brian777999

Expensive ! Look at O gauge prices : there are always some people willing to pay for a quality product.

I also wonder how long it will be before the decision makers at Hornby (and Bachmann) realise what an untapped cave-of-goodies lies in the pre-grouping era. They seem obsessed with making sure that every loco they produce made it into the BR era thinking that is the only thing that will sell. If they ever do start making pre-grouping locos in a big way then hopefully they will also make the rolling stock to go with them. There is an opportunity to create a whole new class of modelling which at the moment is only covered by skilled model builders and painters. How many of us could paint a Dean Single with Indian Red underframes or line the appropriate coaches ? Even many of the wagons in the pre-grouping era were quite different....red wagons for the GWR ? How about a broad gauge GWR train set ?

So we might see a Dean Single or a Midland Spinner in the range soon ?

That is an excellent result. Whatever happened to the moulds for these kits ? Do they still exist ?

I am a bit lost ; I have not read this whole thread. I can see that the 7mm model business has been sold but what about the 4mm side. What has happened to that ?

That all looks very good. Those locos look the part as do the apartment blocks. I have often wondered who Bachmann makes these Chinese models for as the Chinese themselves do not seem to be interested in model trains ? I assume that most Chinese do not have the time (many work 10 hours per day,7 days per week) and there is a lack of space in most houses. My wife is Chinese and she had never seen a model train before I showed her some in Australia. I have never been able to find a hobby shop in Beijing or Shanghai.

A Midland Spinner and clerestory coaches with full lining and panelling to go with it. A decent GWR Dean Single in red/green pre-grouping livery ; the Hornby versions have been very crude and not much of an improvement on the old Lord of the Isles loco.

....and exhaust smoke ?

Sorry, I did not mean it to come out like that. I was not being lazy and I did see those links in a previous search but it did not have the information that I required.

That link takes me to another two links, neither of which is helpful. I saw it before. Thanks Richard : I will go with M2 X 6mm then.

1.What are most people using : the 148 (whisker equivalent of the number 5) or the 158 (scale head, slightly smaller) ? Having recently held both of them in my hand for the first time I was surprised at how little difference there is. 2. What metric screw should be used for the Kadee couplers ; is it an M2 X 6mm self tapper or M1.5 ? I am sorry if this was covered earlier.

It's the couplers that bother me in OO gauge. Nothing looks right to me except three link couplers. Can somebody invent working three links couplers without buffer lock please

The whole thing should have been cast in white metal to give it some real weight. How many figures can fit on the trolley...four ? Who makes suitable white metal figures in a sitting position ?

1. What did the workmen use before these came into use ? 2. I take it that the headlight on the model is only a dummy ?

Orford : what size of metric screw do you use with the kadee 146 ?

No, I have not seen them before. Thank you for posting. That is a lovely loco too.

Truly wonderful : it is things like this that make me want to model the Broad Gauge

Ah, that is some very nice metal work indeed !

Orford : 1. Do you have a photo comparing the 141/146 with the NEM couplers ? I was not aware that they were different size knuckles. 2. Have you found that either the 141 or 146 will cover most wagons, coaches and locos ? NOTE : what happened to the ''reply to this post'' function ? It never reprints the original post anymore.

Fine Sharpie pens are now available filled with yellow enamel paint (see ebay) . Has anybody tried these for lining ? NOTE : I tried to cut and paste the link but it would not work.

Norm : I would have to agree. I initially thought Kadees would be a good idea using the NEM pockets but things are never that simple as you have pointed out. My main gripe with tension lock couplers is the huge gap between the wagons and coaches. Can the existing small tension lock couplers in NEM pockets be exchanged for something smaller ? Does anybody make shorter couplers ? It is either that or I will be using three link couplers.

If I confine myself to buying new Dapol and Bachmann stock with NEM pockets then I should not have any dramas should I ? Do Hornby use NEM pockets on their new stock ? I can leave modifications of old stock till later.

1. So if using NEM 17,18,19 and 20 on Bachmann and Dapol locos and wagons with NEM pockets, which height gauge should I use : 205 or 206 ? 2. If using a number 5 Kadee, what size metric self tapper should be used ? 3. What about old Hornby brake vans ? Has anybody had a go at fitting Kadees to these ? I am almost convinced

So it would seem that the most useful Kadees for UK stock are the numbers 18, 19 and 20. Which one is used for the common Bachmann or Dapol 4 wheel open wagons ? I have not seen any mention of the Bachmann EZ mate NEM knuckle couplers. Are these not popular at all ? They are much cheaper than Kadees.

I thought I would ask this question here rather than start a new thread as it is related. I have recently purchased a number of GWR Triang clerestory coaches. 1. What is the best way to lower the buffer height if installing 3 link couplers ? The Chinese made Hornby buffers (without the raised step) are no longer available. This is what I used before. Nor can I find the white metal Dean bogies that everybody seems to mention. 2. I intend to the ''line'' these coaches by painting some of the cream panels brown. It is not really lining but filling in some of the yellow panels with brown paint gives that impression. A fine paint brush can also be used to paint the borders around the windows. I have seen other people do this and the results can be quite effective. As these coaches do not actually represent any particular prototype, are there any suggestions for getting something that looks right ?