Hal Nail

Does the fabled 47 shelf count as a nose?!

I think dia 1/500 was the LNER batch that was built by BR and all had short running boards? I think personally i'll do the roof but live with this as a faff to sort.7 Edit: There are some later 1/504 with full running boards and triple handrails on Paul's site. https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brbrakevan504/e2259c05 and at least 1 roller bearing van 1/507 with them: https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brbrakediag507/e38c97c5f prototype for everything!

I still prefer Slaters stuff slightly for appearance - the planking groves are more subtle particularly on the box vans. Given their age now they really were terrific kits. Where Dapol really score well though is their running qualities. Even with home made compensation units my kit built stuff isnt anywhere near as good as Dapols.

Now that really is wish-listing. I saw a thread discussing a 7mm GWR toad where a manufacturer said even the most common diagram probably wouldn't cover the tooling cost. A couple of posts later someone suggested they do an obscure open ended thing which was unique, "because lots of people will like it".

Its 6 months out and goes round the North!

Totally agreed although rather easier for my period, 1957! I was just curious whether the later grey ends actually had any significance or were just haphazard maintenance.

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/paulbartlettsrailwaywagonphotographs/h3833371a#h3167021a Looking through, aside from the grey ends, many others have much brighter/fresh bauxite ends or metal plating (there is one with planks running horizontally as well). Were the ends much more prone to wear and the number with grey there is simply where they've been patched up with a handy can of grey? Some ends are not entirely grey which makes me wonder if its not so much a deliberate livery as a bit more "dont care". This one suggests that did happen and a few others with random grey on the sides rather than ends but not as many: https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/paulbartlettsrailwaywagonphotographs/h3833371a#h3167021a

I've never tried the latter so will take you word for that! Lead is ridiculously expensive as I discovered when I looked at buying some on eBay! I should know this as my porch roof was nicked and I was too tight to replace it once I got a quote but am annoyed that i didn't keep the few bits they left when they cut round the nails!

I've not seen grey ends before - bit strange! At first I thought it was the light but there are a couple of much clearer photos than the one linked so no doubt. Are they in service or in the process of being reworked and that is either undercoat or grey that was underneath plating that has been exposed?

Hammy! I'm about to move to Alton and have been in touch with the wagon group about helping out. I've seen another photo of the blanked off end in service somewhere but i cant remember which of my books off hand and they are in storage for a couple of weeks. If it is more conclusive I'll let you know. Cheers Ian

http://www.preservedthumpers.com/articles-emu-vehicles.html Scroll down here (7th pic)

Just out of interest, would adding, say, a 5 foot nose with some equipment in, have a significantly different impact on weight distribution than extending the body 5 feet with a flat cab and equipment therefore nearer the bogie centres (albeit not by much)? I'm guessing not and don't think space was the likely reason for designing with noses personally but just curious.

Nice. I particularly like that bottom photo and the dingy urban feel. Where are the 46 and 50 from? I've converted a Heljan 45 into a 46 but as first built. A blue with one piece headcode is in the to do pile. Edit: I meant the bottom one of the first set - the very convincing bridge behind the 25 - but I like both lots now more have gone up!

Our hearts bleed for you. Its such a hard life living somewhere hot! If it all gets too much you could always relocate to Wales....

There is a link of their website specifically for spares enquiries (if you really don't want to ring). I've always found them helpful "in person" (albeit sometimes not what I wanted to hear!) I find the website poor but if you find a part number and use the form to enquire they get back to you quickly either way. Interesting if the 47 spares are up already - that's far quicker than has happened historically.

Since no one has jumped in, I've not had access to mine since you asked but can measure up next week if you still need it. I might be able to spare some as it's a monumental faff putting them away and I do have one in a loco box.

I've just come across 1452 which is less frequently photo'd that most. Exeter based later on, black, no top feed, driver's side tool box in the mid position. I don't have the photo to hand now but this would tick all the boxes, even down to the plate looking like 145 something (albeit not entirely clear, hence the misidentification perhaps).

If something breaks, you only want to replace that part though.

Can't Gaugemaster advise on this?

There are quite a few military models but they tend to be 1/48 (type "1/43 v 1/48" into Google images and there are two Jeeps side by side showing the difference). I've seen a Bedford of the type and body above in one of those ranges although it might not be the same one obviously. Straying well off topic but just in case the god of 1/43 model lorries is browsing Steve's marvellous work, an Ergomatic cab please!

Just out of interest, are production samples sent primarily so punters can see before ordering and production is already ploughing ahead by the time they arrive, or are they sent for the manufacturer to approve production, which therefore only starts after that?

Except, of course, those tank engines when the driver wasnt even on the loco for 50% of the diagram...!

Or 7808 is a grange and no one has realised!

I use it for BR maroon - its nearer the bottom one of the three photos above. Certainly not a brighter looking red shade.

Id think well short of the longest but the recently severed stub past old oak common towards Greenford would be an example.