Dave Holt

Sorry to disappoint you, Blanford1969, but the part drawings I have only show side on view on C.L. and plan views. There are no end views or cross-sections showing the profile of the frame stretchers. Dave.

I think you'll find that was the sister ship. Tirpitz. The Bismark was battered into a floating hulk by the Royal Navy and then scuttled by it's crew. Dave.

Following the near completion of the Royal Scot, I have been working on the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2 tank which has been on and off for literally years. Mods and detailing of the body has come quite a long way, though there is still more to do. However, this loco and the Black 5 model have reached the point where the chassis have had the basic painting done and the chassis both re-assembled. Further weathering will be required to give some variation and blend with the weathered bodies, some time in the future. I'm holding off fully finishing these locos as I want to have them part dis-assembled for my loco construction demo at this years Scaleforum. Here are the locos in their current condition. Dave.

Well, the Scot is now complete except for some details to be added after painting. The last parts to be added were the smoke deflectors which, to my eyes, make quite a difference to the overall look of the loco. Here it is, connected to the tender, prior to disassembling to cleaning and painting. Dave.

I'm with Michael. I use 12% phosphoric acid flux (London Road Models, usually) and find no need to pre-clean brass or nickel silver before soldering using multi-core, 179 (silver content soft solder), and 145 degree solders. However, I have found it necessary to clean white metal parts in order to get low melt (70 degree) solder to flow and wet the surface. In this case, I used LRM 9% phosphoric flux. Dave.

Indeed. My layout is based on Delph. Not too flat round there, either. Dave.

Michael. Thanks for explaining and illustrating your method. Even in its raw state, the carved terrain quite transforms the scene on the layout. Might be spurred on to have a go myself on my, currently, flat earth layout! Dave.

Regularity, Thanks for that suggestion. Dave.

Thanks for the comments. One of the frustrations with the layout is the ballast (C&L crushed nut). When laid, it was grey with cinder coloured ballast in the yard. Unfortunately, as can be seen, it's faded to a pale brown/fawn colour, which means that at some time it will all have to be painted to restore the original intent. I wish I'd spent a bit more time with that section set up and also posed my Fowler 2-6-2T with a different push-pull set. Ah well. Dave.

Not much active modelling recently, but i took advantage of the good weather to take a section of the layout into the back garden and pose a couple of trains. First up, we see the part completed Rebuilt Royal Scot, 46109, having arrived with a returning Wakes Week holiday excursion. Then a more prototypical push-pull train, hauled/propelled by BR Standard Class 2 tank, 84012. Dave.

Will, looks like a very interesting project you have started. I look forward to following progress. I'm not sure if you are familiar with, or have access to the Scalefour Society web site, but in the layout section of the Forum, Tony Wilkins is describing his Brimsdown layout construction. It includes flat bottomed track and turnouts in P4, so might contain some useful information? Dave.

Only if the stock has LNER or Pullman type gangways, having a central buffing block and retracted side buffers. Stock using normal, scissors or suspended type gangways should have the buffers touching, as should stock to loco. Dave.

Very neat construction, Mike. As always. Dave.

Progress has slowed recently due to warm weather and some health issues. However, the loco is now complete except for the smoke deflectors and cab side cinder guards. The tender is well advanced, the main outstanding tasks being fitting the axlebox/spring castings and completing the front platform and draw bar. Here we see the current state of play. Dave.

Wonderful, Robin. Beats a 4F with half a rake! Dave.