5050

Cor, next year I'll be a millionaire!  Got some of them.

On 04/02/2021 at 09:05, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

In OO-SF?

 

Mike.

Hat , coat etc.

No, finescale T of course!

My Branchlines/SEF Sentinel built last year in P4 with a highly modified High Level chassis etch.  You can see more on my thread -

I made some rods 'post chassis build' by measuring distances between axles insides, outside and centres and calculating the mean, using that to drill the holes.  Worked perfectly.

For front crankpin 'nuts' I turn a 1.5mm 'top hat' bush with a 14BA threaded hole that screws on from the front.  The outer face/rim is made as thin as is practical.  AG 'nuts' never seem to have the threaded hole central.  Being turned I find this rather strange.

10 hours ago, The Johnster said:

The 47xx numbered 9 locos and were even more route restricted than the Kings; Paddington-Plymouth via West of England main line or Bath/Bristol, and Birmingham direct route as far as Wolverhampton. 

They also worked through to Birkenhead, passing through Wrexham around 7.00pm on a fast freight (meat?) to London I think (Smithfield?).

Kings could only work as far as Shrewsbury in those days due (I think) to weight restrictions on the viaducts etc. between there and Chester.

Try Hobby Holidays for a blackener that works on several materials, brass and solder included.

A few years ago (probably a lot more than a 'few' TBH!) we went on a trip from Salford to Liverpool Pier Head on a Mersey ferry boat.  A really interesting trip.  Return to Salford was by coach which was far less so..........

Thanks for the link to the MSC film, extremely interesting.  Brings back some memories of cycling through Irlam towards Eccles in the early/mid 60's, looking across the road - and seeing a blinkin' great ocean going ship sailing along behind the houses!  Rather surreal when you're not expecting it.  I also remember as a young lad going to Runcorn with my Dad and crossing the transporter bridge with the new one being built alongside it.  TBH, I think I was possibly a bit more interested in seeing trains on the railway viaduct!

Sticking chairs to copperclad sleepers might not work out as intended.  The rail is soldered directly to the sleeper without a gap and chairs raise the rail away from the sleeper  A bit of hacking of the chairs might work for 7mm scale but in 4mm it's not very convincing.

I seal card with Ronseal Rotten Wood preservative.  Works a treat for me.  I've also used it on thin balsa to 'toughen' it up a bit.

Very nice building.  Could you provide a bit of info on your methods?

13 minutes ago, 03060 said:

 

I've already bought a couple of Pecketts and a Hattons Barclay, plus a few wagons for a YD themed shelf type layout and intend to buy one of JSL's lasercut factory kits when spare funds pemit.

 

Haven't heard of the 'G&A' type layout before so shall be investigating, thanks. Not likely to get built soon though as I'm working on other things but I've loved this theme ever since I saw the Bylines article all of those years ago....but you never know as I'm very much a mood modeller these days.

 

Regards,

Ian.

Oops, should be 'G&S' not 'G&A'. 

I think E H Francis used white rubber erasers cut into lamp shapes with a razor blade in his coaches.

On 02/02/2021 at 11:51, PenrithBeacon said:

Just come across this thread, most interesting.

Me too.  Until I saw the Mercian Barclay I hadn't realised you are the same Simon as on the S4 Forum.  Very glad to hear that Arnold's layout found a new home.  He was a great bloke and we always enjoyed a bit (!!) of banter about P4 and GWR!

Are the Dave Bradwell etches you refer to the ones for 'improving' the Bachmann hoppers?  I've got a couple of sets in my stash that I'm certain I'll never use.  If you're interested in them please PM me.

On 02/02/2021 at 13:41, Ray Von said:

I've often wondered why manufacturers such as Will's / Peco etc don't start a scheme whereupon they accept back the sprues from their kits.  There's a substantial amount of plastic there that could be melted down and remoulded (?)

 

I remember talking about this to Colin Ashby many years ago when he still ran his wagon kit business.  I think he reckoned that the heating processes involved in moulding affected the plastics in an adverse way for them to be reused for fine injection moulding.  I'm sure someone with a better knowledge of the subject could be more specific.

TBH, I think I am going to retire to my bedroom, close the door and window, put my head under the duvet, and protect myself from all the hazardous entities that the world is capable of subjecting me to.

Except for, perhaps, beer and a decent cup of tea......................

Oh, and plain chocolate digestives...............

I could probably think of a few more exceptions in time.

Viewing the video again it makes me wonder if a UK version of the classic USA layout concept 'Gumstump and Snowshoe' could be a viable idea.

Google 'G&A' if you're not familiar with it.  Its one I've had in the back of my mind for years!

And also this price list from October '51.

What was the 'Finger Tip Control' item??

22 hours ago, Il Grifone said:

The motor is actually quite ingenious being two pole (why it won't start!) with a magnetic bias which is supposed to stop the armature with the poles vertical, at right angles to the horizontal magnetic field. A centrifugal clutch automatically disconnects the drive to allow this. Two microswitches reverse the current through the windings. These latter are rather delicate....

 

I like the "only £9 5s 0d" for the N.Y.C. Hudson! (Something like £275 in today's devalued currency - it was 2.8 US$ to £1 then (devalued from the pre-war 4)

Description of the King and its motor.  Model Railway News December '51.

GF Formo advert from '53.  Wagons and track included.

And a good example of how I feel on occasions!

Plenty of other period GF ads (and editorials) in my files.

3 minutes ago, 5050 said:

Sorry, total c*ck up with the quote and edit features!!

Here's a selection of GF ads from early 50's Model Railway News.

Wagon Lits variety available in '51 and the brake end version in '52.  NYC loco rather more expensive than King and MN locos - but it was rather larger!  Did it have the 'trembler' motor or something more conventional?

I had no idea the Minic ship range was so extensive!  They have no attraction for me I'm afraid but I can see how they could be if you have a nautical interest.

I remember one of the Steetley lime wagons parked up alongside the main road in the early/mid 60's.  I don't think it was still a runner!  I think it had gone by the time we moved to Oswestry in 1970.

39 minutes ago, 5050 said:

No, it became part of St Phillips Marsh I believe.

Sorry, I meant Bath Rd.  I think Graham has got it right.  I would like to see a couple more photos taken at ground level just to get an impression of the environment.

Not saying why JUST yet