Caley Jim

I fix my chimneys and domes by first tinning both the boiler where they have to go and their undersides with normal solder. I then add further generous tinning of lowmelt solder (or some scrap white metal) to the undersides. The fitting is then positioned on the boiler/smokebox and the soldering iron, set to 300°, applied to the skirt until I see the lowmelt start to appear at the sides. You have to then hold it there for a few seconds to let things cool down. Jim

Many stations on the the Strathmore line have been mentioned in articles in 'The True Line' (Journal of the Caledonian Railway Association), including some of the branches. TTL is available from the Association as a CD. There was also an extensive article by Tony Brenchly on the Blairgowrie branch, of which he is building a model, in British Railway Journal No.41 (spring 1992). Jim

That would appear to be the general rule for 6-wheel stock. Presumably because the centre wheels had some degree of sideplay, so difficult to fit brakes that wouldn't foul the flanges on curves. Jim

Both Lanark and Brechin (to name but two CR termini) had the centre road as a loco release road with a tandem turnout at the buffer end, controlled by a ground frame . Brechin: https://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/view/action/singleViewer.do?dvs=1588429303162~11&locale=en_GB&VIEWER_URL=/view/action/singleViewer.do?&DELIVERY_RULE_ID=10&search_terms=brechin station&adjacency=N&application=DIGITOOL-3&frameId=1&usePid1=true&usePid2=true And Lanark: Jim

Second and third items down on this page are what you want. https://eileensemporium.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=category&task=listing&cid=1354&name=eclipse-brand-tools&Itemid=189 Need any advice on using it, PM me. Harburn don't seem to do tools, at least not on their website, nor do Wonderland in Lothian Road. Jim

Ask Adolf, he'll find a use for them! Jim

On option 2, are you sure that the worm is not lower than the railhead? It looks awfully close to me. I remember at one of the 2MM SA AGM's one of the entries for the Groves Trophy (for the best loco) lurched every time it went over a turnout because the gear on the driven axle was slightly bigger than the wheels! The builder hadn't thought of that and didn't have a turnout on his est track! On separating from brass sprues, I would have thought that a fine piercing saw blade would do the job OK. Jim

I'd say you've over-dosed on the MEK and the Mek Pac! Jim

Love the 'flow' through that formation, Chris, but then that's what you get with Templot! Jim

The bottle I bought was 100ml and it's still more then half full. Mind you, I haven't done an awful lot of plastic modelling since then, but it doesn't disappear before your eyes in the way one solvent I had did if you left the lid off for more than a few seconds! Jim

I bought mine from Wizard Models at Model Rail a couple of years ago, but it doesn't show up on their website, nor does it appear on Squires' or Eileen's. It may be one of those things that they are not allowed to sell by mail order. Jim

The 10 x 20 thou strip I used for the strap of wood tying the top of my sleeper fencing was Evergreen (as was the 60 x 40 for the 'sleepers') and I had no problem using DL-Limonene for that. I do find with it that it helps to apply it to both surfaces and then wait a few seconds before pressing the parts together. In the case of my fencing I applied it to the joint and then pressed the 10 thou firmly down onto the 60 x 40 sleeper after 20 seconds or so. There was absolutely no suggestion of the 10 thou 'dissolving'. See the first picture in the latest post on my Kirkallanmuir topic. Jim

I had to trace it through my 1910 Bradshaws reprint. It was attached to the 10:00 am 'Corridor', arr Carlisle 12:18 pm; Crewe 4:07 pm; Shrewsbury 5:45 pm; arr Bristol 10:47, so 12h 47min. Jim

Izzy, what solvent were you using with the 5-thou strip? I, and many others, now use DL-Limonene which is much less aggressive than other solvents and, as a bonus, has much less pungent smell. Jim

There was a through coach ran daily between Glasgow and Bristol, similarly shared between the GWR and the CR, each supply a vehicle with the same balance in the working.. The CR coach was lettered 'Glasgow and Bristol via The Severn Tunnel'. The route was Glasgow-Crewe-Shrewsbury-Bristol. Jim

I had been debating for some time as to what to do about both the fence between the road and the railway beyond the livestock landing and that at the end of the landing. While the board was in my study I came to the decision to make both as sleeper fences. Accordingly a slot was cut along the line of both fences and that at the end of the landing can be seen at the bottom of the first photo of the signal box above, in line with the buffer stop. This let me create a profile of the ground so that the fence could be made to follow it. Both sections were made with 'posts' at intervals which reach down to the baseboard and so keep the fence at the correct height. these can be seen in this photo of the long section ready to be painted. The bottom edge of the card is baseboard level and the card at the top has the ground profile and was used to align the tops of the sleepers. 30 x 30 thou styrene along the bottom gives it some rigidity during construction and is buried in the 'ground'. I learned early on that is wise to paint the edges of the 60x40 strip from which the sleepers are cut before assembly as it is difficult to get in between them to paint there afterwards. the vertical lines help to ensure that the sleepers are kept vertical to the horizontal and not the line of the ground. Here the two fences are bedded in by pressing them into some DAS slurry run into the slots and the wall on the other side of the road has been made from DAS putty. This was taken with flash, so the colours are a bit 'off'. A closer shot after the verge along the wall had been 'grassed'. This was done by dribbling lines of PVA onto a tile and covering them with static grass from an applicator. Once the PVA had dried the excess grass was gently brushed off and the strips cut down the centre so that they could be peeled off with a straight edge. Bits of these strips were then glued in place with the straight edges against the wall. Small blobs of PVA were then dabbed on in places and small clumps of foam off foliage net pushed onto them to simulate weeds etc. This final shot shows the board back in situ with the slot cut in the adjacent board for the length of fence up to the bridge. Jim

First class as always Mike. You've earned that ale! Cleaning out cupboards is a bad idea IMHO. You can never find anything afterwards! Jim

Ah! So it's a drone loco! Jim (windae picked)

If that was on a lorry the police would have him for a dangerous load!! Jim

Naughty driver! Didn't whistle when he started back in reverse, nor when he started to go forward again at the end! Jim

No experience with 'distressing' transfers, but I would think thin washes of paint, of a similar colour to the body, might be the most flexible way to do it. Use acrylic and have a separate brush without paint on it to wash off immediately if you're not happy with the result. Using acrylic means that subsequent washes will not affect those already on, provided they've had a wee while to dry. That way you can build up the effect gradually and area by area. Just my 2d worth. Jim

I trust that there were no emergency repairs required to your good self? Jim

Glad to see I'm not the only one who hits the key next to the one intended without noticing the error! Jim

Well, if the Caledonian managed to get away with appropriating the Royal Arms of Scotland without incurring the wrath of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, it's worth a try!! Jim Edit to add that they did replace the motto 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit' (wha daur meddle wi' me) with 'Caledonian Railway Company'

It's not even that! Jim