Arthur

I'm pretty sure that, originally, that was from the K's range being acquired by Nu Cast later on. It has the traditional Keyser brass strip frames. Here's mine, modified to Belpaire firebox and with a modified cab style. I'll have a look what I fitted mine with, though it will be an older Anchoridge D11 probably, with some form of etched gearbox. I do recall that there is little space in the boiler being both low and narrow.

Interesting thread this, I've one of those Hornby vans myself awaiting attention. Steve, that's an interesting arrangement, could I just clarify how it's set up. The wire is fixed at either end, on the centre line. There are two squares of plasticard under the centre compensation unit, the wire runs freely between them, and they act as bearing pads between the wagon floor and the compensation unit? How is the compensation unit fixed to the wire? You mention that it swivels. Thanks

Hattons have given the same information about the red Esso one too, on or after the 16th.

Staircases like that exist for certain, though I couldn't direct you to one, which I guess is partly my point about the typical. I'm pretty sure I've seen similar in some of the West Yorkshire Pennine towns. It's just whether it looks right there. I like the idea of some feature on that gable end, not quite sure what!!

I like the building Jason, the gable end and the sense that it has a lower floor fronting onto street level, that arrangement was/is not uncommon. I'm not sure about the staircase though. Two reasons, would it be there at all?, why would there be a staircase down onto railway property (which is what I'm assuming that land 'twixt the railway line and the building is)? Edit; presuming it's not a railway owned building. Secondly the style of staircase, clearly you've seen a prototype, but it just looks 'not typical' if you see what I mean. If the staircase is justified, would a metal fire escape type look better? No doubt there'll be a few differing opinions!!

For thicker sheet, would it be possible to do the first cut, flip the sheet over and recut a mirror image on the reverse side. It would require totally accurate registration.

I've a book with a couple of photos of GWR locos at Exchange, Mike, a 43XX and 3212 Earl of Eldon, both May 1937, the month 3212 was rebuilt according to the caption. This working into Manchester of GWR locos ended in 1943 apparently.

Other 'gritty' street and road names, commonly used in the old iron and steel working areas, were sometimes related to pioneers in the industry, Bessemer, Cort, Hall, Siemens, Martin, Thomas and Mushet are examples with several lanes, streets and roads named after them. Blast Lane, Pig Lane, Puddlers Lane, are examples related to industry activities. Just for clarity, forge isn't a diminutive of foundry, they're different activities, both common in the Black Country.

Part of the explanation for how locomotives follow a curve without the need for a differential is that the wheel treads are coned. The outer wheel flange is pushed against the rail so the largest part of it's diameter rotates there, whilst on the inner rail, the wheel runs on the smallest diameter of it's coned tread. Imagine a cone rolling on the floor. It naturally rolls in a circle, same principle. Phil is of course right, the usual explanations for articulateds going in and out of synch, are only true when they're under power. I can only imagine that some of the reasons here are combinations of brakes only on one unit, irregular curvature of the track, stiffer bearings/motion here and there etc. Essentially, one of the units is suffering a bit more drag than the other. Edited for clarity.

I've got a couple of pairs of Noel's sheaves, the first 3D prints that I've bought, and they are very good indeed. They're one of those items you wonder how you could otherwise model.

Good luck with that Tim, I always look at your albums of the year list and then buy some of them, I'm never disappointed. My own favourite of this year is Steve Wilson's 'The Raven That Refused To Sing', just love it.

No, Sentinel made 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 variants with either chain drive or outside coupling rods, the one in the photo is, obviously, an outside rod 0-6-0 whereas Hornby are offering the 0-4-0 without the outside rods. The one in the photo looks like it's had a bit of a thump on the leading end with that raked back buffer beam and bonnet.

I agree with Graham that it's the cab which looks wrong. Not only would I drop it onto the main 'deck' of the machine, as Graham suggested, I'd also consider reducing it's height. Difficult to be sure from the photo, but it just looks far too big for a scale driver.

Re. the Fowler, they must have modified the valve gear at some stage, mine (page 3 of this thread), had all the rods etc. etched, though the cross head was whitemetal. I did use it, though I chopped off the cast piston rod and soldered on a length of brass rod.

I've printed, with an ink jet, the gearbox overlays from High Level and Comet onto clear acetate. I think that the acetates I used had to be printed on a particular side. They came out clear and crisp, I'd have thought printing metal window frames would be well worth a try. Edit: Just searched on eBay for 'ink jet acetates' and there are some sold specifically for the job. Whether any old acetate would work just as well I wouldn't know.

Here's my Fowler Dock tank, like Barry's fitted with Romfords. I note that they both have the same casting flaw, as they cab cut-out drops to the side tank there's a little forward projecting gap. Presumably they're all the same. I bought an extra valve gear etch and doubled up the thickness of the coupling and connecting rods to give them a bit more 'heft'. I did this on a few of the kits I built.

Had a look and there's no Keyser GWR 4-2-2 listed in the 1979 W&H catalogue. Of course, that just means that there wasn't one then, and as Barry has confirmed that he has one, they must have been made at some time.

Other than the box, which isn't a 'standard' Keyer one, everything else looks Keyser to me. I'll have a look in some old W&H catalogues and see if one's listed there.

Good news about the Sentinel Robert. I've sent you a pm.

Yes, my Minicraft has a three jaw chuck too. Clever modification Debs. I see that yours has a pistol type grip, mine just has the switch on the end. As for types of Drill and usage; Expo. 12v. The oldest, now 'retired' though it still works, last used for stirring paint (I use a cocktail stirrer now, hasn't done much for my cocktails) Minicraft. 12v. Main drill in use. Powercraft 18v Pencil type, back up for the Minicraft. McKellar. 18v. (Focus DIY chain own brand). Virtually identical to the Powercraft drill, still in box! Woolworths. 240v. Bench mounted with flexible shaft, wobbles a bit so used with burrs, wire brushes, polishing mops etc. Dremel rechargeable, not surprisingly it's a bit heavy, doesn't get much use though it's a nice bit if kit. The Woolworths and Focus drills were bought very cheaply in their respective closing down sales.

Is the steelworks loco shed based on a particular prototype Michael?, it certainly looks the part. It's good to see an 'extensive'', industrially themed, layout. The BSC Alco mentioned is probably the one built by Hywel Thomas for his Morfa Bank layout, there a photo of it in this thread; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/42766-an-alco-question/

Kit??!!!! Froth, gurgle, more froth....... I was going to ask myself if anyone knew of a drawing, I can probably think of half a dozen photographs of them, none I could post (copyright) but I'll dig them out and identify where they are. There may be some very basic dimensions in one of the Naysmith Wilson build lists I have, again I'll have a look.

I've been waiting to see more of this beauty Philip and it doesn't disappoint. I'm particularly taken with the gauge glasses, a small detail but very convincing, bits of Perspex? A lovely model of an unusual prototype. I've always had a hankering for one of the Naysmith Wison 0-8-0Ts, who could resist a locomotive named 'Emmanuel Clegg'!

I've a Minicraft 12v drill which runs off a Minicraft transformer the size of an old Duette. The speed control on the transformer is excellent with a good, very slow speed capability. I've had it for years and I do use it for drilling holes for handrail sized wire. It's also used for slitting, with burrs, wire brushes and polishing mops. I've a couple of other drills,, one from Aldi, which are fine but I tend to rely on the Minicraft one.

Have you seen these Ron, they're from a photo stream covering the Stockport hauliers, Edward Beck & Sons. These two show the Deansgate/Liverpool Road junction. They may be of some interest. http://www.flickr.com/photos/edward_beck/6510455249/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/edward_beck/6436833869/in/photostream/