jamieb

I can understand the desire for slow running control and appreciate your logic but it seems to me that a lot of the motors that are being used as Mashima substitutes are fairly low revving, Mitsumi for example ,so coupling them with gearboxes which were designed for higher revving motors could lead to a significantly reduced top speed

Can I ask why you want it be very slow running? By all accounts,Metro's were quite nippy engines

Wow,that's some scrap box! Looks like this is turning into some kind of Triggers Broom locomotive,be interesting to see how much of the original kit remains I'm contemplating one of the earlier 92 class versions of these tanks as some were in Wharfedale in the late 40s, so will follow this for inspiration although I'm sure there were many differences

Thanks Andy She wasn't at Abbotsbury by the looks of it,that pic is a 517!

Thanks Andy If you are referring to GWRJ #4, I have this somewhere and will have a look.I also have both Wild Swan GWR allocation books .I probably imagined it , so will just have to hope a picture of a Metro in the Merthyr area crops up somewhere!

As this thread has shamed me into revisiting my ancient kit and maybe even building it,I need some expert knowledge I'm looking to build c1920-1924 and I recall my original intention for some reason was to build 1500. I had it at the back of my mind that this loco was allocated to Merthyr around this time which would fit in with my nascent layout.However the Wild Swan allocation book contradicts this so am I totally wrong? I'm sure I've seen a picture of the loco in Merthyr station but can't find it in any of my books If I'm wrong, does anyone know of any small Metro's that were in this part of the world in the early 1920s?

Having seen the real thing at Bridgnorth,I'd say it's a rare example of the model being more accurate than the prototype!

You may be right about the size being adjusted to 1:76 but if that's the case,I don't see why they wouldn't have printed it to scale for testing if the mechanism fitted the body? I think it's best to consider it as a toy unless anything changes to make it seem otherwise

I think many are missing the point of the 'B4-esque' loco.Its not intended to be a scale model,it's a starter model,which SK referred to as '5 year olds handling it'. A scale B4 would be too small and delicate ,and he is well aware that Dapol have nailed that avenue .The project is to have a 'different' starter loco for beginners sets,as a change from 101, Smokey Joe etc. The model shown is probably nearer S scale,but could find a use for freelance/industrial use,but don't expect it to magically shrink to 1:76 and grow a finely detailed chassis for under £100 for the train set

If anyone is interested,this is the old Perseverance chassis that was state of the art in the 1980s! I must have used to OO frame spacers somewhere,this will be built in EM so not a problem. I shall stick with the compensated method the kit is designed for,with motor driving the fixed rear axle and the front two axles will be compensated.The Gibson wheels date from the Norfolk days, original AG wheels but not showing any signs of rust luckily.Motor will be Mitsumi and something HighLevel for the gearbox Also a pic of the body parts.I don't know if the Metro kit has been updated over the years,but this is what you got back in the day- 'the day' being late 80s /early 90s. The castings seem pretty good but white metal kits just seem so old fashioned nowadays!

I've got a Finecast kit with a Perseverance chassis in the 'never-never' box which I've had for over 30 years.This thread may inspire me to get my finger out!

I'd predicted this coming from Accurascale to complement the chaldrons I wonder how the guy trying to sell the Connoisseur kit on eBay for £200 feels about this?

I know of Topps Trains, Salopian Models is new to me, I used to drive to Modellers Mecca before it shut,but my point is that unless model shops are within easy local distance,then either you buy online or the hobby passes you by. It's a case of out of sight,out of mind unfortunately

For all these people moaning about Hornby only selling online and supporting their local modelshops,would anyone care to tell me WHERE in Shropshire (one of the largest counties in England) would I (or these imaginary grandparents for that matter looking to buy model railways for the kids) actually find somewhere to buy model railways,because as far as I know,there hasn't been a specialist model shop in the county for absolutely years

I travelled behind this loco at the NNR on Monday and have to say it has been beautifully restored.My son always moans about BR standards being too common on preserved railways,but I think this is the first time I've actually travelled behind a class 4 mogul

The coaches look very nice,I'm sure they lack modern detail and the length is probably off,but if Hornby produced some modern standard panelled clerestory coaches,I'm sure they'd sell well .NER and MR ones please!

I wouldn't put my life on it but I think it was Skylark that had the Collett tender. I also have vague recollection of seeing one behind a Manor ,but that may have been in preservation days

No, probably be a half and half job😁

The Fowler and Stanier 2-6-2 tanks are still massive open goals for the RTR boys, as they're too busy producing niche one-offs

Indeed,and if people are happy to buy them ,fair enough.But the inconsistency where a model will get 10 pages of criticism for having a headlamp in the wrong place,or an incorrect buffer profile (for example) yet an APT in a fictitious livery gets plaudits is slightly disconcerting

Sorry to be a killjoy,but this is all getting quite depressing now,with various manufacturers fighting to get in first with all these obscure one-off prototypes,when bread-and-butter prototypes which existed in their dozens,sometimes hundreds are being continually ignored. I know people will quote rule 1 ,but I'm seeing a total imbalance on model layouts these days of the everyday Vs the exceptional.I mean ,how many people model the Lickey Incline? So is this going to sit in a showcase or is history going to be rewritten that Big Bertha worked over Shap,or on a Cornish china clay branch line ? As for the fictitious liveries that seem to abound these days,Rapido being another culprit of this, a few years back any manufacturer doing this would be slated

A man who more than anyone else made finescale modelling accessible and attainable RIP

Best of luck with the build,I've never built anything from Peter K ( tackled a few Jidenco which are probably as daunting).I have some coaches which I take out of the box occasionally and look at wistfully and I've one of his LBSC D2 kits which looks more approachable but his kits in general are very inconsistent

Is this the one that went for £155? I was interested and would have sold on the portescap motor to offset the cost but it went way over my limit! Lovely loco though

Centre Models possibly?