Ben Alder

Looks good! What did you use for the slates?

Thanks all - did a general Google about all this but never thought to prefix it with RMweb....I am now in the throes of hacking one about as the LNER wagon, and after a suggestion on one of the links, cut down the top plank, which makes a big difference. Cupboard doors added as well. If I don't get distracted I'll post up the results.

Yes, the Clan one.

Can someone refresh my memory of the prototype for this venerable model, please. I am sure I knew at one time but a search didn't produce any tangible results.

5' 8" in this case...... I have thoughts, and bits assembled, for a 5'3" version but my attentions have been diverted elsewhere for the time being. again, awaiting finishing, but it has done its running trials successfully.

My almost finished take on a Class Five pacific with smaller drivers.

I have drawings of Plockton station that Pop Up used for their kit. I can send you a copy if you want.

I've had similar results with AP varnish as well, so am currently using Winsor and Newton matt spray which does the job.

This was an email from him last week. Try the new number. 07795 499 405 Phone MODELMASTER 13.30-15.30 Monday - Friday 07795 499 405 Currently, if you wish to contact MODELMASTER UK, you have two choices. You can send an email to our webmail address, or you can 'phone 01292 289770, our Crown Street Office Landline Number. Neither is satisfactory for different reasons. If you email Modelmaster, it can take a long time to read, understand and reply to the points raised. Then, in SIXTY % of replies sent, another email comes back in reply raising other points - therefore one email inquiry CAN take up to an hour to deal with, whereas a 'phone call can be dealt with in less than five minutes in many cases - but that's only if Elspeth or I are there to receive the calls, and that's what this new number 07795 499 405 is designed to radically improve! Landlines like 01292 289770 are tied to Answering Machines if the recipient can't answer the 'phone, and although our answering machine is an expensive machine capable of answering and reecording a lot of calls, a few lengthy messages can soon fill the machine, the machine can't take any more messages, and complaints go flying to Social Media, RM Webb, and anybody else that listens. It's not good for you, and it's not good for Modelmaster! THE SOLUTION - is that a mobile phone dedicated to YOUR questions, YOUR concerns and YOUR orders even, will go live on Wednesday 3rd January 2022 to accept YOUR calls between 13.30 and 15,30 every weekday. If for any reason I cant answer your call at that time, just hang up, don't leave a message - in fact, don't even leave your name!, and I'll phone you back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Because I'm working the rest of the day and quite often can't talk on a phone while I'm spray painting models or nameplates for instance, I'll reply to these calls as and when I can no later than 8pm I WANT your business, but most of all I WANT you to be happy enough with us to come back and to recommend us to others. There have been a lot of delays this year (2021 I mean) because of shortages, lockdowns and Brexit, but 2022 I'm sure will be a better year for us all, which is why I'm investing in new products and new product ranges for 2022, including a flat out effort to get the long awaited Locomotive kits into production. Best regards to you all for a Happy and Prosperous New Year. The 30% Discount will come off sometine in the next two or three days, I've run out of time to do it just now!

The MRJ also reviewed this controller when it came out - I'll dig it out at the beginning of the week. I also have the manuals that came with it if anyone wants a copy.

Thanks - only came across the switch just before I posted the query last night and didn't re read the topic, which is making my head reel a bit... as up to now I have tended to lay Peco as they come with their motors and switches, so never bothered much with all this. For decades I have had absolutely minimal problems with this but the current batch - done ten years ago - have provided a series of hiccups that I am working through as and when the annoyance factor raises it to the top of the to be done pile. Think I'll stick with the microswitches if I get one that works reliably - found some more with a longer arm that the motors wouldn't throw in the box as well - but I now have other options as well. Much appreciated, all.

Thanks - I have recently done a Mk 11 version of these using a mix of Radial, 6'drivers and a further bashed T9 superstructure and SEF castings to give a far more authentic result. I'm going to update the blog at some time but if you look at the last page or so of my thread - far North line - there are some images of them. Best of luck with it in N! I'm not au fait with what's available as donors in that scale, and the end result is a bit hefty for a Small Ben, but its better than nothing at all, and did me fine until a better option came along. It is actually a close replica of one of Drummond's drawn up locos that never were authorised so it is a possible passable model.

40150 was sent to the ScR and made its way from Dumfries to Thurso, apparently unloved wherever it went....

Thanks all - plenty to chew over here. I'll take a closer look at this over the next week or so and see what I will do. In the meantime, I was rummaging through my box of wiring and associated gubbins for a switch and found one of the micro switches I have been using. Here it is - does anyone have any suggestions as to where to look for this - the Peco motors throw this one well and while this one will fill the gap, more might be handy.

Bit of advice need here. I am replacing the Peco polarity switches that glue on to their point after several playing up and am confused by the variety on offer on ebay. Could someone point me in the direction of a suitable type, please. I did buy some a few years ago, based on info here,IIR, but can't find any similar ones in my searches.

Good to see this starting again. I see Jim's Modelmaster resin kits seem to have become a bit more active recently - is an N15 planned as a pilot? https://modelmaster.uk/876-catalogues-price-lists-modelmaster-locomotive-kits

Here is the one I did. I used Games Workshop Wraithbone spray for the cream and tidied the join up with brush painted Wraithbone from their tinlet range - it is very difficult to get a clean line even with masking. This model was built as it came, with the board and battens as laser inscribed but actually doesn't look too bad as such - this model is heading off to Pop Up as a display and I have another kit waiting its turn in the queue which I am going to clad with Evergreen B&B sheet but I think I will seperate the cream and brown areas and paint them separately before adding to the wooden walls.

Yes, the sprouts need their proper boiling time......

That tender really shouldn't be part of a new release 2021 loco range....

This notice appeared in my inbox the other day - sounds a bit more promising.

The tender and cab are a real let down, and will be difficult to improve. It is certainly well done as regards to the blue livery though.

I laid a base layer of 5mm camping mat style foam on the boards an d then used Tracklay to ballast the track. This is an adhesive on one side foam and I don't glue it down - pin lightly to begin with until happy with running then run a bead of Copydex along it and sprinkle a scattering of ballast to hold in place. Points do have pins to stop the point motors shifting them, Result is smooth and almost silent running, but my are 3/4" block board which probably helps as well.

They are good basic kits that benefit from a bit of additions but all the groundwork is done for you. The newer ones have thinner ply windows which make a big difference to their appearance and the range should encourage a good bit more Highland modelling....

Glad it has arrived. I do think he is trying his best in very uncertain times and errs perhaps on the side of optimism a bit too much at times. It also might be a case of what one person means when he states a timescale might not be an actual chronological interpretation but a tranche of time sufficient to get the job done....it has been pointed out to me that this is a response I can use when estimating a delivery date for a job

Isn't that always the way....who'd have thought one of the smallest obscure stations on the HR would get its own kit...being on the Strathspey helped, of course...