Pteremy

Good luck then.

On the Hatton's website - due July/August 2018. Site seems to have been updated with the most recent delivery details/price rises (e.g Class 117 DMU) that have featured in e.g. Hattons/Rails recent email updates.

Correct - more pronounced A bespoke chassis then.

Having now obtained a copy of the Model Railway Constructor for May 1976 I see that it includes a useful list of brake van 'conversions for service use', mostly AA3's, the conversions taking place between 1942 and 1949, in addition to the drawings of the main Brake Van diagrams. I think it is a good example of how sometimes less is more, as the text and drawings summarise the variations from AA1 through to AA21 very succinctly.

At least Maroon Portholes are now shown as due this summer.

My guess is that they were removed pretty quickly, after the 'assets' were recovered. But you might want to view the photo of the Barnstaple East loop signal box, which is in the John J Smith collection, Bluebell Museum Archive. Suitably derelict, awaiting demolition, June 1960. http://www.bluebell-railway-museum.co.uk/archive/photos/jjs/b03/3-33-2.htm

I guess that a significant turn under could create a problem when fitting the body shell to the chassis - although I don't think that the turn under was as pronounced on the Class 22 this may be why the valances on the Dapol Class 22 were included in a detailing pack, to be fitted by the purchaser? The Class 22s also had a mid body 'crease' which is captured on the Dapol version, so I doubt that will be missing here.

There is an interesting article in the Guardian online, the gist of which is - for Toys R Us - that they have failed to move with the times. It is no longer a positive shopping experience. My guess for Maplin is that it is cheap competition. I have noticed quite a few references to 'cheap stuff from China' on RMWeb, in a variety of contexts. Then there are the UK intermediaries, that make it seem that you are buying from a UK business. It is amazing that Maplin's has lasted as long as it has.

3rd January 1966 seems to be the key date. Although as you suggest the Railway Observer noted that York-Bournmouth service remained steam hauled, and a couple of steam headed freights were seen in January (1966, p85). But no more steam shunting.

I think that this conversion is inspirational! At least it has inspired me to buy two brake vans, to do something similar. I see in Russell that there were also similar conversions based on plated sided vehicles. And - for variety - tunnel inspection vehicles. So some scope for 'what if'. That is, it is just as valid to reproduce railway practice (i.e. vehicles for particular tasks) as it is to reproduce specific vehicles.

Severn Models (severnmodels.com) do them in etched form.

I was also going to suggest Blu-tack. Masking tape works in similar way. Gentle 'dabbing' in both cases, once you know it is lifting the 'sticky' away.

Class 31? (Sadly not 'Siver Lady' in 009, together with set of Modelu figures of the main characters from the series.)

As some others have said I think that my enjoyment of a particular railway modelling magazine has less to do with my specialist interests and more to do with general things, like improving RTR, scratch building, scenery, weathering etc. regardless of era. In other words it is an encouragement to 'get something done'. As far as my specialist interests are concerned I find books on relevant subjects far better value. The best are something I return to time and time again. And if I buy a dud then there is always eBay or the jumble. And then there are specialist societies - and the internet. Which connects with a separate RMweb thread, about the need to share specialist knowledge before it is lost.

Maroon versions surely a cash cow for Bachmann? And an easy way to make a lot of people happy. (Writing as an WR modeller with an interest in late 50s/early 60s summer Saturdays).

I can report a more positive experience - ordered a wagon kit (GWR Cordon) at the end of November and it arrived the week before Christmas, so less than 4 weeks. Communication is time consuming. But in this thread (and similar others) it is clear that not communicating (particularly with reasonable customers) is a false economy. Silence is a void that people often fill with negative assumptions. I had a positive experience earlier this week (from an unrelated supplier), an email saying that something I had just ordered would be delayed because the stock is in transit. And I will not be charged until it arrives. So I know precisely where I stand. But to demonstrate sympathy with those of you who have had negative experiences I was glad to read recently in a different thread that C&L are working through their November orders (and so should reach mine eventually). I am in no particular hurry. But it is a pity that I only found out in an indirect way.

Hope someone is thinking about the 'opportunity' of providing a crew and other related items (ammunition etc.)

By late summer early autumn grasses have flowered and set seed, so you might expect a lot of straw colour in the situation you are describing - lots of tall dried clumps but with new shorter green shoots at the base. If cut and 'tended', as on e.g. an embankment then there will be a higher proportion of the green. Also where damp. So sounds as if muted colours is right.

Enjoyed both the magazine and 'DVD'. Real insight into the challenge of 'maintaining' Pendon. But also strong emphasis on 'operation'. Hope it does well.

Isn't that due for announcement on (?) 1st Feb?

Did you mean to publish the advert on page 105?

Yes, if this is genuinely a smaller diameter tank (5'8"ish) then I think that it will be very welcome. But I would prefer the wagon itself to be to a consistent design ito underframe, wheelbase etc. (to the extent that is possible) even if there is some 'manufacturers licence' involved with the liveries

Funny how its the books that I want that still seem to command a premium! But it is sad to see the value of books, on all sorts of subjects, reduced to landfill. My wife tried to donate some children's books to a hospital a few years ago and was told that it is against health and safety rules to accept used books. My strategy (for eBay) is to only try to sell a book if I think I should get £5 or more for it, and ask for appropriate postage. Anything else is given away to an appropriate good cause.

Venn Cross, on the Taunton-Barnstaple line. Here is one of the points, with what appears to be a bar on the right, 'inside' the point.