detheridge

And it wasn't from Bill Dixon, but the originator Garry Hall. Why is it being passed off as someone else - what is going on?

Hi folks, for what its worth do a Google search for 'Precision Lubricator with Teflon'. In days of yore, high street electrical shops used to sell these (Tandys and Maplins had them) and they are brilliant, being an Electrolube type product with liquid PTFE (Teflon). I've used it on original Triang TT wheelsets with great success. A quick drop in the right place and they'll run as well as Peco Wonderful wagon chassis. Obviously after a while (weeks/months?) you may have to lube again, but I suppose the prototype had these problems as well. You'll see on a net search that this item is still available from different stockists. Try it out - you may be pleasantly surprised (usual disclaimer). For those seeking PTFE tube, might the type of tube used for 'wire in tube' point control be suitable, or is it the wrong diameter? David.

There may be very few folks still modelling 00n3 in the 'traditional' manner (Triang chassis, Pugbashes, etc - and I'm one of them!), but there's still a great deal of nostalgia for the classic 00n3 layouts of the past. The most famous is Derek Naylor's Aire Valley which proved to be arguably the most influential of all the 00n3 layouts of yore. The surviving Aire Valley stock is in the care of the 009 society's archive, and last year I donated my collection of Alan Brackenborough's Vale of Fawrcarnedd stock (MRN 1966) to the society's archive. Other layouts that have garnered comments and enthusiasm in the pages of ngrm-online include Giles Barnabe's Midd Valley (MRC 1971), David Lloyd's Augher Valley (RM 1964), J.E Tennant's Clun Valley (RM 1969), and Rev Heath's Llanfair Valley (featured in RM in 1962, 65 and 1984). From comments (and not just mine) there's a feeling that layouts from that era have a very appealing 'imagineering' approach to them that seems to have been lost over the decades in the search for more accuracy and fidelity. This is not to criticise more recent examples of 00n3 - far from it, current practice can be breathtaking in its results - but there's a certain something about happily using Airfix/Dapol bodies (or indeed anything you can get your hands on) with the so-reliable Triang chassis (as Garry has proven in these very pages) for models that run reliably, are easy to keep going, and have an atmosphere all of their own. Above all, they're terrific fun! As regards track, I'm lucky enough to have amassed a large amount of Gem flexitrack and points - they still turn up on Ebay from time to time and the 3mm society has good supplies. Even though they're not 'scale' when painted and well ballasted, the result can look like well weathered narrow gauge track. Mind you, the 'overscale' rail section (Code 100?) might not be far off today's prototype, as I understand that the Festiniog and Welsh Highland are essentially using standard gauge rail. Same with the VOR; its track was relaid under later BR auspices with the lifted rail from the Carmarthen branch out of Aberystwyth. Each to his own as always! :-)

It's here (with pics):

For what it's worth, Edward Beal wrote about chopping Essar bodies to make anything from an 0-4-0T to an 0-8-4T Wath banker in Scale Railway Modelling Today. I have both the 1939 and 1944 editions. If anyone has a copy, the drawings are on p.141 in both editions. He would extend the rear bunker, or add/remove sections from the boiler, or even splice two bodies together, and enlarge cabs. He didn't make an 0-4-4T (so your one may be unique?), but did manage 0-4-0, 0-6-0, 0-6-2, 0-8-2 and 0-8-4 tanks. 'Modelbashing' at its finest and possibly earliest iteration? (As an aside, Edward Beal also postulated making a Hornby Dublo N2 into an 0-8-0T) Best wishes, David.

Hi Tim, Do you prime card parts before or after assembling the parts? Does the solution/shellac affect the glued joints at all?

Hi Garry, can you give more info on the Country Scenics embossed paper? A Google search doesn't help! Many thanks David.

Ah - thanks 21C1! I knew that sort of technique was used somewhere. I'm thinking of using it on stone walls. Anyone who's seen Welsh n.g. stone buildings will know that they're anything but smooth. Yes, I know there are superb stone walls with full relief available in Platicard, but I wondered whether it was possible with card and 'old skool' modelling techniques. David.

Hi folks - I seem to recall many years ago reading that yoiu could add relief to brick and stone paper by gluing it to various grades of sandpaper. Does anyone know more or am I completely wrong in this? David.

This announcement has been made by Yahoo: "All members please note. Yahoo has made the decision to no longer allow users to upload content to the Yahoo Groups site. Beginning October 21, you won't be able to upload any more content to the site, and as of December 14 all previously posted content on the site will be permanently removed. You'll have until that date to save anything you've uploaded. https://help.yahoo.com/kb/groups/SLN31010.html?impressions=true PLEASE COPY ANYTHING YOU NEED OFF THIS SITE NOW !" and it's been confirmed here: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xwe9p/yahoo-groups-is-winding-down-and-all-content-will-be-permanently-removed This is particularly annoying for all Yahoo groups associated with railways and railway modelling, as not only will the files be deleted, but the possibility of decades of expertise shared will almost certainly disappear. Please let as many people know as you can, so as to give them the opportunity to archive as much as possible on different platforms where possible.

Go on..you know you want to... look deep into my eyes....

For several years members of the 5.5mm Association have been planning a handbook - my first draft goes back to 2003! We've finally got it finished, and it's now available as a pdf download at 55ng.co.uk. Look under 'Why 5.5?', 'Kits &Bits' and latest news. There's a history of the scale, models, accessories and suppliers - as much as we can find about all things 5.5mm scale. As things develop, we'll be adding new material and pics to the handbook. Enjoy! David.

And finally for now: The 2019 AGM of the 5.5mm Association will be on Saturday 28 September at Kidderminster SVR in the Museum building. Easy car parking (the BR car park is cheaper for some reason) and 2 minutes from the main line station. Come and meet fellow 5.5 modellers, see our products, and if you're not yet a member you can join on the day!

More news: Here's a link to very useful accessories for 5.5mm scale: https://www.anyscalemodels.com/shop/scale-1-56-for-28mm.html Although nominally for wargamers, 28mm scale (the height of a 6' figure) is just about right for 5.5mm. Who says there's nothing available? :-)

Just to let you know that George's 55th studios website is now at: http://55thstudios.redflame.co.uk/ Here are some of the goodies on offer:

Hi again folks, George Williamson has been going great guns with his 5.5mm scale Towyn Wharf layout, and a selection of the latest models is show here. They'll be familiar to all TR fans. Having seen the layout in the flesh for the first time some months ago, I have to say that pictures don't really do it justice. It has to be experienced!

I'm a lapsed 3mm society member (I model in 00n3 and 5.5mm scale on 12mm track) but can confirm that Gem track is absolutely compatible with Triang. In fact 3mm s/h and spares have lots of it in stock. At a guess, it should take vintage Rokal and any Berlinerbahn with ease.

Regarding using the Atlas bodies, try looking at Triang TT technical advice thread here, and under 'Collectable/Vintage' look at the thread 'When TT3 was the next big thing'. There you'll see how Golden Fleece 30 managed with Triang chassis under Atlas bodies. If you're heading for 14.2 it may not be entirely relevant to you, but at least it shows that it can be done.

Hi folks, John Bate's excellent 'The Chronicles of Pendre Siding' lists a couple of plans for potential locos for the TR, and mentions discussions on the subject in TR magazine. In John's book he provides drawings of a Bo-Bo geared steam loco, a Fowler 0-6-0 tender loco (I think -I'm relying on memory here) that was too long for Wharf headshunt without uncoupling the tender, and an 0-6-2 version of what became Tom Rolt. Supposedly in the TR mag there was a design for (amongst others) a pannier tank. Anyone know more or can quote a source for drawings? Tahnks in advance, David.

Finally, the last two locos: the steamlined Pacific is on a Triang Princess chassis (from memory it runs fine on Horby-Dublo track), and the 4-6-4 tank. This is a fascinating one, using an HD R1 chassis, and having sprung front and rear bogies along the lines of Edward Beal's writings. So all in all, these might date from anywhere between the 40s and 60s. Anyone know more? Best wishes, David.

Here's an ingenious electric loco using a more modern N2 chassis, and I believe that the pantograph is by Marklin. The Pacific uses a Marklin chassis, although I forget as to whether a bridge rectifier has been fitted to allow reversing with 12v DC....

The next two show a Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo (or should that be 4-4-4-4?) usign two Gem X5 mechanisms, while the 2-6-0 is on a Fleischmann chassis, with 3 rail pickup in the tender....

Hi again folks, I've recently dug these models out after 10 years in storage, which are all freelence 3 rail. It'll take a couple of posts to include them all due to the size of each pic. I acquired them way back in the 1970s from W&H models in New Cavendish Street, and the guy tere told me that the builder was one of the people behind the design of Mk.2 BR stock. If anyone recognises them and can give more info, I would very much appreciate it. They're all scratchbuilt or using commercial chassis. Here's the gen on these ones: The 2-4-2 diesel is totally scratchbuilt with an XO4 type motor, and with lead blocks in each nose will pull a house. The 2-6-2 diesel uses a (pre war?) N2 chassis with a horsehoe magnet, some very coarse gears (I'd guess scratchbuilt) and I think, solid brass wheels possibly by Reidpath. The Co-Co diesel is a real bruiser with a 24v can motor and universal joint drive to both bogies. More to come in a moment....

For info, if you're familar with Edward Beal's books, he writes (I think in 'Scale Railway Modelling Today') his account of 'model bashing' them to make anything from an 0-4-0T to an 0-8-4T Wath banker. Do any of these survive at all - anyone know?

Hi folks, George Williamson's website is now up and running: www.55thstudios.co.uk/ A range of kits are now available with more to come. George will be showign the range at the 009 AGM at Rainford on the 30th March. see you there? David.