LooseHead

Those of you who don't visit the LRM website (hosted by the Scalefour Society) regularly might like to know that it has recently acquired a whole host of new photos, courtesy of the Society's webmaster (with whom I have no connection except a high degree of respect and appreciation). If you peruse the new pages you can, therefore, see just how splendid your finished masterpiece might appear. There are, however, still one or two gaps, so anyone who has an example of an unillustrated item should not feel shy, but get snapping away ...

Just as a matter of interest does anyone know when DK 34, the Cl 37 conversion kit to 37/4, /5 or /7, was stamped 'Temporarily (!) Out of Stock' on the catalogue listing? I don't actually want one, but I am hankering after one or two other bits they claim to do, and I wondered if this might give any hint as to recent(?) activity.

Just hope that wasn't consigned to the same black hole as the rest of their 4mm stuff ...

Slightly OT, but I hope you'll forgive me - if I were looking to model a LBSC location (which currently I'm not, because despite having lived for some time on Brighton territory my commitment to another, somewhat larger, pre-Grouping company leaves little scope for meddling in the affairs of others) I would find it extremely hard to resist the charms of Kemp Town. Not only is it a perfect encapsulation of an urban branch terminus, with all the usual facilities both passenger and goods that you would normally expect of a bucolic rural location, yet incongruously set in the midst of a townscape, but it genuinely features that hoary old model deus ex machina of an approach through a tunnel. Its potential drawback is that modelling the fully developed post-1873 layout really requires the unusual 4-way turnout which sat at the throat just outside the tunnel mouth; but as an addicted builder of complex trackwork (usually featuring a mixture of at least 2 gauges, broad and/or narrow), I actually find that an additional attraction. If nothing else I commend its history as a fascinating by-product of the mighty Brighton's rivalry with its eastern neighbour the London Chatham and Dover.

I remember seeing them at Bedford working the locals to Northampton St Johns - real contrast to the Stanier 2-6-2Ts that were also found on the service. I hope the one in my stash turns out half as smart as yours - even without the update.

I can't add many to Dave's total but I'd definitely be up for a couple, maybe 3 if they turn out anywhere around the £15-£20 mark (just don't let SWMBO hear I said so before I've got her to sign off on the next tranche of the modelling budget!).

I'm also eagerly awaiting the "maybe sometime' Presflo underframe, so if they are in the offing rather sooner than promised you will have another delighted prospective customer.

Or you could just get with a decent browser - Firefox works fine ...

I think the clue's in the scale - there may well be more railway enthusiasts in the UK than France (although I've personally never seen any figures to give a factual basis to that), but what is known is that HO has never been more than a very minority interest on the 'wrong' side of la Manche, Trix and Rivarossi amongst others having found that to their cost. It will be interesting to see if the current series does sell well with Brits, but I personally will not be holding my breath.

London Road Models can provide etchings (though they are a sight more expensive than the card kit, and you currently need to find castings etc yourself). There are possible developments ahead and I would normally point you to the LNWR Society Forum to stay informed, but that is currently defunct with the difficulties the Society is experiencing, so the most we can hope is that further news might appear here (unless the Society manages to sort itself out, not presently looking very likely). On vehicle length, the Motor car should be 57' and the trailer/driving trailer allegedly an inch shorter - given the emphasis the Premier Line placed on standardisation this seems surprising, but in 4mm scale it need not be a major concern.

Looking forward to your special on le Train Jaune - I've yet to do the section from Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via to la Tour Carol (ran out of time before, because the lure of lunch at Villefranche had been too strong) so will be interested to see what I've missed.