Hal Nail

Ah yes, makes sense. That's why i've not tried it with the brake composite but they make a 7mm brake third as well with evenly spaced compartments and ribs on the roof. Trouble is i'd have to buy a 4 coach set and dispose of the 2 middle coaches which is a risky outlay. I think its the C61 I was planning as well which is 60 foot over the corners.

I've been toying with the same in 7mm from the Dapol brake 3rds from the 4 coach set. Not sure if i've understood above correctly - are you saying there is a reason this probably isn't to scale? I was under the impression the compartments are the same size so it ought to work in theory.... My B set is crimson one side and maroon the other. Makes total sense but I still feel slightly guilty about doing that!

Wonder if it was because they were wood rather than steel?

Careful! An N is an L or P with a section missing, not an A26. The A26 has 3 different window sizes, 2 or 3 different sized gaps between and no two clusters of windows are alike. What I would call a hotchpotch - albeit I have now realised the error of my ways! Incidentally I see you mention BR Crimson. Lewis refers to several and L, Ns and Ps in BR maroon but I think he is referring to crimson. Am I right in presuming anything withdrawn even in late1957 or early '58 would be highly unlikely to have been repainted in its final year or so?

By definition, those of us discussing or reading about details here value accuracy. Therefore we think a more accurate model is better. A lifetime employee of Hornby chatting to their unemployed mates from Airfix and Mainline might conceivably have different values (edit- probably should have talked about shareholders realistically). Hornby's mission is to sell the highest volume. If cost effective detail helps then they will do it, if knocking out a passable model quicker than their rivals sells more, they will do that.

This is, of course, precisely the reason that manufacturers have traditionally not engaged publically on forums or announced products in advance.

I was trying to remember Ebay's definition of new - it actually varies a bit by category but for collectables is: New: A brand-new, unused, unopened and undamaged item. See the seller's listing for full details. My understanding is based on school economics when they explained depreciation on a car losing half the value the moment it leaves the showroom which I thought was due to warranties etc but it was a while ago! I'm sure it isnt hard and fast but in the context of ebayers passing off used stuff as new, that's one reason why it is a bit misleading.

"Whilst that may be the case here" - do you mean the bit about the warranties, or the bit about not opening the box, or both?

Which bit?!

As soon as something has been pre-owned the warranties, guarantees, right to return etc are lost to the next purchaser. That's what's key here, not how much its been fondled. I think the definition of brand new actually says the box hasn't been opened but I might be wrong on that.

Small fry compared to the risk the Mrs finds out.

I get a lot of inspiration from all the Ian Allen colour books of the steam diesel cross over period but I've realised if you see two photos on consecutive pages, your brain sort of assumes they overlap but as little as a 3 or 4 year gap, especially round then, can make quite a big difference. When I came to pinning down a late 50s date I found some common locos and liveries that I felt typified the period never actually overlapped. Obviously I do them anyway, just means hours of research was pointless!

I forgot to say I made a guide from a piece of card with a slot for the hinge then two holes to mark where to line them up.

Some very interesting modelling here and I must look into the silhouette cutter but what has really made my day is the Wilko place mat. Either that or I've done well to find a convincing replica

For the CPL door bumpers I didnt fancy drilling through my coach so seated the etches in a drop of susperglue applied with pin, then used plastic rod the bumpers which I trimmed later. They can make a massive improvement but you do have to take care to try and cut them off the fret evenly and line them all up well or they stand out - quite tricky to be honest.

I know this isnt quite the point the opening post was making but the use of "brand new" for anything in fairly decent condition is definitely becoming more and more widespread. I'm not sure if it is totally malicious or just ignorance. Unfortunately, like everything, the more popular something becomes, the more sheer weight of numbers allows things that are just wrong to become accepted practice. I do sometimes wonder how society actually evolves given everything always seems to get worse

By 1970 the ratio was 0 to 100 +/- the Flying Scotsman. I was born in 1969 so missed steam but did do Hendrix and the moon thing, technically

I know this is just normal competition but interesting how one person comes up with a great idea and before you know it several are selling the same stuff.

I actually took the 4 bays immediately in front of the passenger entrance and flipped them. That way the solebar detail works as well (or near enough for me anyway).

I'm in the process of extending a Dapol 7mm diagram N into the longer 70 foot L or P and have spent a lot of time studying designs in terms of window spacing etc. These trailer types were all purpose built, not conversions, but even though there are only two basic window sizes (large and pairs of droplights), they still have random spacings between windows. Across the various trailer designs there is a very marked lack of consistency in how the windows were set out. I think I've read the GWR had standard underframes and built bodies to fit but then surely its easier to design standard panels and windows than an apparently random jumble along the length of the coach? I can see that on a steam railmotor conversion the replaced section may not replicate the existing saloon but why have a random arrangement within the replaced area? I'm curious as this is fairly unlike Swindon: was this apparently haphazard approach precisely why Churchward brought it in standardisation later on? The later steel types A27 and A30 are classic Collett design in that they merely copy the layout of the earlier N.

Brian Daniels did one by slicing a strip out of each side! If I had 6 I'd feel I should

A lot of fettling today. The vertical beading was removed fairly early ('30s?) so that needs to come off.

Still wavering- I'll probably build both bodies then decide. The original plan was both in crimson, or crimson and cream, one heavily panelled over but I might do a chocolate and cream one instead. I'm also toying with an A31 instead of a 2nd L/P: a messier version of the Dapol coach with the passenger door more central. Glue: leaning towards liquid poly for the body joins and araldite bracing and chassis for strength

It was actually set up just on a spare piece of track. I'll redo all the connections. I have a nasty feeling there maybe a problem with it as its always been a bit temperamental but I have always put that down to user incompetence.

That's gone surprisingly well! I planned this primarily so that the solebar rivet pattern works out but more by luck than judgement I can butt up the chassis cross members at the rear join, which will give it some strength. It's easier than I feared to pare the body sides off the chassis, which will definitely help with the second conversion as I will have to be a lot more creative with the random bits i have left after this one.