Mrkirtley800

Barry, You know where we are.

Hello Jerry, Those open cabs look very nice indeed, and in 2mm ——- wow Derek

As 2021 disappears down the line, let me wish all my fellow RMWebbersa very happy, safe and productive New Year. Lets hope 2022 allows us to return to some sort of normality, whatever that is. Derek

And lo! It was lost, but it has been found, glory be!! This is my first Craftsman kit, which I built in 1988 ish. It was one of the regular engines to run on my old exhibition layout, Kirkby Malham mk1. This one was given the Coachman Larry paint and line out treatment, but a second similar loco had to do with my efforts, which is why they are never seen together. I also acquired two Midland 0-4-4T kits, one of which was built in 00 and finished in LMS black, for my youngest son. He is now, of course, an 0 gauger, so all the 00 locos have gone to his son. The other is still waiting to be painted and is to EM. ‘Bout time I extracted a digit. The mainframes (chassis) on all these kits were shaped to take what looked like a Triang 04 motor, so were thrown away and all four sport scratch built frames, with Mashima motors and I think, gearboxes. So long ago, I have forgotten, and I have not taken a peek under them recently. Like all my tank locos, they are beam compensated, so run pretty well. This one is a very quiet loco and a pleasure to operate. But because I have not used it very much, it sits in it’ s box in a cupboard. Last year,when I began to check the running qualities of my engine fleet, this one had disappeared. My only thought was that it had slipped down behind the cupboard, but because of my cranky knees, I couldn’t get down to look for it. My daughter came to the rescue by almost climbing inside the cupboard and retrieving it. It had actually slipped under the base of the cupboard unit. Anyway, now that it has appeared, it is being thoroughly checked for running qualities. Incidentally, as well as compensating the tank engines, I arrange for pick ups on the tenders of tender engines and which can be split framed, compensated or just the first two axles run in slots, putting some of the tenders weight on the back of the engine. Most of the locos also sport pickups. During our exhibiting, I was not prepared to accept jerky running. The top picture is a bit unfortunate. It shows I haven’t finished off my milk van roofs properly. Derek

Merry Christmas, Al, and wish you a happy and productive New Year. Derek

I agree with the two last entries, and add my thanks to Dave for a super MRJ. I was going to write a pm but unfortunately the wretched adverts have blocked it out. Derek

Any of you fellas sending me pm’s, I can’t get at them. There is a broad band of emptiness along the top of the page, which stops me getting at them. Best use my email address for now until things are sorted. It is dando22@btinternet.com Derek

OK, point taken. I get a great deal of enjoyment out of RMW and if adverts are necessary, so be it. However, I would be happy to pay a subscription if that is what is required to keep it going.

Thank you Paul, yes it does seem that way, but thanks to Dave Hunt for the work he must have put in to give us such a good MRJ. I have a couple of pm’s, but there seems to be a strip of no mans land at the top of the page, which stops me accessing them. Do any others have this problem. I get a bit fed up of all the daft adverts and delete them asap. Am I alone in thinking this? Derek

You have brought back memories. I had one in the 1950s, complete with motor and frames. It had, as far as I remember, spur bear drive, with a Romford seven pole motor, and very fine wheels, and took some stopping. A very reliable engine. I wish I knew what happened to it. Derek

Could this be the spectre of RMW?

Just simply stunning. Derek

For some reason known only to itself, my ‘puter refused to add any pics. Now it has decided to do so. I will never understand these puter thingies. However here is my TT. Really nothing to it. UnfortunatelyI don’t have the space for more than one line to it, but others I have built did.

How about a shed of panniers

Yes and who would be so lucky

I Dirty old Major Bartlett. Does he actually have any begonias?

Mike, I agree with what you say. What I should have added is that on my sons layout I had to introduce a curve of about 2’3” radius. I also built a GN large Atlantic to run on his layout, but on this occasion I split the bogie, with the front bogie axle running in a pony truck, and the rear axle in slots with a bit of side play. I used this arrangement in an EM HR Jones goods 4-6-0 and that will take curves of under 3’ radius. My Midland compounds and smaller 4-4-0s allhave the arrangement you described, with a slot in the bogie bolster and side springs. Derek

Mike, Going back to the large NER tank locos, here is a shot of an A7, I built to 00 gauge, to run on our club layout and on my sons half of our home layout. Built from a Little Engines kit, I fitted it with compensation, and the front bogie hung from a point in front of the bogie. This arrangement, first seen in an old RM mag allows sharp curves to be negotiated without shorting on the cylinders. It turned out to be a very reliable engine. The pic taken on the now defunct Canal Road. Derek

Two oldies together

Very nice, I like it. I love to see carriages in pre group livery, so individualistic. Derek

Johnson slim boilered 4-4-0 No 2183,on a Leyburn Junction to Skipton express in 1908. Leaving Canal Road station Will soon pass through Haw Bank No 2 tunnel before Embsay West Junction, and enter Skipton Station. Skipton to Ilkley line on the right.

Paul, despite all my teasing, that is a seriously good layout. Derek

Now comes the hard part Lezz. I bought five low roof kits and seven clerestories by Ratio when they first appeared, but gave them to Larry Goddard to paint and line. Later, I built five 54’ corridor clerestories using Trevor Charlton parts, and finished them myself. Derek

I could only stand on the side lines. We live 170 miles apart Derek

Glad to know the layoutperformed OK, Paul. I was a bit worried as you didn’t have my Kirtley goods to help 1093 to push the wagons about. Hat, coat, I’m on my way