hartleymartin

Willie Ruston? I do adore my O Scale model from Heljan.

On another forum it is suggested that these vans are glued together and cannot be easily disassembled.

Having solid buffers not such a problem as long as the couplings are long/loose enough. I use Slaters 3-link and Dapol screw-link on most things. These are sprung and there is usually enough of a gap between the buffers that they go around curves just fine. I have quite a few older wagons with solid buffers. I tend to alternate them with the sprung buffer wagons in rakes for the sake of smoothness in operation.

Still no joy - can't get the van apart for fear of breaking it!

At the moment, another FREMO standard is being developed by AMRA (Australian Model Railway Association) which is using M6 bolts in 10mm holes. I have built two such prototype modules for O scale standard gauge and can verify that this gives you quite a bit of freedom as the standard will still work with dimensions out by up to 2mm. We are using M6 wing bolts with mudguard washers. You may find that drilling out the 8mm holes to 10mm will make things easier for alignment, especially if people are cutting out their own end plates from a paper template rather than buying a pre-made end plate.

Let's say 1950s. But, I suppose it is a good question to ask: What were typical branch line formations of BR Mk1 Carriages, given that there would be variation by area/region, and over time. Let's say a typical formation for each decade. A 1950s formation, 1960s, formation and 1970s formation?

One question I would like to ask about the BR Mk1 stock is what was a typical consist for a branch line train? I imagine 3 carriages, one of them a composite one of them a brake carriage (probably in the middle) and another 2nd class of some sort?

Ian Futers' "Victoria Park" plan with 3-points is basically what you get on a prototype if you have a single-line version of the classic layout scheme "Minories." You just need to have both facing and trailing cross-overs on the approach to the station throat so that all platforms can be used for both up and down trains. If it is a single track line, you basically have an "Inglenook" with a kick-back siding.

You do have to take off the tank to remove the body. There are other screws from underneath to remove as well. What type of couplers are you fitting?

A few months ago I set up some of the 1970s Atlas 2-rail track with 24" radius curves. I can confirm that 0-4-0s will happily run around those curves, include the Dapol Sentinel, Ixion Manning Wardle H Class, etc. I also have a Rivarossi DB Clas 80 which ran with no problems. If couplings are left loose enough, most four-wheel wagons will be pulled happily around these curves, but propelling them may be a problem when you get back to straights.

Would love to lay my hands on a few of the Rivarossi Virginia and Truckee carriages. Can't seem to find them anywhere though!

I recently ran some 1970s Vintage Atlas O gauge, which has 24" radius curves and points. Much to my surprise, British four-wheelers ran quite happily around these curves, hauled by locos such as the Atlas Plymouth 0-6-0 shunter, Heljan 03, Dapol Sentinel, Rivarossi DB Class 89 (0-6-0), and my Ixion Manning Wardle H Class. It helps if the buffers and couplings are sprung, but not 100% essential. I also have some 36" radius curves, which I might set up later. My Ixion Hudswell Clarke struggles a bit on 36" radius. It largely depends on your choice of prototype, and whether or not the model is made to allow for sharp curves.

I have a Dapol southern railway brake van that I would like to disassemble. I cannot find any screws or tabs to get the body off. Any suggestions? https://www.Dapol.co.uk/products/7f-100-006-o-gauge-brake-van-sr-brown-red-small-letters-even-plank-55526?variant=43341527417055

Had an impulse purchase of a 1970s-era Atlas F9, some 40' Reefers, 40' Stock Cars and a couple of cabeese. One of each all shown here:

I now own six of them. Four of them were obtained from the USA cheaply as a job lot because they all had missing/broken handrails and couplers. Two more were recently acquired new in original box! I had another one years back which I started converting to an 0-4-0, but whilst disassembled the drive train components were damaged which stalled the project.