brian777999

Yes, I tried that this afternoon that and it does work....just. The thin wafer head computer screws I have ordered from ebay should give me even more clearance.

Because tension lock couplers look awful ! Any other type of coupler would look better but with Kadees you can also perform shunting operations.

I have drilled out the tension lock coupler from the brake van bogie which is not really needed anyway. After a lot of fiddling about I have found that a medium centre set whisker coupler # 148 gives a perfect fit on the coupler. The height is correct and the back of the knuckle lines up with the buffers. Even the hole left in the bogie after drilling out the rivet is the same size as the hole in the Kadee coupler ; it takes an M3 hex head X 5mm screw. Unfortunately, the nut is too big and rubs on the underside of the coach. The head of the M3 nut is also too big if I try and reverse it. I will experiment with some half nuts and try to find some M3 screws with a smaller and flatter head. I have nothing on hand at the moment but I am sure an ebay search will turn up something. These look good : https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/50pcs-M3-x-5mm-Laptop-Notebook-HDD-SSD-Screws-Phillips-Wafer-Flat-Head-Screw/272395915421?epid=908794100&hash=item3f6c0fd09d:g:7cUAAOSwCGVX7h9P Almost there.... !

I was not sure where to put this question and I apologise if this has been asked before : How does one commission a model locomotive ? Do they use the same factories as Bachmann and Hornby ? What sort of money would be required to even begin such a project ?

I understand that Tampo printing is used to print lettering and numbers on the sides of wagons but how do they apply intricate paint schemes on a locomotive like the Bachmann City of Truro (red frame version) ? How is this painted and lined ?

Do Bachmann, Hornby, Dapol etc. use 3D printing in their manufacturing process at all ?

I think I will wait for the earlier, round top firebox version with Indian red wheels and frames. When will that happen, do you think ?

David Geen produces a 4mm white metal kit of a GWR 3 plank wagon with round ends. I often have problems with white metal kits as I cannot seem to spring the wheels in and it like plastic or brass kits. Does anybody else produce the older GWR wagons with round ends ? I thought that somebody might be doing something like this with 3D printing.

So was I until my computer died. When I had to buy a new compter it came with Windows 10....no other options available. Now it automatically updates without asking my permission like Windows 7 used to do. It is very annoying.

What exactly is ''retooling'' and how is it done ? What sort of expertise is required ?

What sort of couplers are on those wagons ?

The government sent me three bum test kits beofre they gave up. They are very persistent about looking at your bum here in Australia !

That is a good point but I think it looks better than the tender loco. It actually looks like real metal. The dome on the tender loco has the same matt finish as the Oxford Dean Single dome and it looks like paint....nothing like real metal. All in the eye of the beholder I suppose !

Where did you get that model of loco 551 ?

Why were 6 wheels brake vans needed ? How common were they ?

The longer clerestory roof coaches : the tension lock couplers form part of the bogie and have to be cut off. I am just curious as to how others have attached Kadees to the bogies.

Fitting Kadees to Hornby coaches : Is it possible to fit Kadees to the bogies and how would this be done ? If anybody has done it then some photos would be helpful.

But aren't kits such as Ratio just as old or older and they seem okay ?

What did you use to do the lining ?

Is the steam dome smaller on the BR black version or is that just an optical illusion ? It looks to be more in proportion the the brass domes. ''Does my steam dome look big in this ?''

Would GWR wagons and brake vans have made an appearance in the Midland areas or would they have been confined to the Western regions ?

What would GWR wagons and brake vans have looked like during the early BR period (British Railways and early crest)? Was there an effort to repaint as many wagons as quickly as possible or did they only repaint when a wagon or van came into the workshop for repairs ? For how long could you still see wagons and brake vans marked Great Western ?

Then why doesn't somebody do just that ? I found that the old H&M gave much better slow speed control than anything made by Hornby or Bachmann. I am referring to DC of course as I have no experience with DCC. Perhaps the manufacturers have lost interest in improving their DC controllers now that DCC is everywhere.

Any news on what is happening with their second hand stuff ? I read somewhere else that they hoped to have things back to normal by Tuesday but that has not happened.

I thought mounting them on the bogies would enable them to negotiate tighter curves. Mounting on the body would be easier though.