Craigw

Count me in as well Chris. As any model I purchase would ultimately be converted to P4 I would be far happier with the appearance of a new chassis than the existing affair. Craig W

Living in Australia, I had all but given up on the range. However, a very generous friend in the UK has helped me out and purchased from shows for me. He does not appear to be able to mould under frames, but has plentiful stocks of most of the wagon bodies (I now have another 12 4 plank GWR opens) and he also seems to have etches but minus castings - also obtained etches for a Loriot D. That being said, I would not risk clicking the "add to cart" button myself. Regards, Craig W

Ok, the Minerva Pannier is playing on my mind rather badly. I am a 4mm scale modeller but this appeals for doing something small and well outside my usual modelling era. For those who have the loco, what are your opinions and how do you find the DCC operation and sound? Some assistance in persuading me one way or the other would be appreciated. Regards, Craig w

I just read the section Martin refers too and was amazed that I had missed it. Like many others, I had 'assumed" they were crimson and then brown. Just shows to go how wrong you can be, There is a nicely finished Lawrence W7 on Ebay that I was eying off and am glad to find that for my chosen 1923-1924 period it should be grey. Scratch that from the list. Regards, Craig w

I remember many years ago a review of the Lima King mentioning that the king had a skirt. I am reminded of that for some reason. The model really does look lovely and is a wonderful prototype, but I do find the wall beneath the boiler rather off putting. Craig W

I will put this up for something a little different from what has been mentioned. Port Waratah loco depot in NSW was one of two depots active at the very end of steam workings in New South Wales (Australia). This photo (from my collection) shows 5069 - a Beyer Peacock build of 1903 running tender first out of the yard on a "non air" working . The coal stage is in the background. Photo was taken in 1971-1972. The final working was hauled by 5069 on 22nd December 1972. Surely this is inspirational? regards, Craig W

MRJ have run two series on loco scratchbuilding - one in 4mm scale and one in 7mm scale. They even arranged for the supply of castings and wheel sets for both of these as well as providing a list of all other items required. Surely they could be considered as pretty comprehensive? Regards, Craig W

There is a roughly 3/4 view of 832 in locomotives Illustrated number 60 that was taken at the same time. The wagon (68037) has 25" lettering on the sides. It still does not narrow the date down much - the date given in number 60 is c1913. Regards, Craig W

"Hello Minerva?" "This is Miss Prism here" "i would like to offer my services for any secret projects you may or may not have in development" I can just imagine how well that would go. Seriously though, one of the bits about being involve in manufacturing is developing the knowledge of what you inrtend to model and making sure it is as accuarte if possible. All the items listed by Miss Prism are fairly easy to see and verify. They could have been picked up if a critical eye had been cast over the drawings. Before you ask, yes I have assisted manufacturers and also written articles and reviews. Craig W

John, Quite a few years ago I found that Nigel Bird would do a running subscription service and this is how I obtain MRJ and GWRJ. an excellent service for us overseas types. It also has the advantage that I get the magazine fairly quickly so I can understand what the arguments are about before the threads on here get locked. Regards, Craigw

Almost impossible? I live in Australia and have managed to obtain every issue. If I can manage then I reckon you perhaps need to try a little harder and redefine impossible. Nigel Bird will do subscriptions and there are many bookshops that stock it. As has been noted, the early issues had a different feel to them but the hobby has changed a great deal in thirty something years. MRJ is still a good read. MRJ, Narrow Gauge and Industrial modelling review and the Scalefour News top my model magazine list. Craig W.

I received an order of wagon and coach wheels last week - same lead time. Regards, Craig W

Even more than that, the 28XX and the Star tell the story of the Churchward revolution - the engineer who changed so much on the railways. two and 4 cylinder, passenger and freight. You could lose the Castle or the King because the 28 and Star are the important GWR locos - and nationally important at that. it is also worth remembering that the vast majority of surviving GWR steam is a result of the Barry aberration. The Star and 28xx are in still in railway condition. Regards, Craig w Craig w

I know, I really should order some 10 spoke ones to give things a little more substance. This is what I have go to at present, going to put a post up on my workbench on the S4 forum. Regards, Craig W

I received my three Toads from Hattons last Thursday. Very good service indeed. Initial thoughts are that it is a pretty good model. My period of interest is 1923 - 1924 so the model as it stand needs the step board brackets changed. I completed one side last night, along with fitting Ultrascale P4 wheels. Fitting the latter was interesting as rather a lot of material needed to be removed from the back of the W-irons. It is a case where fitting the Exactoscale wheels will need less filing though in either case the pin points will need to be taken down a little as the Hornby axle appears to be about 25.2 mm long and the axle holes are set for this. The brackets are 0.5mm brass, bent up to be 7mm long. This is from the Southwark Bridge AA3 instruction. Holes are drilled in the solebar and the wire is pushed in. I still have to do some metal work on the solebars to match up to the brackets. The buffers look a little anaemic to my eyes and will be replaced by ABS or Lanarkshire castings. Not sure what I will do with the body yet, though I thinks the end window arrangement is not right for the condition the earlier lots would have been in around 1923-1924. More to possibly follow. Regards, Craig W

MRJ could even become a monthly. Craig W

These are not Dean goods, so forgive the distraction (oh look.. a unicorn....) I thought I would put these up to round things out. they are the final two negatives that I won and they date from the same time. The lining can clearly be seen so i think it is fairly safe to assume that the Dean goods in the photographs are unlined. These would make lovely models too Mikkel, just sayin......

2455 was fitted with an S2 boiler in October 1904 and a B4in July 1908. 2358 was fitted with an S4 in February 1905 and a B4 in July 1908. 2538 was fitted with a B4 in January 1907. If the photos were all taken at the same time (I suspect they were) then they are from 1905 - 1906. Was bill Kenning active then? Regards, Craig W

These are the other two that I have. 2358 is one of the narrow footplate types and still has the Armstrong tender. 2537 is one of the later, wide footplate locos. Incidentally, the Finney instructions do a good job at explaining the differences in the various lots and also recommend working from a photograph. If you make a bad gaff with one of them you did not read the instructions properly! Regards, Craig PS: Thanks for the clean up on the scan. It was on my to do list for one day....

I have been following this with interest and amusement. I hope you like these photos Mikkel. From my collection, glass negative I won on Ebay. Regards, Craig W

The outside frame Dean Goods is actually closer to a Stella. The wheel base is different from a Dean. 7'9" + 8' on the 2361 vs 7'3"+ 8'3" on the Dean Goods. Regards, Craig W

I would not hold your breath for that - or any further kits. Peco have done nothing more than maintain the Ratio range and I think that is all they will do with Parkside. Good to see it in safe hands and still available though. Regards, Craigw

Well done on both Killarney and Calcutta. They both look superb. Great Western outside frame 4-4-0 locos, late 1920's condition and P4 to boot. They tick all the boxes for me! Regards, Craig W

I would second that. A friend collapsed his crank axle when fitting wheels! Regards, Craig W

The RTR models certainly are good. But if they are models of things that do not interest you what do you you do? Model something you do not really like? To me that seems a rather pointless approach to something that is meant to be a hobby. So, I build kits. Do I care if I do not get things finished before I go 6' under? Not in the least. I will enjoy the journey. Regards, Craig W