Craigw

I just had a look at the cab front etches on my Mitchell 43XX kit. They measure at a little over 5mm for the early cab and a little over 4mm for the later version of the cab. This follows with the 3" difference that I think was noted earlier. The earlier Dapol body measure around 5mm which suggests it has a roof profile that is similar to the early locos (not the later it is meant to be ) and thus that would mean the early Dapol loco possibly measure close to 6mm at the cab centreline which would make it too tall. If anybody else feels like looking at this or can check via a GA this might be the reason the roofline does not look quite right. Regards, Craig W

Nile, Does the tender still have the C1925 heavy springs or have they retooled to include the earlier (correct) spring? Regards, Craig W

She did the same when I was looking at "The combat History of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung654" too. I think she wants my attention! Regards, Craig

Earlier in the GWR rolling stock sub forum there was an enquiry about Saints running with 4000 Gallon tenders. I pulled out a book to have a bit of a look. Not long after, the "help" arrived. Regards, Craig W

Building the Pro Scale Saint was the catalyst for Martin Finney producing kits according to an MRJ interview he did. I guess we have something to thank them for. I have a Westward kits straight frame Lady but even that is a bit agricultural too! Craig W

I take my lunch to work with me every single day. I either make some sandwiches or eat leftovers plus plenty of fruit, nuts and the like. The prices of food in our local cafes near work make me gag and the times I have had it I have found it to be pretty ordinary. When we go on road trips we take snacks with us. If we stop for food it is somewhere decent to have a nice meal. I earn a good salary and could afford to buy lunch every day but frankly, I do not like wasting money. Everyone has a different priority or perspective. I do spend a bit on my hobby but that is on parts and kits. RTR mostly passes me by. I cannot say I feel any sense of doom or gloom but I have always tended to do my own thing anyway. Craig w

I acquired a second hand High Level Kits Armstrong - Whitworth diesel late last year and started work on it over Christmas. Guinevere was keeping a close eye on things while I was working. Regards, Craig W

Fox will do plates to commission if needed. I had them do Durban (City class) and Mendip (Duke class) for me a few years ago. Regards, Craig W

I was giving Gwenny a hand with the feeding straight away. I had a set of scales and weighed the kittens each morning and afternoon and put the lightest ones on first to feed. It worked out pretty well. When the kittens were about a week old she carried them all over and put them at my feet and lay there. I thought something did not look right and decided to take her to the vet. We found out that she had a twisted bowel and was operated on immediately. The operation cost our rescue a little over $3500 AUD and it was fully covered by donations to help her. That is the thing with doing rescue work. You see the worst of people and you see the very best. Regards, Craig W

Madras on the scrap line at Swindon in 1937. I know the loco should be my object of interest, but you lot would think the same as me. I am particularly taken by the variation in colour of the planks on the end wagon. Another Ebay negative win. Regards, Craig W

I picked this negative up on Ebay a couple of weeks ago. I hope @Compound2632 finds it of interest. Taken in 1946. Please do not share on other groups without my permission. Regards, Craig W

Two years ago, today I decided to visit the Campbelltown Animal Care Facility. I am with a rescue group (Hills Cat Rescue) and have a very good relationship with the pound staff. I asked my wife if she wanted to join me. Ordinarily she declines my invitations but this day she accepted. We went into the cattery and Joe saw a beautiful Black and white girl with two kittens. "We can take her " she said! Then we walked further around and there was a very, very pregnant cat in a cubicle. Joe walked over and said hello to her. I think you can work out the rest. As we left she said... "never ask me to come here again" The girl with the two kittens was named Venus whilst our beach ball became Guinevere. Two days later Guinevere gave birth to 9 kittens. A few days after that she had a twisted bowel and nearly died. Joe and I wound up feeing 9 kittens and thankfully all survived. Venus and Guinevere are both living with us. The truth is that I adore the pair of them and we are there furever home. So, happy gotcha day to Guinevere and Venus. Regards, Craig W

I had a supervisor while I was doing some modelling last night. Regards, Craigw

Frankly, i would rather that they concentrate on the minefield of pre-grouping opens and vans that stretches ahead. Regards, Craig W

I talked with Roger Slade before he passed away about the River class. He did produce his own kit for it but it was only for him and some friends at the time. He had someone in Denmark (I think) who was doing the artwork for the Armstrong, Beyer and one other OF loco. That person passed away and I do not know if the artwork even went to CSP. I have the Peter K kit and it looks to be interesting. I am quite sure the CSP one will be the Roger Slade one though. By the way, I learned to not tell Roger I was a P4 modeller ! Regards, Craig W

The obvious GWR loco missing in RTR form is this. I do believe this would be very popular too. The photo is from a negative in my stash. Craig W

Lean manufacturing is about the elimination of waste and errors. The issues we are seeing with models are errors and any company following lean (or Six Sigma) would be working to eliminate those errors. Craig W

Mark, I think you are mistaken here. While it is not used on a heritage line. NSW has the only VR steam power running on the correct gauge :) Regards, Craig W

6039 is at Dorrigo and 6042 is at Forbes marooned at the site of the old Lachlan Vintage Village. 5069 and 3028 were operational at one time and were used on the first train to run on the line before the infighting erupted. They have a superb collection of goods stock and coaching stock too. Craig W

Mine like to sit on books, especially the one I am trying to read.

The answer is obvious, a medium Metro tank!!

There were 5 there plus another couple elsewhere. In total 16 cats, a dog and two snakes. The dog and snakes belong(ed) to my daughter but stayed when she left home. I am sure that is a familiar scenario! Regards, Craig W

Welcome to my madness.

A while back I converted a Hornby Toad to P4 by the “simple” (Ha!) expedient of fitting P4 wheels. It rolled like a brick and I have never been happy with it. I resolved to take more drastic action with the second one and I rebuilt the underframe and fitted Bill Bedford W-Irons. Things are much better this time. I was doing some work on it last night until the help arrived. This is Gino who was a stray kitten at my work until I nabbed him.

I am one who will not be buying the D1666. My period of interest is 1919-1922 and I try to stick to that. I grabbed several of the Rapido SECR wagons as they fit nicely in that era. I will not be buying any of GWR vans simply because I have built 6 of the Parkside vans and 10 of the opens so I do not need more. I have purchased a few of the Minks and the 4 plankers because I wanted to see how they look and it means I can lay off more of the 4 plank wagons for a while. While I appreciate the D1666 is a no brainer to do, for me a later MR open or an LNWR open would have been a better option and one I would have purchased. The last few comments on buying really does show what an esoteric bunch we are! Regards, Craig W