5050

The 'apron' is something I've been considering for some time, fastened around the waist with velcro attachment to the underside of the bench front. Must get Mrs 5050 to run something up. Soon. I lose to many little bits these days!

That supposes that club members actually build kits these days. As far as I can work out, in my club the numbers seem to be few and those of us who do (being of the 'old school' of modelling) are quite capable of overcoming problems themselves. IMHO, the idea is open to abuse by malcontents and/or vested interests and I doubt that I would read it - although I have looked at TripAdvisor a couple of times!

Not even when you were shed bunking? Generally followed by 'YOU!' And 'CLEAR OFF!' (Good to chat with you on Sunday. I'm now off to my Chess class..........................)

Just be wary of dawn raids by WADA! EDIT - well, at least 2 people know what I'm talking about!

I rarely throw anything away. Ask Mrs 5050.............................

Well, there was plenty of interest and hinting over the weekend at Expo!

Hope you remembered to take the stock off first...........................

A poet and he does/doesn't (delete whichever is applicable) know it!

Welcome! Do you need to ask! Photos are ALWAYS welcome so - YES PLEASE!

Oohh, have I got sufficient time left in my meagre existence to build this - along with a High Level L&Y Steeple Cab and the new Fowler Diesel, an RT Sentinel and finish the Impetus Bagnall, build several coach kits and another layout to run them all on and, and, and, and............................................................

'Woodsville' will be appearing at Shipley Exhibition on 19/20 September. Here's a link - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php? Hope to see you there!

Aye, nothing like blowing your own drum or banging your own trumpet. Or something like that....................... Just think, in 30+ years time, someone on here will say -'does anyone remember that lovely N scale FoD layout in the Modeller around 2015?'

Yes, but what about them wearing grey flannel short trousers, long socks rolled down around the ankles, scuffed black leather shoes, school blazers with patched elbows, school ties, shirts and shrunken school caps? I can't see any kids I know being prepared to do that! Oh, and something like an old gasmask 'bag' to keep the sandwiches and Tizer in. But I do have some old Ian Allan ABC's and a Locolog book they could grasp.

I don't think my school uniform would fit me these days...................

Super figures and poses Alan. I think all my cast figures will start to look rather crude at the side of these! See you at Expo North?

Very nice model. I must admit that I could be sorely tempted if a kit did appear. It's one of those locos that seems to have lots of 'character'. How does it perform when propelling wagons backwards through 'industrial' curves? Is the long overhang a problem with buffer locking at all?

I think the brick 'panels' referred to above is probably the system introduced about 20 years ago by Len Newman (of K&L/C&L track fame) Initially they were individual bricks (in 4mm scale!) and then larger 'panels' and possibly windows. Much heralded and advertised at the time in MRJ, they seemed to disappear from the market quite quickly.

I've got several pots of the ORIGINAL Humbrol Acrylic in the larger size pots that are several years old and still very usable. The quality and covering power of the paint is also MUCH better than the current production.

Paint a brushful on the bottom - but don't turn it upside down to do it! Not with the lid off anyway.......................

Is this the ex Rom River one? It's the Foxfield gala this weekend so someone may be able to photo it for you?

Blimey! It is a big'un isn't it, I hadn't realised that. I am presuming that it is accurate to scale..........................

The way things are currently panning out it will definitely be a long build! It seems that everytime I do something another complication arises. Serves me right for trying to be clever and not build it as Robin intended! I have a 'selection' of blocks. In due course I expect them all to age. Hopefully as gracefully as me............................................

No problem Jim, it can take me a while to do things occasionally! And don't forget, all the UK readers, 'Woodsville' is on show at the TVNAM exhibition this coming Saturday! Come and say hello.

And here we go with today's second gripping instalment. First, the chassis. Here you can see the hornguides soldered in position with the bearings fitted, individually tailored to fit their own slot and marked. Short lengths of brass channel have been added to the sides of the hornguides to act as stops to prevent the bearings from rotating in use. The bearings are filed along one 'side' to bear against them and also at right angles at the 'bottom' to fit against the 'keeper' wire so that there is sufficient movement to allow compensation rocking. Note that the length of wire soldered across the chassis is a temporary 'spacer' to prevent the sides from bowing in during handling. It uses the holes for the compensation beam bearing and will be removed in due course. Here the 'keeper' wires can be seen in position fitting through the short lengths of brass tubing which allow the bearings to be removed during assembly. On final assembly they will be cut to a shorter length. Note that the tube under the fixed bearings still needs to be cut to allow removal of the bearings during assembly. I suppose I could have used some thinner wire (this is 1mm diam.) but this size is reasonably substantial to resist the occasional bit of heavy-handidness! The gearbox has been assembled and this is a test fit to assess its relationship with the cab front and the height of the boiler etc. It will just clear the cab front and will be a sliding fit into the boiler. The flywheel is one I have turned to fit into the boiler tube and still needs to be reamed to an exact fit on the motor shaft. To allow easier fitting and removal during assembly I have slightly altered the shape of the top of the gearbox to a lower profile to clear the end of the boiler tube. The smokebox wrapper has been fitted around the basic shape but, like Adam, I found it to be a slightly poor fit. However, I think I've made the best of it and a coat of paint might help to disguise the faults! The firebox etch is now attached and I have removed the centre portion (ie - the front) to allow it to slip over the motor during assembly. If the lack of a 'front' becomes noticeable when complete I can try to fit a 'dummy' one somehow. I have modified the boiler tube by making cutouts in the top and rear underside. The smaller rear underside one is required to clear the motor/gearbox inside the firebox as standard but I thought I would add another larger one on the top so that the motor/gearbox/flywheel can be 'got at' more readily, both during assembly and afterwards for maintenance. To ensure the flywheel clears the bottom of the tube I added a small piece of the redundant tubing to the inside to act as a spacer. This cutout should also make it more easy to attach the leads etc. to the motor as i will have the space inside the tank. However, I do anticipate adding some layers of thin lead sheet inside the tank as the loco will be quite light. Here you can see the boiler in position along with the motor/gearbox/flywheel. It is a snug fit! The flywheel can just be seen. In use it will be much closer to the motor. Note that the boiler/smokebox/tank etc. are all still separate parts and probably won't be attached together until I know the loco actually works! Now - what to do next!?