Hal Nail

Nevertheless does no harm to have an independent witness. What time should I arrive?!

I hope Withercombe hasn’t been relegated to freight only? Next thing it will be a cycle path...

Minerva / Ixion have done a cracking job bringing affordable models to the market quickly. It’s interesting how as a result, they appear to have generated a lot of support and goodwill (and deservedly so) and get very little criticism. Other firms bringing anything out are deluged in comments finding fault straight away. Will be interesting to see how the Dapol pannier is received. When both were announced, a number of people said words to the effect the Minerva model will be better. But the Dapol 08 is pretty good so I’m rather looking forward to seeing what they bring out, especially knowing they were going to be second to the market. Sorry Steve - bit of a hijack.

That’s one way to settle the blue / black roof debate! Can you tell us how you achieved the faded look?

As I recall the Hymeks were sold off cheaply as well. Cost an arm and a leg when they come up now tho...

Interesting that all the ones I’ve seen so far are BR. Definite shift over the last 10 years or so away from, say, GWR. In 30 years will we be discussing which is the best of the Bachpolhornjan or Minerva class 66?

It’s a lot different. Just look at some images in Google.

I see Tower have these on offer at under £400 now to clear.

I'm 99% sure Parkside originally had the same discount prices for 6 or more on their website (agree definitely at exhibitions) which was the same thing Tower replicated but as you say, withdrew when the switch to Peco happened. Completely academic now either way!

Interesting to read this approach to the vans. Did you offer up the sides before fixing the second end to check the fit? I opted to do one end last in case the floor was too long (or sides too short!)

True re postage - but complete kits represent very good value over those needing any separate bits be it wheels, replacement buffers, transfers etc. Factor in the 20% discount (off the top of my head!) that Parkside used to offer for 6 or more kits and the likelihood is these will cost more going forwards. Which is a shame, albeit just one of those things!

Are these both the short pointed pin point type (as used in the ex lionheart 7 plank private owner) or the longer blunt stubby type which can be bought as Dapol spares? Thanks!

What I've never been able to establish is what is under the lid. I assume a large tube the same shape?

In the coal bunker. If you find the thread on Beattie Well Tanks in 7mm there are a couple of photos of it on models back in 2014! I've also got a real photo somewhere I'll try and find at home tonight.

You may well be right but I'll take my chances with the model!

Lionheart did riveted and welded variants

The lamp brackets are just spares. Triangular panels alternative type to those already fitted, etched covers for the steps and the two roof water fillers at the top of the steps which were generally played over later. Sandboxes on the bogie and the body panels for the small grills. You need a decent photo to see which options apply.

Interesting - wonder why they bothered with the steps then?!

If you put "class 45045 Saltley" into Google images someone rather conveniently crashed it into a viaduct allowing several photos of that end of the roof! Although its a different era as what is left of the nose is the later style, I still think once the steps were plated up, the two roof access points would normally be as well.

And the water filler covers - but yes I'd misunderstood the mods in question.

Thanks John Yes I took a punt on the Dapol ones being similar to Lionheart but wasn't the case. Peco wheelsets are very similar to Slaters but the ex Lionheart are much shorter axles. Lionheart did LMS and North Eastern 7 plank variants with disc wheels. Havent looked for photos to see if that is prototypical but agree all the private owners I have seen had spoked wheels - hence I'd wanted to swap and save the disc wheels for other projects.

My Lionheart private owners (which Dapol still sell off discounted periodically) have the beam compensation and pin point wheels as well. A few came with 3 hole wheels which I wanted to use elsewhere and replace with spare slaters split spokes. Ended up resorting to filing down the Slaters axles to fit. It works quite well and I'm sure if I'd used a lathe instead of my crude hand filing would be perfect. Whether I will actually be able to use the lionheart wheels is another matter as aside from the very short pin points, the axles are too thick to use standard inside bearings with compensation units. I bought some spare Dapol spoked wheels and they are totally different again with stub ends!

Heljan included little pre painted (although a tad chipped) brass covers to glue on. im sure someone will have spares they aren't using.

Tower now saying November.

It's an art not a science! I often pick things up cheap on Sundays but it's not always easy to predict. Just bought a Slaters conflat wagon for £21 with no other bids today!