T0ny

How about that old fashioned curtain tube? It's a bit like the cable tubing used for bicycle brake cable.

Can I just say how much I have enjoyed/enjoy reading your blog, from the historical research, the various travails with Fusion 360 (that I am attempting to come to terms with), your experiments with model building and all the asides that you add to the series. I find it inspiring, educational and instructive. Keep up the good work. We can all learn something from it all. Well done.

So do I. Great work with the handrails. You can now go into mass production! I can thoroughly recommend early retirement, although you will never have been as busy. Tony

I am basing most of my work on this photo:

Thank you for this. The only information I have regarding actual sizes is from the BRatabase site which states that the wheel diameter is 3' 8". Anyway I shall investigate your sources. Tony

Hi there everyone. It is good to see the progress being made with these excellent models. Since there are several M&CR knowledgeable people on here, does anyone know the footplate width of M&CR 0-4-0 dock shunter's Numbers 2 or 3? I am endeavouring to build a model from photographs but cannot find a suitable one to scale the width. I am basing it on a width of 7' 3" since I have no other dimensions to go on. Thanks in advance. Tony

Regarding motors, can I just add Tramfabriek motors, and for other related equipment. They have a range of small motors etc. I am just a satisfied customer. http://tramfabriek.co.uk

There are a lot of ruling pens advertised on Amazon, Etsy and Ebay, probably other places as well. I can't vouch for the quality but there is a selection available.

Thank you for your prompt reply. I will go with that and see how it goes.

"Maybe I'm missing something, but if they are pinpoint bearings does it really matter? " No, they are inside bearings on a chaldron wagon and so will need to be sized correctly. They were used from the 13th century (obviously not with steam powered locos, horses) until the middle of the 20th century, being the (theoretical) maximum that a horse could pull.

Hello everyone, I am away from home for a little while and cannot get access to my materials. Can anyone tell me what diameter the axles are on Bachmann split spoke wheels? I am trying to create a 3d model of a chaldron wagon and need the diameter for the bearings. For all I know all wagon axles are the same diameter, 1.6mm?, but I have seen some diagrams that suggest otherwise. Thanks in advance. Tony

"I've followed @Jol Wilkinson's suggestion and used brass on a couple of recent builds and it's a huge relief!! It's more work - I don't have suitable bending bars so I use a variety of household objects of smaller diameters and a variety of pads and soft surfaces - but you know it won't change shape later and the best thing is that if it's a brass body, you can solder the roof in place from the inside, which also adds to the body rigidity considerably..." I'm following this wonderful blog/article and am in awe of the standard of work. Makes me realise how poor my efforts are. However have you thought about annealing the brass before forming it? It should make the curve easier to make and remove the springiness. Tony

"Good job its a passion and not a livelihood :) " Exactly this. Very few people are going to make a living from their work, especially if you realistically price your time, minimum wage anyone? Multiply your time by the minimum wage in your area and come out with a price, add on costs of all the other costs, heating, lighting, equipment etc and the actual cost will be too high to sell at a realistic price. People create these models because it is their passion. if they make a bit of money then that is a bonus. There is some fantastic work out there but the majority of it will never sell for a living never mind a profit.

"brambles, using dried leaves that had been put in a blender and ground down to small flakes." Have you thought of using herbal tea? There are many shades of various leaves that if suitably sized, ground, sifted could be used effectively. I use chamomile for autumn coloured trees.

I am sorry the EE has closed, it was a good site to get all sorts of odds and ends from. Jackson's Models, wigton, Cumbria (https://www.jacksonsmodels.co.uk/) have a good selection of models and other materials etc. No conection except that it is just up the road from me.