Hal Nail

Having fitted the B set ends to sit more flush against the sides (they are set fractionally inside the ends as supplied) I wasn't happy that the roof was now slightly short so have added thin extensions at either end and once set, sliced and filed back to the profile. This involved respraying the roof which having proved refreshingly easy the first time, was an utter pain with the can playing up. It has dried fine though and I've weathered the ends and I think that's about it.

Usually the taller ones were replaced by BR day’s and the original Lionheart run had short for BR as I recall. 4569 also had unusually large size totems as well. I’m not an expert on this but have spent hours trying to find one from St Blazey in the form I had already modelled!

Are you planning 4569? If so, bear in mind it retained the taller safety valve bonnet. (I know this because...) Of the local regulars most had quirks but 4565 was about as standard as they come.

Cheers - I'm not that precise! Just thought they looked quite a bit different in photos but that is often deceptive. .

My OP was badly worded - Richard told me at Alexandra Palace that they had just received the first EP (which was back at base camp being checked).

Well I’m reading and enjoying this thread and seeing others have a gives me the impetus to start those bits I’ve been putting off! I find progress goes in bursts. I’ll get impatient to finish something sometimes so not unknown to mess up a finish by not leaving it alone long enough. Will be going back to my 33 shortly but I suspect reworking the fuel tanks could be a long job!

Wow - marathon day’s postings yesterday! Somewhere in there Railex caught my eye so looking forward to a viewing.

Might be worth dropping M&M an e mail re ABS parts as they have been clearing the wagons at shows. For that matter I’ve bought some of their own castings off them before and they may do a brake cylinder. If you can’t find a decent match, just put two replacements on and recycle the original Dapol one for something else!

Neal, Thanks for that comparison. In photos I’ve seen the Minerva dome looks wider and possibly larger. Is that the case in real life?

5 boards now? That’s April taken care of! After that, it occurred to me this morning the sidings at Dainton could make a good little micro...

Could just be the OP has completely forgotten they posted?! I often surf random new threads and equally often am surprised to find I’ve posted previously. I hate to think what my memory will be like when I’m 75 (I added a smiley here which seems to have been ignored!)

The Dapol one appears to have larger front cab windows. Hope this helps!

Er... not all that effective then?! Cheers for all the replies chaps - looking forward to seeing the working ones on Pencarrow!

Apologies for a novice question - what was the actual job of the fpl? Is it simply to ensure the points are consistent with the signal, or a secondary lever to make it harder to accidentally change them at the wrong moment?

I bought the chassis etch from the same rmwebber but had built most of the body (cab, splashers and curved footplate) when I ground to a halt!

The original Shedmaster etchings are not for the faint hearted! The chassis had completely different wheel centres to the body - which I believe is why it was was withdrawn - and the body is more of an aid for scratch builders: Very thin etches so needs bracing etc and I’m not sure about the dimensional accuracy, especially around the cab.

Looks pretty good to me! Pleasing when it goes well but for me spraying is by far the least enjoyable part of modelling.

Busy day today working on the B set. Dug out a shot of the warped side on the workbench (/dining room table) - strategically placed clutter to give an idea of scale! Here is is the side in place with the remnants of the original attempt to cure and the much more straight forward solution - the small white sliver to the lower side middle. I filed and filled Dapol's slot and tab arrangement for the ends and glued them in place butted against a few strategic plasticard offcuts. End cracks filled Transfers on (pressfix lined up with a pre marked piece of paper). Guard is a bit wonky but that's already attempt 2 and from the side looks fine. End and transfers just need a bit of weathering once its all dry in a few days and I should fashion the two end cables (I assume electric lighting jump leads?) which I didn't get with mine, although i have seen them in some of the advertising shots. May also fettle the ends a bit more so the roof sits down better - aware of that for coach 2 now. Will catch up the second coach during the week: off to find a chicken for supper which I feel like I've earned!

Picked up two of these impressive things at Alexandra Palace today for £40 the pair. The idea of getting an American bullnose diesel has been rattling around for a few days now and these were cheap enough that I can use them as a test bed for weathering and always sell them on again.

My show highlight was this hedgehog who has had a nasty accident but is recovering well and was there presumably to appeal to the garden railway types!

At Alexandra Palace today.

The leaflet (see the link above post #4) is a bit unclear but says they are doing headcode and destination code type cab roofs and 3 different exhaust types. All the initially announced ones are 122 and shown with the smaller roof box so perhaps more to follow.

Best I could get through glass but gives a flavour at least.