NCB

Page 217 of Russell's GW locos vol 2 has the official pic of 7800 when first turned out. He also recounts the scene at Banbury, where he was based, when 7800 first took over the P2P. Both pic and drawing show a tender with the long coal rails. From my extremely shallow knowledge of GWR tenders, the shallowness I've only lately come to appreciate, I would guess it's a Collett 3500 gallon. Others would know better than I. P.S. Is there a comprehensive description of GWR tenders and how they varied over the years anywhere?

My memories of the early 70s was that it was Anthony Barber's (Chancellor under Heath) mad go-for-growth policy which kicked off inflation, big time. Up until late 1970 I'd be working in fixed-term software development jobs, but then ended up in permament post at Aberystwyth uni, on a lecturer-equivalent wage, which at the time was quite decent. I had in mind buying a house, but spent too long dwelling on it. Within a couple of years they had shot through the roof, and beyond my means.Then there was post 3-day week inflation. Finally ended up buying in 1981. The idea around today that our generation had it lucky is nonsense. It depended a bit on where you lived, but for a lot like me it took quite a few years of hard graft to buy a house (and then had the pain of paying for the mortgage!). Spent very, very little on modelling in those years (didn't have the space in my accomodation anyway). After 1981 gradually got back into it, and after a dabble in various scales homed in on 3mm/ft.

As a Hornby Dublo owner in 1959, I looked with envy at the Triang offerings. Despite Dublo's quality Triang had some attractive stuff. The L1 caught my eye, and the 3F. However, I was locked into Dublo and there was no way I could change. So the Dublo grew very slowly, as pocket money was in very short supply. I did acquire the Triang girder bridge and sloping piers. Hornby really was very badly run. Market Research was non-existant. It took them a while to realise that if they produced models with different numbers or liveries they would sell more.

All the coach plans I have so far are from the NRM OPC collection. Hadn't really thought about HMRS, although most of my loco drawings come from there. Must take a look; sometime in 2019 I want to make a start on coaches (3mm/ft scale); I have a few D&S bogie coach kits, but need more. Thanks for the pointer. Merry Christmas to all and may all your sidings fill up. Nigel

Never tried one, heard mixed reports about them. Similar to reports about K's. I found K's doable and with more experience than I had at the time I'd find them a doddle. It's a pity that such things aren't widely available these days, although Finecast are bringing back a number of the kits which ended up under the Nu-cast banner. Overall K's were more complete that I believe MTK were.

Just come across some useful Bachmann slate loads which could be used in TT3 wagons. See: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/120556-stacking-slates-in-2-plank-wagons/&do=findComment&comment=3398980 Might be useful if you're looking for stuff to stick in your opens. Nigel

Having been dwelling for some time on the subject of slates as wagon loads, and how to make. Then, I came across Bachmann's slate loads, intended for their OO9 narrow gauge slate wagons. Very convincing they look; they come in packs of 4 for around £5, as here: The 4 fit very neatly into my 3mm/ft scale scratch-built Cambrian Railways 2-plank drop-side wagon: They can of course be used in other open wagons. The slates measure 6mm x 3mm, 24" x 12" in 3mm/ft, which is OK for the large standard size of slates. They would of course be fine in 4mm/ft scale, although you'd need more than 4 in a typical open wagon. One thing less to ponder! Nigel P.S. I seem to remember a discussion on slates somewhere other than this thread, but I can't find out where!

The fish (sorry about the cattle) van is ex-GCR; see half way down https://www.lner.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5276 3SMR do it; kit F519. Pretty sure this is ex Jidenco. Nigel

I use the 3mm Society's Methfix transfers some of the time; these were produced by PC Models, who later handed their transfer business over to HMRS. In general they're quite usable. However, both Methfix and Pressfix transfers involve the paint being transferred from the backing onto the model, which can give problems especially with fine detail. Waterslide transfers such as those produced by Fox involve the backing and paint being transferred together onto the model, which is less prone to problems, although the backing film can be visible unless you're careful. Waterslide transfers can reproduce finer details better than the other methods. I reckon waterslide are more consistent and generally higher quality. With all transfers it does of course depend on the quality of manufacture; I've heard grumbles about HMRS ones but have no first hand experience.

I am also one of those working on producing waterslide transfers for the 3mm Society, in the project whart57 referred to above; in my case I produced a sheet of decals covering Cambrian Railways wagons for the period 1900-1915. I'm currently starting to think about lettering for Cambrian Railways locomotives and coaches, also lining for the locomotives. The quality we've had from Wessex Transfers so far in printing white-only transfers is impressive, and I'm sure the much more complicated colour transfers can be produced OK. However, I've just noticed that the Wessex web-site has a banner across it saying "We are closed until further notice". I hope that Rob & family are OK. I think this has appeared within the last couple of weeks or so. Was wondering if anybody has any idea what the state of things is? Nigel

Yep, in my youth the family investment in OO started with the Dublo LMS 0-6-2T, two wagons (open and van) and brake van. Circle of track plus, I think, a couple of straights. Controller. Can't remember if the transformer was in the box or separate. My brother had that. Was never really interested and I eventually managed to take it over. That was the one and only train set; after that I could get a locomotive as a combined Xmas and birthday present, or the odd coach or wagon, or a bit of track. Hope to get it out again over Xmas to see what's there.

The two vans are Parkside; there's a kit for 9' underframe and one for a 10' underframe. Each kit will do a fitted or unfitted van or a fruit van; the fruit van is the one with roof vents. The brake van is Cambrian Models. Not sure about the cattle truck.

Mike, Kevin, thanks. I might just still have the RM one. Might even have a Constructor but less likely. It was getting hold of Alchin's book on Highland locos which spurred my interest in them; it was rare in those days to have a book aimed at the modeller which included plans of virtually all a company's locos. Tatlow did an excellent job of revamping it and bringing it up to date.

Ah, student cars! In 1965 6 of us clubbed together and bought a 13 year old Mk 1 Ford Consul for £25. The insurance cost £60 3rd party fire & theft (we were students...). It was dangerous, but the MOT had only just come in and the garage who sold it to us guaranteed that they would pass it. Enough of that...! There were quite a lot of pre-war MGs still around but the MOT snuffed them out. I remember that Highland layout. It caught my eye and left me with dreams of such a layout, so much so that I've gathered quite a lot of Highland info since, starting with first Alchin's then Tatlows book of Highland locomotives. If only I wasn't so committed to the GWR and Cambrian... Can you remember which RM it was? I might still have it somewhere. I used to use the pin method to short out Jackson tender wheels. On my 2-railed Castle I use the American system, picking up on one side of the tender.

Looking forwards to seeing it. Nigel

I have the Heljan Teignmouth station, unbuilt. Others have used it in TT; in my view it's too big.

Nice! With flanged centre wheels, how does it do on curves? Nigel

Class 158 heading south from Tonfanau, just approaching the Dysynni bridge north of Tywyn. Late afternoon, about the only bit of sun I could find, everywhere else under cloud, cold and dreary.

Height of doors is a useful way of working out the scale of a building. Those which the general public passes through seem to be in the range 6'6" - 7'6". Some railway buildings, e.g. signal boxes, sometimes seem to have something a bit smaller, e.g. 6'. I have a signal box drawing in which the doors are about 5'6", which I reckon is pushing it. I've heard that Bachmann OO buildings are about right for 4mm/ft, but Hornby ones are often a bit smaller. I bought a Metcalfe Brunel wayside station in both 4mm and 2mm, wondering if one would do for 3mm, but they seem to be right for those scales.

I used Superquick stone paper and thought it was great. The papers of that era were produced by talented artists. Also the kits like Bilteezi. Mike Corp of the 3mm Society does wonders with Bilteezi kits, as on his latest layout Heybridge Wharf: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMEGwfQqqzWDCnOan8Oe6i-LbBKJvPo5-fuSU9TKkSUQ1jz3rOQGJKJdFLkvZSWIA?key=cG9RcXJNTG5SYnB5LVhFdlQ4cy1SZ3dRMTZIV3F3

Think Marthwaite was an excellent example of how it's the consistency of the overall thing which matters. All the individual bits were built to the same sort of standard. The Settle & Carlisle style of buildings were all built using Faller embossed stone building card, maybe not exactly prototypical but near enough. It inspired me enough to build my own S&C goods shed. Nigel

Me neither. Nigel

Think the Bec kit was a Bec kit. Reasonable amount of detail, looks far better than the Eames kit. 3SMR now offer an upgraded version of the Bec kit; haven't seen it in the flesh but looks OK in pics. Nigel

Bob Essery recounted that when the LMS Society was formed they decided they needed a layout to publicise things, and that the only suitable one around was Marthwaite. So some members travelled north to take a look and were shocked to find it wasn't ballasted and the signals didn't work. David Jenkinson was not amused by the comments! I'd have liked to have seen Lydney; it had the atmosphere of a proper railway. Alan Smith currently has a very nice 3mm/ft LNER layout called Everingham: https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/members-layouts/everingham Nigel

I used to use half-round wire instead of split pins, a standard trick in the "old days". These days it's usually possible to find decent handrail knobs.