mattingleycustom

I was looking at your photo of 21C151 and noticed that the centre yellow stripe continues across the flat front part of the cab which I thought was odd, until I looked at my renumbered 21C165 and 21C166 models that are on my workbench and they have the same feature (mine are ex-21C159 from a Hornby set, I suspect your model was too?) ... I am sure it is incorrect but I will check. Nice job, I like the nod to the extended deflector with the slight change of hue in the malachite. Just remember to replace 'the pipe' under the cab, you know the one that always breaks off! Glenn

Nameplate colour: Black, in the photo compare it with the red ground of the plaque; Barnstaple's is a grey castle on a red background All other details as seen in the photograph: extended deflectors, original condition tender, early crest. Glenn

Having used Fox Transfers extensively for some time I will say that while you can apply them using just warm water, in my experience adding a little washing up liquid (and I mean just a drop) does make application easier. The most important thing is to apply the transfers to a gloss finish to minimise silvering. Glenn

Re the Golden Age A4 (60027), notwithstanding the errors with the tender detailing, what is going on with the running plate 'curve' and the boiler bands having differing levels of prominence - as you said for over £1,000 I would expect more, in fact I would expect perfection. Glenn

Very impressed with this latest set of photos with the 28XX and goods train. The second shot in particular; taken from low down on the lineside, showing the crew in a natural repose is particularly good. Inspiring stuff! Glenn

Don't look!, don't look!, it is an oil-engine! - and I am not referring to that nice clean oil used for lubrication purposes, but dirty disgusting smelly oil. Awful, simply awful. ... hmmm, maybe a little over the top perhaps? Glenn

That is the prototype Class 66 Diesel, or is it two Q1s back-to-back? Glenn

... and for fans of the Fast Show: black!. Black!, BLACK Mother, black! ... now, now Johnny. I'll get my coat

Is Watersmeet not another (Rough Tor also, although it soon became Whimple) ... I stand by to be corrected. Glenn

34049 with the experimental front end is most interesting. I have been informed that it was a 'keyhole shaped' opening in front of the chimney, but have never seen clearly what else was going on around the chimney. What did you use as reference for this model? Glenn

Robin, I'd almost forgotten this one; a 2013 job according to my records. No.7200 still looks good, suitably massive and purposeful, a really imposing loco design. Glenn

I think your U is actually an N; the round spectacle windows above the firebox are the clue. Just like GW 4-6-0s, Maunsell Moguls all look the same! Glenn

Tony, I noticed the larger front (bufferbeam? - well, not really!) numbers on the A4s some years ago and noted that the NRM with Mallard (incorrectly) use the standard size numbers, also Hornby and Bachmann fail to reproduce this feature on their OO gauge A4s; they also use the standard size of bufferbeam number which is incorrect for most of the class. I think 4493 was first A4 to get the larger numerals (not forgetting the 'No.') and most of the class got them prior to WW2; they're easily recognisable as they more or less fill the space between the rows of rivets either side of the streamlined front. I think the idea was to make them roughly the same size as the stainless steel style painted version; which were around 6" in height. I think Yeadon mentions them in 'Locos of the LNER Part 1', or it might be in one of the RCTS tomes. Of the P2s, I think all except 2003 and 2004 got the larger numerals. A while back I pestered Mike Watts at Fox Transfers to produce a larger version of these front end numbers for the A4s, he duly obliged; but I still think the resultant transfers could still be that little bit larger. Glenn

Now that is a brute and definitely not cute

I think you'll find a Terrier far outweighs a Pannier in terms of cuteness. Glenn - navigating the waters of the revised RMweb

That's an awful lot of money for what looks like a toilet lid ... Glenn, logging out

Tony, Your excellent article in RM this month set me thinking about my own modelling goals. I like to think I am a railway modeller rather than a collector; I used to spend a lot of my time doing commission weathering work, mainly on steam locomotives and coaching stock. However for myself I have accumulated a lot of RTR loco stock that would take an age for me to bring up the sort of standards I want (does that make me a collector by default, I wonder?). The few locos that I have renamed, or renumbered, or applied a little detailing to are my most treasured, because I now possess something that has more value to me than the original as it came out of the box. Glenn

Yes, what lunatic would put the valve gear on the outside!

Your daughter is called Clive ... radical!

It still is, you have to check your tide times if you want to walk over to Emsworth to take in the 'culture' ... okay, pubs. Drink!!!

Green, GWR locos should never be seen in anything but ... black is for those Northern companies and Goths! MattingleyChurchward

black!, Black!, BLACK!, BLACK Mother!!! ... now, now Johnny. Saintly!

As a primarily SR man, I like the King Arthurs, but they don't have that slightly aggressive look that the Castles and Jubilees have. What they do have is the most aesthetically pleasing (try typing that when your'e p!ssed) smoke deflectors; luvverly curves! Glenn (I must get out more often!)

Castles and LMS Jubilees are my favourite 4-6-0 types, I think it's that taper boiler that makes them look like they are eager to get somewhere. Back to the asylum

... and a number were rebuilt into 3-Cylinder Britannia lookalikes ... and confusingly each batch had a name - West Country; Battle of Britain; err, West Country (again) and Battle of Britain (again)