GRASinBothell

I really couldn't see how you could get more than one line into that eight inch width, especially if you want a platform, so I think the suggestion of plain line through scenery is a good one. You could possibly do something like Midford Viaduct, where the GW branch from Limpley Stoke ran under the viaduct (at a sharpish angle to give you more than 8" of track on the lower line). That would give you somewhere to park the second locomotive that you will undoubtedly purchase... Gordon

Thanks. I need to look out for them. I was looking at a book on the USA tanks the other day. Apparently, the Southern tried an Austerity first, and the decision to go with the US ones had a lot to do with the shorter wheelbase, and the ability this gave them to manoeuvre around Southampton Docks. Gordon

I went for the slightly less austere post-war livery (just because I liked the extra touch of red), and it's now winging its way to me in FedEx's capable hands... Must get myself a LOWMAC or two to hold some military vehicles. Is that a Directory Series one? Gordon

Thanks for the info on the carriage. I have found one on ebay. I did consider a Goldsworthy Gurney steam carriage (from the same seller), but decided it would be way too big! Gordon

Who's the Landaulet manufacturer? I need something suitable for mine... I've been looking at a Corgi state Landau, carrying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, but they probably wouldn't travel in the coach when it's on a wagon! Gordon

Oh, and thank you Fred. I appreciate that. Gordon

That is a Bing 62/510/0 MR open/mineral wagon. At least, that's what it looks like, based on Arne's treatise over on the Classic O Gauge Trains Forum. One of a grand total of 5 Bing O gauge wagons I own, so no, I'm not a brand specialist either! Gordon

There is a UK ebay seller stoopot321 who does various loads in resin, including barrels, crates, and some that are already tarpaulin-covered. Gordon

I was intrigued that Nearholmer's carriage truck turned out to be Bing, since it's so very different from mine. So, I thought I'd share a few pictures of mine. Presumably at some point, Bing redesigned it. Any idea which is the older version? Gordon

I'm over on the Western side of the state (and have never made it to Yakima!). I sent you a message about the spring. Gordon

My Bing open carriage truck: (a) has the Bing logo pressed into the underside of the chassis, (b) has the bodysides the same length as the chassis, (c) doesn't have the circular holes at the ends of the bodysides, and, (d) uses chains, rather than timber baulks, so I think you're right that it's not Bing. Gordon

A quick check in the HRCA (Hornby Railway Collectors Association) spares directory found spare springs at £5.50. I'm intrigued by the "TEAMYAKIMA" name. Are you in Eastern Washington? Gordon

All the No 50 wagons I checked (LOWFIT, Cattle Truck, Refrigeratot Van and Goods Van) had the same length over headstocks of 119mm (equivalent to 17ft full size, based on 7mm/ft scale). BR standard cattle wagons should be 18'6", with the refrigerator and goods vans being 17'6". So, all a little short, with the cattle wagon being the worst. My No 1 open wagons are about 122mm long (17'6" full scale). Cost savings making them slightly shorter for the No 50 series? My Ace coal wagon and the Progress Products chassis are about the same (as the No 1), while the Bassett-Lowke (modern, which was built by ETS and is, I think, the same as the more recent ones by WJ Vintage etc) is 115mm, corresponding to the 16'6" length (IIRC) of the 1923 RCH mineral wagon specification. Gordon

The Stationmasters Rooms have the water tower available, not to mention the Ace reproductions of the Hornby signal gantries. https://thestationmastersrooms.co.uk/Ace-Trains-Other-Products Gordon

Of course, Croydon Aerodrome bacame RAF Croydon for the duration. Perhaps the military version of your shunting plank could have the terminal building suitably sandbagged, and a diecast 1/48 scale Spitfire or Hurricane hung over it? Gordon

The 4-engined cousin of the Dragon Rapide was the DH86 Express. Not apparently a very safe airplane (or aeroplane, depending which side of The Pond you live on)). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Express Hmm.... A quick Google search found a couple of Marklin Ju52s - about the price of a loco, though! Gordon

So, basically a scaled up Hornby-Dublo station and signal box? The Croydon Aerodrome suggestion is interesting. Googling found me some pictures of the terminal building (now Airport House). It was built in a neo-classical style, and the main part of the building is not entirely dissimilar to the Plasticville Union Station - perhaps a shortcut to building Birlstone Aerodrome... Gordon

You might also try these for a few to paint while you're waiting for a couple of round-trip snail mail journeys to get you some PLM ones. https://hardyshobbies.co.uk/product-category/military-wartime/ Gordon

There is another thread on here (in 7mm+ modelling), called "Corps of Canadian Railway Troops – Europe 1918". The originator of that thread has been painting a lot of WW1 soldiers, that he refers to as "PLM figures". You might want to ask where those come from. My efforts to find them on Google have been unsuccessful. I'd be interested too. I have a few (very few) of the S&D ones, but as you say, there aren't many. Gordon

I like it. I may have to dig out my Marx searchlight car and anti-aircraft gun car... About the same era, I think. Gordon

Both car and loco look pretty advanced for 1896... Gordon

On their website (https://www.arttista.com/), you will see it described as a "Man on High Wheel Bicycle" (item number 1616), with separate prices for painted or unpainted, so in principle, yes. But I have never seen them sold anywhere as anything but painted. Maybe if you contact them directly, you could get the unpainted version. It comes as two pieces - the bicycle (solid black) and the rider. I glued them together (and added a piece of grey-painted brass as a base, so I can put it down anywhere on the road. I haven't looked for a boneshaker. S&D Models (https://www.sanddmodels.co.uk/) do a number of whitemetal bicycles. I have one with a basket on the front for a delivery boy, and one with onions hanging from it, and a "Johnny Onions standing beside it. Gordon.

Arttista (a US company) make one. Here it is on my layout. Sorry about the focusnot being quite right. Gordon

I have to plead guilty to launching Nearholmer on the acquisition of those Harry Potter figures. They are a range called Nano Metalfigs. Over here, you can find them in Walmart (or could before lockdown - not having ventured out there, I couldn't say now!). One of the negatives with them is that they come on rather large bases, rather the size and shape of surfboards. There is an upside to that, of course, if like me you have a small beach scene on the layout. Sorry about the lack of focus - the camera insists on focussing on the girl in the middle distance... Gordon

Trying to get us back to model trains, I see! It's looking good (and ready for some of that scenic stage-setting). Which version are you starting with first? I see you have a (possibly slightly over-scale) figure on the bookcase, waiting to be used. Or is it something that belongs to your apprentice? Gordon