wilks

Chris Hope furlough doesn't last too long and suppliers can begin to supply again. Will you be working on a chassis for the Hornby B2 Peckett 0-6-0st? All the best

I too was only part way through watching the videos. The ones I saw were very useful and was looking forward to the others. Can they be made available again?

Are the conversion to EM by widening the b2b on the Bachmann wheels on their axles? There is obviously clearance behind the slide bars, cross head and crankpin on the leading driver. Great modelling - looking forward to the film.

Fantastic modelling and following your thread as the quality of your modelling is superb. When you say "had wheels pulled" I assume that you have just pulled the Bachmann wheels out on their existing axles (except one)? Do you secure the wheels in place with a spot of loctite or similar?

MNA books have announced a second set of 4 volume of Never Again books. There is an announcement in the latest Steam Railway magazine (Feb - March 2021). I have tried the MNA books website but all I get is error 500 - Internal Server Error. Are others having trouble accessing the website?

Barry If you are in search of another Triang EM2 John Dutfield Model Shop in Chelmsford has a blue one on their second hand shelf. The shop's number is 01245 494455, and is now owned by Heather and Ken Wilkinson. Paul Wilkinson - no relation to Heather or Ken

Robert Thanks for the link. The one I am after has discs, green ends and was numbered D8046. There seem to be a few D8000 available. Cheers Paul

Class 20 diesel D8046 in BR green with indicator discs Bachmann Branchline 32-027A-LN Preferably not DCC fitted. Cheers

John Dutfield Model Shop Chelmsford managed to get a limited number of May Railway Modellers from Peco for its regular subscribers. Thanks to Ken and Heather for working with Peco to get even a small number of RM magazines - others magazines are available through JDs. Happy modelling, stay safe and support your local model shop.

Just picked this posting after reading about the layout in April's Railway Modeller. Copper, Wort and Co Ltd is a great idea which should be fun to operate, lots of detail, a mix of reality and intrigue which will keep the audience captivated. The circular design is well thought out and surprised there aren't more circular layouts on the exhibition circuit. The size, scale, finish and detail on the buildings is immense. I look forward to following the progress of the Copper, Wort and Co Ltd and hope to see at an exhibition in the future. Wilks

John I have packs of : E4CH 501A - A,B and C switches E4CH 502A - common crossing chairs I also have slide, bridge and check chairs but these are not numbered and are not as bemusing!! Thankyou Paul

John I am just about to embark on building EM turnouts using ply sleepers and glued plastic chairs. I have purchased (I think) the necessary chair mouldings - C&L mouldings supplied by the EM gauge society. The mouldings have small numbers by each chair moulding. What do these numbers relate to? Thank you Paul

Any thoughts of producing an etched smokebox door ring in stainless steel? I have a SE Finecast kit to make up and would like to replicate the polished ring typical on many N7s. I am not sure I will be able to achieve the concentricity of the ring by painting.

John It is only this week that I picked up your posting. Your layout and modelling skills are excellent and you achieved all this in 4 years. Your standard of modelling is very consistent across the whole piece, making good decisions on when and where to make investment e.g. more complex track work, waiting to up grade rolling stock. Some of the station views are Pendonesque and I was surprised that it is a 00 layout albeit 00-SF. The only down side is that you chose Great Western over Gresley, but your layout is inspirational; BRM will be pleased as I bought April's magazine on the basis of your layout. Did the A1 Victor Wild (?) reach Devon in the LNER/GWR Castle exchange trials - a bit early but allows for the Gresley influence... Happy modelling and keep up the high consistent standard.

Graham Thankyou - Spalding might be possible. Paul

I went to the CMRA show last weekend, particularly to see Grantham. I managed to time my two visits to be at the same point in sequence!! However the second time I did get to see the 1938 recreation of the 1888 Flying Scotsman. I took some pictures of Sir Nigel Gresley and the Stirling Single on its restored GN coaches - both trains looked fantastic. I showed them to my Dad today and he remembers seeing the Stirling Single and its train passing through Hadley Wood, where his family used to go and watch the trains at Greenwood Box at the end of the 4 track section. My father was 13 in 1938 and from that period remembers seeing the inaugural run of the Silver Jubilee, Mons Meg as a 2-8-2 at Kings Cross, and also the two P1s on coal trains. Large Atlantics were still common and I think they were his favourite engines. Unfortunately his mobility is not a great as it used to be - he is now 93. I think it is about time I persuaded him to come to an exhibition to see Grantham. When is expected to exhibited in the south east again? In the mean time how can you purchase a CD? Paul

Coronach I have just started your posts on your layout. Can't fail to like the Waverley route as it offers so many modelling opportunities. Would you be able to post a track plan of the layout as I not sure on the relationship between the stations and the fiddleyards? Happy modelling in 2019.

Brilliant set of books. Only 2/3rds through volume 1. Love the photos of the Waverley Route - the lighting was just different from elsewhere to produce dramatic shots. The short story on cab ride on City of Coventry at speed adds that human element to the books. Roll on vol2,3 and 4.

Congratulations to the Railway Modeller on reaching 800 editions. That is a long slog with continued commitment from the editorial team and owners. None of the other magazines can match its longevity and having seen off Model Railways and Model Railway Constructor (which arguably were technically superior) seems to suggest that RM has managed to get it about right. I bought my first copy back in May 1976 and have bought every month since. There were times when I thought why but I think at the moment it is going through a "purple patch" but perhaps this actually reflects the state of the railway modelling. So tomorrow I am off to John Dutfields in Chelmsford to buy RM800.

I picked up a BR early crest O2 a couple of weeks ago and finally ran it on Haddon Bank (Chelmsford MRC) layout last week. It ran very sweetly and attracted much attention. It does have some very fine details - handrails and valve gear are finer than most other rtr models. I have raised a few issues directly with Heljan so hopefully they can improve what is a very good model into an even better one. Good customer feedback is important if we want our manufacturers to improve and continue making fine models.

Leen Check the connecting rod on the right side between the third and fourth driving wheel has not caught on the moulded brake block. It only happens when going forward. Paul

Two photo's of my collection of GNR/LNER 0-6-0 tanks with the new J50 Hornby 68971 out of the box, J52 68846 - Hornby weathered, J50/4 68989 - Lima body, Jackson Evans conversion and detailing kit on a stratchbuilt plastic chassis, J50/3 - 68950 - DJH kit. Having received the new Hornby model inspired me to fix 68989 - the rear drivers are now pinned to the axle. Do I need a forth J50 - the Hornby model is nice. The photos were taken on the Chelmsford Model Railway club's Haddon Bank. On the LNER version no. 635 there is a picture on page 137 of Yeadons without the "Scottish" shunters foot step. Unfortunately the photo is not dated but if the Scots fitted the step quickly suggests the photo is autumn 1926.

The best photo which shows the cladding between the boiler and the tanks is on page 38 of Great Northern Engine sheds vol3. Griffiths and Hooper, Book Law/Railbus. The photo is Bradford Bowling Street (Hammerton Street) shed without the roof circa 1948. There are over 30 loco's on shed and all bar one/two appears to be either a J50 (12+), and N1 or a J6 - pure GNR heaven. Cab roof profiles These varied between the sub classes. To fit the Widened Lines (London) loading gauge the roof height was reduced making it look like the cab windows were closer to the roof line. The cab shape and large cab windows look right to me and are characteristic feature which Hornby have caught well. Valve chest covers 30 engines rebuilt from J51s to J50s retained a flush valve chest cover below the smokebox between the front sandboxes. The valve chests area on those built as J50 were recessed. Looking forward to receiving the Hornby model.

Probably delivering fish for Buckingham Palace seeing as it was the closest mainline station!! The fish vans could be a red herring with these vans being left over after another part of the train has been shunted off elsewhere in Victoria station. I will look out for references