David Siddall

Now that's interesting... I've gone for the two-part rails on what will be a BR vac-fitted van based on a selection of Paul Bartlett's photos... this one in particular. A bit of a fiddle, hence at the moment only one side completed (work in progress pic on my thread here) David

Reminds me of Jonathon Whaley's stock ripost to anyone who grumbled about the colour scheme of his gloriously rainbow-hued Hawker Hunter 'Miss Demeanour' which he registered P-SST (short for Personal Supersonic Transport)... "OK, so what colour's yours?" ;-) Sorry, way OT... grabs coat and departs in haste! David

That's very nice Chaz... having finally got the chassis of mine flat, square and running smoothly – despite the fact I initially built it banana-shaped – I now hold slightly higher hopes of completing the wretched thing. I've even managed to (not particularly elegantly) solder the handrails on one side without melting gurt holes in it. I used wooden coffee-stirrers to protect the plastic and act as spacers. Oh, and on the subject of errors... in my world if it looks like a brake van, it is a brake van. Life's too short and there seem to be numerous detail variations between individual examples anyway ;-) David ...and thanks for the supportive advice on the subject of soldering gents. it's much appreciated.

Oh I do like it Chaz, believe me I do! It's just clear from said photo that you are a skilled modeller with several soldering irons who knows exactly what he's doing. I on the other hand am an enthusiastic bodger with just one - the sum of my technical knowledge of the process is that the iron gets hot at one end which makes the solder go runny. Shortly after which I usually smell singeing flesh and a joint may or may not happen ;-) There is one thing however about Peco points, lumpy bits and two-part blades or no... I suspect they're pretty reliable. I've just powered my Hymek through my first hand-built turnout for the first time and it's clear there's either a back-to-back issue with my example (wagons pass through perfectly) or I've got something wrong in the gauging department! BTW, if anyone's got any bright ideas please stick 'em on my thread, not Chaz's. David

Speaking as someone who's been doing battle with a Slaters plastic kit of same for what seems like several years I can only but mutter my admiration through lightly clenched teeth ...and wonder why I didn't go for the Connoisseur version? Ah yes, I remember why... my innate inability to solder anything more complex than a power feed. Nice work Chaz! And that visually intrusive box in whatever form it appears (and the two-part blades when you don't want to model 'heel switches') are the reason I seem to have spent even longer learning how to build my own turnouts! Happy cobbling... David PS: An improved version of the 'Links coupler' for 7-mil, which IMO are even more discrete than Dinghams are due to be available again in the not to distant future. Just mentioned in passing... (hash tag) doing whatever I can to support Richard Syms who's patiently and diligently working to reintroduce them :-)

Cheers for the PM Barnaby... I now can see exactly how it's done (I'd have overlooked the need for the pivot to be diagonal and got it so wrong ;-) That said, whilst I probably will have a go myself I'm going get on with other things for a bit so I can support Richard Syms by buying his commercial versions as soon as they're ready. Received an email from him yesterday and with what he's had/got on his plate I can only but applaud his determination to return the Links to the market. David

Aha... so I'd better find a music shop and a fishing shop then - thanks for this. Anyone have any thoughts on the size of brass pivot tube? David

You know what, it sounds like even I could do that, thank you. Great diagram BTW :-) Um, but (and there's always a but isn't there...) what diameter do you recommend for the wire and the tube? Indeed what type of wire (steel I guess?) I have a feeling a fair amount of experimentation might be involved getting distances and tolerances right... but if you can proffer the above nothing ventured, etc., etc. David

Hmmmm.... I do hope Links couplers come back to the market in some form or other. It's clear folks that like Dinghams swear by them but I've been poring over videos of both types again and (IMO) Links are so unobtrusive by comparison I'd really like to be able to use them. I also like the fact that Links can apparently be added without having to remove existing drawhooks. I certainly admire anyone who can produce their own DIY version of the Links but with a layout and stock to build I'd be happier buying pre-prepared components and assembling them :-/ David

One word... inspirational :-) David

Really looking forward to these couplers being available again. Would be happy to chip in an advanced order if that would help? David

Ooops, sorry 'bout that... ;-) Have a feeling it might be several years even if Dapol were to say 'yes'... so have gritted my teeth and committed to squirrelling away £100 a month for the next six months for the forthcoming kit from JLTRT plus wheels, motor, Delhrin drives etc... :-/ I suspect the condition of this one's probably more up your street? In addition to the grime it looks like its been uses as a roost by a flock of incontinent pigeons. Or if you prefer blue (unusually with a small yellow warning panel), I'll bet you'd have hours of fun reproducing the clout this one's taken under the cab window ;-) D

If prone to distraction you should, of course, studiously avoid this pic, which I just happened to find on RMW itself. And totally ignore this one... which, whilst it contains no references to tankers whatsoever, suggests a livery variation that would look rather splendid at the head of a rake... maybe a bit clean and shiny for the 'rustmeister' though ;-) D PS: Spent many, many happy hours in the 70s' sitting at exactly the spot from which the latter photo was taken - wish I'd not lost my 'Instamatic' snaps ;-)

Ah ha... if you were to however think the 'Marches' (east Wales) there is evidence for their regularly working around Gloucester, also around the Worcester area. Couple of useful ref's http://www.miac.org.uk/class22.htm. BR Video Productions No 167 (www.brvideos.co.uk) also quotes: "We see NBL D63xx Class 22s shunting at Coleford and Boscarne Junction plus extensive footage of D6346 shunting at Charlbury!". Looks like there are plenty of Class 22-friendly location options... and several of them (with the possible exception of Coleford?) could be likely sources of, or destinations for milk). David

My first attempt at an O gauge wagon was a 16-tonner, a Peco kit finished in 'not-quite-a-total-rotbox-but-heading-that-way' condition. David

Martyn, I completely acknowledge and respect the effort and commitment you've invested into developing and supporting Templot (and into the subject of trackwork modelling in general). I also admire the superb scale trackwork achieved as a result of its use and hope my post made that clear? However, I would just respectfully question the perception that if you plan using AnyRail (or any other similar software) then the only way forward is to build your layout using ready-to-lay proprietary trackwork? Some readers of this thread will know that I've recently embarked on building my own track and turnouts in 7-mil and that I am really rather enjoying the experience. In the process of getting to the stage where I made my choice of trackwork construction methods I explored and experimented with Templot 'before' opting for AnyRail. Personally, I've found AnyRail an acceptable aid to planning the bucolic little terminus I have in mind for which simple, straight, turnouts (constructed using C&L's components and Timbertracks bases) will be sufficient, I hope, to create a credible and prototypically accurate formation. David PS: I chose and have used the word 'planning' very deliberately here. The design of individual turnouts to suit individual locations and formations is an entirely different subject - one for which Templot deserves all the acclaim it receives :-)

As an alternative to Templot AnyRail is worth a look. I've used for my layout planning. By no means as sophisticated but intuitive to use and offers a good library of turnouts. I'm closer to the big 'six oh' than 'five oh', use graphic and web design software all day every day (...and have been doing so since computers first arrived in my industry) so I consider myself reasonably IT savvy; however Templot and I didn't get on. I'm not saying that's a problem with the software, just with my head... it's not wired to interface with CAD-based programs - though I acknowlege Templot undoubtedly offers the most advanced options to track designers. David

Cheers Martyn, may take you up on that... just found a shot of a Hymek on milk tanks at Bason Bridge on the former Evercreech Junction - Highbridge Branch of the former S&D in '69. The perfect prototype inspiration for my project :-)

As I mentioned on your gallery shot Martyn.... suuuuuuuperb! Just crying out for a little light grime. Now (question), can I build a couple or three that look as nice ;-) D

Nice progress fellas. Last week I was suffering from 'shed envy', this week 'basebard envy'! I really must get busy with the woodwork. Nice to see fellow proponents of MDF. I know the cutting dust isn't good for you if you breath it but I find it easy to work, stable and surprisingly light. What I like even more is that I don't end up with fingers full of splinters like I do when working with DIY-quality ply! David BTW: Great use for redundant 'OO' track ;-)

Nice progress peeps... am slightly jealous. Have achieved precisely no modelling whatsoever this week ...work overload :-/ D

Thoroughly looking forward to following your adventure, thanks for the kind words, and yes... 7mm turnouts are monsters compared to their 4mm little bretheren (I found that out the hard way). Delightfully easy to start out on a compact layout only to discover you need to annexe half the adjoining county to accommodate a head-shunt! BTW... fascinated by the reference material you collected for your planning session. I'll have the 'healthy fish pie' please ;-)

I did miss it Stephen so will definitely catch up on iPlayer, thank you (that area's home turf after all :-) The area between the eastern edge of the Forest and Gloucester is now in my top three location choices - especially since I discovered that the Forest was Class 14 territory: www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/6097015057/! D

Huge admiration and respect to someone who enjoys their modelling in spite of such a visual challenge 'Railwayrod'! I'm prone to grumbling that my close vision is shot after 35 years over drawing-boards and latterly peering a computer monitors but I'll shut up be grateful for what I've got in future after reading your post. I've emailed the new owner of the rights to the Lincs Autocouplings and perhaps if enough of us do the same he'd be encouraged to re-introduce them fairly soon. David

Our PMs must have crossed in the ether! Thanks for yours Alan it beat mine to it. Really want to try these, I even have a healthy supply of magnets left over from previous OO gauge layout to experiment with. D