richard i

When ours conked out I replaced it with a push along mower. No engine to go wrong, and no noise, plus exercise. A good choice though my wife thought I was barmy. She now admits it cuts the grass better. In fairness we have a postage stamp to cut. I doubt it is a solution for those who have bigger gardens. richard

Did the gauge measure the wheels or the track spacing? Either could be an issue. Or plastic burrs caught in between the rail and the check rail.

Thank you. I have the book so will look into it, though red or ruddy brown through a window unlit might be difficult to tell apart. this stirs up the water a bit. If there was a change I wonder if it came about when Robinson took over. richard

Slowly moving forward. I decided to cut windows from a single sheet. That after putting in the compartments on the wrong side of the carriage. There was me thinking I had been so meticulous with it. I must delve into colours. Seats blue first red third ( I think) corridors dark wood and inside the compartments the same, but Manxman has me thinking I need to check the white upper panels. Just on firsts? one down in a week six to go. So done by the end of may? richard

Thanks for the numbers. I have the exact figures for each part of the compartment and they are within a smidge of what you are quoting. The derailing was for different reasons. A back to back had slipped/ bogie not quite squared. One was catching on the brake cylinder and one on the underframe/ solebars. I think they are all addresses now. richard

This has given me an idea. I was going to cut out the windows but you seem to be doing it by using different pieces to make the down struts around the windows. no interiors yet in mine, but glazing here for their portraits. richard

It is such a good feeling when lose track of time modeling, it shows how much you have been drawn in. For me that means I have switched off from work properly, which does not happen often. richard

It s all the little observations like the road on a gradient, the buildings at different heights which make it feel more realistic. richard

I got the chance to take the carriages for a road test. I spent the time trying to tweak them to improve running so did not take out a camera. Three ran fine, the others needed more serious adjustments which I have looked to do. I have started on the interiors which look like a confusing set of lines. these are the floors with marks for where the internal walls go. here is hoping it all works out. Not looking forward to cutting out all the compartment windows. Flash backs to the Barnums. richard

These look well thought out. Better in the planning stage than later finding out it does not quite work. richard

We had consultants come in and insisted on giving feedback to the management in front of the whole staff. “So everyone was on the same page” we grumbled about being made to go to the meeting beforehand. Was one of the best 2 1/2 hours of my life. It was great to watch. richard

Really impressive shop frontages. Turned 2mm wine bottles, now I have heard it all. richard

Two levels could work but need a 6 ft diameter helix which takes a lot of space why not 2 unconnected layers with one for smaller stock. The other a roundy roundy for the later stock. just an idea. richard

Some show and tell for the modelers on here. I know I don’t post work as often as some. My modeling moves forward at a slightly glacial pace. It is not BR era, nor is it ECML and it is not GWR which you might think at first glance. It is a GCR Parker luggage composite in livery for 1904-10. It is one of five for that livery of which two are at this stage. 5 others are almost at this stage in the previous French grey and brown livery. They have white roofs at present so are holding back from showing their faces. these still need the solar painting finished with the brown and gold panel. I am looking to make a transfer for that. Then I need to make an interior for each carriage. i have set the plan at having 7 rakes of carriages rather than the 40 plus of the likes of Grantham as I only have one lifetime and all have to be built.

Red wine almost looks black so that might be the way to go. richard

It promises to not fog up but be stronger than other glue and dry clear so if some gets on the visible window it is unseen. I thought it worth a try. I will check tonight to see if it is worth keeping on going with. richard

Window trial. Using this glue. Trial stick is by the end of the words. Certainly sticks, is not as clear as they suggest. It needs pressure for that. Just use the glue on the unsighted overlap. It did not fog. it does need two hours to dry. That should not be a problem to leave and return to with 7 to glaze. should at least mean no windows fall out in a year or two time. richard

Development phase. have tried to print gold lined brown panels from drawing in paint. It does not like telling you all the dimensions. So I have numbered and measured the prints to know which to keep and hopefully copy. 14 needed. the colour is a bit off as it an old cartridge so that bothers me less. They were the right length according to the numbers but then I had to print in A4. It will be further complicated as I think the transfer paper is 8’ x11’ as it is from the USA. I also need to see if the printer will print it flat or only take from the tray below. If not...plan C (?) richard

1. Did these chimneys and domes carry on through LNER days into the 1930s on some locos? chimney and dome were big to start and then got changed for a smaller flowerpot chimney before getting a smaller version of the original chimney shape. It depends on your year and number chosen. 2. What sort of tender have I got? The green book talks about 3,250 and 4,000 gallon tenders but I can’t see any difference in the photos. would need to measure for which, but it is not an ex ROD tender, nor has it a water fill scoop. Difficult to tell if it has coal rails plated over on the outside or built from start with plate sides. 3. Did any carry two pot uncovered safety valves? Less likely they were being switched to Ross pop from end of gcr time. Again depends on date and number. 4. Are there other issues to catch out the less GCR aware modeller? Missing the handle to go behind the wheel on the smokebox door. I will look for others, but I think as others have said it looks more scratchbuilt. Dimensions of cab etc. just seem a smidge off. Wish I could be more help. richard

Yes lner did have full stops on the very early paint jobs in 1923. the back head would be black but the cab inside might have to be gcr cab cream as sold by precision paints. Cream inside the roof and the top half of the sides. The 3d printed carriages look great. As Andy says, a gcr 6 wheel set would be great ( in 4mm as well) hattons are just too generic. richard

I do too and to a ‘phone must be my job richard

They look great. You have some interiors. I have yet to get round to those. Some simple ideas for a good way to do the corridor connectors. thanks for showing them. Richard

I will try this if that is my route. I am also thinking of looking at drawing it on the computer and then printing. Can guarantee straight lines then! I have the decal paper. richard

Playing around with the lining for the solebars. on here are many tries with 0.5mm pens. Lots of lines on the cardboard. However most are not visible on the black and brown paint. Those that are just do not have the right hue. the brass is possibly for the bowpen, but never got it to work so far and the brass paint comes out too inconsistent in colour. I might have to wait till shops open and get the mix of buff and yellow to do a proper job. still need to work out how to make the bowpen do what I want in the mean time. richard

What about usa designers. The Pennsylvanian k4 was some of the inspiration for Gresley’s a1 pacific. Others went over too for ideas. Robinson for example is one. The USA had locos of any size long before the uk got round to them. richard