Northroader

They look really good. It's a pity no-one has ever come up with a real clinching paint sample or argument what they did look like, yours is as good as anything else, and the detail, lettering and darkening give a very good effect.

Lovely work to produce a great model. one thing crossed my mind looking at it, I remember you soaking the original kit in a bucket of carlsberg to make fall to bits. And after a lot of painstaking fitting of the bits it's now back together, but I missed the part about how the white metal bits joined, sorry if I wasn't paying attention. what did you use?? I couldn't spot it on the workbench blog either, another great way to enjoy an evening at the fireside.

You've got lovely track work and the ballast has set it off a treat. now it's weathering and weeds. I think Ballasting is easier!

I have a 0 layout with tight curves. I presume you're using 3link couplings on the pull moves, and buffers on the push moves. I try not to allow the buffers ever to touch, as it gives the grief you're getting. Instead I use a single long coupling link, long enough to keep the buffers apart on curves, and modify the draw hook with the slot for the link facing both ways, so the link doesn't ride up when pushing. The link might need to be slightly wider to allow for being at an angle to the draw hook, but then you have to stop it riding sideways past the hook, which can mean a dumbbell shape. Otherwise another answer I've since found to work well is to solder a short length of brass rod across the free end of the link in a T, which prevents the link over- riding. The British coupling is a damn nuisance. The other alternative is to fit the American type kadee knuckle couplings, which will perform well on really tight curves, if the mounting box is free to turn as well. Anyway, it's nice to have some action on your layout, however you do it. Good luck for the future.

I have done it putting an oversize piece of .060 plastic sheet on a curved stoneware mug and placing under a grill. You have to take it out before it starts to go like Welsh rarebit, and the ends and sides curl up, which is why it's oversize. then trim and smooth. Probably on reflection your way is more controlled.

You could do a single with the boiler some of them finished up with, parallel dome less barrel and raised belpaire firebox, with would look distinctively different, but I suppose that might be after North Leigh's bedtime?

this model reminds me of a station I used to use a long, long time ago. It's got great potential. bottom left hand corner of the final picture, didn't the bay's finish in a sector table? One of the very few places where you could see a prototype of this feature. Good luck with the progress of your line.