halfwit

Thanks Michael. I have to say that I gave up trying to make an accurate model from this kit a long time ago...

Paul.

Neat work.

I was wondering how you'd get on as you soldered the doors in place before forming the bonnet, personally I would have added the doors after the bonnet was attached to the footplate.

Its well worth trying different temperature solders for different parts of the build by the way.

Paul.

Some of those Geoff Stevens figures bear an uncanny resemblance to the old Airfix (now available from Dapol) railway workers...

Paul.

Glad you like it Mickey.

Odd places where I reckon one could plausibly be found; preserved railway, entrance to a coal mine on a plinth, or the entrance to a retail park where a coal mine once stood...

Paul.

Thanks for the comments.

It is great to see these interesting and unusual wagons appear in kit form - lets hope that lots of others agree!

Paul.

An odd workshop space perhaps and an interesting view! It must be quite nice working there, and watching the world go by.

Paul.

Thats exactly what the extended pin is for Robert (I probably didn't explain that very well). I still need to make up a few more sets before I fit them to wagons.

I do think that permamently coupled rakes would suit a lot of layouts though.

Paul.

Thanks for the comments, always appreciated.

Interesting about the plant lead - does that mean all aquarium fish suffer from lead poisoning?

I often thought that, but then remembered that a lot of domestic water supply in this country was (and still is in some homes) carried in lead pipes.

Paul.

I've found that pre-thinned varnish thickens over time as the solvent evaporates. You can buy thinners from Phoenix Precision to restore it.

Paul.

Merry Christmas Frank.

And I hope 2012 will be a good year for you and your family.

Paul.

Lovely, well observed modelling.

Paul.

All good news Frank!

Paul.

Thanks for the comments.

." I think that's how the Impetus Ruston was done... mine's been soldered up for so long, I've forgotten... Is there no rear bracing/former in the kit?

I've just had a peek at my unbuilt Impetus kit (hello collectors!) and it has indeed got half etched lines inside the bonnet. I'm unsure whether to build the thing or sell it... the Impetus kit does have several faults, I do wonder if the designer actually measured a 48DS or just scaled a photo...

The A1 kit doesn't have a rear bonnet former, I did think about knocking one up but then it would be so thin and weak, from having to clear the motor, that I didn't think it worth the effort.

Boogy - thanks for the info. My method isn't far off then!

Paul.

Brilliant - many thanks for this - now to mangle some brass! GRW184

No problem, I hope you find it usefull. Perhaps someone else will come along and tell us how to do it properly?

Paul.

Yay! Competition time! Who can get all of the above into one post?*

And can I add like blogs/hate blogs?

Paul.

*A joke. Please don't.

Nice work Frank.

Maybe a coat of black would look right on the roof, a lot of corrugated seems to be covered in some kind of tar?

Paul.

Are the Hornby wheels the same diameter as the Romford wheels on the Parkside kits? They look larger in the photo (I do know that the Hornby wheels have a deeper flange), if so changing the wheels could be a starting point to sorting the ride height.

Paul.

Thanks for the comments.

Graham - I'll take some pics when the bonnet comes together.

Ian - being out of work was no fun, plenty of modelling time though! I managed to fund my hobby by selling a lot of my old stock on ebay.

Peter - I've got a tub of Powerflow, very good for electrical joints (never really got the hang of soldering wires...), never tried it for 'proper' soldering though. Supposed to be more corrosive than phosphoric acid?

Paul.

Photoshop sir? Why coudn't you ship the model to the Med., wait several months for the perfect sky and then take your little snap, like a proper photographer! Standards are definetely slipping these days!

Paul. (Comfy armchair this...)

Its a very small pub!

Might benefit from a wooden lean-to, for barrel storage etc? And outside urinals?

(Hopefully being constructive, not pedantic!)

Paul.

I've only met Phil once but I do follow his blog with interest. Especially when he writes about cake...

Paul.

Pictures of cake? Have you been spending time with that Phil Parker chap?

Paul.

Are you saying these things are loaded by a man on a mechanical shovel?

Limestone hoppers are loaded using a front loader at Peak Forest. Suprisingly quickly as well.

Paul.

Could I suggest a cameo to go with the demolition train (excellent idea by the way)? Two shifty looking individuals stuffing a station sign into the back of a car...

Paul.

Look Chris, just because some pedant criticised your layout there's no need to take such extreme action!

Paul.