Flymo749

And as a finescale taster, here are a couple of pictures of Wantage. It has progressed further in the year since these were taken, as any visitors to last week's Railex exhibition will have seen.

Thanks Dave, for the honesty of the answer! I can completely understand why you wanted to test out the concept. I've done something very similar to product 4mm LNWR wagon plates, to go onto various of the Ratio wagon kits. Of which I have a small mountain, so I'm going to need a lot of plates (and numbers!). They came out very well :-) Best wishes, Paul

Hi Dave, Lovely bit of kit design. that makes up into a very nice looking model. One question on Midland Railway practice: did these wagons only have number plates on one side? Because I can only see one set of the five plates that you mention in the unmade etch picture. Unless I'm looking straight through them! Best wishes, Paul

Production of flyers is in hand, now that the layout line-up is finalised :-) Hope to see you, and many more there in September. Best wishes, Paul

The planning for Scaleforum 2023 is well advanced... The layout list is finalised, and the list of demonstrations and traders is being compiled. We'll be bringing more details of those nearer the date, along with tasters of many of the exceptional finescale layouts that will be on show for the weekend. As the first "reveal", here's a shot of of a prize-winning layout that will be present. It's of "Sandford and Banwell", an exquisite slice of GWR 1930s modelling based on a prototype on the sadly lost Strawberry Line in Somerset. Hope to see you at the exhibition to join us in admiring it! More details of the show are on the Shows page at www.scalefour.org

Excuse the self-promotion, but as it was mentioned. I needed some (and GER headcode discs) for a 4mm Connoisseur Kits Buckjumper (a GER E22 to be exact) that I was building. So I drew them up and had them etched. GER specific lamp-irons on a separate fret as well, after the Great Carpet God (kneel to his worship) ate too many of the ones that came with the kit. 5522 Models GER destination boards and discs Best, Paul 5522 Models

I'm pleased to announce that at the most recent Committee meeting it was decided Scaleforum 2023 is go! With our traditional dates of the last weekend in September, Scaleforum will be on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September 2023. Same venue, same fantastic finescale modelling. We had such good feedback* about the modern, light and airy facilities for the show this year that we are delighted to be back at Cressex School, High Wycombe for 2023. And with the same caterers, and their now famous "bottomless mug of tea", and delicious cakes. Details of all the attractions will be posted as they are confirmed. See you there! Best wishes, Paul Willis Scalefour Publicity

Hi Dave, Scaleforum 2022 Traders has a phone number - half way down. Paul is very much at the small end of the small suppliers, yet I'm sure that he'd be happy to have a chat with you. I saw some of his current range of products at the show, and they are very nice indeed. best wishes, Paul WIllis Scalefour Society Publicity

There was a photographer from the Society taking pictures and video throughout the Saturday and Sunday. Once they are downloaded, sorted and shared, I will happily post some up here. In due course there will be a proper Retrospective as well, such as the ones that can be found at the Scalefour Society website here. Best wishes, Paul Willis Scalefour Society Publicity

Hopefully you found the plentiful seating when you arrived, and the bottomless cups of tea available from our excellent caterers. A great atmosphere at the show today - busy enough to feel really enthused, quiet enough for those catch-ups with friends that you haven't seen for far too long. And some excellent layouts and traders, of course! Here's to an equally good Sunday at Cressex... Cheers Paul Willis Scalefour Society Publicity

The Marches Open Day 2022, or MOD22 for short. The Marches Finescale Group, formed from the Shropshire & Herefordshire Area Group of the Scalefour Society, is holding an Open Day on Saturday 3rd September in the Mascall Centre (http://www.ludlowmascallcentre.co.uk) in Ludlow. Exhibits The following layouts have kindly agreed to appear, in the Hall: - Corwenna (OO) by Phil Waterfield - Cranford Ironstone (P4 under construction) by David Beale - End of the Line (7mm/NG) shown by Tim Crockford - Hartburn (EM) by Ian Manderson - Lydham Heath (S) shown by Simon Dunkley[/list] Modelling, in the Severn Wye Room, will include: - Locomotive construction by both Karl Crowther and Simon Bolton - Modelling the GER in 7mm by Nick Coppin - EM Trackwork or Easichass construction by John Watt - Horseboxes in P4 by Gavin Clark - Other Rolling stock and building construction by various members of the group In addition there will be various parts of layouts on display, including: - Buildings and track plan for Coldham Staithe, Geoff Kent’s new EM layout - Part of Coldstream by Tim Lewis, showing NER interlaced P4 trackwork. - Part of Pendre, Trevor Hughes’s new 3/8 inch to 1 foot layout Travel There is no available parking at the Mascall centre - the spaces here are controlled by parking cameras and not available to the general public, so use these at your peril. However Smithfield Car Park is 3-4 minutes walk down the hill next to the Police Station and very accessible - current prices are around 30p per hour. Ludlow Station is around 10 minutes walk away via Station Drive, Upper Galeford and Lower Galeford. Catering The Open Day will not provide specific catering for visitors, however there is much available as MOD22 is in the centre of Ludlow. The Mascall Centre includes a Greek Restaurant on-site (http://www.athenagreektaverna.co.uk) who can be contacted directly if you wish to arrange food. In addition there are at least 10 pubs and 20 eateries all within no more than 10 minutes walk. Entrance and details Doors will be open from 10am - 4pm. Entrance is free but donations towards expenses will be gratefully accepted. Any further questions contact marches-open-day@85a.uk and we will do our best to provide an answer. Also seethe MOD22 website or or on the Scalefour Society Forum.

William, Is this the sort of thing that you are looking for? If it is, PM me your address and I'll pop one in the post to you. Cheers Paul

Inspired by a bridge. As seen in the August 2020 issue of British Railway modelling, Boston Frodsham will be a star layout at Scaleforum 2022... Cheers Paul Willis Scalefour Publicity

Unfortunately we've been notified that Dave Bradwell is unable to attend Scaleforum 2022 at Cressex School, High Wycombe, as a trader. We are obviously disappointed that he won't be at our show, although his excellent range of kits will still be available online at Dave Bradwell kits on the Scalefour Society website Cheers Paul Willis Scalefour Publicity

I'm pleased to announce that we have confirmed three more traders for Scaleforum 2022. The first post in this topic has been updated to show this. We welcome back the established names of London Road Models, and Dart Castings. They will be bringing their wide ranges of cast and etched kits and details. We're delighted to have a new trader to Scaleforum in the form of Pre-Grouping Railways. They will offer a range of early wagon kits from a variety of pre-Grouping railway companies. You can find details of each of these traders, and links to their websites, at www.scaleforum.org Cheers Paul WIllis

The Scalefour Society is delighted to announce the return of its largest show dedicated to the very best in 4mm railway modelling. At a new, more accessible venue, it promises something of interest to all modellers. This post will bring you the latest information about the show, and will be updated for changes as they happen. When Scaleforum 2022 is taking place on the weekend of Saturday 24 September and Sunday 25 September 2022. The show will be open from 10.30am to 5.30pm on Saturday, and from 10.00am to 4.30pm on Sunday. Where Scaleforum 2022 is at the Cressex Community School, Holmers Lane, High Wycombe, HP12 4QA. You can find it on Google Maps here. Layouts For many, the big attraction to Scaleforum is to see the many and varied layouts. We are delighted to have a great selection for you in 2022. - Bankside. The successor to St Merryn, a gritty depiction of south London in the days of British Railways steam. - Boston Frodsham. Based on a wharf and swing bridge, this dockside model is set around 1980. - Faringdon. A superb model of the former GWR branch terminus in transition to British Railways. - Hawes. An end-on junction between the NER and Midland in pre-Grouping days. - Kitedale. Set in the west Pennine foothills, this LMR terminus operates in 1960s guise. - Market Bosworth. An LNWR/Midland joint station set in 1908. - North Elmham. Set on the Dereham to Wells branch, around 1958. - Obbekær. An exquisite depiction of a Danish railway modelled to P87 standards - Ravenscroft Sidings. A steel warehouse freight complex set in 1988 - Richmond, Surrey. Part of the mainline LSWR station and goods yard depicted in 1908. - United Mills. A rail-served industrial unit in West Fife shown as around 1960. And our special guest layout, Abbey Street. This is built by Jas Milham in S Scale, the true scratchbuilder's scale. This small station is set in East Anglia in the late 1950s and shows both freight and passenger services. Traders We're pleased to welcome a wide variety of traders to support your modelling. We hope that you will support them with your business. - 247 Developments. - Alan Gibson. - All Components - Ambis Engineering - Bill Hudson Transport Books. - Branchlines. - Brassmasters. - Cavalex - C&L Finescale - Dart Castings - High Level Kits - Intentio laser cut kits - Isinglass Models - Judith Edge Kits - London Road Models - Model Railway Developments - Pre-Grouping Railways - Prickley Pear Products - Roger Carpenter. - Rumney Models - Stoneybridge Structures. - Sunningwell Command Control - Wild Swan Books. And of course, Scalefour Stores will be present with the full range of items normally available from the Scalefour Society. Whether it's track components, gauges, locomotive components or lever frames, you'll find the products normally available to Scalefour Society Members. Demonstrators We're pleased to have a great set of demonstrators who will help your explore many aspects of finescale modelling. Take time to have a chat with our experts on the subjects of: - 3D design, printing and laser cutting, with David Lane - Diesel & electric modelling, with Robert Austin and David Furmage - Fiddle yards, with Tim Maddocks - Locomotive Construction, with Dave Holt - Radio Control, with Ted Scannell and Nick Allport - Scenics, with John Farmer - Signals, with Adrian Musgrave - Templot, with Gordon Ashton - Track, baseboards, buildings and research, with Rod Cameron - Wagons, with Nick Rogers Not forgetting perhaps the most important demonstrator of all - James Walters, talking about his experiences of Starting in P4. You can explore these, and much more, on his YouTube channel Bexhill West here Please do come back to this topic for more updates from Scaleforum 2022 as the summer progresses. We look forward to seeing you at the end of September.

Also, thanks to Andy York for making me aware that the lead image that I selected to illustrate Faringdon on the flyer was a picture that he had taken. I was unaware of this, and selected it on its merit from the range of picture of the layout made available to me. My apologies to Andy for not crediting him, and indeed not realising that he was the person who should have been approached for permission to use the image in the first place. It's a measure of Andy's skill at shooting layout pictures that in a "blind tasting" it was the most appealing. Cheers Paul Willis Scalefour Society Publicity

Supplied by the layout owners AFAIK - that's how they came to me. Cheers Paul

Hi David, Thanks for raising this topic. As I'm part of the team organising Scaleforum in September, I'd characterise the approach of the Scalefour Society to the show as being "cautious" rather than "reticent". As we are all coming out of two years of lockdown, and finding our feet again with exhibitions, we have aimed to be careful and not over-promise only to find ourselves later backtracking. I'm sure that you will have seen the quantity of shows expected during the first quarter of 2022, only to cancel and sometimes to cancel at very short notice. That may not be the fault of the organisers either - I'm certainly not pointing fingers. We know from our own discussions with Cressex School that venues are being very careful about Covid precautions, conditions on hire, and so on, and not least the changed risk-appetite of exhibitors themselves. I'm pleased to say that we have now finalised (E&OE!) the line-up for Scaleforum in September. There will be a dozen layouts to delight in, including a couple of excellent non-18.83 ones... We have over 20 traders indicated to attend as well, with some invitations still awaiting to reply. The Bring & Buy stall will also be a major attraction this year, with at least one major set of items to be sold. There is also a dedicated Scaleforum website that will have content added to it constantly. Please do bookmark it and come back to it - not least because I've just received a batch of photos of some of the layouts that will be at the show. If you have any other questions, just ask here or email marketing@scalefour.org Cheers Paul Willis Scalefour Society Publicity

A few months ago I wrote the above, to shed some authentic, historical light, on the subject of the transport of exotic animals on the Great Eastern Railway. Whilst I acknowledged the GER Society Journal (a quality scholarly work published for members) as the source, I overlooked mentioning the author. That was Bill King - then Chairman of the GERS, and an extensive and fastidious researcher on matters of the GER and its successor. Bill has written a significant number of articles for the GERS on a variety of subjects, of which giraffes is perhaps just the tip of the iceberg (or the roof of the tunnel). There is an archive of backnumbers of the GERS Journal, currently from issues 1 to 180, available for purchase by members of the GERS in digital format at a very reasonable price. The scholarship included makes that a very worthwhile investment. Cheers Paul

Thanks Annie. An unfitted/unpiped van, which doesn't help James' search for those specific examples. Actually though, that does show one thing for certain. We were debating in the pub last week as to whether the ironwork on the body should be picked out in black or not. On the Oxford Rail van it isn't. This does at least give a contemporary photograph showing clearly that it is black. That said, as the photo is of a van built by Claytons, it may represent an over-zealous interpretation of the specification "ironwork is finished black" that is given in the article.

Hi James, Now that is something that becomes a lead... I had been so preoccupied with researching primary sources, I'd forgotten the range of D&S kits. I have one of those whitemetal van kits. In fact, I have four, but that's a different story. So looking at my copy of the instructions (one side of photocopied A5), then there are two interesting things that emerge: 1) Danny's original diagram, copied above, is actually annotated "Vee STRAPPING, see notes". The table of livery notes actually refers to "GE 1912+ Black V straps". So this is a suggestion perhaps that the sign wasn't just painted on, but was physically present. Which in itself is quite odd, because why would the GER fit iron strapping (at some cost, no doubt) if it was not to mount or support some sort of fitting inside the van? 2) There are a set of references given in the instructions. These are (my interpretations below): "LNER Wagons - Tatlow p.30, MR (Model Railways?) Oct 76, MRN (Model Railway News) Jan 60, Railway Gazette Aug (19)20, Locomotive July (19)20" Of these, I don't have any in my collection of magazines or books (this Tatlow book is too late for my interests) at the moment. But the Locomotive Magazine is a download available to GERS members, and I'll be purchasing that later... Does anyone else have any copies of the MR or MRN issues and could consult them? We take tiny steps forward. Cheers Paul

One dares to correct the master at one's peril, but... Zooming in to that photo to the maximum, I believe that it says "For SLEEPER TRAFFIC". Which would make more sense in terms of a photo of a construction site, and also the slight peculiarity of having some fairly scruffy wagons specifically marked for Boat traffic. It's not clear, if it were "steamer" whether that would be of a Boat Train variety (and would therefore probably need higher speed running capability, such as piped brakes) or Tramp Steamer (in which case, probably any old open wagon would do. Was the MS&L permanent way HQ located at Grimsby? Not something that I know, but others may. Cheers Paul (PS - long time reader, I think that this the first time I've felt I could contribute!)

Morning Ric, and others, Thanks for the nudge on this. The last twelve months has been interesting... Not only has the country had the whole coronavirus experience, but during 2021, I've <deep breath> sold our house, moved to the other side of the country, been made redundant, lived in temporary housing with friends for four months (very comfortably, I must say), had all our belongings in storage units, and finally towards the end of the year bought a new house. So I must admit that time for modelling hasn't been a priority... That said, we're now properly settled, and this is toward the top of my priorities. I also have a number of early GWR wagons to finish that I want to apply this to :-) Now where did I put that CAD package??? Cheers Paul

Combining the two interests, have you read a copy of this: https://sbwhistory.com/product/where-the-lysanders-were/ RAF Hunsdon is equally interesting to study the history of, given its use as a base for notable Mosquito missions. Cheers Paul