EHertsGER

On the subject of A30s, could anyone please let me know the type and diameter of their wheels; disc, mansell, 3’0”, 3’1”, etc etc?

Probably ‘old news’, but I was amused by this (be patient and ignore the ads) best, Marcus

Chris Don’t even think of that idyllic little hideaway by the seaside to while away peaceful hours in your rose garden. We will find you! Much encouragement and best wishes, Marcus

All this talk of tyres has me contemplating their use in cases where a wheel is not available - in my case a P2. So, first question; what is the recommended approach to removing the existing tyres? Thank you, in advance. Best, Marcus

What is the origin of the locomotive (OK, Eastleigh, I know that part..) model, please?

Onward from the demise of David Geen’s Siphon kit I was able to put together a solution for the lovely Airfix Siphon H body which, with a bit of paint and some renumbering, has turned out quite well. Undergubbins includes the Comet LMS 50’ chassis with bogies re-centred at 35’, MJT 9’ American bogies and stepboards (the last three - 1439-1441, otherwise 9’ coil springs on 1422-1438, which means I have just discovered I have it in the wrong number! Well, nobody else noticed either, so there!) with Gibson wheels. Eileen supplied the 1.2mm brass angle, while Wizard or MJT (I forget) supplied the gas tanks and vacuum cylinders, Frogmore the brake rodding cranks, Mainly Trains the brake levers, Slaters the sprung square shank buffers, Rumney the couplings and Lanarkshire the Vacuum and Westinghouse pipes. Consulting the ‘Siphons’ book helped enormously, but in its absence the Airfix underframe is dimensionally OK, just a horrible plastic rendition and so could, I imagine, be used as a reference. So, here it is: Best, Marcus

Onward from the demise of David Geen’s Siphon kit I was able to put together a solution for the lovely Airfix Siphon H body which, with a bit of paint and some renumbering, has turned out quite well. Undergubbins includes the Comet LMS 50’ chassis with bogies re-centred at 35’, MJT 9’ American bogies and stepboards with Gibson wheels. Eileen supplied the 1.2mm brass angle, while Wizard or MJT (I forget) supplied the gas tanks and vacuum cylinders, Frogmore the brake rodding cranks, Mainly Trains the brake levers, Slaters the sprung square shank buffers, Rumney the couplings and Lanarkshire the Vacuum and Westinghouse pipes. Consulting the ‘Siphons’ book helped enormously, but in its absence the Airfix underframe is dimensionally OK, just a horrible plastic rendition and so could, I imagine, be used as a reference. So, here it is: Best, Marcus

William I would be very grateful for any information that could clarify all the ambiguities surrounding the one photograph I have! best, Marcus

So here they both are in as finished a state as I have them right now. I am sure subtle details will emerge in the cruel light of the camera, but I did promise, so here they are. In summary, on the left is the Raipdo J70 and on the right is a Y6 from the D&S kit. Y6s are hard to find right now as the D&S kit and the Connoisseur kit (which the decals also fit) are out of production. However, there is, I believe, one available on Shapeways, but I have not tried the decals’ fit to that one. I have enough already! The Rapido J70 above the blue is ‘out of the box’; I wasn’t going to make this harder than necessary and so for ‘varnished teak’ it will have to do. The Y60 uses Precision dark teak. I have no number plates for the J70 as I am modelling it. Reference to Peter Paye’s book on the W&U will give numbers and their build dates - several of the J70s never saw blue livery, going straight to crimson and grey. Others duplicated old Y6 numbers. For those who don’t fancy painting the skirts, 138 was seen in at least one photograph with black skirts so all you need are the decals if you don’t mind black buffer shanks. The skirts have been colour-matched to the decals using Revell 51 gloss ultramarine straight out of the tin - no mixing etc - and airbrushed the flat gloss over the lot. Lettering is from the existing Fox range. I have a very small number of sets left - see above for their search name on that auction site. £12 post included (yes, from NY!) best, Marcus

Progress so far; more to come once I have the J70 apart. For now, here is the D&S Y6 with the panels in place. The key issue has always been matching the colour. After much spotting of paint and mixing ghastly hues I have stumbled upon Revell 51 Ultramarine (well there’s a surprise as GER ‘blue’ was known as ‘ultramarine’) enamel in a gloss finish. Luckily it’s available on Amazon in the UK so you should find it in the shops. It appears to me to be about as close a match as possible - and this is straight out of the tin. Side view - awful light! End view - even worse! The lettering is from the current Fox range. more anon... Brst, Marcus

James et al, Watch this space, I’m working my way through several options. Currently Revell 51 is front runner... I know Precision produce two GER blues, but neither ‘look’ right to me. My reference point are the C Hamilton Ellis paintings on the grounds that he actually saw those engines. Precision have relied on paint chips and the memory of a retired fellow of some kind. Add to that the ‘look’ of 490 and the NNR J15 and I feel we are close. I’ll put up photos of the decal/paint combination once done. The lettering has also arrived! best, Marcus

They’ve arrived! I have used one set on a D&S Y6 and am about to fit the other set to the J70, so let’s see how it goes. Anyone interested in a set should seek out ‘GER lined blue panels for Y6 and J70 4mm scale/00’ on that auction site. I have a very small number spare, selling at £12 including postage for the set of both vehicles panels. No, I won’t split them - the spare may come in handy if disaster strikes! As you can see they are a set of blue panels with the fine red lining around them. They are intended to be installed over a black background, as would be the case with the J70 ‘out of the box’. Lettering and numbering must be sourced from the Fox range as well. The main panels and the smaller end and side panels should be self-explantory, but the buffer beam panels may need some guidance. As they are they will fit as one panel, provided you have not fitted the buffers, couplings or safety chain loops. The holes for the buffers are marked to guide you in trimming the decal to fit around installed buffers. If you have fitted anything else you are in for more cutting. I was in that position and they held up well without folding over or rolling; they are produced by Fox so they can be expected to be good and I find them to be so. Now to find D&S or Connoisseur kits for the Y6. Jim...? Danny...? Otherwise I hope to see a lot of blue J70s! Best, Marcus

Paul, I believe this should be what you are looking for. best, Marcus

On the subject of liveries and re-liveries, Fox have just let me know the red lined blue panels I commissioned to backdate the J70 and Y6 (you’ll need a D&S or Connoisseur kit) are ready. Watch this space. If satisfactory I will have a very limited number of sets spare. The idea was to be able to place a red lined blue panel directly into the black background of the side panels, along with similar (fiddly!) panels to the buffer beam and end panels. Let’s see how they turned out...

If anyone knows of a LLC O gauge class 15 (SYP preferably) for sale, I would be grateful to know of it, please.

I will certainly have some available - I think there has to be about a dozen printed as a minimum. I don’t know if Fox will pick them up as a regular part of their range. Of course, I will be passing on those I don’t use - I’ve pretty much promised to do so by mentioning it here!

That’s about it - I am planning a project and the one loco that characterised the line was the class 15. I would interested in hearing from anyone with a green one - sound or no sound, runner or not. best, Marcus

Does anyone know of a source of yellow train control numbers to renumber to GER grey version of the N7, please? Right now I am eyeing unshaded LMS yellow serif askance, but not happily...

See my comment on transfers ordered from Fox - one Y6 and one J70 per each set of blue panels.

Now here’s a question to stir things up a bit; if I was to attempt to match the Precision Paints Ultramarine (P507 Ultramarine) in the course of producing a decal, what would be the closest PMS # ? At the risk of pre-empting things, I am currently looking toward #2757 I look forward to the comments! best, Marcus

I’ve just been to the web site and discovered an “account suspended” notice. I assume that is it for Kemilway/Peter K as a source.

...and back to the meat van again. This time in P4 over a Rumney chassis with Exactoscale wheels. Parkside doors replaced the originals. Cambridge Custom transfers. All in all just as easy a project as building it ‘out of the box’. All credit to Airfix for a lovely little kit. ’B’ type tank wagon next... best, Marcus

The panels have been ordered from Fox and should be ready in about 90:days (they are very busy, which is good). I’ll keep you posted...

Some enterprising type is doing just that. All I need is the PMS (Pantone Matching System) numbers for the blue and the vermillion/red lining.