Rail-Online

As always brilliant David!

Tony

Hi Ray,

I like your comparison- great! One thing, the Airfix one has larger splashers and the firebox is shortened in length to keep the splasher/firebox relationship looking right.

Compared to prototype the Bachmann one still has slightly oversize splashers but Brassmasters are to do some replacements.

Cheers Tony

Perhaps the early trains conveyed exhibitors/operators/traders as well as some paying public?  Parking at Swanwick can be difficult to find for visitors and is not signposted (as I think it is a private road).

Tony

Hi, I don't think it is a Dia 37 in the photo -especially given the 1957 date. Looks like one of those double door ex NER vans to me (some went into internal service). However as fish vans were common user within the LNER group, I would expect Dia 37 to get to your station in your period. BTW did they not carry the 'N' non common user branding on their sides/end of buffer beams?

How about some of the ex NER fish vans done in whitemetal by 51L? They would surely have been around.

http://www.51l.co.uk/nerdf006.htm

Tony

Excellent Dave,

Well done, we all knew it would be a simple fix! Tony

When doing the topfeed pipe don't forget that the bit that passes vertically down over the panniers is actually covered with a 'D' shaped case - the Mainline/Bachmann moulding of this is rather good and definately worth keeping.

Tony

David,

Yes substitute some stronger/thicker spring steel -I thought the Tortoise instructions actually mentioned this.

Tony

Dave,

I would replicate the station stone colour -otherwise it will always look wierd.

Tony

David,

The right thing to do - definately. The other area worth considering is the big solid footplate between the dummy frames on the footplate, some cutting out and dummy motion will make a difference too! The motion was actually quite high up in these locos. See what it looks like with the boiler on and make a decision then.

Cheers Tony

Chris,

Well the wiring looks correct to me.

Try unclipping connections 2 & 3 and putting them in again. Also then try removing both 2& 3 and temporarily connecting one at a time to 4, with each temp copnnection the loco should work through the point with it set in one of the two settings (straight or curved) If it doesn't then one of the wires is not connected at the rails correctly.

Tony

Dave,

Bananas th Delph! I suspect a WC Pacific worked them all the way through from Southampton Docks

Cheers Tony

David,

I would not worry too much about the fitted wagon forming the head of the train, when first introduced the NCB shunters backed by their union refused to couple up the fitted stock so a compromise position was taken and they ran as unfitted anywhere in the train! Not sure when all this occured but I distincly remember reading it and there are loads of photos to back it up.

Cheers Tony

Dave,

That looks fantastic! JLRT. Keep up the steady work & see you at the NLG Xmas party

Tony

At last! Someone who puts soot on the top of a boiler - just where the cleaners didn't go

Well done looking good. One observation if you don't mind, with the dirt on the tender frame sides, I think there would be more above the springs (just where the airbrush doesn't get to!)

Well done!

Cheers Tony

'Chard,

I can add to your list:

6812

6883 painted at Crewe with numbers on the bodyside but double arrows below the windows

6889

D6797 (note the D)

Tony

Hi James,

Yes I see what you mean! I suspect as soon as you go near them with a file they will distort, might be best to solder them onto a backing piece to give strength then seperate them when thinned/shortened. They will be soooooo delicate. I think really they should be etched in 5 thou steel (stainless?) together with the makers names. I wonder if 247 or Shawplan would do some?

I think if I were you, if reducing in size doesn't work, I would leave them off.

Cheers Tony

James,

Very nice -I can't wait to see it weathered.

In practice the Sentinel swords were often pinched/removed on many prototypes, not certain on MSC ones but I would guess so given their place of work (as to a lesser extent were the makers plates) so if you are not sure about them just leave them off!

I guess it depends how long from delivery your model will represent.

Cheers Tony

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info on the lifting traverser, it really is an impressive bit of kit. Shame as a teenager going round the works I didn't appreciate it!

I think you should be able to do something to represent it, after all (presumably) you will not be actually lifting anything with it.

Cheers Tony

Bob,

Although I went round it a few times I can't remember the traverser -what is a "lifting traverser"?

Cheers Tony

Hi again,

There was an article published in a magazine in the early 1970s, it may well have been the Railway World mag, does anyone know an on line index? I suspect all the information has been updated since then ,but there might just be a "new" photograph Cheers Tony

Adrian,

I cannot recall seening a photo of the coaling stage before, I am sure in the 1930s it was not raised nor covered, just a siding with a wagon parked......

Tony

Hi,

you have not said which kit it is but I would guess the Hunslet 16" saddle tank. I have not built and JE kits but would have expected the bearings for rigid construction to be included.

If you are unsure as to build rigid or compensated, and considering this is your first kit I would recommend going for rigid in 00 gauge. The most difficult bit by far will be the forming of the saddle tank, time and patience and "a little at a time" is the rule. I think some of the tanks on HE 0-6-0s were welded not rivetted, if you choose one of these they are a lot easier to form & work into shape, and when you solder up the joints you can file excess solder off without losing rivets -much better for a beginner.

Forming rivets is all about evenness of pressure, you will need lots of practise without a riveting tool. Consider the London Road one -as featured in MRJ (anyone know when? - it was a gravity device), it is a cheap "introduction" level tool.

Cheers Tony

Hi,

These are of course Healings flour mill and they operated their own PO wagons (details in the Gloucester Garriage & Wagon PO wagons book published simply ages ago). I believe the track to the wharf was horse worked. Last time I went in the 1980s there was still track in situ in the concrete on the wharf. For those interested there is still a lot in place at the site of the shed and quay/mill.

Leicester MRC built a P4 model of the shed & Mill area about 1981 (actually Tony Freestone and & I built it with Dave Smith doing the buildings).

Cheers Tony