Gene

Thanks Nick...I've found three different products in my local shop that could do the same thing.....now to try them as per your description...glad to know it works on completely cured paint Lso. Cheers Gene

Nick...lovely job on all the various weathering projects...but a question if you please...I can't get T-Cut on this side of the pond but I'm sure I can find a similar product, but I'm curious about how exactly you use it? Do you apply it immediately after painting onto the still wet paint? or wait for the paint to dry tacky? or completely? and what do you use to apply the t-cut? Perhaps a short tutorial might be in order? Cheers Gene

Jon...they are in New Hampshire,USA...

I never heard of them either...they have some nice stuff...and located close by in New Hampshire http://modeltechstudios.com/hoscaledetailaccessories.aspx

I always check my 2 local shops in Montreal first...then I'll go to the US stores for North American stuff I can't find locally...MB Klien are excellent as are Tonys Train Exchange and I like MicroMark for tools. In the UK I use Hattons and Howes and if really in a jam I'll ask a certain shortlineing friend in Scotland to help me out. In Canada, for UK outline I've had excellent service from British Connection in Ontario and Britannia Models in BC and Eurotrain Models in BC for German outline stuff. Cheers Gene

I painted mine black...you don't have to take them apart to paint the ends...just use the correct size brush and take your time.

Looks good Jack...might this be leading to an article in MTI soon? on another track have you finished all the work on 149th Street??

Ok Gents,so I've read this thread through 3 times and I'm understanding now that the consensus seems to be it is an excellent model based on diagram N16, they were usually run in passenger trains and that the ends of the GWR brown versions should be black...is that correct??? Cheers Gene

Nice...very very nice indeed!!

That looks really cool...I would never have realized it was a kit-bash....GREAT WORK Michael!!!

Looks great Michael...I really like your signs...any chance of a tutorial on how you make and apply your signs??? :D

Nice...these kits look like a lot of fun to build and paint...much different from plastic kits I think.

True...and they too are pricey compared to UK or US locos

Geoff...I knew the economics of it and understand why the cost is higher and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its unjustified or ranting on Austrains ....but at the end of the day its still pretty expensive for a non-sound loco IMHO.

Those Austrains r-t-r locos are very expensive 269 UK Pounds for a non-sound DCC steam loco seems a bit pricey to me

I was able to get the coal load out without any cutting...just unscrew the 2 screws and unclip the tender body from the chassis, then you can insert a small rod/toothpick/screwdriver into the small hole under the coal load on the inside of the body and just pop the load off.

That looks really good...are the rods and chairs from a kit or homemade?

Cap'n...your last sentence sounds like a good plan....and you can always increase the grunge factor at a later date if you think thats what is needed....

Well my order arrived today and it was well worth the wait. These figures are very detailed and the castings are crisp and clean...now I just hope my painting skills are up to the job Cheers Gene

It looks so good that I have to keep reminding myself that its N-scale...truly amazeing work!

LOLOL...I built the exact same overhead crane last month for my clubs' layout....I think I have 2 more sitting in my stash!

Gents...interestingly I just recieved an email from Richard at Dart Castings apologizeing for the delay in my order and informing me that my order was shipped today...so all is well Gary if you're phone call was responsible thanks very much. Cheers Gene

Brinkly/Nick..I did wait longer than the 21 days Dart requests days before trying to contact them, more like 30 days...and their phone # on the website seems to be out of order. Normally orders from the UK take 4-10 days to reach me once its been shipped from the supplier. Believe me, I understand they are a "cottage industry"...but I am a bit concerned that they haven't replied to my emails asking the status of my order, which they have been paid in full for since June 12th. On top of which, when they confirmed reciept of my order this was included: "Please allow 21 working days for us to dispatch your order. We are usually much quicker than this but we do sometimes run out of parts or have to cast items especially. If we are going to take longer than this we will contact you."