coachmann

I suspect anyone involved in manufacturing, whether they be big or small, will identify with this sentiment. When it comes to RTR locomotives, I think the best Scotland can hope for are locos that are riding on the back of English prototypes. In other words, if a GCR 'Director' was selling well it would not be too costly to produce a smallish run with reduced boiler mountings to represent the Scottish variant. In similar vein, the LMS Compound could have a batch numbered between 900 and 924 to represent the batch built for Scotland. If/when Bachmann ever replaces the old split-chassis on its J39, it might consider the smaller wheeled J38 Scottish variant. Larry

I must admit i am suprised at some of the critisisms of detail, especially as we are supposed to be modellers..... aren't we? Surely the "fun" in buying ready-to-run is that there is always something left for us to tweak! At 100-smackers it's a snip or have we now reached the stage were we expect absolute perfection from RTR manufacturers. I'de like to see how far some people get with a kit, as it's a safe bet that even the best builders wouldn't achieve the same standard of detail. Larry

Hornby will probably make the most of the current tooling with the box pattern inside cylinder cover. That is from 5013 started in June 1932. The last of the scalloped inside cylinder covers came out in July 1927 with 5012 Berry Pomeroy Castle. (Some of the earlier locos were rebuilt with box pattern covers ...4097, 4088. 4087. 4082, 4076, 4074, 4037). Hope this assists. LG

Standard 2 looks like DJH.

This is going to be one superb layout Dave, as it's looking so good now. I understand the small niggling difficulties of things like point blades not throwing over properly, but fitting individual half chairs on every sleeper is something else, and only for the absolutely dedicated. In an endevour to eliminate Bachmann couplings, I've been messing about on some reverse curve 32" rad track on the workbench, and that's bad enough.

It looks like those splasher tops are black, or is it down to shadow? Some ex-GWR locos in BR lined green loco did have black top splashers and some green, but the official line was green tops. It's down to good colour photos in the end to tell which has and which hasn't. I've always painted them green to be on the safe side.

I smiled when I saw your model of a Bristol SC. You didn't like driving them did you.... Grapevine tells me you are a man of means and leasure now Merfyn. It only seems like yesterday you left Crosville to join BR S&T. No more changing the points in Blaenau then... Larry G.

I'm hoping Bachmann will announce they are doing a BR Standard Mickey Mouse Dave. Nice workmanship on your models as usual and being P4, they look right.

Looking at your pictures, this is the first time I have seen one of these Airfix LMS corridor coaches. I haven't built any postwar 60ft corridor coaches with the extra corridor doors, but if the corridor third is anything to go by, the LMS squeezed the corridor windows to allow more 'meat' either side of the added doors. It would not be a simple conversion doing this....Blimey, it aint simple the conversion you're doing anyway and I take my hat off to you! You said in your intro not to ask why you didn't use comet etched sides, so I won't. Although I will continue to wonder why you didn't.

Looks terrifying Dave but good luck. Glad my take on wiring is minimalist... Larry

Very interesting coaches there Moz. I notice you seem to use a lot of Bill Bedfords etches for GNR coaches. Do you buy the sides seeing as yu mention using 257 parts as well? As usual, Dave Studleys paintwork sets the coaches off nicely. Larry

In March 1996, David Jenkinson gave me a paint panel specially prepared for me by Williamsons. It contains the colours used in the painting of LNWR coaches as follows: Carmine Lake... SP7877 Flake White.......SP7879 Lining Yellow.....SP7930 Note these are not the official names given to the colours by the LNWR company. I have scanned the panel and within the vagaries of scanning, colour fidelity and repro by different PC screens, it might give you some idea... Taking the white line as a base point, you can see how much darker than white the 'flake white' is. I mix the LNWR 'plum' in cellulose using Midland/LMS Lake and black. I mix the 'flake white' from white (not todays brilliant white!), a touch of dark blue (GER), and the merest touch of chrome yellow. The lining yellow I mix from chrome yellow, red and the merest touch of black. Using model paints, the Royal Train plum is pretty close, but eggshell finish paints are the kiss of death on coaches. Hope this assists, Larry G.

I was looking at the NE LCK in Nicks entry.

Thanks Andy. It is certainly a very neat diaramma, small enough to lavish lots of attention on when it comes to fine detail. I wonder sometimes if we (me included) go for 'too big' and never quite finish it. After sterio, your Avatar.....in 3D.

Too much time on your hands Andy............ You don't mention your layout much. Is it this part to a fiddle yard or is there much more and is it still being developed?

Very interesting info there Nick. Was this same 'tub' paint used on ex-Midland coaches transferred to the M&GN and inheritated by the LNER? Interesting to see those proprietory axlebox covers on te GNR van, as also used by the LNWR. Larry

Nice looking coaches there Moz. Dave Studely, king of teak!

BR's smokebox numerals were supposed to be in Gil Sans. The LNER adopted Gill Sans characters with curly 6's and 9's whereas BR adopted the Gil Sans variant with straight leg 6's and 9's. The Eastern Region went and used curly characters on many smokebox plates! If you obtain etched plates from a reputable company there shouldn't be a problem. I use Modelmaster waterslide transfers, which can be cut up to make any number required.

If it is of any consolation, wasp stripes............ I hate 'em to peices! Masking over radiators and other detail has never been a fun job and it aint got any easier. I brush Mascol into awkward bits of the masking tape where it will not press down over fine detail (coach door handles for instance). When I saw your heading, I thought you'de found a large wasp in the living room, as I did this morning! Larry

They didn't though. The Eastern Region used curly top 6's and 9's. The Western Region used a larger font than the LMR and so on. Then there were spaced out numerals such as in LYR and LMR 'Crab' locos. All adds to the spice of life, but the smokebox plate on the new Hornby 'Castle' is unlike anything. As most self respecting modellers fit etched plates, it doesnt matter, but even here beware of smokebox plates that have not come from hand drawn artwork.

Up on the Cromford & High Peak you expected to see them, but down below on BR there was just so much more of interest. That's one reason why they're unloved. I hates em to pieces...

My oh my, as I scrolled down these pictures the goods shed got better and better. Then came the final pictures with the roof finished, not just finshed but subtly carrying the green moss that is so familiar and yet hardly ever modelled. I'll have to do mine now. The work of a real pro. No wonder customer Dave is over the moon! What's on the cards next, the stationmasters house? Larry G.

Tried it but all the information blocks are off-screen on my PC. Never mind, maybe something will be sorted one day to make access to the varous and very numerous Blogs and workbenches. It has all got very 'bitty' and we are only 4 months into RMweb4... I've tried to keep mine in one place but as only 10 entires are available in the Contents Block, it has meant joining some threads together. Cheers, Larry