Jan

Hello Amanda According to Volume 1 of Essery & Morgan, D1666 was a 1923 all-wood EX-MR design. D1666 was an all-steel equivalent. Both were 9ft wheelbase, with what looks like 4 leaf springs and split oil boxes. Both Diagrams are described as being "..... provided with double handbrakes." I would suggest that your best option is the PECO version https://peco-uk.com/products/9-ft-wheelbase-ln-wr-lms-wagon-underframe-kit Cheers Jan

Hi Interesting discussion. I quite like the Scalescenes look: http://scalescenes.com/product/london-brick/ But as I have 8ft of Wills viaduct to colour, I'll be trying out some of the methods shared in this thread. So thanks from me! Cheers Jan

I bought one of these, and on doing some research on he internet, found I'd bought shares in a minefield. Having benefited from some kind support from other modellers, I can advise that the TVR Macaw G was 38' over buffers, 35' over headstocks. So, in my dry run of assembly, I make the Ratio kit around 2' too short - and 6" too wide. The length is lost in the space between the middle stake pockets - it should be 7' but it's 5'. I think this might have been done for trainset curves. Also, I think the difference between body and solebar is too small; moving the solebar in would bring the model closer to the 7' 4" dimension over solebars of the prototype. All in all, a lot of work to put right. Cheers Jan

I thought it was weak. I love Dad's Army, but this wasn't much of anything. And the wigs..... Oh! My Days!

My grandad had a budgie. To him, talk was cheep.

I have to disagree. What this does is propose a solution to those that are looking for one in this area. I sincerely doubt that 00-P will ever be the concerted focus of a groundswell of production support (I'm happy to be proved wrong... it's happened with P4..). As for making the hobby less accessible, I think it has never been easier to take the plunge in this hobby. There's a shedload of stuff out there (and on here ) catering for everyone from "shake-the-box: blimey, it's a layout" to "my model portrays Manningham Sidings on Saturday, August the 19th, 1961 at about half past two in the afternoon, just after a rainstorm" (I'm one of those people, I think... ). The hobby can be as obscure - or as transparent - as you want it to be. Sites like this go a long way to supporting all interested parties by providing answers to questions on the railway (both real and model). Cheers Jan

How about a PLA version (and before anyone jumps on my head - I know they were Austerity's and not J94's...). Cheers Jan

Hello Ray Thanks for taking the time to chat at the Exe show today. Apologies if I interrupted your lunch. That's a cracking layout you've got there, nicely modelled and beautifully observed. And only one point! I can't believe I've missed it on here, but I'll certainly be paying more attention from now on. Thanks again Cheers Jan

Nice. Interesting on the research front. Do you find it gets in the way of the modelling? It does for me! You can't beat a bit of boxed bauxite, methinks. Are you biased towards brake vans? Or is the line on a very steep slope? Cheers Jan

J1193 is peachy. I do love a good van train. All the variance in roof colours, and a good crop of labels. Oh to have Rick Deckard's Esper analysis machine. "Give me a hard copy right there." Cheers Jan

Yep. Righteous service, an easy to use website, and excellent response to my queries regarding suitable varnish. Placed an order yesterday, and it arrived today. Couldn't ask for more. Quality. Oh for more like Railtec... Cheers Jan

Tough call between these two https://flic.kr/p/9BCmUV. In the condition they were in before they went to France. I recall seeing one of them (I think it was 37672) standing in at Devonport Albert Road one hot day in (I think..)1997*. It was gurgling on tickover, and its hunkered down form oozed power. I wish I had taken my camera that day because it was a sight to see; rust patches, dirt and a general rundown air of neglect, but still able to bring a smile to my face. The sound of the 37's coming up the hill from Plymouth North Road was a joy to hear. EDIT: *Having trawled through Flickr and the Class 37 Locomotive Group pages (http://www.c37lg.co.uk/fleet.aspx?strnumber=37672) it may well have been 1999. Cheers Jan

Nice. And very useful for those like the Cromford and High Peak (so inclined). I recall - uh oh, here we go again... - that some of the ex-WR engines we had at Toddy had the damper handles facing front and back depending on which damper they operated.... Useful in the dark places like Greet tunnel (not that you should be messing with the controls in there; as a fireman, you should have had it sorted before you entered ) Cheers Jan

Nice work. I don't know if you've seen this, but those lovely Toddington people have done a visual FAQ for footplate fittings nomenclature http://www.gwsr.com/footplate/VirtualFootplate.html Cheers Jan PS: I hope those aren't wellies the fireman has on!

Hi Rick, Yes. That's the hole The blowdown valve was specifically designed to enable shed staff to use live steam pressure to remove sediment and sludge that would settle out on top of the foundation ring. There's more here. Ah.... Toddington Believe me, you wouldn't want to be near one of those things when they go off; and better make sure you have your hands over your ears too! Oh.... the plate was steel because it needed to be reasonably wear-resistant too, probably. This plate was also the resting point for the firehole flap, when it wasn't doing its job 90 degrees from there, and restricting airflow over the top of the fire. Cheers Jan

The steel plate (or rather th hole that it covers) in OzzyO's first photo in post 19 provides access to the blowdown valve that was mounted just above the foundation ring at the back of the firebox. Cheers Jan

Hi Noick You're right. Of course (facepalm). Despite the intervening intermission of 15 or so years since I did this on weekends, you'd think the preceding 13 years of being bounced around might have meant that I'd retain this information in its correct confirmation, but no. It's not 2B. I hereby apologise for the wild goose chase, Rick. I hope I haven't ruffled any feathers. Send me the bill. Cheers Jan

Hi Rick, Glad to be of assistance. being bounced around on the footplate of any engine (even a GWR one! ) is one of the highlights of my span in this corner of the galaxy (other chocolate bars are available). Mind you, the 4:30 am start? Not so much! Regarding the use of chequer plate, my posited theory regarding the use of same has been consigned to the bin, thanks to Ozzyo's post above (#14). It's a good job there's folk around that can give you the pukka gen, rather than the (well-intentioned) speculative froth that comes from This Idiot. Yes; the cut out for the brake standard is the chomped bit in your photos. Despite being down here in Plymuff, I'm not an authority on what sort of steel boxes sat behind the smoky bit of Swindon's finest; my niche is on the other side of the country, I'm afraid. So if your tender hasn't got a standard, I'd presume it wouldn't have a cut-out (thermal or otherwise). As for whether my foot remembers the style of the crimping chunk, I've asked, and it's a non-starter, I'm afraid. I seem to recall (!!!WARNING: you are now entering a Minefield!!!) that a couple of the Hall's were smooth. But this - again - is speculation. Cheers Jan

Hi Rick, Having bounced around on the footplate of these (and other) tender engines, I would say the use of chequer plate vs smooth for the curved part of the fall plate is not consistent. It all depends what's to hand. maybe even a 'not until preservation' thing. I guess the old saw about having 'that' photo hits home here. And the rise and fall of the fall plate very much depends on the lumps and bumps of the track - not to mention the curvature (I've had my back foot trapped between the edge of the fall plate and the tender on more than one occasion; that cut out for the brake standard is a very unforgiving piece of engineering ). Smooth plate is the very bu**er to stand on when it's wet - overcooked the use of the slacking pipe, have we? - and you're reaching into the tender for some of the black stuff. Again, if memory serves, the hinges were loops of round bar set into the cab floor - the metal bit. I wouldn't like to spend time on metal footplate; they suck the warmth from you and pay havoc with your joints. Wood is a great carpet; gives you grip, is comforting on the feet, and washes down well. It's also handy for the (usually ex-Swindon... ) driver to draw a white line down the middle of.... Cheers Jan

Removed to Friary; a page of an LSWR Staff Ledger. A big, thick tome, describing the ins and outs of the less glamorous end of the railway. A book of promotions, cautions, deaths and dismissals. I picked it up at auction in Plymstock in the lay 90's. Cheers Jan