Staffordshire

    A photo of a DJH kit built Britannia,    unfortunately not built by myself .....

      Another Millholme MN,  this time 35003 Royal Mail 

   Thanks for all the replies, I still have one question ....

     In the 60s, were there Carflats being used with both types /lengths of chassis, the LMS 60ft and the BR Mk1 57ft ? 

       Or have I just got even more confused ?

      Phil Bullock,   it does seem as if i would be interested in these transfers, if and when available ?   Is the CCT ?

           Many thanks,

                 Ian,  

3 hours ago, The Johnster said:

Ox do these, and AFAIK the bogies are fine.  They sell packs of mixed cars to load them with which are suitable for Motorail or the final years of the Severn Tunnel Ferry, but workings between the factories and the distribution depots typical loads were of one or two models in a variety of colours. 

 

A train of Cartics and Carflats mixed was not possible in real life as they have incompatible brakes, air for Cartics and vacuum for Carflats, so that’s a matter for your interpretation of Rule 1.  

    Thanks for that, and sorry to have these basic questions, but just trying to understand.

    Could Cartics and a type of Carflats run together in the 70s & 80s. as I have seen a couple of photos which indicate this ?

    Were these a different type of carflat wagon ?

    Many thanks, Ian

   Hello,

     I am looking for help, direction and advice concerning models / kits for Carflats running in the 1960s.

    I am hoping to model a train  (4mm)  of a mixture of Cartic 4s and Carflats.   I have the kits for the Cartic 4s from Intercity models.

   I need information concerning the correct Carflats for this period of time, I believe they were FVV / FVX wagons ?

   Questions,   are there any  kits (metal or plastic) available for this kind of wagon ?

                          Are RTR models available, if so do they need any modification to be accurate, I think I have read that Oxford models

            may do a model ?   but also the bogies may need to be modified or changed ??

           All information will be gratefully received. 

           Many thanks,   Ian

     I have a couple of questions, that I would like answered or my thoughts confirmed regarding details for 34005 Barnstaple

in original form .... 

    I am wanting to finish 34005 as running in circa 1956 ...

   Questions I have,   What colour background to the Nameplate ?

                                    Tender details .... 4500 gallon in original condition, ie high sided ?

                                    Extended Smoke deflectors ?

                                    Livery,  BR Green with Early Emblem ?

    Many thanks, 

       Ian

    Hi, 

     Perhaps I can confirm or confuse a few of the above statements etc....

       Steffan definitely did produce a few of his 35T Crane kits as ready to run models.  I am lucky to own 2 of these, both built to OO gauge.

The price of these when purchased, approx 5-6 years ago was a couple of hundred less that the £1,000 mentioned.  They are beautifully finished

and weathered models.   

     One of the above maybe for sale at  a  price.

    Steffan also built the ash crane and wagon,  unfortunately I bought one of these, but it was back with Steffan for a small repair.

I have so far been unable to collect this item, along with a couple of GWR County 4-6-0's he had built for me, I am starting to feel I may

have to put this loss down to experience and a sad set of circumstances.

    I was lucky enough to see Maindee East a few years ago at the Southampton model railway show, I remember talking  to Steffan

and him saying it was one of the few shows he could attend and use all the smoke effects without  causing Fire alarms to go off.

   It was an amazing model, he was a very talented and lovely man.

     Ian Bradford 

And the GWR/BR  47xx  were not bad either in my opinion .... 

        Another kit built 'Schools', this time a PDK   Models  example.

       30927  Clifton, awaiting coaling etc ...

      Not the best of photos, to show off the excellent dimensions of these powerful engines.

      With thanks, Ian

Cheque is in the post !  Many thanks

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Wow!

 

Many, many thanks for the current comments. I didn't think I was that good at chucking metaphorical hand grenades! 

 

One of the pieces I cited was concerned with the TV programme, and there was also a comment about 'finding Britain's best railway modellers' through it. I found this to be rather strange, because I don't know any railway modellers who I'd call anything near the best who are participants. All the 'best' ones I know wouldn't be seen anywhere near it! 

 

I'm sure it's all hugely enjoyable, and if the series generates interest in the hobby then let's accept that as a positive. But 'Britain's best railway modellers'? 

 

Anyway, speaking of having fun................................

 

I've now got all the remaining Gamston stock. Much has already been sold by John Houlden (including most of the mail vehicles). What remains is a mixture of Mk.1s, Gresleys and Thompsons, all (apart from three Bachmann Mk.1s) kit-built. I've already sold the eight-car 'Tees-Tyne Pullman', and I've sold what's seen below to myself.

 

 

 

 

This is a delightful non-gangwayed four-set, including an artic pair of thirds (made by John as a Comet adaptation). How beautifully-natural it looks.

 

There is a 'problem'. Though I sold loads of Gamston's OO stock for John after the layout went up in smoke, what remained (what I now have) was re-gauged to EM to run on Retford. After the death of the great man, it's now been returned to John. 

 

Now, the 'fun' bit. I re-gauged the TTP to OO to test it, and last evening I re-gauged this foursome. It required part-dismanting of the bogies (which are soldered together). It was a bit of a fight to say the least, but, as I hope the pictures show, well worth it so that the carriages can run on Little Bytham. 

 

Underestimating (by some margin) how long it would take to re-gauge these, I'm now not going to do the whole remaining 30+ cars, but offer them for sale in EM (with a considerable percentage going to CRUK). Potential buyers can then please themselves. The re-gauging isn't necessarily difficult (it's evident where Roy dismantled each bogie from the exposed solder) but I don't have the spare time.

 

I'll be putting together a list for those interested in the near future. I know EM will dissuade some from contemplating buying these lovely cars (many of which are unavailable RTR, including catering vehicles), but any 'modellers' should have no difficulty in re-gauging them.

 

As I conducted the re-gauging, I thought 'it's not huge fun', but it's now great fun running a unique set, built by a friend, hauled by a loco built by a friend (Alan Hammet's K3) and adding something 'real' to a representation of a 'real' railway. Were a volcano suddenly to erupt on Little Bytham, any of the (real) limestone outcrops I've represented would have to be changed to marble! Now, that would be fun! 

 

 

   Tony,  I would like to see a list of what is available, 

       Many thanks, Ian 

Desperate for the SR/BR West Country original class kit to model Bude  ?

   Please ......

Well I need to be honest, this was not built by me, but by a 'professional' builder ...  sometimes you just have to admit, I do not have the necessary skills !

  I am very proud to have this model, as after an amount of weathering, to me it looks the 'real thing', which was so unusual ....

 Thanks for the compliments ...

  Ian 

 Hi,  thought you might be interested in the attached photo, any comments welcomed .....

   Yes I have .......

   Reading his thread, I really do not understand why there are so many negative comments ....

As at present a few Princess photos are being aired ,  thought I would put up two of mine .....

With respect to the cost of having a kit turned into a very realistic model of the real thing,  I feel I am a very lucky man.

    I have attached a photo of a Martin Finney  A4  and a Westward  West Country locos in 4mm, that a builder, who i now classify as a friend has built for me.

The photo depicts the two just before they were finally finished, coaling etc ....

   If I said the two together cost me less than £600 to have built, painted weathered, would you also call me lucky ??

  PS.   Please do not ask for the friends name, as I have a few more to be built !!

    Thanks to you both for the information ....

    I have actually ordered a set of Worksplates from Narrow Planet,  in my opinion very reasonable considering you have the opportunity for the exact/correct details.

    Just still need to know the dates that the Nameplates had Black Background and Red background ?

    Many thanks,   Ian  

   Britannia Class loco's,   basically the question is,  were there any works  plates fitted to the Britannia class locos and tenders ?  If yes, where were they situated ?

   I am having a  kit built in 4mm to recreate  70018 Flying Dutchman, whilst running on the Western region ...

  I have sourced the correct Smoke Deflectors and Etched nameplates and shed plates,  so are  there any other plates required,

infact is  anything else required ?

  Also dates 70018 ran with red nameplates would be useful.

   Many thanks, Ian    

     Added this to an excellent topic,  the Spam Can with no smoke deflectors ....

Going off topic slightly.  Did any of the engines built with the short Deflectors, (34001 - 34057), I believe, keep their short Deflectors and run in BR days (and livery) ??

    Brilliant thread, but I still have a question.....

      Which of the 'Originals' ran with Short Smoke Deflectors,    did any of these carry the short smoke deflectors with BR Livery ?

     Many thanks

      For information I believe two Manufacturers will shortly be offering the Extended Smoke deflectors that Bude ran with ...

31 minutes ago, Wickham Green said:

The answer will cost you fifty pee ( plus postage ) : https://www.rtmodels.co.uk/rt_models_028.htm

     Thank you,  I think that will be fifty pence well spent.

     Ian

    Obscure question, but I am sure somebody will be able to answer, hopefully.....

    What were the dimensions of the 'Extended Smoke Deflectors'  carried by West Country 34006 Bude,  throughout her life ? 

    Many thanks,   Ian

  I am looking for information concerning the Fell Diesel.

  Which Liveries did this loco carry ?   What was the date of any Livery changes ? Dates of Emblem changes etc ?

  What date was the Fell locomotive changed from  the driving wheels being all coupled into two sets ?

   Thanks in advance, Ian