MG 7305

I think I have worked it out. GWR loco lamps are side mounted and their C&W lamps are back mounted. Given that a steam railmotor is both then there is one of each at each end. So, the driver, loco dept, puts his loco lamp on the "front", depending on the direction of travel, and the guard his tail lamp on the "back", depending on direction of travel. Neat eh?

Good luck with besting the GWS on GWR practice. They have some significant resources to explain and confirm their position. I did not query the location of the lamps on the sample model but their size.

Fair question. I had a question concerning GWR lamps some time ago and Frank Dumbleton was kind enough to show me all the lamps held in the museum at Didcot including some from the GWR Royal Train. If anyone should be able to clarify lamp sizes, the GWS should. Given that Kernow scanned Railmotor No 93 there, a quick 'phone call might clarify the situation.

But they are available on Shapeways. I have them under my Hornby Siphons (G & H). See here https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace?type=product&q=oo+american+bogie

It may be perspective, but is the lamp a little overscale?

The telephone is a wonderful invention. I have always found DCC Supplies to be very helpful. Try 01905 621999 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10.30am - 12.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Otherwise here is a link to a list of available spares: https://www.dccsupplies.com/cat-770/sentinel.htm. The internet is a wonderful thing. I found DCC Supplies amazingly helpful when I needed some spares for mine. Good luck.

Finally got round to adding the bits and real coal, and a bit more weathering than intended. Cut back Tension lock to buffers for closer coupling, buffers actually retract on 2.75 radius. Pics always show more detail e.g. shows more dust than at normal viewing at 8" plus. Doh. I hate to have to say it but the lamps fitted are LNER? pattern, they are certainly not GWR/WR pattern. See here. Springside Models and Models4U are amongst suppliers in 4mm.

Seconded.

Meanwhile, back on planet BR(W), or in my case MDR, any news as to when the common or garden and silent model is due?

An easy fix would be to make a 15xx smokebox door available without the number plate so GWR modellers could cheat a bit.

It is what it is. One could always use a scalpel to shorten the NEM pocket and the coupling shank and and then use Loctite all plastics or equivalent. Maybe I am seeker of solutions rather than problems? I have 2 D6xx and it works for me.

Ah, I have the Heljan 1361/1366 pair.

Golly, I need to take a closer look at mine!

Er, I meant the one in the middle of the bufferbeam of the real thing see below, not the functional model one that works with other models such as hook and bar etc (I use Kadee). All the other RTR manufacturers just supply a "hanging straight down" version which is correct for other, lesser, railways and indeed gets in the way of Kadees and probably others if you fit them. The radius of curves would, I think, be unlikely to cause interference between the functional model coupling and a properly hung out of use GW coupling as shewn below. Best regards Julian

I emailed Accurascale and they confirmed that the model will come with the modelled coupling "hooked across" to the little hook bolted to the buffer mounting bolt. This is wonderful news and yet another first for Accurascale. I can only hope they will sell this coupling as a spare or product in it's own right, I need a bucket full for my GWR fleet.

Just to let you know that Fox Transfers are doing a run of 1638 number plates. Available in 4/5/6 weeks. Get your order in while you can!

I would recommend that instead of glue (tends to be thick and gloopy) a dash of varnish is used. I also use HMRS numbers as they are the same size and colours as those used by the manufactures.

The NEM pocket is very close to the front of the model so I used Kadee No 17, the shortest NEM pocket one. It is still too far out for my needs (I aim to have the back face of the moveable knuckle level with the front of the buffers) but there you are.

They are the best. They have a great stock of parts and the dedication to get them for what can be quite old models. I haven't been failed yet.

I suspect that the GWR series are of a time and this by no means is meant to run them down. Indeed they are the ones I return to time after time and they are only matched by the 3 Peto books (Kings, Manors and 48/58xx). The team who wrote them knew the detail, indeed one of them (Fleming) was involved in building at least one locomotive. Books of the period did not expand to the extent that books of today do and the modern market desires. Photographic portfolios are now available as they were not when the series was published. Indeed I suspect that the market at the time could and did know much of the detail because they saw the the locomotives every time they went to the lineside. Modern books do not cover the full history of GWR locomotives, for example, and I am no expert, where is the modern equivalent of Part 3, Absorbed Engines, 1854-1921? Indeed modern books concentrate on the period 1920? onwards and apart from 2 or 3 photographers much later than that. Modern books seem to be focused on the Churchward and later locomotives with an emphasis on preserved classes. For the full picture go for the RCTS books.

It is a must to have the RCTS GWR Locomotives series 1-14. Every book on the subject published afterwards is firmly based on these but with added pretty pictures. These volumes answer almost all questions about GWR locomotives unless such a question is number, date and allocation number specific which must can only be confirmed by dated specific records. The inestimable value they provide is the background and cross reference information you glean from reading them. Go on, you know you want to. Best regards Julian

The first batch are like that as well. I fitted the shortest Kadee (No 17) and it is still too long.

Alternatively POM is 'Programming on the Main', take your pick. Best regards

Switch to Kadee couplings, you won't regret it. Less obtrusive, closer coupling and far more flexible uncoupling and shunting. Use the electro-magnet uncouplers.

That is a GWR water crane behind the mogul, so I suggest it is on ex GWR territory or a GW depot.