Dave Holt

John, Compared with the prototype shed view, your rough grass appears much longer/more bushy. Will you be trimming the strand length before adding the scatter materials? Dave.

Finally got round to adding the crew and fitting the cab roof, as shown below. I think it's finished, now. Not sure whether to move on to the Ivatt 2 tank or the Class 40 next. Dave.

Mmmm. Now that would be worth sharing! I'd be happy to split any development costs. Have you got the prototype information? I've got the GA and Pipe & Rod drawings. Dave.

The type of injector shown in Tim's photo is by far the most common. The first few locos had a horizontally mounted injector just below the tank/cab, mainly hidden behind a flat plate. Dave.

I thought it was about time I got back to some modelling. My arm/shoulder is still recovering, but i have sufficient movement to use small tools, etc., without over stressing it. So, I decided to fit the DCC chip as part of the finishing off process. This required separation of the chassis from the body, taking care not to damage the paint or weathering. That's not to say some minor touching up will be required by the time I've finished. The chip used is a Digitrax DZ126, the current nearest to the DZ123's I've tended to standardise on in all my recent locos. The (spare) lighting wires were cut off close to the encapsulation, just leaving the four traction related wires. Actual fitting was very easy as I had already fixed four copper-clad pads to the side of the gearbox, one each for the two pick-up connections and the motor terminals. In the temporary DC operation, short bridging wires linked the relevant pads to connect the pick-up wires direct to the motor. It only took moments to un-solder the bridging wires and connect the appropriate chip lead. The chip will just rest freely inside the boiler/smokebox when the loco is reassembled. The photo below shows the attached chip and chassis. Dave.

John, A very well posed, convincing scene. What is the basis of the pile of "stuff" behind the shed labourer? (Have I spelled that right? Spellcheck wants to remove the "u".) Is there a base layer to create the contour or is it a solid pile of granules? I ask because I need to create some piles of ash or ballast on Delph and wonder what the best method is. Dave.

Howard, That locking arrangement looks complicated beyond comprehension to me. Well done for figuring it all out. It's amazing you only found a couple of things wrong. Think I'll just stick to loco construction! Dave.

John. I must say that looks fantastic, and an excellent recreation of your intended scene. The 9F is even better than I realised from previous photos and is one of the best 4 mm scale locos I've ever seen. Have you done some additional weathering since we last saw it? Fro the prototype photo, the roof ladder up the slope looks somewhat darker than the model and there is the partially burnt out smoke vent (presumably from and internal soot fire), which would make an interesting feature. Lovely workmanship in all aspects. Dave.

Mike, Don't forget to drill the holes in the valve guide casting, for the drain cock linkage, before you fix them to the cylinders! Dave.

Tom, I must say how much I'm enjoying reading about your project. You are capturing the essence of that wild and remote area beautifully. Regarding the post and wire fencing, I wonder if the wires would really be visible at a scale viewing distance. If the real thing is, say, 0.125" diameter wire, that would be one and a half thousandths of an inch, to scale. The finest cotton would be way over scale. There's also the problem of maintaining tension (the real thing had ratchet tensioners every so many posts - those posts have a diagonal bracing) and the risk of damage during track cleaning, etc. I believe there's some elastic single filament material called "eaziline", or something like that, that some people have used, but even their finest is still way over scale. Dave.

Hi David. It's good to know you're still up and running and doing some modelling. From the sleeper spacing and general appearance of the outdoor track, it looks like narrow gauge to me. Am I right? Dave.

I've also got a SE Finecast K3 to do - they were seen on the O, A&GB line in Oldham, on holiday excursions. It's one of the upgraded kits suitable for P4 with a sprung chassis using the Brassmasters axleboxes and coil springs. The casting look to be of good quality and the chassis etchings on a par with good modern kits, although perhaps not to Bradwell standard. Dave.

Mike, An excellent choice, if I might say so. I'm looking forward already! I have one of Dave's B1 chassis and plastic body to build, sometime (and a 9F chassis for when I feel really brave). These locos were quite regular visitors to the Manchester area and I always thought they appeared to be highly competent engines, if perhaps not quite as handsome as the Stanier locos. Dave.

If you're talking Black 5's, I can vividly remember doing 21A - Saltley - shed in Birmingham one Sunday in mid 1962. There must have been fifty or more Black 5's and as many 4F's and 8F's, as well as all of the other classes found in one of the largest of ex-LMS sheds. Better not try to model Saltley, then.........

Mike, You make a very good point about the predominance of loco types in an area, based on traffic. Most modellers, myself included, fall into the trap of doing one of everything we find attractive instead of several of a restricted range. If I complete all the kits in stock, I will at least end up with several Black 5's, as befitting an ex-LMS location. Looking forward to your next project. Dave.

Yes, very disappointing to find a major dimensional error at a late stage in construction and possibly, as mentioned above, enough to put some people off. As someone who builds locos in P4, often from kits intended for "OO", checking cylinder centres and valve gear bracket widths before going too far has become second nature. Spacing out is quite common, including front foot steps, to get adequate clearances. Dave.

I'd also replace the dome whilst you're at it. Comet do something appropriate. No doubt others,too. There was quite a good article on upgrading the Bachmann loco in MRJ 92, from 1997. Dave.

Loco frames looking very neat, Jol. It looks as if the frames taper in either end of the coupled wheelbase, presumably to give clearance for the radial boxes to slide sideways on curves? If so, what is the difference in frame spacing between the wide and narrow sections and what minimum radius do you think it will traverse? I ask because I have a long term plan for an ex-LNER C13 and that has no frame cut outs for the carrying wheels, so tapered frames are in prospect. Dave.

You're creating a wonderful scene there, John. As a matter of interest, where does the track go in the far corner, behind the industrial building scene blocker? Is it intended eventually to go in a bigger room? Dave.

Robin, It all looks very good and the 3F negotiates the point work very smoothly. As you say, locos with truck and bogies present a more searching test (of track and machine). I very nearly made an earlier response along similar lines, thinking of the potential for mishaps when I finally get around to trying some of my stuff, none of which are 0-6-0's, as you well know, on your magnificent opus. You'll probably have it all wired up and tested before I'm fit to drive again! Dave.

Mmmm. It looks to me as if the model logo is somewhat over sized compared with the prototype. On this photo, the logo is about 50% of the tender tank height whereas the model scales at about 65%.

John, It might be crude to you, but to my eyes it looks pretty convincing - not that I'm particularly familiar with GWR shed furniture. Dave.

Nick, I've been following this build with a feeling of admiration and steadily increasing awe at the level of detail and fidelity to the prototype that you are incorporating into the model. I'm quite familiar with these locos as a regular visitor to, and long term supporter of, the Ff & WHR, including several visits to the shed at Dinas where various parts of the locos have been on display during gala events. So I can vouch for the realism you are achieving. In my opinion, you have elevated this work way beyond normal railway modelling to an exercise in engineering in miniature. Well done. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the ongoing story of your model. Dave.

Looks to be another very fine build under way which I look forward to following. You're absolutely right when you say the arrangement of the injectors and associated pipe work on Bulleids is complicated. Believe me, it's no better in the full size (my experience is on a MN rather than the light pacifics) where the sequence of assembly is critical to getting all the flange bolts in and even then, getting access to tighten some of them is, well, interesting and warrants the creation of some modified spanners! In case you don't have the information to hand, the pipe sizes are: steam feed - 1.75" o/d delivery to boiler clacks - 2.25" o/d, and water feed and overflow pipes - 2.75" o/d. Dave.

I have built two Brassmasters locos and a Comet chassis for the Bachmann Crab using the coil sprung suspension arrangement shown on the Dean Goods chassis, with very satisfactory results. Compared with my usual fully floating compensated locos, they glide over track work imperfections very smoothly indeed. The only issue I have found is the lack of adjustment for ride height and level which can only really be done by suitably massive and distributed ballast, if required. Also, the weight distribution is dependent on this and also the way the spring seats have been etched and, of course, variations in the springs themselves, although I think this is a bit of a hypothetical issue and doesn't affect performance. Still it's worked for me. Dave.