Neal Ball

I have just uploaded a short video to Youtube, shewing the testing phases of the loco build: Testing process for the loco: Running the chassis up and down on track set to a slight incline. Checking weight distribution - in this case, it was obvious that the motor was lifting the rear drivers. Only slightly, but enough to be an issue. The combined chassis and loco body are still very light (@150 grams) so will need a lot of extra weight packing inside. I will try to cram as much weight into the void within the chassis around the area of the drivers. I am hoping to get it up to 200grams or so. Run for a while on the rolling road, testing the slower speed steps. The complete loco was then tested on the layout using a 9v battery. At this stage it is not wired up for DCC. The completed loco will have a Zimo decoder and 10,000 uf Stay-alive. The McKinley video is here:

Yesterday also saw a couple of Pannier tank locos running at Henley-on-Thames. I was looking at the carriages that need spraying, including the Clerestory C23 all third. 64xx this is the only one of my five 0-6-0PT that still has a top feed! 27xx still not numbered or livery applied:

The best advice when asked is to ask the manufacturer..... I wouldn't want to be responsible for blowing up a new loco. There is no such thing as a stupid question - every day is a school day.

Thanks Lez. It's been tricky to get the chassis fitted onto the donor body, or is it the other way round. I fancy doing the County 4-4-0 as well, but would put a Finecast body on top. Although I have a stash of carriages to do next 😎

Over on Facebook and the GWR modellers group, its been GWR 4-4-0 loco week - perhaps I can add this 😎 I have done more work on the County loco 4-4-2T today and it seems as if it's finally coming together. More details and photos are on my blog page for the loco. Since the photo below was taken I have been out with the filler and am starting to get the loco ready to be sprayed. Hopefully one day next week will see this loco getting a coat of primer, together with the 3 half-built carriages.

Not a dumb question at all. A DCC decoder will want to work off an AC current, whereas a DC loco will be just that, running off 12 v DC. Personally, I don't know the extent of sound etc. (if any) that a DC controlled SRM will emit. Can I suggest a quick phone call to the people at Kernow - I have always found them to be very helpful and I am sure they will be able to assist you very quickly. When I first entered DCC - sound fitted locos would only work on DCC - the world of electronics has changed an awful lot since then. Good luck.

It looks as if it is carrying a "local passenger" headlamp ..... Just the one below the chimney?

Don’t worry! I still have unpainted passengers in a draw on the workbench 😎 Of course they need painting ASAP as they need to go into all the carriages I am building.

I forgot to post this yesterday: The wheel has only had one coat of black on the rim, the others will be next.

i should of course add.... I understand these folks for the SRM were scanned at Didcot. As we all know, folks in the 1930's were shorter - thats my excuse of course 🤣🤣 Hopefully my SRM will be here in the next week or so and we can find out.

Its always an issue getting the right size characters inside our carriages - mine light look under-nourished as they sit on their cushions 🤣

I took a punt on the HO ones, based on comments from @MAP66 at Tyteford when he was populating his auto coach. If they look too low in the windows, they will sit on cushions 🤣 Indeed - although sheep on surfboards sounds very Wallace and Gromit 🤣

I suspect we did meet then... although I reckon the date will be later. We were still living in Yateley until 1977 and I reckon it would have been the early 1980's when I joined the GWRP - pretty much at the same time that Southall was being set up. I will try and find the photos tomorrow.

Its all been a bit quite at Henley lately - other things seem to be getting in the way ☹️ With the SRM landing at Kernow, I have resisted the urge to post on the SRM page on RMWeb - but I have checked when I paid for it 😎 1st December 2022 - Hopefully with the news that Kernow are working on November / December 2022, my sound fitted version will be despatched soon. In the meantime, the passengers and crew have arrived from Modelu. I ordered more sheep as well - you cant have enough sheep on a layout - although I should have ordered a new signalman and some loco lamps. Hopefully I will remember next time. I opted for HO crew and passengers and OO sheep (although compared to my other sheep, they are quite small). On the far left is the guard from the SRM crew, with the fireman and driver on the lower right. The OO sheep are on a board - a wider version of a coffee stirrer, to the right of them is the first batch of SRM passengers, the second batch being on the right (You get 5 in a pack), with 2 seated chaps in the middle, who look as if they are off to the Regatta! The two characters on the far right are whitemetal crew that came with the County loco kit. Whilst painting the characters, I was waiting for the loco running plate to dry. I had previously glued it together, but it wasn't quite right! - Its looking better this time. To be continued.... (as ever!)....

Yes! For quite a few years until I moved away. - I was living the other side of Heathrow at the time. I'm not sure I was there when 4110 arrived, I certainly remember the 28xx arriving and also some of the open days.

Thanks Mike - I have photos taken many years ago of me in the old Margarine factory loading dock during the GWRPG time there. Plus of course the unloading of the 28xx from Barry! Different times.

It must be market day in Earlsbridge.

Blimey - unrecognisable.

Before you break it all up - why not make up a plank with track, so you can continue running stock.... It could be a (long) plank with a fiddle yard... Suggesting for a friend 😎

Sounds like a steal Graham.... My modelu order of crew and passengers for the SRM, plus some sheep, cost £50 with Spanish duty of €17 - defies logic. Good news about the Hall Graham - I look forward to seeing what you do with it. Don't tell the authorities 🤣 Enjoy the show Bill.

That’s a lovely carriage John, you’ve made a good job of it. Strangely I looked at my fleet of carriages needing a spray today, but despite it being warm outside, the carriages were still cold to the touch in the railway room. Spraying will wait for another day!

http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/4mm/4mm_GWR.htm I guess you could do one of the Ratio 4 wheel with full brake sides from the Frogmore(?) range.

If you could find an old Mailcoach kit of the K22 would be nice….. I think Worsley works also do a kit of sides and roof. Dapol have spoken about an RTR in their possible list of Mainline Toplights.

That looks great.

Welcome back Nick. I’m glad Much Murkle future is assured… I don’t think we will be in the UK for any of those shows, much is the pity.