Denbridge

I'm currently a semi passive onlooker. I don't currently have a layout, nor space for one, though hopefully that will change in the next year, or two. my modelling, when I have time is solely kit built locomotives

It may be worth giving Dave a ring. If the existing mould is still useable he may be able to provide you with a casting. I managed to get obtain a couple of castings from old kits from him. Dave is always super helpful.

So very sad. May you rest in peace Gordon. My thoughts are also with his wife and family at this terribly sad time.

If these are produced in 4mm scale, assuming they are reasonably priced, they could be a real game changer.

I think many of these people build up collections whilst still working, fully intending to build a layout later in life. A good friend of mine has showcases and boxes of lovely Great Western & Southern locomotives and rolling stock, all professionally built, some by 'names' in the hobby. It is only now he's reached his early 70's that he has concluded that, realistically he will never build a layout to run his superb collection on.

So very sad to read this dreadful news. my thoughts are with Gordon & his family at this sad time.

To be honest, they need to have stronger words with whoever approved the awful rendition of SR Olive green. presumably the same person who got the lining and lettering so wrong. They've managed to completely ruin what could have been superb models.

I think the key paragraph is; "The line falls I in 100 from this station to Goonbarrow Junction, and Rule 151 applies. In order to facilitate the work at Bugle Station, the Carbis Branch Home Signal has been fixed at a point 650 yards from the Signal Box, and the line on the Bugle Station side of such Home Signal may be occupied for shunting purposes, or for refuging a Freight train for a Passenger train to pass" Owing to the line falling at 1in100 the brakevan would lead the wagons so that the guard could control the wagons should a coupling break on the descending gradient. However, since the clays branch from St Enodoc climbs to the kilns, it would be permissible to keep the brakevan at the tail of the wagons as demonstated.

I bought a collection of etched brass kits from the family of a deceased modeller. Not only were instructions either missing, or incomplete, but parts had been cut from the etch sheets (often badly) and were jumbled dumped into margarine tubs with no identification. Making matters worse, parts from different kits were mixed together. No fun at all sorting various Mitchell and finney kits into complete sets.

I'm sorely tempted by a couple of kits. If you still have them in a few weeks, I may weaken

There is a small matter of covid to consider. Peco weren't producing ANYTHING for a long period. They are right to focus on their core products before releasing new ones. They are a business and in business you have to consider those products that make the most money before working on those items that are in development and/or return smaller numbers of sales..

My knowledge of the B1's is almost non-existent, though a friend has several on his layout. When I first saw them, about the 1st thing I noticed was that the Hornby version has much nicer grab & handrails and the front end 'face' looks a lot better.

Diamond?

closer, but still way off. It is nothing like any shade of Southern Green. when questioned about the shade of green on pre-production models, Rails made assurances the final production models would be correct. Such a shame they have ruined what promised to be a fine model. certainly for Olive Green models.

i held off ordering a Southern D because I was unconvinced they had got the correct shade of olive green. despite assurances that the production models would be correct, I'm really disappointed just how badly wrong the olive green is on these models, before any considerations over lining etc. such a shame, these could have been superb models.

It's only a pre-production sample

To be fair to Dapol, these livery 'imperfections' are only really apparent when photo's are enlarged to crazy magnifications. Some people seem to go to extreme measures in order to criticise new products. I wonder how much a P class tank in full SE&CR livery would cost if Hattons were to release one in 2021. A lot more than £100 I would wager.

Interestingly, the same shipment of coal was also used on two other mainline locomotives at the weekend. Both performed superbly, with no fire or steaming difficulties. That suggests having the coal tested scientifically would have given a positive result. One can draw ones own conclusions as to why 60103 ran into difficulties. It may have been simply unlucky, in that there was a small quantity of sub-standard fuel that found itself loaded into Scotsman's tender which didn't make its way onto the other locos. It wouldn't take a large quantity to 'wreck' a fire.

I wonder if it may be an airfix slimline? A motor once used extensively, along with XO4's by Pendons Guy Williams back in the 60's & 70's along with Pitmans.

Railways across the UK have, to a greater or lesser extent, been using imported coal from Russia and elsewhere for years now. as Graham mentions, most consider it to be very good.

most of the coal sourced for the heritage steam movement, whether it comes from the few remaining UK sources, or from further away is perfectly good. It doesn't matter where it comes from, you can't analyse every lump . As mentioned previously, duff coal can look fine and initially appear to burn fine, only to turn out to be dreadful stuff which can bring a steam locomotive to it's metaphorical knees. the big railway is such a busy place nowadays, there isn't the luxury of stopping for a 'blow up' or to rebuild the fire, without causing untold delays to other trains. therefore, the crew of 60103 would have had no choice but to declare the locomotive a failure and substitute a diesel.

Isn't it so easy to condemn others from the comfort of your armchair, when you clearly don't have a true understanding of the subject.

a few years back, I was involved with a preserved Burrell traction engine. At the beginning of one season, the owner took delivery of a coal supply from his usual supplier of good welsh steam coal,always from the same colliery. In those days coal was delivered in large sacks and had a batch number tracing it right back to the seam. Of the 20 or so bags delivered, all but one were of the usual high quality. The exception looked the same, initially burnt the same, but out on the road, wouldn't make a hot fire and clinkered terribly. we had no option but to pull off the road, dump the fire and start again. I suspect a similar situation occured with 60103. the difference being, that it is a major undertaking to replace the complete fire and tender coal load on a mainline pacific. I feel for the passengers and the support crew, but that kind of issue isn't one that can be recovered from quickly and easily. They would have had no option other than pull the loco from the train.

In the main, coal supplies are pretty consistent. It is an unfortunate fact that occasionally some 'bad' coal will slip through the system. It is rare, but it happens. You can't test every single load. It is no different to the stories we occasionally read about concerning 'bad' fuel being pumped into petrol station storage tanks. Nothing in the real world is 100% perfect, sometimes things go wrong. Perfection doesn't exist in reality.

With respect, bad coal is nothing new. There are many recorded instances of bad coal causing problems during BR steam and earlier. The problem with coal is that you don't necessarily know you have a bad batch of black stuff until you are out on the road. By then of course, it is too late to do anything about it.