howardb

Please respond to the point I am raising - an online electronic copy is only available for as long as the supplier decides. Is this acceptable?

The unannounced change from downloadable pdf 's took place with the May (current) issue so can you please check this is the issue you are referring to since it is not possible to directly download current the PDF copy. I totally agree that piracy is unacceptable & the product must be paid for, otherwise the providers will cease to exist. What I do not agree with is that the only way to access the product I paid for is through a web site that may or may not exist in a few years time. If you purchase a paper copy, you own it in perpetuity, but an online electronic copy is only available for as long as the supplier decides. Is this acceptable?

There is more than one way to address the problem Key Publishing have without losing this benefit to all their paid subscribers. However there have been many reported cases where "on line" only access has been shutdown due to changes of policy, take overs, new technology and bankruptcy etc, so wanting to be able to still access a copy I paid for in two or twenty years time is not unreasonable. The quid pro quo is that they must to be able to make money selling their magazines otherwise they will go the way of the dodo and become extinct. I have already suggested to them that every year they could issue to their subscribers a collated PDF copy which could be watermarked &/or encrypted so that the only way to read the current version would be on line, but historic copies would remain available indefinitely to subscribers. If the collated PDF copy was provided with a complete annual index it would be worth paying a small additional fee for this feature.

One of the best features of the Key Publishing / Hornby site was the ability to save downloaded copies of the magazine. As of this month they have changed their site so it can only be read on line so when Key Publishing close their site all the access to the older magazines will be lost forever... Please complain to them if you are as annoyed by this change as I am. Howard

I wonder if Hattons would consider issuing a modified guards van to make up a typical early push pull stock. The drawing extract shows a LCDR 6 wheel coach which could be adapted from their standard unit:-

Thanks Andy 😀

According to their last news letter, Rapido are selling off some overstocked items and were going to post an email today. As I assume nothing will be posted now, so can we have an update? Thanks H

If you still have access to a Windows computer and can use CAD, NanoCAD has a free version and will work with AutoCAD .dwg files, but I have just started using ACTcad which is more modern but is a permanent transferable licence for a single payment. Cheers Howard

I have been wondering how to do this for some time - the main problem is that the truck will arrive as part of the train and then be fly shunted into the siding. The idea of using a rubber wheel and a loose motor sounds a good basis combined with a small servo to lift the motor away from the truck wheels when its not fly shunting - clearly easier to do DCC .

Not cheap but will be ordering at least one asap. Maybe someone could answer a couple of questions:- 1) In the mid 1920's which livery is most likely - a very dirty SECR grey or a newly painted SR? 2) The rails web site indicates that the single ended versions were all modified to double ended around 1910, so is it correct to assume that there would be only double ended versions in the mid 1920's

I used XtrackCAD for my earlier layout, as it came with standard point templates & is reasonably easy to use to create track layout. These days I am using 2C CAD as it gives better control when you want to create something more than a layout with fixed radii, but it can be expensive and has quite a steep learning curve. Cheers Howard

I use the Scottish O/S map site which is on line and free. It has all the old UK maps that are available. https://maps.nls.uk/os/25inch-england-and-wales/index.html

I have just sent the following email to Hornby since they should be able to raise the issue with Keymodelworld:- ========================================================================================= There is a problem with the new Keymodelworld web site which is not reflecting well on the Hornby & Airfix brands. As neither the Keymodelworld Help desk nor their FAQ are active, so please can you contact them to get them to address the problems I attach a screenshot showing that this is being discussed on the rmweb site. Many Thanks Howard Brissenden

I currently receive the Hornby magazine via pocketmags and see that there is a new website via keymodelworld for subscribers. However this does not appear to apply to pocket mags subscribers & as of today their help pages are not accessible so what is the use of this? I would be interested but not if it needs me to have two separate subscription.

Just received my order for the SR brown version - superb model however let down by slightly bowed roof and wheels. 100% worth the money, but would have paid a little more to have seen these issues sorted before purchase. Howard

Maybe not totally accurate but have ordered 5 for my planned SR (ex SESR) layout where they will provide an acceptable impression of the occasional pre-grouping stock that may have been seen on the line. Many thanks to Hattons and also hope the D Class turns up as well

A very useful source of information as there are a number of new images of sandling/hythe/smeeth stations that I have never seen before in my searches.

According to the records this was only fired once on the Elham Valley and resulted in serious damage to windows in the surrounding areas despite being left open as instructed. The gun and additional track was designed to allow coverage of the entire Kent coast in the event of an invasion. There were other smaller guns located to the east of Dover which may have been fired more often

It will be a 1:1 scale live steam SECR H class with Real Sound and powered by Real Coal as displayed at the NEC. The price will be a little more than usual and it will run on 4'81/2" track from the about to be announced Peco Bullhead range. :onthequiet: :onthequiet:

The firing spur is now added to the Rail Map on line site http://railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php If you have never viewed the site it shows a old lines that have long gone. Cheers Howard

Your comment had me rushing to check the books and photos. The disused stations web site says"On the bright spring morning of 13th February 1941, the gun was pushed out of the tunnel by a WD diesel engine, through Bishopsbourne station to the Kingston spur, where it was fired for the first time sending several rounds into the English Channel." & "As a result, only two other test firings were made near World’s Wonder bridge and at Lickpot bridge" http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/features/index6.shtml B Hart's book on the Elham Valley railway also has the same photo and states it is the gun firing from the Kingston spur. The following photo taken by the German aerial reconnaissance show the camouflaged spur running from the main line. [/url]">http:// All the available photos show the gun pointing southwards and the spur is clearly clockwise direction, but the posted photo shows clearly anticlockwise curve to the line as site curves away from the gun. However on the photo posted, there is a small lifting derrick by the breech on the far side of the gun carriage. On other pictures this is on the same left side (looking from the breech of the gun forwards) so the gun firing photo has not been reversed but the location cannot be the Kingston spur. Another mystery to be investigated....

The curve appears to be the wrong way for the firing spur between Kinston & Bishopsbourne so maybe the wartime photo was printed the wrong way around to confuse Jerry spies

It may not be on anyone else's wish list but as someone who models the Elham Valley Railway just before WW2 this is an amazing and unexpected model that is a must have. During the war the line was used as the base for the railgun (see the Elham Valley Railway book by B Hart) so I can now model both periods

Southern Way ran one or two articles on unbuilt engines. One I particularly recall is a Q1 based Pacific, which if it was anything like the original would pull anything, but would have problems stopping. The other was about early diesel designs.

For general lighting without shadows a decent uplighter is ideal - no shadows and a very even light.