RodneyS

Is there a pharmacy open during your break or after work ? A pharmacist can issue prescription eye drops which is probably what you need, especially if you are going away. With apologies for being blunt and stating the obvious, not one of those items you list is more important than your sight. Rodney

I only came upon this thread yesterday and like Mike I also had a shock when I realised it was 40 years ago ! To put your mind at rest Mark, there was nothing about Bringewood in the April issue. The series seemed to finish with the July issue which was the last one Cyril Freezer edited. From August Kenneth Jones became editor. Rodney

This is worth a look as it lists the Manning Wardle locos which ran on the Colonel Stephens railways. https://colonelstephenssociety.co.uk/locomotive notes topics/manning wardle locos.html

I do the same so I think we are both normal ! ? 🤔 The exception is the Ratio loco kit. I have the first kit for the 4-4-0. ALL plastic including the wheels and the handrails moulded on in the best Kitmaster style. That is definitely not one to gloat over. I occasionally take it out, wonder what to do with it and put it back again. Rodney

There's probably a picture on the box lid to follow. Rodney

Thanks. Looking at the photos again I think I was wrong about the lining. Probably just a line of rivets. This has inspired me to look out my old loco and the plates for 5815 and have a go myself. A friend has given me some unwanted Romford wheels so I have no excuse now. Rodney

Interesting link, thanks Steamport Southport. I also fancied converting a Hornby 14xx into 5815 as I saw that at Swindon dump in December 1963. It would be something a little different. The weather on that day was terrible as was the photograph I took on my Brownie 127. I've often wondered if the loco was in green or black. Looking at one of the photos of 5815 in that link I think I can just make out what looks like lining for the green livery. What do others think ? Rodney

Many years ago, the club I belonged to had an EM layout with a turntable. This was driven quite simply with a set of Romford gears. I can't remember what ratio but possibly 20:1 as that would make ten turns for a half revolution. The turntable had a 1/8'' spindle for the gear and a piece of 3/32'' rod, on which was mounted the worm, ran through the wooden edge framing and was bent to form a handle. Lining up by eye was easy enough and there seemed to be sufficient friction somewhere to stop the table moving. A friend prefers digital operation - he just uses his index finger. Simples. At the risk of stating the obvious it is easier to build the turntable as a separate unit which can be screwed into place once nearly complete. This could be square - or any shape. Also, if you are building your own deck, don't fix the rails to it until until the approach roads are laid. If they are not exactly centred then they may line up with the table in one position but won't when it is turned through 180 degrees. Very annoying. Don't ask how I know...... Rodney

Colonel Stephens would be proud of you. Rodney

The bottle I'm using at the moment was bought about a year ago and does have a different smell to the previous one. The cap also seems to have been improved and the contents don't seem to evaporate. The contents of the previous bottle just seemed to disappear. Rodney

There are some rather nice old locos in this video.

Wow ! Wiki definition of woke. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woke

Back in the mid 60s a B1 appeared at Redhill shed. Possibly that was a pigeon special as there were quite a few at that time. It came off the train with a hot axlebox and sat there for quite a while as a 4-4-0. Evidently the shedmaster took quite a liking to it so when the wheels were refitted it was used on the Redhill to Reading services. Probably excused as running in. Rodney

I have a few Bilteezi and Superquick models made in the 1960s and they are still in one piece. Some were reinforced with balsa wood and I think I used balsa cement as that was all I had at the time. I also made a couple of Prototype models buildings, probably in the 70s and they are still in one piece. I'm not sure what glue I used then. The only problem I've had with one Bilteezi model (low relief shops) is what I believe is called foxing. This has brown marks which have got worse over time and is similar to the marks that appear on some old books. Realistic weathering ? The others appear to be fine so perhaps it was just that batch of card. Rodney

I remember seeing a Borrows loco at Robertsbridge on the preserved KESR. A bit of googling shows it to have been The King which was in store there for a while. Rodney https://ribblesteam.org.uk/exhibits/steam/borrows-48-1906-the-king/

There's another video here.

Kerry station is supposed to have had a similar arrangement to Bembridge but I've never seen a good photo of the turntable. It is mentioned in this link and can possibly (?) be made out in the picture of the 0-4-0ST on a mixed train. Rodney http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/k/kerry/index.shtml

Where did you find the drawing for Wantage Tramway No 4 please Annie ? I've always thought that would make a fascinating model. Rodney

I would agree with Moxy but comparing the two photos it would seem that the eBay example has the front part of the regulator rod missing together with the crank. Perhaps the crank came loose and the damage was due to excessive glue being used to try and fix it back on. I have repaired Hornby locos with ordinary superglue. I squeeze a drop onto a piece of scrap plastic and apply small amounts with the point of a pin. With any glue it is important to let it dry and all the fumes escape before putting the model away. I would leave it out for at least a day. I remember a friend sticking some foam inside the case of a very expensive camera with Evostik. The camera was put in and by the next day the fumes had taken all the leathercloth off the camera. Rodney

Having looked at your panorama and the high level overall view on the previous page I think you are right about the shop. The thatch on the cottage is very effective so it would be a shame not to use it. I'm sure it will fit in once you have worked your sheep magic on it. The panoramic photos work well on the new wide screen format. Rodney

The thatched cottage does look a bit lonely. What would it look like if you took out the half timbered shop, moved the shed up to the warehouse and then put the shop near the cottage? That would keep the habitable buildings together. Rodney

There are some photos in this interesting video.

I also have the wide screen format on my laptop as well as the sheep videos. Is this a sheep take over as all the other adverts on the right hand side have disappeared ? The 'submit' button is also hiding but I have found it ! Rodney

I'm near the railway station and the schools changed a lot between my school days and yours. Mine were a long time ago ! When I first joined Crawley MRS they had a hand built model of 'Crawley'. Perhaps Ifield was too small at the time to be considered. Thanks for the photo of the chassis, it is my kit. The chassis was made for the E4 so is not an E5 one. However I did sell quite a few at the time to modellers wanting a chassis for the E5. That was before the etched E5 chassis came out. As Squires still do the new etched chassis for the E5 kit perhaps it might be better to get one of those ? I seem to remember that the SEF chassis kit came with the additional bits such as cab fittings and doors to update older models. I'm not sure if they still do but I'm sure Squires would tell you. Rodney

Thanks for the photos Gary. I was rather curious as for many years I manufactured a white metal body and chassis kit for an E4. This does look as though it is made from my kit. Originally it had a white metal chassis but later on I did an etched chassis. I retired the kit some years ago as the Bachmann model is better and cheaper ! The E5 is one of the early Wills kits (without a cab door), designed to fit on the Hornby Dublo R1 chassis. When Dave Ellis took over the range he improved it with an etched chassis, cab doors and some cab fittings. Rodney (who still lives in Ifield !)