5050

I remember aluminium 'Jackson' wheels in the 70's, introduced possibly by a shortage of brass? Or maybe as an answer to the then fashionable Stephen Poole aluminium tyred driving wheels? The SP wheels weren't very succesful as they picked up dirt like crazy.

The Nucro unit seems to be made from sheet material whereas the Kennedy bogie in the advert appears to use wire or similar. Did the design change to make use of the Nucro/Acro unit later?

Someone mention Bakelite coaches? If these weren't Bakelite then what were they? The windows don't appear to be 'see through'.

Some Acro and Nucro ads. Did this 45xx kit ever appear? Then the name changes - And the Kennedy bogie -

Been told today he did have a Yellow one - after the Green one which (so I've was told) ended up on its roof in a field.

He later started the excellent MPD range of locokits but then lost interest in model railways, did a bit in steam preservation, renovated beer pumps - but his main interest these days is in brewing some excellent beer. Are you sure his Beetle was Yellow? I seem to remember it being Green but he might have changed it of course.

Am I right in thinking that my friend Robert Hunter was one of your first sales reps in the North?

Only a small one!!

I've got one just like that. It's called a 'North West Short Line Chopper'. Available at all good American model shops for $???. Never considered making my own version but in reality it's fairly simple provided the maker is good at measuring and making accurate right angles.

Neat idea - but don't let the H&S brigade see that exposed cutting edge!

Not the easiest wagon to build! I think I did a drawing of one in a Modelling Railways Illustrated magazine early 90's?. Geoff Kent has a couple of nice scratchbuilt ones.

We used to have a very convenient balcony at one of our previous venues............................

I remember a couple of evenings spent in the early 70's with Nigel Daley (who later had his own range of very nice etched GWR coaches) trying to make P4 track using these chairs and copperclad sleepers. I don't think that, even at those early times, either of us was to keen on the rivet and ply method and the Studiolith/P4 Society's marketing policy. Needless to say though, our attempts weren't all that succesful and the rivet and ply method was eventually adopted. I've got an ABS crane and match truck kit still safely tucked away in its tube for a rainy day.

I can't get any of my continental couplers to couple up with each other. How and why they've lasted so long on the market beats me! Cr*p.

Here's a small selection of adverts from the early 50's when CCW were still involved with both 4mm and 7mm scale kits. Also some interesting track on offer. A 'basic' coach kit shown in parts. Very nice GWR Siphon. LMS Parcel stock in both 4mm and 7mm. Track advert 1. Track advert 2. Editorial about the track. Manufactured from milled cork sheet. Also note that the trade name of H G Cramer Productions is used.

Yes, I know, but my version is well and truly a lot later so Railway it is.

Perhaps you could consider this? http://clevermodels.squarespace.com/models-gallery/

Ooo, I remember them rumbling up the M1. First time I saw one I thought time had stopped still! Nice concept Dave, looking forward to seeing progress. If it's as nice as your 7mm work it'll be grand. I'll get Jamie to book it for 2015??

Thanks. I had tried that but then realised that you have to use the 'Full Edit' function. Learn a little every day etc. - and that's the 2nd thing I've learned today!

Yersterday at the Northern Counties American Modelers meeting I was taken to task by my club chairman for heading this thread as 'Western Maryland RR' - the RR referring to 'Rail Road'. Now, as I'm sure all of you know, it was not a 'RR' but a 'RW' - the official title was 'Railway'. I hang my head in shame - but can't find a way to alter it.

That's a very interesting piece of kit. Can you buy them in the UK or only direct?

I had one once (Mrs 5050 bought it for me) but sold it at a car boot sale. I can't see that doing this subsequently made any appreciable difference to either my ability or my inabiity to manage my workload around the house or my modelling. Regarding gadgets, I have an extremely battered, singed (burnt!) and holely piece of 4 x 1/2" wood that I drill, solder and generally abuse bits of metal and plastic on. It also has several cut-down panel pins knocked into it here and there which are the remains of crude 'jigs' to hold stuff whilst being abused. I'm to embarassed to photograph it for public consumption..................

I don't remember having any problems telling the future Mrs 5050. After all, she accepted my being a racing cyclist without any complaint - and that was just as bad if not worse in the 60's before it became very fashionable. I even took her to Pendon during our 'courting' in 1969 and, as it was a Saturday, it was officially closed but Roye England took pity on us and gave us a guided tour. After that she was pretty well hooked and, as she is very 'crafty' herself so appreciates the time and skill involved, doesn't complain. Very much.............

This last week or so has been spent trying to get the layout to run after its long 'hibernation'. Not an easy task I'm afraid. The rails needed a damn good clean and the recent ballasting hasn't helped even with the care I've taken (or thought I had!) - and my trials and tribulations with Kadee trucks is documented elsewhere. The main point leading into the coal tippler etc. needed electrical attention because the power wasn't being fed to the frog etc. Now I've discovered that my P2K locos all have split gears. Is stamp collecting any easier as a hobby.....................................

Nice ones again. I visited Ruthin station a while after closure with my Dad and his friend on our way back from Rhyl. Everything still there basically. These days it would have disappeared overnight! Denbigh had a fascinating station building with that 'spire'. Have any drawings ever been published? Interlaced sleeper point work would be rather unusual for a North Wales location I reckon. A good 'prototype for everything' example. Very common in the North East though.