Hal Nail

Michael Hughes thread shows how he does a hollow van body with the mould split into two - including how to get the plug part back out!

As in Shaqiri? For what its worth I thoroughly enjoy dipping in and out of this thread. We all need variety - i suddenly bought a load of USA stock which I'm now off loading again. You are right though - finishing the journey can be a sort of let down. I made an effort to clear out old stuff I was never going to do and finish off various things I've been chipping away at for years during this last year. Now I have done so I'm struggling to decide what to start and barely doing anything at all. Whatever you do layout wise, don't stress over the decision - give it a bit for things to pick up again in the wider world and see how you feel then.

Demonstrates my point about how people perceive things and what needs to be right to them. I like the Heljan 33 (7mm) which captures the look and feel as I remember them. When I look at photos of the real one in detail, the real one looks all wrong compared to my mental image! So I bought one. But if others said the cab windows put them off I couldn't argue as they are actually miles out.

Is that cab window temporary or were they ever like that in service?

I'm getting deja vue from another Heljan thread here. You should put it back together and send it back flagging the broken gear. The fact you have worked on it isnt necessarily a problem (as discussed at length elsewhere). Their approach is to factor in a number if duds and just replace them. Eother way you've nothing to lose ringing Rails first.

As is apparent from these threads, and this is an observation not a criticism, some people genuinely appear to notice the missing parts more than the shape. I think peoples powers of observation/recognition just differ. Also performance is a factor. I freely admit I look at mine more than run them but I can quite understand that a good mechanism would be far more important to others.

i got an e mail saying they have suspended sales of spares while they get all parts properly listed so you can order online. I'd imagine it proved to be ludicrously time consuming for the minimal value involved.

Surely just looking at your 7mm one affirms that decision, even if it doesn't move at all! joking aside they, are all commenting about the running anyway - its gearing is hopeless apparently.

I found this surprisingly tricky. Incidentally the ketchup foil was a mistake as it completely blocks light!

I'm sure you are right but when I got caught out on a multiple listing, I asked them why they they had an issue with multiples when I could have just listed separately and they said they do also check for that. So although looks like they dont check very well, technically there is a small risk.

That dreadful orange is one of those everyday things you forget about but then instantly recognise!

Not that hard to end any still unsold immediately before they roll. A small price to pay for the guaranteed price in my opinion and I've only ever had a couple of things get to that point anyway. Totally agree about the £1 offer. Just be careful of the small print - multiples of the same thing (even if listed separately) aren't included in the deal but they don't flag that till it sells when you get copped for the fees.

in my defence, selling multiple items is still a form of madness as you usually get far less!

I had missed that. 3 or 4 have sold at over £150 recently and thought it was another one at even more.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-VAA-Wagon-O-Gauge-Plywood-Planked-Vans-Shunter-Various-Track/184601165682?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 £255 and not even hit the reserve!

I bought a load of JLTRT castings (from MM1) but have never got round to fitting them. Apart from being fragile, the Heljan ones look better I decided in the end.

Meat van nearly done. They (Bucks Fizz) say the camera never lies but whenever I take photos the weathering shows up as highlights that the eye just doesn't see. I noticed I'm missing the other side brake guide which is a pain as those are like gold dust. Next up I'm going to start on my auto trailer conversions. Having carefully bought two at reasonable prices, Rails had them for £125 in the advent sale so I got 2 more. One will be sold on - probably the GWR lake one resprayed BR crimson and weathered first. The other three will then become two 70 footers, diagram L or P. Aside from the longer body (c70mm), these had different bogies - either 7 foot, 9 foot heavy or 9 foot American. Some had the toplights and other panels plated and some retained the original character. I'll do one of each. I think the hardest part will be the roof where i'll have to re do nearly all the detail. I will make one body join at the vestibule doors but will have to make another join mid panel by the guards portion. So all in all I think this might be tricky!

Only have a passing interest in LNER but when I saw the pre production photos on Rails website, my first thought was something looked a bit strange around the front end - as if the pony wheels are too small or too far back (or dare I say too narrow!). Reminded me a bit of Hornby mid 70s. Now I've seen these two together I think it's just the effect of the missing steps? Edit: the different steam pipes also make a difference: the older one has a more purposeful, squat appearance. Not saying one is wrong, just interesting what an impact a couple of things have.

in the conflat instructions it says you can send the brake parts back for the alternative type. Give Slaters a ring. Both wagons were built in lots with either type of brakes I think. My standard van came with a load of spares including clasp brake shoes and different W irons. I just got the meat wagon expecting the same spares and it doesn't have any. Not sure now if the spares in the standard van were deliberate or I got a rogue sprue thrown in!

Might be worth making a casting of those containers - even if just the sides. Would probably be cheaper than all that strip and you could then sell some!

They usually will if you ask. Opening every box probably isnt cost effective for the box shifters which is the cost of buying cheaper I guess. Rails have now agreed to pay me the cost of a replacement wheelset on my wagon in fairness to them

Type "GWR toad allocations" in Google and top item is a list including 1935 at Oswestry.

I'm interested to know why you think this is a good time? If there is something I want (7mm kits and rtr) I watch a few and get a feel for the going rate. More often than not auctions, for the things I watch, seem to fetch less on Sundays. Nearly all my bargain buys have been on Sunday evenings with relatively few bids compared to identical items on other days. Genuine question - its all anecdotal and I might just have been lucky. Usually people say there are more people at home which makes sense logically (unless they are all busy watching antiques roadshow) but that isn't actually evidence you get more for your sales finishing then.

These kits came with 2 roof versions I think. If anyone has a spare I might be interested for a conversion project.

I took that back when I lived in Reading for a year, so will be watching with interest. I generally took photos a bit further up the line as there were a couple of lower bridges at the Twyford end.