Peppercorn

A microstep onwards....footplate No. 2 which does fit... For the time being I'll put the chassis - which does at least work - to one side as I'd like to make a start on the bodywork

Thanks, both - your comments are much appreciated...pva about to be loaded into a paint kettle....

Good afternoon, I'm in the process of replacing my MDF boards with 12mm ply in my loft, which is a modern, but uninsulated area. Is it necessary to seal the panels and if so, with what - will PVA do the job? Thanks in advance for any answers Cliff

"Set me free -I am not a number..."

I was a bit too close to this locomotive so have ended up with an image whose perspective is somewhat distorted. Nene Valley a couple of days ago. As for 'Tornado', this is the best I could get - barely a portrait, more like the hope of a portrait taken fro inside the workshop

86243 at, I think, Lancaster. Date unknown, but I think I went there in the autumn of '83. Photo is pretty ropey unfotunately

J1, J2 and J6 footplate I have a little tank on the go and it is slowly progressing. I do have a long term project, though, and that is to build an LNER 0-6-0 types J1, J2 and J6. As LNER and GNR enthusiasts will know, these locomotives had the Ivatt and Gresley footplate whose centre section was raised to clear the coupling rods. I never saw any in real life, but have seen some fine 3mm examples of the J6 together with the Frank Dyer 00 version described many years ago (MRC November 1962!) and a later version built by Peter (I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten the builder's name - and it does look like an excellent model) and John Evans as described in Railway Modeller 1968. These locomotives look good to my eye but, of course, have the complication - for scratchbuilders - of accurately making that raised section with their gentle curves at front and rear. I thought that I would circumvent this potential problem - or challenge, if you like - by purchasing an etched kit, so this is what I did, buying an ACE Products J1 that ACE reduced to 4 from their 7mm kit. I wish I hadn't. I thought that the kit would either have the footplate ready-formed (there's an optimist somewhere inside me...) or that there would be a suitable former on which to make the bends or that at least, there'd be good instructions leading me. The kit is bereft of any of these although there are instructions, but these just say "...now add the valances to the footplate after bending carefully to the correct profile..." which is about as unhelpful as it could be. I have accordingly been giving the matter some thought and have the idea of a making a jig of some sort using a pair of rods of suitable diameter (about 7 mm diameter) and manipulating the curves. However, I wondered if anyone else here has already done this and has a better idea, for I'd be grateful for a steer on this, and thanks for reading this rather long message. CliffH

Interesting what you can see under a railway bridge. Photo taken under the railway bridge at Ploen (should be spelled Plon with am umlaut above the o, but I don't how) just up from the station

Yes, they are - Thanks, Michnich

Good afternoon, Quite a long time ago someone posted an article on here about modifying old Hornby cast driving wheels, which he turned and made them quite presentable. I'd like to look again at the article, but can't find it, and was wondering if someone with a better memory than me could point me to it, please? CliffH

Class 218 just pulling away from Ploen (sorry, German speakers, I don't know how to produce the Umlaut) a couple of weeks ago with an evening train. I didn't realise until I looked at the photo that the leading vehicle was an electric loco.

Well, two different methods for me to try! Your's first, Bernard. I hadn't realised, Killybegs just how delicate C & L construction is. My only previous experience was years ago - early eighties - when I build a point using the Brook-Smith method with ply sleepers and metal studs to which the rails were soldered , in the method laid down by the then P4 Society. I still have this point and it's quite sturdy.

Dear all, my apologies for asking such a basic question. I've just destroyed a C & L point that I'd made. I didn't mean to, but what happened was this: I'd made the point on a C & L template and had stuck down the sleepers using double-sided tape - I'd understood that this was the 'standard' or normal way of doing it. All went well until I removed it from the tape, in order to transfer to the embryo layout. What happened is that, in removing the sleepers for which I used a very thin artists' palette knife, I ended up with curved sleepers for the tape was much stronger than I thought and clung onto the sleepers like - or better than - the proverbial. Has anyone a better or alternative method as I'd really like to build some pints that I can use? Regards, CliffH

I've made my initial watercolour sketch of the above scene, thought some might like to see it. CliffH

Thanks, Grahame, they're smashing photos. Erm, what's the diesel electric? CliffH

Thank you all so much for your response to my query, it is all very helpful indeed. You have answered even my unasked questions, clever lot that you are! Heartfelt thanks, CliffH

Yes, and the subsequent shot are just the ticket: got more?

Good afternoon, I thought that, for the sake of speed and convenience, I'd use this range of track for my fiddle yard. My design includes a pair of the curved points. I've asked Peco what the two radii are of these points, but dealing with Peco is like drawing teeth and they don't seem to be able to address the question. So, how about RMWeb? I thought: does anyone know? As a supplementary, is any modification necessary to them for DCC ? Thanks in anticipation, CliffH

That's great - your knowledge and helpfulness astound me - thank you all very much. Shortlands certainly looks the part, Southernman: I must gird my loins for a visit. The photographer of the ME cover looks to have been quite close to the lines, and perhaps he was in a back garden. I see from the ME index, stovepipe, that it was one R C Riley, so, no mean photgrapher. Again, my thanks CliffH

Good afternoon, I attach a copy of the front cover of the March 1980 'Model Engineer' (No. 3632) and would like to make a painting of it: does anyone know where the photo was taken? Clearly Southern Region, electrified area, and is the first carriage a re-clad SECR coach? I'd like to visit and take some photos. Thanks in anticipation, Cliff

Dodgy shot from carriage window of Sante Fe No. 159 which is, I think, an EMD GP 60. Photo taken last October on trip from San Diego to Los Angeles. Cliff

A cylinder and a bit of Walschaert's gear

I've always liked the standards, this one at Keighley on Sunday of the late May bank holiday, when rain threatened, and it was my middle grandsons's first trip to see a steamer. His response wasn't exactly overwhelming, though. I think that that it didn't measure up to the real engines as portrayed by Rev'd Awdry. Still hopefully, there'll be other occasions...

"....And will you, Beryl, take unto you Butch as your lawful wedded husband......"

Wow!