John Tomlinson

BTW, you seem to have posted this question twice and already had this reply. John.

In a word, no. The best bet for gen. on BR Mk1 coaches is the book by Keith Parkin. There's a supplement too. Google should help. John. see https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31410368537&ref_=ps_ggl_2039220669&cm_mmc=ggl-_-UK_Shopp_Tradestandard-_-product_id=UK9780906899496USED-_

A very interesting set of pictures. My own signalling efforts stalled somewhile ago. Having made the signals, in the main using the same Ratio components as here, the prospect of rigging them all up for remote operation, either mechanical or electrical, didn't appeal at all, and was to put it mildly rather daunting. You seem to have come to the same conclusion. Obviously you've made the boards movable using the 16BA screws, and I'm wondering if the pieces of wire in the shape of a "7" at the base of the individual poles wil be attached to allow you to flick them to stop or go as required. If so, sounds like a very practical, not to say time-saving compromise, which would work really well. Many thanks, John.

Thanks for this. I just had a look on your layout page at the H15 day - what a picture! Your signals are looking very convincing too. Best wishes, John.

A very good outcome, you've done especially well to get the cabside lining to fit the curves like that. A question please, IIRC H15 drivers were 6ft, so have you used 24mm or 23mm wheels (either being right with some tyre wear), or indeed something in between? John.

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Finding myself in the northwest last week, and close to the Mersey, I thought it would have been remiss not to pop into Hattons for one of the bargain A2/3's, emerging with LNER liveried Chamoissaire. It has just come out of our standard seven day quarantine, and had a test run on the layout. Like my BR Steady Aim, an ebay bargain, it runs very smoothly and quietly in both directions with no hint of any binding. (I suppose we expect this nowadays). The seam on the top of the boiler isn't that great, and also like Steady Aim the water scoop under the tender is set low enough to catch points with a thud as it passes over. On both a bit of careful but firm finger pressure was enough to dislodge the weak glue used by the factory, to detach the scoop, either for a bit of filing and resetting, or I suspect in my case not bothering as it isn't really visible. Pondering the renumbering and relettering to early BR, however I don't think that the HMRS sheet has the early curly "6" needed for the number, so another source will be needed. Then again, it looks quite pretty as it is! Even more so when I add all the bits and some etched plates. Hmmm. John.

Whilst on the subject of preservation, the Golden Ochre 31 at Loughborough has been an attraction for years. It is D5830, not D5579 which was the original for BR in the early 60's. A view here from their 2012 Diesel Gala. Click on the picture for details, and there are more views in the Flickr album referenced to the right of the text.

Looking above at the Derby RTC example above, here's a shot from the 2019 Swanage Diesel Gala. Click on photo for details.

One of mine from 1978 on Flickr. Click on the photo for details. There are more 31's in the 1978 Album.

I dug out my MSL "Tommy" kit and compared it to the one they do for the standard 76. On the basis that these kits are accurate...., As well as the cabs being different, it appears the middle body is a bit shorter, and that the grille arrangement and sizes are not the same, on both sides. So unless you're going to accept some compromises, it sounds to me like a lot of work indeed starting with the Heljan model. John.

Possibly other differences, I don't really know. If you get drawings/ photos of each you should be able to compare. John.

I think either the Lima or Hornby Western bogies would do. Bear in mind that the BR black livery wasn't just black, it was lined, mainly in red but with some lines also using the mixed traffic grey. Thre's a lot of the red, around the inside of each panel on the bodysides for starters, you'll need some pictures. The cab of "Tommy" is very different to production locos, not only the front windows being more square, but none on the side except for the cab door. A fair bit shorter too. Again, you'll need good pictures or drawings. John.

Mousa models/ bill Bedford 04/5 and 04/7 here, https://mousa-models.co.uk/product-category/4mm-scale/4mm-3d-prints/4mm-3d-loco/

One of mine from 1978, a BRC&W class 104 entering Bolton Trinity St. Click on the pic to go to Flickr with full description. Jon.

Thanks for this. In respect of the buffers, I don't think Heljan used any glue on the sleeves at all, which is why so many secondhand examples have buffers missing. Those sleeves are a pain to find as well if they ping off into the carpet! The problem is that the chassis as supplied won't fit to the body with the buffers and sleeves in place. One trick I learnt on here was to file small recesses into the chassis corners that allow the buffers to stay in place whilst the body is removed. Interesting comment from M1AYM above about the motors being poorly made so that at speed the armature hits the magnets making a noise. Rather agree with you "I'm not overly impressed by Heljan"!! John.

Being a BR modeller, of somewhat elastic period, I did wonder about using transfer remover and then trying to apply an early BR number and lettering to the apple green "Chamoissaire". If that ends up as a complete Horlicks I can then just respray into BR green, and add it to the BR Pacific fleet! John.

Could you perhaps tell us which size of Mashima you used? Many thanks, John.

I wonder if any of you could clarify something for me please, rather than me plough through over 250 pages? I seem to remember that the capacity of Old Oak Common station, for any period in which it is the line terminus, is 9 trains per hour, which I assume to be 9 in, and 9 out. Is this correct, or am I just confused? If this is so, then the actual line, running to Brum or the junction with the WCML near Lichfield, would only be able to operate at around half of capacity originally envisaged, which was around 18 tph. Is this also correct, or am I again deluded? Many thanks, John.

I bought Model Rail fairly religiously when it first appeared, lots of "practical, how to" articles, some good prototype research and some interesting layouts (to me obviously!). I gave up somewhere after issue 100 and haven't looked at it since. John.

I don't know if it was you who has posted a repaint before, or someone else, but anyway this confirms what I thought then, that a proper repaint is the only real answer to Hornby's terrible green. The outcome is excellent, and the Fox lining looks very good. John.

Like you I have some old split chassis B1's and also a J39, which, touch wood, run fine. I have to smile when some folk make disparaging remarks about this design. All of Bachmann's current Diesels and DMU's, some of which are not exactly cheap, have a similar design of driving wheel, namely each wheel with a short axle stub that pushes into a nylon(?) gear. It is this that can cause the problem on our older steamers. The actual split chassis isn't a problem at all, save that if you wish to add extra pick-ups the mazak isn't very helpful for soldering. I always enjoy your pictures, and these are no exception! John.

As a general observation, the price of Hornby motors, as with their bogie drives for diesels and DMU's, seems to be all over the place. I rather wonder if they just have a list of numbers into which they stick a pin! I've found Lendon's of Cardiff to be very well priced for many spares, and worth a look (connection only as a customer). I realise this doesn't help specifically with X9108, but may be of use to someone. Remember though that parts do return to availability, sometimes after many years, when a particular loco has had another production run. John.

You started this on February 23rd. So I make that 24 days. Quite remarkable for something of this scale!!! John.

If you fancy a bit of respraying, Hattons are now offering "Chamoissaire" in LNER green for £109! John.