Doncaster

Sadly it seems we've also lost the Keighley Finescale Festival. It was a wonderful friendly and relaxed event, with super catering. That was a summer event but it seems to be gone.

It still is an excellent range. Dan was in great form at the Kettering show last Saturday, selling his 7mm kits. I purchased an ECJS Clerestory Luggage van.

First Post on here says 1030. Same thing happened at EMGS EXPO Autumn. Doesn't look good!

I've been doing a Replica bash for a BR Mk1 4EPB set. It ain't far off now! Oh yes, it's green! 😆

Hi Chas, I had a quick look at preserved locos and found this photo of 1744. You can see the sidetank top but I can't decide if I think its black or dark green! Plus of course it's a preserved loco and they might not have had access to the GNR painting spec. https://images.app.goo.gl/w8tiTu2d8oUjUiA38 Good luck. Vernon

I believe some of the GNR ones lasted into LNER ownership. I've modelled them in both 4mm and 7mm scale. Here's the 7mm ones.

Hi Bishop, Thanks for your comments. I'm a bit torn because I've got a photo of a unit in all green where I can see the no smoking signs extending beyond the semi open part into the compartments. But I can't make out the final few compartments. Happily my travel on the EPBs was a deal less scary than yours. Mind you, my Dad had to walk home to Blackfen from New Cross after the St Johns disaster, while my Grandad was on the train that was pulled up short of the fallen bridge. Then he had to walk home to Blackfen. Cheers, Vernon

Hi Brushman, Thanks for that. I reckon I've closed in on the answer with each contribution. I now have a vague recollection of the single no smoking trailer vehicle in the mid to late 1960s. That means only one car to do! Thanks again. Cheers, Vernon

Hi Brushman, Thanks for that. I reckon I've closed in on the answer with each contribution. I now have a vague recollection of the single no smoking trailer vehicle in the mid to late 1960s. That means only one car to do! Thanks again. Cheers, Vernon

Hi 4630, Thanks for that. I think I'm closing in on that as the answer. Rule 1 will apply! Cheers, Vernon

Hi Keefer, thanks for that - great steer. I've had a look at the diagram book. For the cars I'm interested in they show the DMBSOs as "Non Smoking." However, it's a script addition so I'm thinking that the original smoking designation was amended as the habit became less popular. I think the book shows typed designation for non-smoking except the 415/2! I've now found a decent picture of an all green unit which seems to show the DMBSOs as smoking and most of the trailers as non-smoking. Cheers, Vernon

Thanks for that Brushman. I used to travel in them as a youngster and I think it was more complicated. I reckon there was a mix in each if the trailers, but I can't remember exactly!!!

G'day, I'm well on with building a BR Mk1 style 4EPB set. At the moment I'm applying the transfers and fitting final details. I'm struggling to work out which of the carriage sections were "No Smoking" so I can apply appropriate transfers to the windows before I fit them. I reckon that the driving vehicles were "Smoking" areas. But I've not been able to work out the trailers. Bob CWP's Flickr pages don't clear up my problem so I'm hoping that someone here can. Thank you! Vernon

Hi folks, Well I've got there! My test article runs everywhere fine and I can run a loco through, although it's a bit of a faff with lots of Croc clips at the moment. I'll add the tie bars when the track is in situ. Thank you for your help and advice. Cheers, Vernon

Thank you for that. I'm pleased with it so far. Vernon

Hi Hayfield, Thank you for your helpful comments. I have been using the Exactoscale chairs as I progress and I agree that you shouldn't throw the spares away. Working in EM I'm chopping the special chairs up anyway. I've been working with my revised Templot and I've got one tandem completed and the adjacent turnout with trap virtually there. One more tandem to go. Until recently I've always had running rights on other's layouts, which combined with lots of house moves to deter me from building a layout. A friend's sad death and the covid situation have pointed me towards building a layout. I hadn't built any turnouts since the 1980s. I much prefer the ply sleeper and cosmetic chair approach over copper clad. Vernon

Hi Martin, Thank you for your advice. I must admit that I was concerned that they were too close together. The Templot was produced for me by a friend so I will have to ask for an amendment. Vernon

Good morning folks, This is my first constructional post in this section so please be gentle. Its about tandem points and this is my first go with separate chairs. Oh yes it's 18.2mm EM Gauge with Exactoscale chairs. I've built some standard turnouts already. I've got a Templot print for my new layout and it includes a couple of tandems. I got the timbers cut and stuck down, I even cut and shaped my first bit of rail and then I realised I had a problem. There's no gap between the heel of the first point blade and the toe of the second and thats blown my planned chair usage out of the water. Ive labelled up this photocopy with chair positions. I was expecting to use my previous practice of slide chairs in positions 1-6, then special chairs in 6-9, then small chairs in 10-12. However the arrival of the second point blade means I can't do that. I've thought about extending the base on slide chairs but thought I'd ask the question because I'm sure this is just down to my inexperience. Any help or suggestions gratefully received. Thanks. Vernon

Thanks Simon. Great service from Warren Shephall, the etch arrived today! Looks just the ticket. Thanks for your advice guys. Vernon

Hi Charlie, Thanks for that. I'll keep it in reserve pending getting my etch from Warren. I guess that covid stopped us from meeting up at shows. I hope you're well and getting plenty of modelling done. We've gone into Tier 3 so there's plenty more modelling time for me! Cheers, Vernon

Hi Marc, Thanks for the heads -up. I spoke with Warren today and I'm expecting an etch in the next couple of days. I'd drawn up my own version to be milled from solid and had asked a big favour from a pal with a jig-borer with a nice rotary table. Not now required! Thanks again. Vernon

Hi Simon, Thanks for that. I'm planning to get the cylinders underway tomorrow. Then I'll know how much side play I can allow the bogie. That will define how much I need for the trailing axle. But I'm guessing at 2 or 3mm. Cheers, Vernon

G'day folks. I'm working on a GNR Small Atlantic starting from some etches I obtained a few years back. The chassis is designed to be compensated and I can make that work. However I'm struggling to get it to go round corners in OMF. I'm not keen on sloppy axles so I'm going for a radial axle for the rear carrying axle. Is there a supplier for such a thing in 7mm scale? Any help gratefully received. Vernon

I placed a largish order in the summer (80 axles) despite Colin saying there would be a delay because of trade demand. My order arrived within 3 weeks. Happy with the service. Vernon

.....then you need to watch "Murder by Death," a marvellous comedy film with a stellar cast. Oops, spoiler alert... Cheers, Vernon