Jamie

Thanks Johnathan, I'll look those sources up, and I may well drop by your layout later in the month.

Jonathan, Very nice as ever, and I'm pleased to read you are bringing some of your stock to Glasgow, I look forward to the opportunity to see them in the flesh having followed the thread silently for a while now. Can I ask the source of the "NOT TO BE LOADED WITH CONTAINERS" branding, as I have a few Lowfits of varying types dotted around lacking this wording. (That said, applying transfers between ribs on the steel bodies has been a bit of a pain) Regards, Jamie.

I've seen some dodgy looking bridges on model railways in my time. This isn't one of them. Beautiful structural modelling, and pleasing to see it function as well as look the part. No - try stretching a plastruct rod compared to a metal rod until it fails for example.

(apart from being left on the tip in Yorkshire) :lol: Lofts! I owe you some research/info don't I. Will be in touch off-list. Apols.

I thought the Old Lane Yard scheme wasn't that big a proposal. Small enough to be lost in a cupboard and set up on a sideboard or table I'd have thought. Settled on a theme yet? J.

On mine, I reckon I got an improvement by starting with a pale white overall wash to lighten the grey. The factory finish seems to darken up too quickly otherwise. A few are seen here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/gallery/image/13052-minsjpg/ where the LH one hasn't had the pale tint. A matter of taste maybe.

I don't see the aforementioned brushmarks tbh. The 9F looks very 'end-of-steam', and on its last legs. As for the (truly) oily sheen - you may be able to find a domestic deagreasant to shift this (beware of surfacants which leave their own shine) or just use it as part of the weathering. I'm honestly not convinced that it's spoilt it. Would a matt varnish stick? Only thing I'd consider adding would be lightly spraying a matt black vertically down to give a soot deposit along the top of the model. You went for it big-style with this one. And you have got away with it. B)

Hi Tom, do the boards use the fascia and (presumably) integral backscene for longitudinal rigidity? I meant to comment on your last entry to the effect that they appeared to be lacking any longitudinal timber. You might be afraid of woodwork, but trust me, that's a damn sight better than mine!

Very nice finish on both, Alex

Unpainted timber is v. good indeed, and I think the wooden body exterior is shaping up too. OK some pointers, meant well: I think the underframe looks a bit 'golden' - might be the photo, I have yet to master this bit myself but tend to work in a spectrum ranging from milk chocolate brown to almost black. The blue bits of the A4 look well, but I'd probably take the cotton bud and thinners to cut back the coats applied to the black bits. The roof will get sooty and probably stay quite black, rather than lighten. Don't be afraid to work lighter colours into the weathering: black came down from the soot, but beige-grey-browns came up from the wheels and brakes. As I say, I make no great claims myself, but here's probably the beginner's (online) bible: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=86&t=17068 if you fancy a bit of reading. Grahame 'Muz' has a topic on this forum, also worth a dig out. You're definitely off to a flying start. Half the battle is having the bravery to start.

As you know, an subject of great interest chez Culreoch. I'll need to identify (and purchase) a suitable reference book to identify all these diagrams. Thanks for posting.

Filthy but with an underlying sheen... looks 'just right'. B)

You do a nice line in believable structural ironwork Mikkel.

Nice wagons Matto, well finished. This thread could cost me money, I now have the itch but no Parkside plastic in stock...

Superb Andy, the Pentlands looming over the tenements in the background by the looks of it.

Forum member and co-conspirator Max Stafford has recently featured his build of the same kit, see here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/73/entry-3771-something-to-pull-the-new-coaches/ and other entries on his blog. There may be some interest there for you?

new to this thread? http://britishdieselandelectriclocomotives.fotopic.net/p63892000.html -found by accident.

OK 'spams, here's two typical examples dug out the box: Underview of one example. This has bent into an S-bend, the weak points being in the end hook and where the hole exists for the magnetic dropper. Partly my fault for opening up the hole I reckon: Second example, hook section bent backwards: Now, I've had to rethink my plans to strengthen them having looked through the fleet. Adding bits will upset the balance of the hook and paddle. Perhaps I shall shy away from that hornet's nest, and just keep mending them as and when.

The protruding arm of the hook is easily bent by contact with foreign objects. If it bends vertically, it won't move enough to couple/uncouple, if it bends horizontally it tightens the gap which catches the loop. Therefore, I'm intending to try and reinforce the twisted bend at the root of the hook, once tweaked into the correct position. Probably by means of wire reinforcement. Some vehicles also appeared to sustain damage to the end hook, which is perhaps less easy to mitigate against. Such is the plan anyway. It's another on my list of uninspiring tasks which I'll need to knuckle down and get on with. I don't expect the above text makes much sense, I'll try and show some images of the damage victims and proposed modifications over the weekend if of interest. And of course, I'll be modifying my stock transport boxes to hold the sides of the vehicle and protect vehicle ends better as a matter of course

I would guess it permits the coupling paddle to be mounted further 'forward' ie away from the centre of the item of stock. FWIW I've been building them on the baseplates, for two reasons: - ensures loop and hook pivot are in correct vertical relationship - permits batch building I'm also thinking on modifying them to give better resistance to damage, mine fared very badly in transit to their debut show, and reliability was absolutely dire.

So have we Pugs, so have we I'm looking forward to your miniature working EE12CSVT and generator set, that'll be quite something to behold too. But seriously, excellent miniature engineering going on here - must surely be worth a published article when complete.

Hi Iain, your primer Q. might already be covered by a previous topic, but for best chance of a comprehensive reply I'd post these in this forum: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/forum/26-questionshelp/ as things can get overlooked here in the blogs Sorry not to have any of the answers though.

That looks very promising, and the length of coastline will surely provide a stunning setting for the railway.

Dave, that's an excellent idea for quartering! I'll try that on the next one through Culreoch Works.

a lunchtime browse finds the following: Two beautiful colour images- Prince Palatine: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=31380 60813: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=31401 and Hyperion, in standard pose: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=31399