Denbridge

2 for me, though I'm increasingly leaning towards 1

I didn't say it reduces reflection. what it does do is get rid of the obvious bevelling appearance of the clear plastic moulding, particularly around the edges around the windows as seen on the GWR railcar Tony photographed.

as i mentioned previously it isn't something I've done personally, but the ones I've seen, people brush it on & the Klear being a liquid self levels and fills the gaps around the edges of the glazing. I first saw it on some HO American coaching stock and the transformation was dramatic. Another application I've seen using it to great effect is on SEF flushglazed windows.

A loriot would be nice, but any earlier diagrams than the one due from Rapido which is a bit late for those of us who model the 20's/early 30's.

When I was travelling almost daily into Central London, I noticed how quickly the off white roof panels on some electric units became grey and even black. this despite regular washing, modern paint and the lack of 'dirty' steam engine emissions and the cleaner modern environment.

On models with the horrid edges around the glazing, as seen on the new railcar, Klear, or similar does a great job of 'hiding' those edges. though in my case, like you, I have a small stash of the old Lima model. So, should I feel the urge to model a later GW period, I'm more likely to turn to those for upgrading and detailing. Certainly one of Limas better offerings at source.

On other models people have gotten rid if the prismatic effect of the glazing by simply applying a coat of klear or similar, to great effect. I think it could potentially transform the glazing of these lovely model. A great pity they are too late for my GW modelling period, otherwise I'd be trying the method out for myself.

May I ask where she is listing kits and etches she is selling?

several years ago, before Peco took over Ratio, I asked Richard webster (?) about releasing the open C again. he told me the tooling was worn out, along with another issue, which I can't now remember. He said they didn't think it was worth re-tooling.

groan

May I ask from where are you sourcing your final drive gears? thanks.

It isn't missing. It is having a rest alongside the shed.

Maybe it is you I've spoken to in the past regarding the Barnum. I hope you do produce a kit (as well as the 388 Armstrong), though understand the reasonings if you decided not to proceed.

Rapido are releasing a Loriot Y. which is a nice lowmac type, as long as one is modelling late 30's onwards.

I wish Martin had produced a Barnum. He was considering it at the time of his retirement and Brassmasters are also considering doing a kit. At present, the only kit for a Barnum is via the secondhand market and a Mallard/blacksmith kit which though groundbreaking in its day was a real devil to build and in some ways would possibly be considered rather basic in comparison with etched kits that came along later.

I think the defining word is profitably. In order to make a profit if manufacturing in the UK, prices would have to be set at a level that few would be able of afford and/or are willing to pay. I'm not being needlessly negative. I do have professional experience with a company whose products, while not model based, share many similarities with model railways. a couple of years ago, they did an extensive survey and costing excercise to determine the practicalities of returning to UK based production from, in their case India. it was soon concluded that prices to the consumer would have to double at the very least. It was a moot point though, the study indicated that the sheer costs of setting up a manufacturing base in the UK would put the company out of business before it seeing any return on product sales.

As I said, Kean were responsible for designing and having the gearboxes built, incidentally using standard gears from portescap with the exception of the nylon bevel gear which was unique to these units.

Portescap as a company is still trading and supplies quality motors and drive trains to industry. It was kean who designed & commissioned suitable gearboxes for model railway use.

It is a situation that I can't see a way out of. manufacturing of models is a hugely labour intensive process, but it isn't just wages that drive the costs. Everything would cost significantly more if produced here in the UK (the same applies to the Europeans & the USA). Indeed it was the move to overseas manufacturing that allowed the introduction of highly detailed models & liveries that we now take for granted. I fear that should, for any reason, manufacturers be forced to return to producing models on their home soil, it could spell the end for RTR, since very few people could afford the resulting prices. That pre-supposes that Hornby etc could even afford to find and equip suitable premises and employ/train sufficient staff willing to do the mind numbing repetitive work involved in making these things. Its a different world to the days of the Margate factory.

a small matter compared to the strange rendition of a Southern......something

i've always thought that the likes of Hornby, Bachmann, etc, etc, should combine the manufacture in China with a quality control dept here in the UK, where models are inspected & tested before being dispatched to the retailers. I know that is how firms like Roco, deal with their models. When I was modelling HO continental i rarely received faulty models. Though in mainland Europe they fully expect to pay more for a quality product, wheras there seems to be an element of UK models being built down to a price.

A few years back a friend was celebrating a milestone birthday whilst visiting his sister in Australia. I sent him a couple of teabags with a note saying "have a drink on me". The card was opened by Oz customs, who fortunately saw the funny side and sent it on its way to the recipitant complete with their own humorous birthday wishes.

to return production to the UK would result in prices doubling at the very least, resulting in no RTR at all. the costs of day to day production would be horrendous and that doesnt take into account the initial costs of finding and equipping premises which would run into the tens of millions. It just isn't feasible.

longer in some instances. I've seen pictures in which red lamps can be seen dating to the end of the GWR, early BR.

lovely work. Will you be building the impressive viaducts?