richard i

Buffers. It should be possible to place a layout without any trains being on it. The buffers were not letting me do this Don't get me wrong, they worked fine as a quick fix for the Wolverhampton show in 2013 but they are the standard peco product, good in its self but it is not GCR. The differences can be seen in the support width and the front and rear rails are cast as seperate items. The buffers fitted in place and then with stock posed with it. Iknow it is RTR, it will enter the works and be brought up to spec. Also found time to ballast another two feet, only another 12 feet to do. it is restful to do, however, i need to be in the mood to do it and i have to have a 2 hour stretch to do it. Something that is a rare occurance with kids. Richard

Yes when i lived in the Uk i too used Rural railways an enjoyed the rabbit from a hat way they can pull supplies from under the counter. Good to get confirmation of the brake gear. Thanks for the feedback

many thanks, it is amazing how having three small kids focusses the mind on intense hobbying as stress relief when you can get to it. Plus with little kids you go out less so counter intuatively you end up with more evening to model.

yes, it has some decent diagrams even if the longer stock needs to be mirror printed on the photocopier at work and then spliced together.

Thanks for the kind comment about the wagons, it is actually quite theraputic building them from scratch, though i did start doing it out of necessity. Also thanks for the heads up on the roxey products, they do appear useful. Richard

Ian I am sorry the most accurate reply i can give is: The brakes on this wagon are both at the same end, as they were originally built. Later in life they had levers at opposite ends, but then i would have had to find/ make different length brake levers. So i decided to build it in as built condition c1904 with the c1908 livery. The rule...if there is any... seems to be the earlier you go the more likely the brake levers are at the same end of the wagon, and this was changed/ retro fitted to alternate ends as time went on. As i mainly model up to 1923 i have both, after that alternate ends would be the norm. It is just zerendipidous that i have chosen to photograph the same side of the wagons.Sssssh: It must have been the better modeled of the two sides! i am afraid i can not give an exact date as i model from photos or line drawings and follow what i see or the advice with the line drawing for each specific wagon...Unless my dyslexcia has crept in and i have reversed things. ooops. Richard

here is a photo as it speaks a thousand words. - where do the chains fit? lying on floor, tied to the cart? Also note the ropes have come off. i am not sure if they need refitting as the bars would hold the wagon and phogtos of LNWR and CR ones do not have them but that is with a car. Ideas? Richard

Okay advice needed, the chains on the cross bars on the OCT, if there is a load, where do they go? Do they hang loose as shown on the drawing? Do they chain to the load or do they act on the steel bar maybe as a locking mechanism? Ideas please. Richard

And then the goods depot got its first bit of covering .(Second post of the day!) I went for cinders so it is darker than the dust of the lane, all scrapings from the home fire. the horses are tied awiating their return working quietly nibbling on the vegitation and the steam lorry is bring in another load to go out. Speaking of which i have a small crane, now some were floor mounted but most seem to be plinth mounted so i will build it a base. I was going to combine it with a ramp perhaps to give a place/ reason to drop off the OCT/ warflat. The only one i can find is a weak wooden affair at Calvert to drop off milk, which i might replicate if no solid brick or concreate examples were built by the GCR. Suggestions? Richard

More works progress photos first the lighting in the booking office, first fitted and then in place, it is most discreet.......and as long as i do not wire it in even Spider will be happy. Then the plane load for a weltrol. it is broken down as i think it might be for transport......waiting for the corrections.... the weltrol has yet to be built. it willbe built in much the same way as the flatrol. Lastly the gate for the factory, it covers up the sky edge on the backscene, the rest will be covered by a truck. It will be a 1919 Damiler which should be waiting for me in the UK. before after

more corrections for when it goes into the works. Still at least they will all get done at once. Now can i do a hitch that small? genuinely thank you for all the observations. i appreciate all constructive advice. Richard

Yes i have seen the bars and straps. the wagon will go back into the works and receive them, plus the 2X 5ft chains. The plant if my memory serves me right was a pontsettia(?) but i could be wildly off. Better to correct it to be right than to have it bug me because I know it is wrong. Richard

I will be running the full days timetable which means the early morning departures and late night coal runners. For authenticsity the lights in the room will have to be on dimmer and the sound recordings will include the hissing of gass in the lamps the yawn of the porter and the clank of milk churns. Thus the layout needs lights. And a pinch of salt. Or it is difficult to retro fit them so i have fitted them and will wire them in if i get everything else done and the urge takes me, if i dont then they do not detract from the interiors. Richard

thanks for the advice, i always strive to get it as accurate as possible. It will go back into the works to be improved. I never mind constructive advice, it is one of the main reasons to be on RMWeb. would be great to get sight of that article. many thanks Richard

A long time without a post because the computer went down. Here is a little of what has been accomplished. the OCT has been finished. the load placed on and strapped in as was suggested on here was the norm for wagon loads at the turn of the century. I hope i got it right. the chains have arrived to tie down the whippet tank from N Brass, dealing with them even from across the Atlantic was a simple system. next wire in the station building for light, a gate for the factory and the goundwork for the goods depot. All in hand. Richard

please make the 2mm buildings in 4mm especially the shops and barn, i have been crying out for decent kits of those for either end of my layout. Richard

Gordon, it should not be beyond you, it uses a r-t-r chassis and the parts just need cleaning up and details added. If you want to add etched components then they can be fitted after scraping away the moulded detail. I built one written up in BRM and there have been several other articles on how to do it. If you still think it is beyond you i could build one, but i live in the states so you would have to source all the components, there may be others in the UK whom you would find it easier to get bits to and from. Richard

Computer issues and a scratch build ensures slower progress. Here is the OCT in the raw. I like it like this as it shows hat has gone into it. ABS buffers at one end, scratch built ones at the other, Bachmann spare vac and air pipes, slaters plasticard, evergreen rod and strip, wizard models wire and spat and winkle couplings (to come), MJT w irons, Gibson wheels, my own castings for the axalboxes and springs, parkside dundas vaccum cylinder and brake Vees, cooper craft brake levers and handles. This all makes me thankful for my spares box and grateful for the small suppliers without whom this project would have been more difficult. Long may people go on supporting them.

Tony if you are struggling to get it dirty enough then i have an austerity you can borrow to see how to really weather. Just call out "flying turd" three times, kick you heals and it shall appear. I have liked the builds. Richard

I changed address and country and thus increased postage but lost VAT, all was worked out and funds exchanged for the difference once the maths had been sorted. I can not speak highly enough of the service offered by Sandra throughout the changing of the order. Richard

me too

I'm sorry we do not talk about this very sensitive subject as it brings back to many strong emotions from kettle fans. Some things in a family are just never talked about.

The boxes are internal to the tanks so would not make it look better or worse it just makes it run better. You could put in sheet metal instead. It helps balance better.

Please tell me that is the GCR B9?

my pictures which hopefully illustrate my points. Richard