DS239

There were none in Kent.

The old Airfix mould I think,but the Mainline one was virtually identical,unfortunately although based on the 1923 RCH design,both were stretched lengthwise to fit a 17'6",10' WB steel underframe that had 4-shoe Morton brake gear.[so totally unsuitable for a mineral wagon] The 8-plank and 4-plank are new Dapol tooling,but perpetuate the same innaccuracies as their Airfix/Mainline derived predecessors. The 5-plank is ex-Wrenn/Hornby-Dublo tooling but also fitted on the same Airfix underframe. The 20T steel wagon is also the old Airfix tooling,but is however, accurate.

There are 3 Hornby wagons that are 15' over headstocks and have a 9' WB [i think they're based on Gloucester wagons] They were the first tooling to come from China,so have been around for 15 years at least. Here are some examples from the current Hornby range: 3-plank dropside: http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/wagons-coaches/freight-wagons/topham-jones-railton-3-plank.html 4-plank with side doors: http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/wagons-coaches/freight-wagons/e-marsh-4-plank.html 6-plank mineral with side doors:http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/wagons-coaches/freight-wagons/clay-cross-6-plank-wagon.html

I agree with Bigherb,they look like models of the ex-LSWR non-corridors that were rebuilt on to 58' Maunsell underframes [which is the logical thing for Hornby to do as they only have to tool up for the bodies and interiors] I know certain people at Hornby used to read the forums,but I don't know who's on the current design team as I'm a bit out of touch..

Yes,it is mentioned [by Tourrett, I think] that as soon as war broke out the livery of tank wagons was changed to overall dark grey [so as not to attract the attention of the Luftwaffe],therefore probably only a small number carried the silver livery immediately pre-war.

What shade of paint are you using? [To my mind the Bachmann rendition of SECR grey seems far too light] It'd be interesting to know..

The prototype photo on the magazine cover is of a J38, and the description says 'The Gresley J39 and LNER 0-6-0's',- so I wonder what the coverage of each one will be like..? Still,a useful model at least.

There were a few,off the top of my head,without trawling through a lot of reference books,the LC&DR Kirtley 'B','B1' and 'B2' classes spring to mind..

Only if GBL copy the version with the 3500 Gallon tender! We don't know which one they're doing yet, Bachmann has done the 4000 Gallon tender as well,so which one GBL copy is anyone's guess at this stage,- any news on this TheWeatheringMan?

I am aware of that,thankyou..but this is a modelling forum,and I was referring to those buyers of GBL products that are modellers not collectors,even though they may not be the target market.. Again,I am aware of that,and it was a slightly tongue-in-cheek comment,-but have they ever stated what constitutes a "Great British Locomotive" in their opinion..? Likewise! [Mind you,with my username I would say that,wouldn't I?] But,as I said before,as a modeller,why bother with the GBL version when the originals are so readily,and,more to the point,cheaply,available secondhand..??

Hmmmm...I can't see that being a big seller with the 'modellers',-cheap secondhand Lima ones aren't exactly thin on the ground,-they'd be better off copying 'Falcon' or the LMS Twins..

If you're re-drilling chassis blocks to make 4-4-0's, using Hornby coupling rods as a guide,you might find the dimensions of the following Hornby coupling rods useful: T9,Schools,Compound,D49,Edward: 40mm [scale 10'] Suitable for the D11 and T9. Ex-Airfix/Dapol 2P: 38mm [scale 9'6"] Suitable for the GBL Compound. Rear half of B17: 36mm [scale 9'0"] County 4-4-0,rear rod of Ex-Airfix/Dapol 4F: 34mm [scale 8'6"] Suitable for the 'City of Truro'. Of course,the 9' and 9'6" wheelbases are suitable for a whole host of pre-grouping loco's that could be 'bashed' from various bits'n'bobs.. I shall continue to watch with interest...

Hi Emporerdalek, No, the Schools tender drive unit is different from that in the D49, It has the large motor block with the cast-in weight and a 26+26mm wheel spacing,ie 6'6"+6'6",so suitable for a lot of tenders from various railway companies,it is relatively bulky though so would only physically fit into the larger capacity tenders..I haven't actually measured one but I would think that the GCR 4000 gal. tender would be commodious enough to accommodate it. The Schools drive unit is the only Hornby one with the 26+26mm spacing,It comes fitted with 15mm diameter disc wheels,but these could be swapped with the spoked 16mm diameter ones from the later Chinese built tender-drive A3's. The Schools powered tender is also used behind Edward,James and Gordon from the 'Thomas' range and comes in 3-pole [uK&China] and 5-pole [later China production] versions. Service sheet for UK 3-pole version: http://www.hornbyguide.com/service_sheet_details.asp?sheetid=243 The drive unit found in the D49 tender has a 28+28mm spacing with the centre wheels carried on stub axles and separate screw-on weights,it is basically the X941 drive unit found in various loco's but fitted with 15mm diameter wheels. 'Stepney' is an ex-Dapol Terrier with a face instead of a smokebox door.. Chassis dimensions are 16mm [4'0"] diameter wheels on a 24+24mm [6'0"+6'0"] wheelbase chassis.

Moving the wheels is simple,coupling rods available as spares. Triang L1/2P and M7 chassis are totally different,they share motor,wheels,axles,gears, but the rest is different,the X04 motor sits lower down in the M7 block,which is a mazak casting whereas it is more angled in the L1 chassis which is 2 seperate metal frames with mazak spacing blocks. M7 wheelbase is 33mm or 8'3" [same as 'Polly' etc. 0-4-0's] L1 wheelbase is 40mm or 10' [same as Schools,D49,Compound,T9,Edward the Blue Engine] Which brings me on to another motorising option for the D11,-if you don't mind tender drive,-that of Edward from the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' range,which is basically a D49 without valve gear and a Schools tender. Thus you have a loco with 26mm drivers on 40mm wheelbase chassis,and a tender drive unit with a 26+26mm spacing,both suiting the D11.. Not sure about the front bogie,but that would have to be sorted anyhow. Now,I'm sure that there must be some bodily battered/play worn but mechanically sound Edwards about to be had cheaply..or you could build the chassis up out of parts,East Kent Models used to have all the UK made bits available..

Interesting,It looks like it has appeared on film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLvzrjCQGB4 at 8.55,-would anyone like to comment on the other vehicles in the train? -especially the 6W coach in blue/grey livery... [Apologies if this has already been discussed elsewhere]

Hello Clarkeeboy56, The Terry Gough articles on bashing the Tri-ang clerestories are spread over a few issues of the RM,I've got them filed away somewhere but can't lay my hands on them at the moment,apart from No.8 which is the LSWR restaurant car in the Feb '68 issue. IIRC he covered LBSCR and LSWR non-corridors and some LSWR corridor stock. East Kent Models had the Brake 3rd bodies as spares. SE&CR birdcages are a no-no as the paneling is totally different. Where geographically is your layout to be set? as this will have some bearing on the stock used.. By the '50's the LBSC stock had gone to the IOW, although I think the P-P sets converted from A/C stock have the right compartment spacing to suit the Tri-ang coaches and lasted on the mainland to the late 50's, I don't think TG covered those,but could be converted using his methods. LSWR stock is probably most suitable. Hope this helps,If I can dig up more info I'll add it later..

Hornby R&D is done at Westwood,[ground floor on the left,as you face the main entrance] that said, Sanda Kan did do the design work on the Hitachi 'Javelin' model,but I think this was the exception to the rule...

This coach was last seen at Shepherdswell on the EKR,so it seems that they've flogged it on...

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Well,I spotted this last night,but it was too late to go and rummage for the references,I've now had said rummage,but still can't find the exact book I was looking for ! So, I hope you'll forgive me for working from memory and not giving a thorough answer,anyway,here goes: Nasmyth Wilson built two 0-8-0T loco's in 1924 for Astley & Tyldesley collieries,which ended up working at Gin Pit. 'Emmanuel Clegg' 1419/1924. and it's twin, 'Lawrence Ennis' [???,this is the dodgy bit,-you can tell,-can't you? ] If I find the correct info,I'll amend this post.

The Ruston 88DS has a wheelbase of 5'9" and 3' diameter wheels,so you're looking at 23mm Wheelbase and 12mm wheels in 4mm scale. Wasn't Roger Chivers going to do a kit of this loco?

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