MarkC

You speak for all of us who have had the same concerns, Jesse. Practice on some scrap first - drill some holes in narrow offcuts & have a go. Like most intricate jobs, there's a knack to it, but once you've done a few joints, you'll wonder what the fuss was all about! Cheers Mark

Hello Tony I think that they did - I'm sure that I've seen a photograph of an Atlantic that was in a spot of bother, having got a bogie wheel caught in an intimate embrace with the cylinder or crosshead. That's an interesting point that you make about the model Raven A2s - I don't think that the cylinders are much higher, if at all, than the Atlantics, or indeed the B16s. Did DJH mount them a little further out, perchance? Mark

We NER modellers have been a bit of a backwater for RTR for many years - fortunately there have been a goodly assortment of kits to help; some good, some VERY good and some which are/were not so good at all... It's been nice to see the Class O (G5), Class T2 (Q6) and Class P3 (J27) appear as RTR, and they seem to be doing very well. Then there's the new A5, so there's been definite progress. J21, J24, J25 and A6, anyone? However, no matter how many times they appear on the wish list, I still think that it'll be a long time before we see things like Class D (H1), Class S3 (B16) or A8, or the Raven Atlantics, in RTR, simply because of the limited clearances for the bogie wheels behind the cylinders. This, the ability (or lack of it) to negotiate even 3rd radius curves is another criteria to add to Tony's list, I suggest. Mark

Well done. Soldering, and whitemetal soldering in particular, is one of those techniques that sounds more daunting than it actually is. It's a damn sight faster than using epoxy too! Mark

It reminds me of the folk who get caught out, paying large sums of money for a PICTURE of the latest xBox/iPhone... PT Barnum would be proud...

"but is fully operational and functions as intended. " As a paperweight, perhaps...

*opens popcorn* 🤭

Many of said pirates can be found sailing the Bay of e... Mark

The same mindset that, for example, refers to HM war canoes as "The HMS xxxx"... Just. Stop. It. Mark

Mmm, my daughter, now in her late 20s, was diagnosed as autistic when she was 5. This was later narrowed down to Asberger's. Fun fact - only 1 in 20 Aspies is female, btw... She had a difficult childhood, but with support and guidance, especially once settled in a secondary school who also believed in her, she achieved great success at GCSE, did 2x 2 year college courses very successfully, then went into baking/catering. However, she's now decided to go back to school, and will start a Graphic Design degree course in September. Her big thing is cosplay - which some would say is even more nerd-ish than our own love of model railways & trains in general... Generally Aspies are very high functioning - and shame on anyone who denigrates them... Mark

OK, legally he's seemingly done nothing wrong. Morally? That's another question entirely, I suggest... Mark

Just placed my order - thanks for the heads up Mark

Ooh, very good. Am I interested? Oh yes... Mark

From memory - my kid brother dabbled in IoM models briefly, some 50 years ago - GEM produced a few loco kits to cover the various 2-4-0Ts, including one for No.16 "Mannin", which was a bigger loco altogether, as I recall. They also did 2 or 3 coach kits. I don't recall freight stock, but I would be surprised if they hadn't done one or two. Mark

I too laughed at the "radioactive vomit" comment - Chapeau, sir. Chapeau... But on a more serious note - what a fascinating piece of research you've done. Very, very interesting. Thank you. Chapeau again... Now to look more closely at the several locomotives presently awaiting their coats of Saxony Green in my paint shop... Mark

101s, 108s, 110s and 124s were all Blue Square units, as I recall, so presumably they were similar control systems? In any case, back then it wasn't difficult to find staff to act as pilotmen, I think? Mark

To digress, in true RMWeb thread drift style, from the wagons again 😁... There's a photo on FB of a 110 at Bog Hall, signalled for the line up to Prospect Hill. I suggest that this may well have been another of the regular Scenic Special trips, probably on a weekend, when a few sets will have not been required for normal Calder Valley services, and would be available for such duties. Mark

Thanks very much for that, Nick. Interesting question Mark

Stunning. Just stunning. Now THAT is a Gold Standard. Thanks for posting the images. Mark

Film? How terribly old fashioned... 😉 Agreed - digital camera sensors are more sensitive than the Mark 1 eyeball. It's an interesting topic, this, for sure. Mark

Is it possible that it's simply because of how the light is seen, coming off different materials? We know how different undercoats can affect how one sees what is supposedly the same colour. Just a thought. Pity I've already got enough kit built G5s - this model is gorgeous! Mark

Just gone through this thread - great work, Jon. Some lovely modelling to be seen. Mark

Hi Jon That would be much appreciated. Many thanks. Mark

Andy suggested the NRM archives. Another possibility might be the NERA archives, but of course they're not accessible at present. Mark

Sadly the drawings don't help. Was worth asking though Mark