Alex Duckworth

Hello John, and thank you. The chassis is scratchbuilt and split framed, using wheels from the 2mmFS Association. The body uses the Langley white metal tanks and boiler which gets the weight right over the drivers, and the chimney, dome and sandpot

Finally finished my 4-6-0 Hunslet. Runs on 8mm gauge track. Alex.

Or more properly an absence of colour - which would be perfect in the circumstances. Alex.

Looking at Harton Colliery nos. 2 and 10, 13 and 15 (Mr. Edge's excellent 2mm etches) and perhaps a small layout/diorama to run them on.

I've always thought that Black is the perfect colour for anything that isn't layout.

I'm looking for a Backwoods Miniatures "Lancashire" kit to buy or swap for a Backwoods Darjeeling type B kit. Alex Duckworth.

Does all this mean I won't be getting a Baby Deltic?

This is the best view that I've found of the drive. Alex.

Hello Andy, I've got a photo of the chassis lower half - will post ASAP.

Just finished a pair of EB1s built from Mike Edge's excellent 2mm etches. Only one EB1 actually existed, it was a Shildon - Newport locomotive (No. 11) that was modified to become a banker on the Woodhead line. It was subsequently transferred to Ilford and renumbered, before being scrapped in 1964. here are a couple of photos taken at Railex by Tim Shackleton of 26510 on Alan Whitehouses superb Mini-MSW layout.

Great work, really effective - the details give exactly the right amount of relief and shadow. Alex.

Hello Gordon, According to my research at the time of building (1996 - 7ish) "William Francis" whilst at Baddesley Colliery was Dark Blue, lined in red and white. There was a very good article on the loco in an early Bylines, possibly Vol 1 No.3, entitled "The Beast of Baddesley" with some good photos of the loco in a less grubby state. I've scanned some of my photos of the trip to Bressingham which may help to understand the differences in the brake gear when compared with the kit instructions - they amount to revised brackets for the brake crosshaft and crank which are mounted further inboard. I am not sure if WF was the only one with this arrangement. Alex.

My model of William Francis made after many, many views of the Ivo Peters film. The loco was actually lined dark blue but appears on film to be overall dirty black. Built from the 4mm Backwoods kit, it is in P4 with both chassis beam compensated and with modifications to the brake gear - William Francis had slightly different brake rod and crank fittings to the others. The staff at Bressingham were kind enough to let me photograph and measure the loco several years ago, by which time it had been repainted yellowy brown. Alex

Still a great layout, delighted to see that it's still going strong. Alex.

Nice work Pete, a good start, ready for your attention to detail to bring it to life. The buildings will be an interesting backdrop for the railway items, particularly that superb 08. Alex.

Nice Dukedog John, very encouraging as I'm doing pretty much the same thing. I'd try Guilplates ( 32 Wodeland Avenue, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4JZ, 01438 565980, no website ) for the number and shed plates, they made me a 2mm set for my 15XX. Alex.

Hello David - that's probably a different Duckworth, Steve not Alex.

How refreshing to read posts from modellers who admit that they started their career with some fairly awful results, and then improved with practice, determination and sheer hard work. I do understand that we are in an era of instant gratification, but I find it so sad to read posts that say, in effect, "I tried building a kit once but I wasn't very good at it". Neither was I - but I kept on trying and got better, and the same applies to most other modellers that I know. You have to put in the time and effort. Alex.

Sorry to hear about your eye problems and your decision to halt construction. However I am sure that with your obvious talent for design and your eye for detail your future work will be excellent in whatever scale you choose. I'll certainly be watching. regards, Alex.

Hello Pete, you have my sympathy, I hate making track in any scale and I'm not much good at it. Alex

I'm also quite taken by this one - might be time to break out the airbrush and the 2mm can opener! Alex.

Great thread for a visually appealing (to me anyway) locomotive. Here's a photo of my 2mm version. Alex.

Very nice too James, you've caught the Hunslet style rather well there. Have you (or any of the other Narrow Planet team) thought about an etch for the Busch extended axle chassis? Fly cranks, rods, single and double slide bars and crossheads and an assortment of valve gear links would make conversions a fairly simple matter. I'd buy a couple for starters. Alex

I've just finished a small steam outline loco in HOf (photo below) and I would like to try the Technomodell track - is there a dealer in this country that will either stock or import it? Alex