Western Star

How does cutting ABS (from Plastruct) compare to cutting styrene (from Slater's)? By "compare", I am interested in the respective settings for the cutting blade (ratchet blade, thickness, double cut selected). What settings do people use for 20 thou styrene sheet? regards, Graham

...Western Star over here, along with Polar Star used by Peter.

I have contacted the support desk, the initial response followed the company line... the version we support is the version which is available from the website... I asked about earlier versions of the Silhouette software and got this link by return:- http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/silhouette-studio/legacy-software Whilst all of the V3 releases available from the legacy link abort on start-up the V2 version does open and appears stable on my MacBook. So, for now, I can get going. regards, Graham

I have been given an Unimat Mk.2B... cast iron base with alignment slot in the headstock. I need a set of drive belts and the tommy bars for the standard 3-jaw chuck. Where might I find a supplier of spares for such an old machine? thank you, Graham

Yes, spotted that one behind the Hymek-hauled rake of class Bs...

Wherever possible I put a thread on the end of the buffer ram, most often 12BA or occasionally 10BA. I acknowledge that in some circumstances there may be a need to out a 10BA thread on the ram and have room for only a 12BA nut, drill and tap the 12BA nut for a 10BA thread... P4 to 7mm scale? A P4 convert to 7mm scale has accepted the finescale ethos and hence might wish to adopt S7 (which is more than just track, the relationship of wheels to frames and footplate is as important). Drop a PM if you wish to talk S7 in any aspect of building or supplies or what the S7 Group has to offer you. regards, Graham

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As I am at the beginning of the journey into using Cameo for 7mm... with Rob Pulham aiding and abetting... I have run into a brick wall on one key aspect of the process - getting the software from the Silhouette Studio download page. I am using Apple MacBook with os 10.5.8... and no desire to upgrade to a later version. The Silhouette application downloads to the Mac without problem - on completion of the download the Mac displays a Silhouette window with two buttons, one is labelled "Application" and the other "Silhouette". Clicking the Silhouette button produces a pop-up asking me to confirm that I want to run an application which was from the internet, confirming my wish to run the program then produces a second pop-up with the message that the program has aborted. Does the Silhouette download run on my version of the Apple OS? Is there an earlier version of Silhouette software (than the one available from the download page) which is suitable for my laptop. Why Mac? 'Cos my other laptop runs windows 3.11.... and no, I am not a Yorkshireman.

Now this statement needs some explaining. If you had soldered the hopper to the underframe - in at least six locations - then:- * which part of the hopper was twisted? * how did you get the hopper straight? Watching from a position of having been there.... and still there.

Mr Grumpy, what you are about to do is the most important part of the whole kit. The stanchions have a tab at the bottom and those six tabs have to fit between the solebars. Too wide across the tabs and the hopper does not fit the frame, been there etc., had to take the stanchions off on one side and refit in that knowledge. Graham

Thank you, please cover the rest of the build in the same way... especially with the comments on easing the build and the time taken.

Hi Mr. Grumpy, I went through the same research agony when looking at Paul's website - I found six or seven prototypes with rollers and oleos which lasted through to mid-1980s so you can build the kit as is bar the etched numberplates. If you want to fit spring Oleo buffers then contact NMRS. best, Graham

In our case we use the JLTRT Oleo buffers from the TTA kit on models from other manufacturers, eg. Cat and Dogs, so the idea shall have much greater application than just JLTRT kits. regards, Graham

I shall be put this idea to good use... thank you, Graham

Remember the sheets of craft foam that I showed you at the Reading Trade Show?

Thank you, I have looked at Paul's website, my understanding is that the vans in blue / parcels service are all from the build with BR brake rigging and that variant cannot be built (easily) from the Parkside kit. There was regular traffic for the SPVs from a printing company in Aylesbury... carrying Readers Digest. The print company had a management buy-out circa summer 1981 and that apparently put an end to the parcels contract. Diagram 801 seems to be the more prevalent at Aylesbury towards the end of the 1970s... the Parkside 7mm kit is for the diagram 800 vans with LNER brake rigging. Excellent, thank you. Are the vans listed in RCTS those diagram 800 vans which were painted blue and in use for express parcels traffic? thanks all, Graham

This topic relates to the BR insulated fish vans which were built to a LNER design, allocated diagram number 1/255 in the freight diagram book, with LNER style brake gear and roller bearings. Information on internet pages indicates that the above vans were converted to carry parcels in the 1970s and that most of the vans were withdrawn by the end of the decade. What I wish to know is some running numbers for those vans which lasted "to the end". Suggestions? thank you, Graham Beare

The captions to those photos add something to how we see the detail, having read the texts I wish that I could pop down the road for a shufty... just to check what happened next. If I may add.... the photo of Noah Hinghley's works caused me to think about Ma Pardoe's hostelry and the only time I had a taste, on Bridgnorth station in the early 1980s.

Are you trying to start something similar to Black Friday up in the valleys?

The 2015 Warley show was the first time that I had seen this layout - or maybe that ought to be those three layouts in close proximity. I am glad to have seen your work before you pass the layout on to new owners, very atmospheric and attractive modelling... a good advert for 7mm in a small space. Thank you for writing about the build both here and on other forums.

"Just sublime" (which seems appropriate for a wee puffer).

You just be careful young Sir, I might remind you about the outburst of "box opening sniffers" to be found on RTP wish list.

Thank you Paul, I understand your warning about the photo on the Tower website. The BR Ferry Van diagram book on the Barrowmore website does not have diagram page E557 - do you have a copy of that diagram? thank you, Graham

I have been searching through the BR diagram books to try to locate the prototypes of the pending HJ Cargowaggons... I think that the flat is E502 and the van is E512. Anyone able to confirm or correct my thinking? thank you, Graham