Gilwell Park

Darth Vadar? The new Star Wars class?

The recent pictures of B1 have reminded me about a query I have regarding SB number plates. Several show white edging to the plate. Was this just white paint carefully applied or was there a cast lip to the plate as a guide? Was it restricted to one works or a particular period? My SB transfer number plates all have the edging and it has been a right pain to carefully trim it off. Thanks. Roger.

The RCTS book on BR standard 4-6-0 & 2-6-0 report them as being used on excursions to Clacton etc. One of the Stratford engines, 78023, was reported being used on a special freight to Chingford. I always understood that they were allocated to Stratford to replace the remaining J15 for a few months before being transferred to March.

375.007 is preserved in Prague technical museum, although with a more normal smokebox door. It looks magnificent and the way the frames are made and everything attached is fascinating. Well worth a visit. Would love to see one in action.

Here is my Y7 converted from a Triang Nellie as an odd job during lockdown. Only thing purchased was the transfers. Not as accurate, and without a whistle, but much cheaper than £144.95 from Rapido. ( which I am sure will be a brilliant model)

Just to prove that a B4 will fit on a nellie chassis.

Last entry for a spell. My first BR/WR loco was a gaiety cast pannier body onto Jinty chassis. This was followed by a Kitmaster prairie body on a Princess chassis, later used under 666. My next attempt was a Cambrian goods, 849, converted from a Triang 3f 0-6-0 tender loco, prompted by a picture in an early 60s RM. When I found a drawing I realised how inaccurate it was so rebuilt it to produce this improved version. The boiler was cut off at the top of the splashers, then a slice cut off the bottom of the boiler + firebox portion. The fire box was shortened and a new cab produced. The tender top was completely rebuilt on the old frame. Now preserved in my museum box. Still not very accurate but it's my own work & more fun than spending £100+ on a modern model, which I would be very reluctant to carve about.

From memory I fitted it with a more modern motor with a fold up gear box, since transferred to the Ks 1361. The pick ups however were difficult to fit without catching on points.

Here is another pair of conversions. The front one a standard Nellie with GW boiler mountings & extended bunker. Currently is store, ie no motor. The other is No. 666, an AD,N&SW rly, ex ROD. A Jinty body with new boiler mountings, tank overlays & new cab. The chassis is from a very old Triang princess, originally fitted with Romford wheels these were removed & fitted to a Ks 1361 0-6-0st years ago. Currently fitted with spare nellie wheels, see through on one side & solid the other. Well I can't see both sides at once.

Many years ago before models of obscure prototypes became so common I converted Triang / Hornby Jinties into some of those fascinating Swindon rebuilds of Welsh pre-grouping types. UI have recently recovered them from storage so here are a couple of Rhymney railway S or S1 shunters. The front one is a later style Jinty with a mainline 2252 boiler, the further on is a very old Jinty with a cut down Triang 3F tender loco boiler. The more recent one still works & is used occasionally for coal empties but the other has very coarse wheels and has sacrificed it's motor to something else.

Here is a similar modification to LNER Y4 Stratford departmental 33 on a Rivarrossi chassis.

Thanks. I have ordered one. The trouble is that having done one it shows up the others. Roger

My Triang L1 4-4-0 motor was suffering from advanced old age and in spite of cleaning, including comutator slots, and lubricating was overheating. I have replaced it with a Peter's Spares modern motor & bracket. The performance now is fully up to modern standards. Has anybody else used these motors? The only problem is they cost several times the cost of the original L1, 45 shillings?

Has anybody yet produced a 4 door MK 2 Cortina? I had two. One stolen, the other turned upside down with me in it. Grateful thanks to Fords for solid roof struts.