Silverfox17

As far as I can remember mine did not have much left on them, if anything. The roofs were all smooth and mine just have thin tape put on before painting. When I did mine I could use a lining pen reasonably well and even managed twin lines on N gauge, now I cannot use one. I think it is partly to do with the paint but mostly my age. My TT ones have to be transferred, I tried lining but it was no good. Garry

To me the magnet held back the wheels, just look at my video and the wheels do not spin as such. Garry

My Exleys where there are 9 behind Lord of the Isles are fitted with Bachmann bogies but the bodies are metal. It pulled the 9 easily so I think a couple more would be no trouble for it. I put its capability down to the sintered wheels on nickel track and no magnet holding the wheels from revolving. Garry

Thanks, I have no knowledge of these really I just bought them cheap somewhere as bodies but knew who LMC was. I did not research anything just went my own way, which I still do with my TT layout, and did what I thought necessary. The bogies are whitemetal and in those days bought most of my parts from Home of 0 gauge in Raynes Park. Nick was a very helpful chap regarding what was available. I have never seen an original so no idea what they really looked like when factory fresh. Garry

Yes, it was just a narrow tall piece for the centre and a couple of square blocks on each side then coverd in one strip of some material that I have no idea now what it was. Covering in one piece gave the round edges I think. I very much doubt I shaped them. It is possible I did them in longer lengths and cut off later. Garry

Here are my 3, all done about 30 years ago. The blood and custard one had most of its vents missing so whitemetal ones were fitted by gluing onto the windows after painting. You can see the brass rod used to hold the roof down, and, on mine the roof is very slightly narrower than the body. Because I put seats etc in these you do not see the rod holding the roof down or it is not as noticeable. Garry

I cannot see how they would need that many securing points for the roof, especially near the ends. I would guess at possible interior light fixings? I could be wrong but the splits in the boss does seem to mean they were for fixing something. Garry

Here is mine after I had 3-railed it and it is pulling 9 Exley metal coaches with ease. I used the sintered iron wheels turned down and removed the chassis magnet used for magnadhesion and filled the space with lead. It even has extra drag due to the pick-ups but runs nicely. It does start with some stills but then various locations on the layout. Garry

On mine the roofs had some webs moulded in and one or two had a hole so I bent some 1/8" brass bar to fit, then, threaded the other end that would go through the floor and when a nut was put on it pulled the roof down. Garry

The open spoked wheels are still Tri-ang TT and most have been in the chassis to start with and not changed. I do prefer the Tri-ang ones and used their solid Jinty ones in my WR 2-8-0. I will be using the solid ones in my 8F and WD also. A handful of locos which are scratchbuilt have Romfords but no matter what they look like I think the Tri-ang ones run better. Most Tri-ang locos seen have Tri-ang wheels but I try to be selective and use the ones that had the open spokes fitted from new not changed. Garry

I am going with single track, as you say less cluttered and loosing one loco space is not too bad. As for size I have not found any dimensions for these things but it will have do as there is no alternative. The ratio one just does not do anything for me even though it is prototypical. I have no idea which coaling tower this was based on but its shape does not help the overscale. I thought long and hard about a railbus but in the end decided no. Garry

Double or single track that is the question. I have found my Bachmann 00 coaling tower and it is a good possibility for use here. They were very high so scale wise it is not an issue. If double track I will probably have to add a coal direction chute underneath as it is made just for a single line with the hoppers in the centre. This would then not need me to cut the legs down which I don't really want to do. I did look at a bid on the Hornby one just now but then discovered it is the Bachmann one under the Hornby label, it even had the same slightly bent leg as well as identical hoppers (including rivets), doors, windows and ladders, one of them must have made some models for the other. It will be NON operational as it is a resin cast model although who knows what could be done later. Garry

Someone had asked about the turntable where it had come from and size so it is a London Road models LNWR 50' 00 model. I have cut the sides down in width but everything else is as per the kit. I had to go for one I could fit in the location and I knew a Britannia and M/N would fit I was unsure about an A4 and Duchess so checked last night and as you can see there is about 3mm in total spare on the deck for their wheelbase. Garry

After a trip to B and Q I have the raised loco depot track bed done. Next will be finding the paint before track laying. The over track signal box now requires a modification to its frame as it needs to be angled now, hopefully easy to do. Garry

Yes thats right, compulsory purchase order on some houses and part of the street as well. No roundhouse as no room for one unfortunately, but a straight running shed will be there most likely. Should hold about 18 or 19 locos. I might even get 3 or 4 short tank engine lines in. Certainly a paradise for train spotters. Garry

All building and running services suspended until further notice. The civil engineers/permanent way dept have been clearing the the old loco shed site as BR has agreed a new depot needs to be built as they have decided steam will stay for a lot longer than planned and need a larger depot for accommodation. Garry

The chap who sold the kits built this one. I have heard of a couple of others who have the kit and finding it very difficult, not just the valve gear but the lot. I have an A1 which I bought 2 years ago and left it soon after starting but will persevere one day. Garry

Thanks Robert, There is no room higher up, I was lucky to get it in as it was. The problem is it is all guess work and if I shortened the drop link it is tight when the wheels are at rear dead centre. I could look at dropping the one from the crosshead but done all in situ is not easy. The bogie wheels are far better but unobtainable now, they are Romford/Jackson which are not made now as far as I know. I got the remaindet of box full a couple of years ago and run out now. 10.5 crop up often but not 9mm ones. Garry

Silver Fox now has valve gear. I am not too happy with this and think I may try something different on the next one which, if works, I will alter this one. Garry

Yes, thats the one. I have had mine 2 or 3 years now and noticed that Rob has brought the price down by £4 in a couple of steps over the time I bought mine. Garry

I had forgotten that Sarah, it was over a year ago when I last read it, just looked at the photo again, an age thing lol. Garry

Before and after, just some basic links soldered to the Britannia valve gear and it transforms the looks. Now for the rebuilt M/N, B1 and some more Standards. Garry

That's right, if you look closely at it, the model is very similar to what BEC brought out although theirs was the 2P. There is the odd difference but basically the same. It also looked to have a tender drive which was possibly the K's one at the time. The wheels look very odd compared to the splasher sizes. Garry

No sorry Bernard. Both loco and chassis are scratchbuilt, loco from Nickel and chassis from Brass. Gem only made an 0-6-0 and 0-4-2 chassis in TT and the TT 4-4-0 body was for an LNWR model. Garry

It has lasted around 50 years so far, and it does have a strengthener piece underneath. Garry