HerbertHopkins

 

 

The principle of the kick-back sidings is quite simple. How they were done, using a Brilliant Baseboards' pack, was explained in BRM about four years ago. 

 

 

Believe it or not Tony, it was actually almost five years ago.

As I recall, we assembled those baseboards on a bitterly cold day in early February. Despite the fact that I had on a thermal vest, two sweatshirts, a woolly hat and a pair of tatty but very warm trainers, I was absolutely freezing! If you still have that article and look at the 'shows you how' sequence of photos you will notice that,as work progressed, my hands became bluer and bluer. Happy days!

Best wishes for 2015 to Mo and yourself.

Regards

Rob

Oh hard luck Rob, though presumably not many customers at that time on Boxing Day morning?  Are you likely to be coming up this way any time soon. I'll get some sprouts in.

It was almost deathly quiet and, believe it or not, yesterday was even quieter. I'm off to work soon, so we'll see what today brings.

Would love to pop up sometime in the new year, we'll have to arrange something. Mind you, knowing the effect that brussels have, perhaps getting some in might not be a good idea!

Take care,

Rob

I thought that to take your mind off why you ate and drank too much yesterday - who really does like brussels sprouts anyway

 

Very thoughtful Gilbert. Personally I couldn't over indulge yesterday as I had to start work at five o' clock this morning! 

As it happens, i actually quite like brussel sprouts.

Best wishes for 2015

Rob

The track work looks really good.

Gordon A

Bristol

I was just about to post a similar comment myself. The track looks hand built, did you make it yourself Richard? 

In between finishing off the carriages in my last post, I've amused myself by.....................Helping a mate build the frames for his first loco kit - a SE Finecast N5. His holiday work is to paint the chassis and install the wheels. After that, it'll be a few more sessions of help, but it's important he'll do most of it himself.

 

 

 

 

Looking good Tony, I quite fancy an N5 myself, maybe in the new year I'll have a word with Mr Ellis.

Incidentally, said mate is now the custodian of a train set we have, reluctantly, had to part company with due to space restrictions, At least it's gone to a good home.

Ian Kirk's comments are interesting. If those dratted Mailcoach coaches had had the pre-printed sides as planned it would have saved a hell of a lot of faffing about!

..

 

I was wrong! The fit of the roofs is awful. The last three hours have seen me finally sort out the fit. The tops of the ends are an entirely different profile to the internal profile of the roofs. The ends are too high at their apexes, and the roofs' internal end profile too flat. So, it's file away at the tops of the ends (and swear!), scrape away at the insides of the roofs at their ends (and swear even more!), only to find there are now gaps, requiring filling once the roofs are finally on. Not only that, the cantrail widths are different each side, so without longitudinal scraping (with the most profane outbursts!), the roofs' fit is offset. 

 

As alluded to by Larry, static ensures that every bit of scraped/filed-off plastic sticks to the surfaces. In hindsight, the lining and varnishing might have been better left until after the 'fight'. I hate plastic!

 

As for a commission, forget this triplet in my opinion. No matter how hard I've tried, the fit/finish is nowhere near as good as the Gresley conversions featured in the latest BRM Annual. Were I doing more of those conversions, I'd ask £175.00 for each one (ex parts), and I think customers would be satisfied. As for this SJ triplet, I'd 'ask' £200.00 per coach (ex the add on parts from MJT, etc. Ask is the wrong word really, because, as mentioned, I wouldn't touch it as a commission. At £650.00 (say) complete, none of my (ex) customers would be satisfied with it.

 

 

This brings back memories of an artic twin set I built for Gilbert (great northern) a few years ago. Quite understandably, no sensible professional builder would touch it so, as I had plenty of time on my hands at the time, I somehow got hoodwinked into building it. Like you, I had the devil's own job getting the roofs to fit, much filing, filling and foul language being used in the process!

My method of construction differed from yours in that I built the bodies as five sided boxes (two ends, two sides and the roof) which then slotted over the floor. IIRC, once I was as happy as I could be with the fit of the roofs, I filed off the cant rails and replaced them with microstrip. Also, I didn't paint them (sprayed with Halfords Ford Burgandy Red) until construction was completed. This involved what seemed like hours applying Maskol to the windows and then, later, more hours removing it all again!

Gilbert seemed quite pleased with the result and wanted me to build him another. However, my enforced idleness came to an end soon afterwards when I managed to find myself a job so, reluctantly, I had to refuse his kind offer!    

Tony,

There's an old saying 'If it looks right, it is right!'. Looking at the photos in post 2888 of the prototype and then the model, it looks pretty good to me. So, if you're happy with it, I'd be inclined to leave well alone if I were you. I agree that the post looks a little on the thin side, but that shouldn't be an insurmountable problem.

Compared to all that wire and post fencing that some idiot has agreed to install for you it should be a doddle! 

Regards

Rob

I'm feeling a bit left out here I have no-one here to question me when parcels arrive, or when I come home carrying a bag of goodies. Obviously I'm missing out on something. Should I go looking to fill this gap in my life experience? Or should I just go and get some more goodies instead?

I'd go out and buy more goodies if I were you Gilbert. You'll probably find that, in the long run, it's the cheaper option!

Nice to see you back in harness Gilbert. I know you've been busy with other matters recently but I, for one, have missed regular updates on PN. I was speaking to 600067 the other day who told me that you seemed very down at Dave's funeral. I hope you are feeling more like your old self now.

Get out on that golf course, it'll do you the world of good!

A new day, following, unsurprisingly, a very poor night's sleep, the loss of my dear friend weighing very heavily upon me. He'd be rather cross about that though, so this morning shall be a new start, and we shall celebrate his life and influence, rather than mourning his passing. I suddenly remembered a photo I have, and searched for it. And here is Dave Shakespeare, standing beside me as we observed others doing the work, on the very first day of the building of Peterborough North. He was with me form the start, before it in fact, as it was he who pointed out to me that my wild idea of knocking two rooms into one to house the dream layout wasn't so expensive or impractical as I had thought. So, folks, whenever in future you spend a few minutes looking at images on here, remember the guy who really started the whole thing.Dave S on new layout start day.jpg

 

Whenever I enter my railway room from now on, Dave will be with me, shaking his frugal Yorkshire head as I unwrap yet another loco I just couldn't resist, or just quietly there watching the trains go by. What could be better than that? Incidentally, that is a very rare image you have just seen, as it was almost unknown for Dave to be standing about watching other people work - oh no, it was always him getting on with it.

Very sorry to hear this Gilbert, I know you and Dave were great mates so i can imagine how you must be feeling right now. I only met Dave once, I've a feeling it might have been on the day that the photo was taken, and remember having a very pleasant afternoon talking about railways mainly, but generally putting the world to rights as well. He was very good company and a really nice bloke.

Unfortunately I never saw Tetley's Mills in the flesh although I think I've read every article Dave wrote. He was an inspirational modeller who had a rare, possibly unique, ability to model that almost impossible commodity - atmosphere! Dave's models had it in spades, I don't now how you model atmosphere, but Dave could do it, and could do it better than anyone. He will be greatly missed in this hobby.

My sincerest codolences to all who were close to him.  

Nothing unpredictable about Skeggy weather,it was bound to rain Cats & Dogs for at least two days out of the week if you were lucky,mind

Very true, but the unpredictability was that you were never sure which two days of the week would be wet!

It does indeed Rob. There were four trains to Skegness from KX on summer Saturdays in 1958, one of which did indeed have the, I think unofficial, title- Butlins Express. The name does not appear in the public timetable, but a headboard was carried.  I have a photo which shows that, but can't post it - copyright issues.

 

The candidates are:-

 

7.50 am ex KX . No catering cars, and next duty to Derby or Bulwell.

 

8.08 am. RMB in this one, return working 1215pm same day. Formed of 4.40pm FO Doncaster-KX.

 

1108am  No catering, return working 9.34am following Saturday.

 

1208pm. Sometimes spare on arrival at Skegness, so unlikely to be the one I think.

 

My money would be on the 8.08am, as it had catering facilities, albeit basic, arrived Skeggy at lunchtime, had a quick turn round, and got those poor sods who had just spent a freezing soggy and windswept week there back to London by teatime. Unless anyone out there knows different of course?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

I think my money would be on that one too Gilbert. Mind you, getting to Kings Cross at that time of the morning, after you've got the kids up, made sure that you've got everything with you that you're going to need for a week at the coast, and remembered to make sure that you've secured the house, left a key with a neighbour and whatever would be a bit of a challenge. I guess that was what people had to endure in those days in order to have a week of unpredictable weather at the seaside!

 

 I've resisted the temptation to add fake smoke because it always looks too contrived in my opinion.

 

 

 

Totally agree. There are many excellent photos on this thread of well built models running in a well modelled setting that is entirely convincing. However, realistic as they are, we all know we are looking at a model powered by electricity. Personally, I don 't think adding fake smoke adds anything to the illusion.

 

The return duty is shown as the 11.08 am SO KX - Skegness,

 

Was this the train that used to run specifically to take holidaymakers to Butlins? 'Butlins Express' I think it was called - I've got a photo of it somewhere but can't remember which book it's in!  If so, was the same rake used to take those people who had finished their week or two by the sea back home? If that was indeed the case, I imagine there must have been a SuO working the following day in order to get the coaches back to Grimsby ready for their regular weekday working.

It all gets very complicated!

Entirely plausible, but I infer this ghost-train would have arrived in the smoke late afternoon, so perhaps then formed an FO train back to Lincolnshire?

You could well be right. I believe Gilbert has a copy of the WTT for summer 1958, perhaps he can confirm if such a duty did indeed run on a Friday evening.

. This otherwise unremarkable train from Grimsby for some reason ran on to Kings Cross on Fridays, though not advertised as doing so in the public timetable. Can any of our ex railwaymen explain the thinking behind that? How many people are going to use a service which they do not know exists?

 

 

If this was during the summer, perhaps it was so that another set of carriages would be available at Kings Cross on Saturday for the holiday traffic. 

Sorry, I can't remember, but not me. It might be Rob Davey's work, or one I bought pre-weathered from a show.

Hi Tony,

I'm pretty certain that this is one 'straight out of the box'. I don't remember weathering it.

Rob

Other than a couple of pictures of Peterborough Crescent, I don't know much about it, and I doubt any of it was left before nationalisation. Does anyone have more information on it?

IIRC the station building remained in place for many years after the station closed. I may be wrong, but I believe it was only removed when Peterborough North (as was) was rebuilt and the tracks were realigned in the early seventies.

 

 

I know Tony took a fair bit of flak for that review (I also read the letters page in the months after it was published),

 

I remember this article well, IIRC Tony actually received a solicitors letter from the manufacturer who was obviously outraged by his comments. Like you, I thought Tony's review was fair and objective. Where he had criticisms, and there were several, he took the trouble to explain exactly what the problem was and what he did to overcome it. In the end he produced a pretty good model which shows what can be achieved if you have the skill and patience that Tony has. 

What might have been forgotten over the last 19 years (was it really that long ago?) is that, in addition to Tony's review, there was an additional piece by Steve Barnfield who had also built a Pro Scale V2 and who had also encountered many of the same problems. I've always thought that this shorter review was much more scathing than anything Tony wrote. Certainly, had I been the manufacturer, I would have been more upset by Mr Barnfield's comments than by those of Mr Wright!

 

Would you believe me if I said that I have just borrowed this loco so that I could pose it for a photo? No? Thought not.

There you are, I knew you wanted one really! I'm sure you agree though, it is a first class model.

Regards

Rob

 

 

While at Digitrains the other day, I was shown a Heljan original baby Deltic. I rather like them, useless though they were. And of course with the money I had "saved" by not having a sound decoder in the WD, I could afford it, couldn't I?  Temptation was courageously resisted though,..... for the time being at least. It's tea time.

Gilbert, I'm disappointed. You normally start posts like this with the words 'I couldn't resist....' as justification for buying something you don't really need. This show of restraint is most uncharacteristic and, I hope, only temporary!

Seriously, I've just acquired a Baby Deltic and it's a smashing little model. Go on, treat yourself, you know you want to.

Looks superb! I'm currently debating whether my ageing 1.1 Saxo would get me from near Blackpool to Barrow Hill! 

Go for it! I'm planning to travel to Barrow Hill from London in my ageing 1.3 Fiesta tomorrow.

Excellent modelling Tony, I'm really looking forward to seeing it with a coat of paint and maybe some subtle weathering. keep up the good work. 

Best wishes for Christmas and the new year Gilbert.

I don't post that much these days but regularly visit the thread to keep abreast of all the progress that has been made with the layout over the last twelve months or so. I also enjoy the informed and often humourous contributions from your 'regulars'. Hopefully this will continue into 2014 and beyond.

Take care

Rob

Lots of interesting comments regarding Thompson loco's, I think that there will be controversy about the man and his machines for as long as steam locomotives are discussed.

I remember, many years ago now, talking to a gentleman who had been a fireman at New England when Thompson Pacifics were first allocated there. He spoke highly of them, 'They were fast' I recall him saying 'God, were they fast!'. Of course it could have been that, compared with other engines that had become very run down during the war, they did indeed seem like something of a revelation. Later, as they themselves became run down, they probably became much less well regarded.  

Apart from his pacifics, and possibly the L1's, most of Thompson's engines adequately carried out the jobs they were designed for. B1's and K1's were well regarded and more O1's would probably been built had not vast quantities of WD's been available at knock down prices. 

With regard to the A1/1, I think Tony Wright summed it up admirably some years ago when he said it was better than the A10 it originally was but no better than the A3 it would have become had it not been selected for Thompson's controversial rebuild.

On a different subject, Congratulations Gilbert on reaching 200 pages and nearly 5,000 posts.

Regards

Rob