rprodgers

The name serpentine is because of the appearance of the serpentine gem stone, that is found in the locality though it occurs in other parts of the world. https://www.firemountaingems.com/resources/encyclobeadia/gem-notes/j532 You can still buy items made out of serpentine at the Lizard today. https://www.serpentineworks.co.uk

What about considering an original air smoothed Bulleid light pacific WC/ BofB? The Hornby one was never the best.

Thanks John was genuinely interested in the actual size. Age or not I admire your skill in what you’ve done.

ROSSPOP it’s looking good, excellent workmanship. The size 1200cm x 600 cm is that correct as that’s almost nearly 40ft by 20ft

Announce a GWR 7 Armstrong/ Dean single and some appropriate clerestory coaches with all the pre-grouping interest

A big thank you to Accurascale for sending some replacement parts for my Deltic.

Thanks Fran you just keep on making me poorer!

I have to say it looks much more realistic in this photograph than the official publicity ones on Lionheart, Rails etc.

It’s possibly been mentioned earlier but the shirt button on Cookham Manor seems over prominent and in a bolder format. Its also appears yellow rather than the gold I thought is was. Did the shirt button change in appearance over time ? Also will the bogie axle ends be painted black? Really impressed overall with this model and already ordered two Thank you Accurascale

I seem to recall Sam criticised the Bachmann 9F for its lack of pick ups from the tender and also the lack of axle bearings. The axles just sit in slots in the chassis block. Yes Sam is over dramatic but I would suggest that yes these were design flaws and do affect the smooth running. I don’t recall any other YouTubers / magazine reviews going into the detail he does about the mechanisms and so I am glad to see this content. You learn more from one of these videos about the mechanism you are buying than a review in for instance RM. He admits he does not have extensive prototype knowledge* but I have found not many YouTubers do. * There are exceptions like BluebellModelRailway who is very knowledgeable on SR steam. He clearly states his remit throughout his videos and aims at the more popular end of model railways. For what it’s worth his review of the AS Deltic seem fair and reasonable and he was able to show the issues he was having with the couplings.

Lionheart Trains recently advised me that production samples of the 45xx are on the way and to expect an announcement and pictures very soon. Rails of Sheffield emailed me yesterday suggesting that these should be available June/July which sounds sooner than I would expect.

How viable would one in GER livery be ?

Thank you @Miss Prism that is most helpful, I am very grateful for your assistance. Richard

@Miss Prism thanks for the information, but did the chimney style change from parallel to tapered ? I purchased a copy of the Locos. Illustrated 55 Dean Goods etc and was struggling to see a difference ( other than the v early ones appeared much slimmer parallel chimney with a copper cap). They all appeared to me to have a parallel barrel (or extremely subtle taper) to the chimneys ?

Please can someone here guide me. I wish to upgrade the chimney on my Oxford Dean Goods and was looking on the Brassmasters website. There are two versions available, one described as parallel the other tapered. Despite looking at a number of photographs of Dean Goods locos I am still unsure what would be appropriate for a loco early to mid 1920s? Also approximately when did the chimney style change? Thank you for any advice given. Richard

Presumably the buffet car from the film will, as suggested earlier, be still available to buy later sans Toad? As at the moment buying pack 1 or 2 already includes the film Toad, that is in pack 3.

Bringing the thread back on topic there seems an untapped demand for a GWR saddle tank (admittedly there is not a large number of respondents). The other survey on pannier tanks suggests to me that that there is as much interest in pannier tanks other than 57xx. Maybe for pre grouping /pre 1930 branch lines where the smaller pannier locos were more likely to be found?

What about Rapido considering that largely untapped pre grouping railway company the largest one the LNWR for rolling stock* ? Or even the Midland Railway if “black” engines are too plain for your liking * it would help if Bachmann were to revisit their Super D and offer it in an earlier incarnation. The Coal tank and Improved Prec are passenger locos.

@rapidoandy Is Rapido still working it’s way through orders for the SECR liveried 5 and 7 plank wagons….or is the remainder of the full production run still in transit?

Thank you Penrhos1920 I will take a look. I was quite interested by it as it’s a very short coach formation.

In “Great Western Branch Line Modelling Part 2 (by S Williams ) there is a photograph dated about 1907 page 89. It shows apparently. a 517xx tank on a short 2 coach passenger train of possibly a brake composite bogie (?) and brake 3rd As per page 91 it states it was usually 4 wheel coaches in 1911 Is that an unusual coach formation with the two vehicles or a standard one?

Other than the top feed (fitted 1940s?) what other differences exist between the current 57xx/8750 model and its 1930s brethren? Were steps fitted to the bunker in the 1930s? If only Mainline or later Bachmann had adapted their excellent moulding with the top feed as a separate moulding. Yes it can be done but you need to be careful how you repaint it to blend in with the factory finish. It surprises me that so many want a new 57xx if so one of the Kerr Stuart ones would be more interesting. The poll so far suggests the pre 1920s and 1920s to be a popular era which isn’t that well served by manufacturers. Personally I would prefer something, less modern to a 57xx/8750 and different to what there already is, like an earlier larger pannier/saddle tank like the 2021 or the 2721. The 850s are another but they’re rather dainty being almost the GW equivalent of a Terrier.

It seems ironic that non corridor Toplight coaches (selecting a prototype that was limited to only a few routes) generally fared the worst in this poll and yet Dapol have chosen them for their first foray into Toplights Also having decided to produce them in the Lake livery there are not presently any suitable/ likely rtr GW tank locos from the increasingly popular pre- grouping period. Hopefully things will improve in this area with suitable pre-grouping GW tank locos to haul not only these but the 4/6 wheel generic coaches of Hattons and Hornby.

Is it now more likely that Dapol will do a 31xx earlier version of the prairie as they have just announced the non corridor Toplights in Lake livery? Otherwise there is not much pre grouping GW rtr locos suitable for these coaches in this livery.

Yes fortunately mine was okay, but this seems to be how all the ones ordered from Hornby have been sent out. Then being bounced around in the mail can’t be good for finely moulded smoke deflectors etc. Any damage I think is due to the way it has been packed rather than the likes of Hermes. Hornby need to quickly get to grips with the way these orders are packed.