Giles

A Baldwin running light-engine

That is extremely interesting. I didn't know you could get a resin like that. I have always used proper tyres on vehicles, or fitted neoprene rubber strips (on the traction engine). Being able to print useful tyres of any type or size opens the door significantly. The only vehicle I have on hard plastic is the Austin Seven, which skits about a bit in consequence....... Thank you!

T'was ever thus...... I have a number of commercial inventions - some mine but most 'owned' by a company. They get ripped off internationally, and there is little to be done realistically as the cost of protecting a product can be extraordinarily high, and patents or registered designs can be got round by alterations etc.. the best course of action is usually to manufacture it better and cheaper, and be known for it, so customers come to you for it. it is however still galling to find rip-off products in places like the National Theatre (who had them installed innocently).

A must-see (in my opinion) is a diorama/layout by the artist Neil Podbery - a brilliant exercise in perspective, scenic arts.... you name it.... absolutely stunning work. I wish I could do anything half that well!

One of the new Accurascale 37's. A beautiful model - much better in 4mm than my Heljan 7mm one! Weathered in oils by brush.

Weathering completed, although I notice the speedo could do with a bit..... at some stage I will have a go at the windscreens as well

I believe many of the locos didn't have the red strip on the bearing covers. This is one that doesn't, and I'm pretty sure I saw a photo of 6702 that suggested it didn't, though it wasn't anything like as clear as this. Whether the red strip ones didn't carry the BR TIMKEN, I don't know....

Going through the weathering shops. Still a way to go.

A 'box' member - you can happily use 4mm ply for the sides of of this. Very strong and very stable. I built a pair of baseboards this way many years ago, and very good they were too. We also use this method for strong, light scenery that has to stay straight! Domestic doors are often made this way as well.

Try brushing in talcum powder into the bearing, and see how much that helps,

Next to my 7mm version. The greens are rather different - I must say I prefer the 7mm colour!

Mine has been fitted with her EM gauge wheelsets, decoder, and tested, and will now be rubbed down and weathered..... I had to turn the lights out to check the destination boxes were lighting up (which they were)

That'll do - I'll sleep easy at nights!

These are finally in the wild.... and look very nice. The detailing is all good... The only thing that looks unexpected to me is the fan grill being 'over-size' - but I'm sure it must be right.

I recently made a self propelled crane (radio controlled) in EM just for the fun if it. 4 channel, with n20 gearmotors for 3 functions, and a 6mm gearmotor for travel.

I've now rebuilt this trailer so there's a battery underneath now (220mAh) which improves its usefulness, but I also bought a second one off ebay and built a new trailer from nickel silver and using the wheels. This takes a 300mAh battery and is a scale 33ft trailer which was for years the normal maximum length for artic trailers. The unit is fully converted, just needing jumper wires.

It would, but not Bachmanns inability to fix it..... or replace the chassis themselves!

I've had nothing but trouble with my tender version Linda. Desperately poor running from the start, has been back to Bachmann for it twice and returned with no improvement, and so has finally been returned to Antics, who kindly tested others before offering a replacement, but found that others had similar issues, so refunded my money. A great pity, as I should have liked one of these, but there is obviously a fundamental problem which at best leaves them a lottery. Given how good the Baldwins are, and even the Quarry Hunslets (after fettling and cleaning of pickups and wheel backs), there can't be anything unusually complicated about these - but something is out of tolerance.... Quarry Hunslets

There should be more Flanders and Swann on here - and in the world...... things would be better for it!

Transfers definitely after polishing, as you've then got a very good surface for them to sit on.... The water soluble oils I use are the tubes from Winsor & Newton, and apart from the lamp black, I use raw umber for the brownish tinge. It's a brush on to the line of rivets and wipe off vertically technique...... I tend to use them in very small quantities neat, rather than diluting them - but have a play!

Here's a very small 0-14 Wrenn. Exactly tye same principle, with some water-soluble oil weathering

Fully complete and working, aside from a bit more paint on the dumb buffers. It has a 700mAh battery, so I'm hoping it should last most of a day.

In the past couple of weeks I've been making a little self-propelled steam crane in EM - just for the fun of it. I had done a drawing of a proposal in my book, and thought I ought to come good! It's very nearly finished, mostly wired up - just the travel on the truck to sort - I need to programme the receiver outputs in the morning. The rest of it works fine.

Lovely! I do like that rising tailgate on the Thornycroft!