MacDuff999

Having read through the thread in more detail - all the various pluses and minuses based around the variable quality of individual models - my first impression of the new Hornby offering was that the chimney is not quite right. A minor matter, some might say, but that very feature helps depict the true appearance of the engine. In my view, it is too flat above the lip, which would put me off making a purchase, costing in some cases close to £200. Apropos that particular point though, I recall - much earlier in the thread - a comment by Clive Mark I think, along the lines of 'poor DJH, I wonder if they will be able to sell any more' (of their Coronation kits I assume). Well, at over £200 for the loco plus tender kit alone (let alone the cost of wheels, motor, gearbox etc,), it could be that the price may be the reason for any possible/future reduction in sales. Personally, I have had experience of 2 DJH kits, bought from them as new. The first was a ex-LNER J35, which I found to be a bit pricey, but not at all a bad kit. The second, an ex-Caley 'Jumbo', I thought was decidedly over-priced - being based on quite dated kit design - in comparison to the J35. I have a ex-Caley class 439 tank, nicely built, which cost me a little more than the price of the DJH kit as new! After a polite request to DJH for chassis parts missing from one of their kits I was given (not realising the box contained an incomplete kit), they declined to sell the relevant parts to me as I had not bought the kit from them as new. Needless to say, I am less than impressed; I don't think I will be buying any more DJH kits.

Thanks for that gents. I will give it a try.

A real 'tour de force' David, your budding GQS layout. Super trackwork over the station throat, and that work on the fanlight station screen is fantastic, as is the building from Brian. I have one brief memory of GQS from summer 1963, when I was sent to Glasgow with a senior colleague, to do a week of sales presentation work on a new range. We were staying at the NB Hotel, and I remember my colleague 'let me off' late one afternoon, to get the train to Edinburgh so I could spend most of the evening with my girlfriend there. My rail journey by that date was by DMU, sad to say. Best wishes for your further - and hopefully steady - progress. I have very recently created a thread on my own layout, a rail-connected dairy bottling plant on he west side of Edinburgh, and less than half a mile from the old steam shed at Dalry Raod (64C). 'Merchiston Dairy' is the title, but it's just an introductory description so far. I am trying to find out how to post one or two photos to make it a bit more interesting, although the layout is in its quite early stages.

Looks rather nice Tony.

Well, how is Mr. Gee then? I presume you completed your build of 'Valour' in 7mm scale, which you showed me at Missenden about 3? years ago. Any chance of a photo Tony? Apologies gents, as this has nothing to do with Hest Bank!

I have been using RM Web for a short while now, but cannot find any information on how to add photos, any basic personal information etc. Is there any set of instructions/brief manual as to how to do these basic things like other forum members do?

Well Terry, I have removed the over-scale handrails, along with the smoke deflectors and front basic coupling hook from the 'Duchess'. I am waiting for bogie wheels from Markits, but am undecided as to whether to risk the Comet chassis kit, or purchase just the frames set, and use them as a template for more robust mainframes. A bit of an expensive way to do it, as I will still need the bogie etch, Bissell truck etch, and the etch for the rear frame extensions if I do it this way, whereas they are part of the chassis kit. I think the next job is to strip the body. I have recently started a thread on my proposed layout entitled 'Merchiston Dairy' , which is based in Edinburgh, where I lived many years ago. The facility itself was not far from the steam loco shed at Dalry Road (64C). The layout is in its very early stages though. I could post the odd photo or two, but don't know how to do that. I see below it says 'drag files here to attach', but not sure how that is done. any help gratefully received RM Webbers.

How lucky you were to see that Colin. Fabulous. One man and his Dog, against the sunset. No sign of the sheep!

Oo-er, an error! 1mm=0.040ins. not 0.020ins, although the latter thickness would still be fairly acceptable.

Thanks for your reply Terry. I did check the front footplate when I got the body, and was pleased it was the right one for my intended model. I wouldn't have minded too much choosing a loco with the other type, but my maternal great grandparents came from Montrose, and I liked the idea of the connection. I recall your previous comments about re-shaping some areas of the body - I may leave the firebox, but have a go at judiciously excising some metal from below the main boiler section. As far as chassis are concerned, I have had a little experience with Comet chassis, and to a relative novice like me, they are a bit on the flimsy side. I like the DJH kind, nice and robust! I agree 1mm/0.020ins. thickness would likely be just right, as long as the spacers are no more than 11.5mm. On another tack, I take it you are in west Wales? I am in Cardiff. I seem to recall you mentioned in your thread that you had been ordained in Church in Wales, is that correct? We have some involvement with Christchurch here in Radyr; a number of our local friends/acquaintances go there. Just one final point re the loco, the body is of the earlier type you mention, so that is good.

I have only used Gibson wheels once so far Mark, but thanks for that suggestion. I hadn't really thought about their 'cosmetic' qualities. Looks as though its another call to Colin - I just received some turned handrail knobs and smokebox door handles from him today.

Re your post of 29/11/2016 Ian Hargrave, the only time I was hauled by a 'Coronation' was in 1957, when I returned from a day's spotting at Crewe. I was pleasantly surprised to see 46257 'City of Salford' at the head of the 3.15pm Crewe-Manchester London Road service, to take me back home. It consisted of 3 or 4 coaches, and was on a running-in turn after a works visit (and re-paint), and was the first loco I saw with the then 'new' totem on the tender. 'Semis' and other named classes were often put in charge of this service for the same reason. Arriving at London Road about 4pm, It was a good opportunity, as we waited for our trains home from school, to 'cop namers' on this service.

I need a set of bogie wheels for a 'Duchess', and some other bits, but can't get hold of Markits on the telephone, after it ringing for an unusually long time. Anyone know why that might be?

I am having problems contacting Markits on the 'phone at the moment, which is a little unusual in my experience. I know the chap there can take some time to answer calls, but not as long as the ring-time I have experienced lately. Anyone know if there is a problem there? I have tried a couple of days, as I need to order bogie wheels and some of their brass fittings.

Really good to have lighted on your layout thread Terry, which I managed to do via Iain's Motive Power for Camden thread. The link and interest between the two, for me, is that of Stanier 'Duchesses'. I often saw them at Manchester London Road station in the 50's. I have just acquired a H/D body (not sure what stage of its incarnation) for one, which I would like to try and build up into a reasonable representation of 46232 'Duchess of Montrose'. I have obtained a set of Comet smoke deflector etches, and a front bogie etch, so far. Having removed the over-scale handrails and the original smoke-deflectors, the body looks quite a fair representation of a 'Coronation'. I need to order bogie wheels, for a start, from Markits, but the main challenge really will be (quite possibly) a Comet chassis. Having already had a little experience of one before, their mainframes seem a bit on the thin side. You mention you have used 1/16th. (c. 0.060ins.) brass on a few occasions. I wonder if you would be willing to tell me a little about your experiences using that, as I tend to think more robust material is more practical for those less experienced (like me) at this sort of thing. Just one other point, do you know if it is possible to safely solder (low-melt) to the white metal used in the H/D bodies? Grateful for any help and information. Ian.

Just back-tracking a little, rather unfortunate proof of the 'Coronations' work on night sleepers was 'City of Glasgow's' role in the 1952 rail disaster at Harrow and Wealdstone. She was heading a late-running Perth-Euston night sleeper, when - unaccountably to this day - she overran red signals and ploughed into the rear of a Tring-Euston commuter train in the station platform. A couple of photos taken of the aftermath of this tragedy, appear earlier in this thread, I think.

I find that a little hard to credit, in a way. I have a number of shots of Duchesses, often at Citadel involved in a loco change-over on such workings as the 'Royal' or 'Mid-Day' Scot trains, and I am sure that at least some of them are from 66A. I will check. I did have feeling though, that the Polmadie locos were not turned out in red. Thanks for the reply anyway.

Thanks for that Mike. I will go to your website, and see if I can order the ones I need (they are for one of the last five with no hand-holds).

Does anyone know where I can get/access a 4mm scale drawing of a Britannia? I am up-grading a Hornby example, and am thinking of replacing at least the bogie wheels - if not the bogie itself too, although I don't know its wheelbase - and the smoke deflectors. I am sure I have seen replacements for the latter somewhere among the loco etc. detail-making traders, but cannot find them now. I could, of course, have a go at making them from scratch, as the existing ones need replacing, having moulded-on handrails, as well as similar smokebox door handles and lamp bracket. Any helpful information gratefully received.

Thanks Pannier Tank. That clears up a couple of important points for me.

A question or two gents for the cognoscenti among you who have detailed knowledge of the Stanier 'Coronations'. Re 46232 'Duchess of Montrose', was she ever streamlined? Unlike some others of the class, I cannot remember actually seeing her, but have the impression she was a green liveried member of the class, rather than red. Was that the case? And as a Polmadie loco in the late 1950's, was her nameplate background ever coloured ? In summer 1958 I spent a day on the north end overall platform bridge at Crewe, which gave spotters a commanding view of the northern approaches to the station. One of the many loco 'cops' I made that day was 46230 'Duchess of Buccleuch', apparently being taken from north shed to the works. Her external superstructure cladding was in a real mess, visually, and I thought she may have been involved in - or quite near to -a fire. Can anyone throw some light on this possibility at all?

Are the 'Coronations' you mention Barry, ones you said last June you may sell on, or other you are building for yourself? I could well be interested in a 'OO' 'Coronation', if you have one for disposal, depending on details. Ian.

Further astonishment at your level of skill and innovation Iain. A thoroughly enjoyable (and envying) thread. Just a couple of points I noticed in Barry O's contribution from June last year. Re rare sightings (model ones presumably) of re-built Jubilees, might it perhaps be that they do to some degree at least, resemble the re-built Patriots and Scots? To my mind, a Jubilee is a single-chimney loco of Stanier's original design. Many modellers might consider the re-builds rather too like the other Stanier re-builds. Just a thought; others' views might well differ. On another tack Barry, did you sell off the surplus 'Coronations' you mention? If not, perhaps you could let me know what you still have for possible disposal. It is not impossible I might be able to use one on my planned layout as a visitor from 66A (Polmadie). Either way, keep up the good work gents. PS My 'Drake' is sitting on the baseboard track, waiting for a smokebox number plate for 45595 'Southern Rhodesia' (I have the nameplates from Fox), and then a trip to certain fellow in Derby for re-numbering/naming and weathering. Ian.

After something of a chequered modelling 'career' due to job changes/locations, house moves etc., I now have the opportunity to embark on a modelling project with (I hope) a sustained future. A few years ago, enthused by involvement with a fine-scale group in my local area, I started to build some baseboards, with a particular layout plan in mind. As sometimes happens while things are developing, your ideas do too. The original plan bit the dust, and what was about to become an urban goods yard in north Edinburgh, where I lived quite some years ago, changed to a rail-connected dairy/milk bottling works on the edge of south-west urban Edinburgh. I do prefer to model prototype locations, for a number of reasons, and this idea fitted more comfortably, as I knew the surrounding area rather better. Conveniently, the dairy was no more than half a mile from Dalry Road (64C) steam loco shed. The plan would be based around a daily service, by steam-hauled express milk trains, of the bottling plant owned and operated by the Edinburgh and Dumfriesshire Dairy company. Trains of loaded 3,000-gallon bulk milk tank wagons would be brought from Dumfriesshire (either Sandquar or Dalbeattie), via Carstairs Junction to the bottling facility about 2 miles before the old Caledonian Railway terminal station at Princes Street. The main-line locomotive (typically a Black 5 or 'Crab') would be released, to make its way to the nearby shed for servicing, and the tank wagons would be shunted to and from the dairy discharge siding by - usually - an ex-Caley 0-6-0 shunter. Empties would be marshalled, along with the accompanying passenger brake van (commonly a ex-LMS Stove'R'), prior to arrival of the train loco from 64C to take them back south. Although there is no way I would be able to portray routine traffic on the adjacent double-track main line, due to space and time considerations, the main line would feature on the layout, and I would use it occasionally as a route for 'visiting' locos to the area, to return either to Carstairs Junction to pick up a southbound train, or west to return to Glasgow or Lanark. This would create an opportunity to provide glimpses of main-line motive power such as a Jubilee, ex-LMS pacific or Britannia - often from 66A Glasgow Polmadie shed. The actual sidings occupied by the dairy were also occupied by two other commercial concerns - a stone masons/builders yard and a timber merchant. Using my modeller's licence, I have amended the plan to feature a single commercial facility, that of a storage and dispatch facility for the Edinburgh Crystal Glass works. The one-time works manager there, a certain Ken Northwood who I briefly got to know, was a railway modeller of some distinction, with his Torreyford on the North Devon Railway filling the loft at his family home in north Edinburgh. It was Ken, so I understand, who developed the technique of pin-pointing wagon axle ends - by hand with a small piece of timber, a file and paper-based abrasive !

I won't order any wheels for a few weeks yet then.