Edmund Kinder

Hi Steve Don't know if this helps but this is the signalling diagram from Peterill Bridge Junction and it seems as though the signals in question are at the far left of the diagram.

Lovely model, and you may be interested in this picture of a Midland box on a stone base from "The Signal Box" web site. The description goes on to say "The box was not original to the line, but erected in 1895. It was originally all-wood in usual Midland style, but underwent rebuild in 1920 with a typical M&GN lower storey built of concrete blocks"

Following on from what Ian wrote above, I had a look through all my old Model Railway Constructor magazines and I've found the articles entitled "A Way through the Mountains" in 5 parts from the Chatham and District MRC printed between February and June 1978. Looking through the text on the articles, the section on the signal box describes the method of construction (scribing plasticard etc), but doesn't describe anything about the rear of the box other than it was "raised on an embankment". There is one photograph of the model of the signal box though and it does show a boarded walkway at the base under the steps around the locking room door. Looking even more carefully, the photograph suggests that the corner posts extended down the back of the embankment and did not have any lap boarding following them down at the back. Have a look at the picture and see if you can make that out. Best Regards Edmund

Hi Clive I have this picture of the box that is a still from the film "The Long Drag" filmed in 1963. It doesn't give you the rear detail you seek, but its still an interesting picture in a general sense, as it shows the dereliction of the box at this time. Best Regards Edmund

I read that they were certainly trialed on the S&C but I don't know when that took place.

Hi Gilbert I think the lining is absolutely fine and I didn't really spot any slight unevenness around the door handle until I zoomed in. I don't think any visitor would notice any slight undulation unless you took the coach off the layout and asked for a very close inspection. I too have had some real challenges with coach lining, but got better with practice. I use Pressfix and Fox Transfers usually chopped into 3 cm lengths and a steel rule. However, compared with the Gresley stock you're lining, I have the much easier option as I'm lining Stanier coaches. Even with this, I've still had instances where I've put lining on, looked at it in the morning, removed it and tried again (fortunately I do this less now!). The picture below shows the slight hash I made with the lining above the windows on a Comet Stanier Porthole coach. To me it looks like a slack washing line, but I decided to keep it and no visitors have yet noticed. Best Regards Edmund

Absolutely fantastic model and real craftsmanship. It really does convey a sense of place and atmosphere.

Hi Graham I use both Wills and Slaters sheets for scratchbuilding, and with some of the Wills sheets the joins are easier to hide than others (Wills roof tile sheets are a nightmare to disguise when joined). I use a lot of the Wills coarse stone sheets and what I tend to do when they're initially joined is paint the area round the join in a light grey which then shows up bad joints and then put in plastic putty or Milliput around the join, and when dry spend a lot of time carving fresh joints between. I then put on a little more light grey paint again to see if there are visible joins still, if so then a little less filler, carve again when dry and paint grey again and inspect. With the photos below, you can see how I used Wills coarse stone on a model of a good shed. As mentioned above, I made the join where there was least area. You can still see evidence of a join on the edge. On the pictures below, you can see before and after shots of a tunnel mouth on my layout. A bit of filler and careful painting disguised things (I hope!) Finally, the shot below used Wills random stone for the wall. Again, I made the walls, grey paint, filler, carve again etc and when satisfied paint properly. - spot the joins. Hope this helps Best regards, Edmund

A abandoned Yorkshire Dales mill built as a typical example taken from different photographs. Slaters plasticard for sides and roof (I'm still working on the river and river bank). Midland Railway Settle Carlisle 3 wagon goods shed. Slaters plasticard tiles, Wills plasticard stone for the main building. Bill Bedford etched brass windows.

It's all coming along very well Jamie. I'm very impressed by the etched brass catenary. It was nice to see the layout at Warley last year.