rope runner

Some headway is being made - a tentative first post of the year has appeared on the website I will have to get back in contact about my outstanding order from last year, but the "contact us" link won't work for me. Looks like I'll have to try and phone again mid-week. Paul A.

Yep, that's it - an unusual conversion, not that easy to do but obviously thought worthwhile by someone... Paul A.

Can anyone spot the interesting feature on the Falmouth docks one linked above? Answers on a postcard.. Paul A.

Leaf green (lined black, edged white) was the standard ex-works livery for the majority of standard and narrow gauge Peckett locos - corroborated by Peckett's works photos, copies of which are currently held at the NRM York. Very few would have been wearing this livery by the end of their working lives, and I'd imagine colour photos showing this are somewhat scarce, simply due to the era. Paul A.

Who is "they"? We're not talking about a mainline loco which could be seen at a number of locations, which was famed as a prototype for a hugely popular design, and for which there is much photographic evidence. In contrast, the Yorkshire Engine Company "Taurus" design was a one-off. It was on trial with BR (not owned by them), and wore a single plain green livery its entire life. A 4mm RTR Taurus is not financially viable for any manufacturer, and it's a sure thing that it'll only ever be available in kit form. Paul A.

I should think you'll be fairly safe with a Taurus - they wouldn't sell enough to cover the cost of the tooling. Paul A.

Agreed. There was at least 3 patterns of 3'5'' wheels made by Barclays. The majority of those preserved have inclided cylinders, of course the parallel ones would a more interesting model, and would also be different from the popular DJH "starter kit" model. Paul A.

Can anyone advise of the design of the Weybourne Water Crane - I have a vauge recollection that it is industrial in origin? Paul A.

I'm quite sure all suppliers read these threads, and no doubt the threads of their competitors. Its essentially free market research. They'll take it all with several pinches of salt if they have any sense though. Paul A,

I have to say, I'm surprised there's no industrial loco in this announcement. The Sentinel and Peckett have been nice little earners for Hornby, albeit the last batch of sentinels suffered from a poor choice of liveries IMO. If Hornby announce another industrial next year, I think Bachmann has missed the boat on this one - which is a shame. Paul A.

Wow. I wonder where Hornby get their livery ideas from. Imitation if the sincerest form of flattery, so I hear... Paul A.

Reading between the lines of the Peckett service sheet and "background info", I think it highly likely that they will announce a model with cut-down chimney and safety valves (if not roof too) in the very near future. Paul A.

Indeed, Uppingham is an R2 Class. Paul A.

There's now one less, many thanks Paul A.

Can anyone advise of the cheapest place to pick up a "Dodo" online? Via PM if there's only a couple left! It appears the Rails of Sheffield pre-order process has broken down when they announced a price-increase for their pre-orders... Paul A.

Hi Mark, Yes...perhaps one day... For now it'll keep my 3 Lancs steel 26 ton examples company. I'll just have to get some etched tie bars to finish it off. Paul A.

I've had a go at one of the 20 ton Charles Roberts examples myself this week. The construction is very straight forward, the break gear is modified spares from other kits. Paul A.

No news on my Rails of Sheffield "Dodo". Still showing as pending, with no money taken. It's no big deal, I'd already presumed at Warley that it was going to be very touch-and-go with pre-xmas delivery. Paul A.

Well, it's 25 pounds more than the preorder price most of us are paying. So yes, I consider that a fair old whack more! Paul A.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-R3429-Peckett-0-4-0T-W4-Huntley-Palmer-/152362098329?hash=item23797d1e99:g:L8EAAOSw-0xYV8Wd "But how much extra are you prepared to pay to have it in time for Christmas?" Paul A,

I've already made a start on my first 4mm loco to be fitted with buckeyes, ready for some dump cars. Coupling height is adjustable, with 2 bolts on a piece of threaded bar which clamp the coupling at the desired height. Paul A.

Hi All, High Level gearbox now in (Loadhauler+ 80:1). Mashima M1224 with flywheel in the boiler barrel, with the reduction gears sitting vertically in the firebox, running to the rear wheel set. The photo is a tad misleading, the motor actually sits a couple of mm higher. The gusset plates for behind the buffer beams are on order (austerity ones will have to do!), and before painting I'll add some archer water slide rivets to the frames. Paul A.

Hi All. Starting to look like something now... A few little jobs meant the soldering iron came out again, but a quick scrub and clean afterwards has meant the castings are now fitted. I've had to modify a few of them, in particular the safety valves (later photos of MW1762 show Ross-Pop style valves parallel to the cab). The elaborate hand rails have gone on too. A lubricator was sourced from DMR products, and a vague representation of the associated plumbing attached to the footplate either side. The last photo shows the buckeye coupling holes opened up, and the first of my Sergent Engineering buckeyes it-situ. These are clamped between 2 nuts, mounted on bolts soldered to the chassis. This means their height can be adjusted by a mm or two, if required. Currently the wheel-balance weights are being glued to the wheels. The Center wheel set balance weight needed drilling out, as this sits around the crank pin. Hoping to get the boiler barrel and High Level gearbox in before the new year as well. Paul A.

Hi All, The soldering of the model has now been taken as far as I'm willing to go. Headlights, whistle, etc. added today Also added is the pipework and push rods for the apparatus which drops water in front of the flanges on the leading and trailing wheel sets. This was a common practice on quite a few ironstone quarry locomotives, the rationale being that this would minimize flange wear/noise round tight corners. Next will be a good clean (I'll stock up on some fibreglass brushes at Warley), then the white metal castings can go on, followed by the hand rails. Paul A.

Judith Edge do the Sentinel swords and cab-side motifs, and I'd recommend putting some lead shot under the loco (behind the buffer beams is where I put mine), to improve running and traction. The roof on the MSC loco is also wrong, as the vents shouldn't be there - easy to sort with a file and some wet and dry paper. Also worth checking the marker lights, as most had red one side and white the other. The MSC loco as preserved has at least one marker light blanked off. You'll find the fill plate in the buffer beam won't line up exactly if you use the NEM pockets to locate it, better to trim this off and position it by hand. Paul A.