? All the best Ray

Don't forget Mike King for drawings of anything Southern, he has a mass of drawings. All the best Ray

Found the leaflet. The delivery date makes laughable reading.

They proposed four models the routes for which were going to be nominated by collectors. (It is a post war bus). As I recall, early red with cream window surrounds, green with cream window surrounds, plain red and plain green. I did have their launch leaflet, but don't know what I did with it. A few more details I found, but no release date on https://www.timetunnelmodels.com/live/catalog/order-40304-cravens-london-transport-livery-p-64119.html Ray

What announcement ? Ray

I have an old Pyrex glass rolling pin that I use for shaping roofs and it works well. Not sure if they still make them. Mind you a wooden one would work as well, but you do not want too large a diameter. Ray

Thanks for that info. Ray

Nothing this quarter then ? I was hoping for some 02's. Ray

If you have a word with Danny Pinnock he may still be able to do you some of the 6 wheel kits, but he was running low on the castings and no longer has the moulds for them as they went to ABS. Ray

You know more than I would. That does not look too bad. What is it based on ? And why so many vents on the roof ? The sample would make for a good grounded body with a bit of sag in places. Should be plenty of advice on here, so keep practicing. Ray