dikitriki

Hi I just love David's work - everything is just so. There's a further refinement you can do to this. Assuming you are working with laminated rods, the crank pin holes in the inner one/two laminations are made to just clear the tube part of the bearing, while the outer lamination is made to just clear the flange of the bearing. This enables absolutely flush fitting, which can be crucial on some locos, in my case LMS and BR Standards. Richard

1. I have a dim memory of purchasing one, must be 25 years ago. I know I haven't made it. I don't recall selling it, so I must have it in my 'no chance of making it' stash. The trouble is, I don't know where, and don't recall seeing it Richard

Hi Here's an old photo I found: Richard

I don't, but I have to contact him for some other components, so I shall ask about price/availability/Reading then. He can somethimes be a little elusive, so don't hold your breath. While I'm here, I've been considering any issues I had. None were major but I recall the following: * The front spectacle plate had to be split into the front aspect and 2 wings, and trimmed to fit - too wide otherwise. * The footplate cut out for the boiler and smokebox was way too narrow and required quite a lot of filing to get right. * The front footplate above the frames required lengthening. Edit: this should read 'frames above the front footplate required lengthening', sorry * Dome the wrong shape - too big. * No tender coal chute/interior. * Tender brake shoes/hangers missing - and despite what it says in the instructions, not available. Go straight to Ragstone. I don't wish to give the impression it's a perfect kit, it's not, but I do still think it's the best starting point, and the components are comprehensive and high quality. I came to the conclusion that the very best way to get a Std 5 was to use the DJH etchings and the Sanspareil castings, but that doubles the cost! It's been fun going back over my build. My enthusiasm is whetted for getting back to it. Cheers Richard

Hi Martyn I'm going to have to disagree with you. Even at £280, it's not a better starting point. You don't need a few extra Ragstone castings, you need a lot extra, and that cost will quickly eat into the savings over the Sanspareil kit. Also, the Sanspareil kit has somewhat of a different philosophy. There are a lot more castings, all lost wax, and all useable. It's only the tender that is a little weak, especially on the brake gear. For example, the very fine bogie is all cast,,,,, The valve gear is cast - look at the bulk of it compared to etches... and the general very good chassis castings put most other standard 5 kits to shame. In truth, there are very few etches (comparatively speaking) in the kit, it's mostly lost wax, and very heavy in the box! Apologies for the poor quality pics - old camera, night time, flash etc., and the continuing hijack. Cheers Richard

Found it.... Tony's Sanspareil Std 5. Can't think where the photo was taken Richard

The kit is still available, but it means getting it out of Iain Young, which is, shall we say, problematical. The best approach would be to order one to be picked up at Telford, as otherwise, you never know what he will have with him. You will also need to source some extra bits from Ragstone, but the end result is a really high quality model; it does need the hand of an experienced modeller though. Talking to Iain, he had it designed for him as a new kit, but it has all the hallmarks of a Tattersall etch. I'm afraid finishing this is somewhat down my list. The loco is not suitable for my layout Heyside as it has the big Southern tender, and I need to concentrate on stock specific to the Oldham Loop, at least for another couple of years. Tony Geary built one just after me, but his got finished. I have a pic somewhere in the bowels of the computer....... No, it's scratchbrush/sunlight combination, visible in a few other places too. Richard

**Hijack Warning** The best Standard 5, but a lot of work is from Sanspareil. The next best is the DJH offering. Here is my mostly complete Sanspareil Std 5. Richard

Hi A foreigner on Heyside.... Richard

A quiet time in the yard

50! You've got to be joking!

I like photos that have only indirect railway interest, looking at the wider world. It's all to easy to concentrate on the railway side of things otherwise. Richard

An unknown location somewhere near Oldham. 'Through the Door' Richard

Here's one taken at the recent Aylesbury show. 'Waiting for the train' Richard

I remember Bredon well, it made the same sort of impression on me - it still exists and is in the process of being converted to a DCC demonstration layout. Quite by chance, the builder, Allan Wood, is now an active and very valued member of my Heyside team. Richard Lambert

Hi Sandy Any particular reason for not using double sided copperclad and soldered it to the frame? I have one of these in the store cupboard, so I too shall watch with interest. Regards Richard

Hi Rod It is disappointing that the points will have to be replaced, though if you are building them yourself, you have quality control in your hands at all stages. Are you going to abandon 31.5mm? I hope not, but can understand your position. Having said that, I've known of 32mm points from your builder that didn't work well either. Whichever route you go down, I'm sure you'll have great fun building them. Cheers Richard

Hi Rod The layout progresses well, but slowly. We're doing a lot of fiddly bits at the moment - forming setts in the yard and installing point rodding. I'm still working on the signals, but all the details take an age. We've got the Dinghams working, so hands-free shunting is now possible and that will add to our enjoyment. We have a sequence, but need more Dinghammed stock before we can operate properly. Heyside went to Manchester last October and behaved itself very well, and its next outing is Aylesbury 2013, so just under a year to go which is certainly focussing my mind. The Deltic has not been run. I haven't found a sound chip yet that seems right to me, so it's on hold. I'm hoping to have a chat with Laurie Loveless and Cliff Williams at Telford to see what they think. I'm sure someone will produce a decent sound chip sometime. Cheers Richard

Hi Rod I've just found this thread. It's looking very good - and quick too. Reading between the lines, you seem to have had some problems with 31.5mm clearances. Did that arise from commissioning someone else to do them? I spent far longer building my own track that a commissioned builder could possibly do and still make money, and I think it shows. Are you sorted now, or do you have to put the Heljan wheels on the lathe? I noticed Jim Snowdon's article in the Gazette and thought it very timely. Safely put away until my Deltic comes out of its box! Cheers Richard

Hi Jazz, Aaaaargh - the DJH Fairburn. High on my list of the worst kits produced. The only parts fit for purpose below the footplate are the mainframes, coupling rods and brake hangers/shoes. On the body, well, there's a lot missing, in addition to errors. It does build well out of the box, just doesn't look like a Fairburn! Here's my take on the bogie and the valve gear.... Dibateg has done the same and there's a superb completed Farburn on his thread. Richard

Easy......When Andy Y gives you a 'Like This' Richard

You're joking! Why so much? I've got a stock of the things from when I moved from 4mm to 7mm. Never bothered to do anything about them. Time to dig them out methinks. Richard

Now that is food for thought Martyn. I am firmly in the Dingham camp for hands-free operating, but in the fiddle yard, you may have found the key. Cheers Richard

oops, posted 2x, sorry

Hi I put a couple of clips on Youtube of my 7mm scale Howes loksound XL equipped 10001. I haven't a clue how realistic it is - I have had it said there is too much turbo whistle, but hey, I like it! Cheers Richard