Paul_C

I have a model of a Reeds Paper Foden (RTI) that was recently built and painted for me by a very well versed chap but excluded from the kit was the canvas sheeting. I have made one but now need to work out the right shade of green as per Frank Waller's excellent display model. The second photo shows the ropes in place but I wasn't satisfied with the visual outcome so stripped the load back down the bare surface and started again. Just the ropes to add now which I'll make from a much better length of coloured fishing line. Can anyone suggest which colours to mix in order to get the right shade of green please? I've had a stab at it but haven't quite cracked it. Paul_C

Harold, Thanks for your reply, on reading it I did become a bit concerned but that was short lived having decided to have a go at the first one. The frames are plastic and I've removed both axles with great ease using a micro screwdriver. I just eased the part of the chassis outwards away from the wheels/axle and the whole thing popped out with no bother whatsoever so, a great relief all round. They just pop out so I can hopefully do things in reverse when it comes to fitting the new ones. Also thanks to Bernard and Barclay for your input. Paul_C

I have a rake of old Triang-Hornby Bowaters slurry tanks (R668) and want to upgrade the wheels as I have it on good authority that the original fittings do not work on Code 75 Bullhead track. Romford wheels have been suggested so where can I buy these please? The Alan Gibson collection has also been mentioned so that sounds a good option as well. I'm currently in the process of changing the couplings having decided to fit Hunts Elite. The stock amounts to twenty in line with their real life counterparts and they have been weathered and renumbered superbly by Steve at Grimy Times. Paul_C

Any ideas as to when 31574 was withdrawn please? Paul_C

Can anybody tell me if 31574 ever served the Sittingbourne/Sheerness areas from wherever it was based? Paul_C

I have tried to phone Rails today (fifteen attempts) but their number was constantly engaged which I find a bit odd. Paul C.

Has anyone received the BR black version with early crest yet (31574)? Mine is with sound so I guess it will be a little while yet. Paul C

I have just fitted the "Hunt's Elite" (pivoting) to an old Triang-Hornby Bowaters slurry tank (R668). My modelling skills are far from being at an advanced level so this is all a learning curve for me. Chris Hunt had one pack of five left so I snapped them up and they arrived within two days. On Saturday evening I decided to have a go at fitting the first one. I carefully drilled out the brass rivet and the rest was very very easy. The cross beam on the Hunt's coupling is an absolute perfect fit and snaps into place nice and snug. The cylindrical stud on the model does seem to suffer slight damage no matter how careful you are with the drill but I see no problem with making and fitting a new part enabling a self tapping screw to be inserted. Even if the centre stud remains intact it will probably need a bit taken off the length to allow the Hunt's to sit flush. A few strokes using a file will do the trick. I haven't glued or screwed anything in place yet, they are just snapped on for now but in time I will fit them permanently to the whole rake of twenty. I now eagerly await the arrival of their new stock as I had the last pack of five. Once the whole rake is fitted things should look pretty good to say the least. Paul C.

Thank you both for your posts. If Langleys don't have one then a scratch build is a cracking idea Phil, thank you. Paul C.

I'm looking for a 4mm scale 1953 style Commer radiator grill for a code 3 project (KFB fire appliance). Can anybody make any suggestions please? I've looked on the RTI website but they don't appear to do them. Paul C.

Can anybody tell me if these sound files are actually of a genuine D Class or taken from something similar. Paul C.

Thanks for your replies. It would appear then that the crimson sets were more evident in the fifties which falls in line with the era that I'm modelling. I've just been having a browse through and found a few entries that mention three forms of green, Malachite, BR and Southern Region. I've found a weathered set from TMC listed as SR green but the catalogue numbers prove them to be Malachite. Were SR green and Malachite green one of the same? Paul C.

I have a set of these in crimson but can anyone suggest numbers of those that would have run on the Sheerness branch line around the late forties and through the fifties please. Paul C.

Good to see you're progressing James, at some point it will all drop into place for you and the layout will be up and running. Looking forward to seeing some updated photos. Paul C.

Thanks for your replies. Reading the content you seem have a very good understanding of railway terminology and abbreviations whereas I'm still trying to get my head round a lot of it. I guess it's plausible that from time to time certain trains and locos found themselves making their way onto the Island so I've probably got a little bit of leeway to play with. Paul C.

Phil, I did search for the thread entitled SR Headcodes but couldn't find it. The thread must be there somewhere so I'll keep looking. In the meantime I've recently found an old photo of a 33 at Sheerness station showing the headcode of C9, any ideas? Paul C.

I have some Noch wall sections and need to shape a couple of them to create a curved section. They're hardfoam so I'm wondering whether a heat gun would do the trick and if so how d'you go about it (I've never used one). Paul C.

John, Read with interest your post. I will PM you on Wednesday. Paul C.

Thanks for your replies. Any thoughts on which number Kadee I would need to fit to keep the coupling distances the same? Paul C.

I have a number of old Triang-Hornby Bowater slurry tanks (R668) and want to update the couplings to Kadee or similar. I need to know how to get the old ones off and whether the new type will fit. Paul C.

I've just bought a Heljan Class 33 D6504. It's showing head codes of H1 and 4A and I would like to know which route(s)/area these refer to. Records show that it entered service in March 1960 allocated to Hither Green depot and I am trying to establish what numbers it would have been displaying when working the Sheerness/Sittingbourne areas of the network. Thanks. Paul C.

Wow, You guys have been working overtime so thank you for a fantastic response. (Tim) The new bridge is called Kingsferry as was the previous one but they were going to entitle the 1960 opening as Queensferry but for some reason that idea fell out of the sky. C and H Class certainly hauled most of the passenger services along with Ivatt 2MTs but Q class did do some of the freight runs as I have it from a reliable source who worked out of the Gillingham shed at the time. I've just bought a Heljan 33 showing a number of D6504 so reading your posts above I'm guessing that this number would have been there as well at that time. Thanks again for all your interesting comments. This shows it a million miles from being finished (lots of cosmetics to do) but it does lift electronically. The photos are not brilliant but will give you an idea. Paul C.

Hi All, I'm modelling the Sheerness branch line as per 1959/60 and would like to get a true to life running number for a class 33 diesel. So, if anyone can give me a few suggestions to choose from I would be most grateful. I know that they didn't venture onto the Island until early 1960 when the new KF bridge opened as the old bridge couldn't take them. I think Q class hauled the freight until the new bridge was ready. Paul C.

Does anybody know what's happening with ZTC? I haven't seen any recent posts but one snippet did say that they were "gone". Can anyone shed some light on this please? Paul C.

Thanks Andy and Heaton Lodge, I will give both methods a try. Paul C.