Silverstreak

I have to say I would have preferred to have seen a kit for a production Deltic rather than a one off

Tony I have built no where near the amount of 7mm kits that you have completed - but I should have kept a record for every time I have completed a running chassis then got on with the body only to find at a later date that the chassis has somehow mysteriously developed a problem which inevitably requires a strip down of one sort or another. So I feel your frustration Just part of the joy !!!! of modelling (in any scale) Regards Bob

Really superb work on those injectors Tony. All that pipework was enough to put me off doing any Standard type loco despite the fact that there have been some good kits on the market over recent years Regards Bob

DJH could well release a V2 in O gauge. The question is would the kit be a combination of Pewter, whilemetal and etched brass with individual castings which was the norm up to the release of A4, B17 and V3. Or just big lumps of Pewter with most of detail cast on as seen on their most recent releases A2 and G5

Brian that Class 27 looks wonderful. Theres something about the accuracy and finess of JLTRT models that has not yet been replicated in RTR form. Perhaps one day I will have go at one myself but just too many steam outline waiting in the cupboard

The V3 ? lurking off to left looks interesting !!!! D2594 was based at 52D Tweedmouth for a year or two shunting the yard there. I never used to take much notice of it especially if a Pacific or two were on shed

Let us hope that this is followed soon by a buyer for the 7mm kits. It would be tragic if the best ever A3, A4, V2 and Duchess kits were to disappear for good

One issue I would urge Heljan to get right on any new 37 would be to add front window surround seals to the body moulding and not as part of the glazing as per their first 37 release It looks cxxx on a 4mm Bachmann version and to my mind spoilt Heljan first 37 attempt The Heljan 40 has them so no excuse should they come back with a new Class 37

I agree that the JLTRT kit would make a more accurate model. Nevertheless no matter how easy they are to put together by the time you buy motor/motors, wheels and gears paint decals then figure out how fit lights the Heljan starts to look a more attractive choice,. After weighing up the same issues in the end I choose a Heljan 40 and for now I can live with its body niggles I too would plum for a centre headcode 37/0 but it would need to be an improvement over their previous split box version Regards Bob

Thanks to this thread I've been reacquainted with Transacord recordings. It was a chance purchase of the LP "Railway to Riccarton" in the mid 70's that was a catalyst for a couple of colleagues and myself visiting the line to seek out location possibilities to enable us to build a scale 4mm layout. I recall we began at Whitrope summit on a sunny April Saturday morning and began by walking right through the then rail less but still open tunnel to the other end. The tunnel was bare except midway through we came across a burnt out car. After returning and taking a break we then set off to walk down the track bed to Riccarton Jct passing under a number of typical Waverly route wooden footbridges and photos taken. Suddenly the weather changed and we were enveloped in a quite a heavy snow shower having to hold hands with each other to avoid wandering off in all directions. After about ten minutes the weather eased as we approached what was left of Riccarton Junction which entailed the Main platform, some station buildings but also the abandoned South end Signal Box. Keen to get into cover we opened one of the doors leading into the station building only to come face to face to what looked like a dozen so wild goats so despite the weather outside we made a hasty retreat. In fact the sun reappeared and we spent an hour or so just trying to imagine what it must have been like in steam days. Steps leading up to the South end SB were still in place and I can tell you the vista from within the bare confines of the Signal box were spectacular. From this lofty vantage point it must have been wondrous place to see a northbound V2 hauled freight appear into view under Arton Fell blasting its way uphill towards the isolated junction. Of course a couple of years later the SB, station buildings and platform were demolished but the memories remain fresh from that April day. After further visits to the southern end of the Waverly route we felt Riccarton Junction would have been too ambitious a first project and in the end we choose Stobs Station which went on the exhibition circuit for a couple of years before being retired and ending up with the owners of Stobs Station house. Our second Waverley project was "Riddings Junction" which was also well received. When that was retired in late 90's I gave up on 4mm and moved to O gauge. Listening to the MP3 tracks have brought back some happy memories of visits to the abandoned line and efforts to do it justice in model form Regards Bob

Unless castings come in a MOK box Regards Bob

Elsewhere on RMW a thread in the Special Interests 7mm Category a contributor has provided an update tregarding Westdale coach supplies See Westdale Coach and DMU supplies thread Regards Bob

Tony Despite the responsibilities enjoy you aging relatives while you can. Here its been a while since we lost both our respective parents, Looking back it was pretty hectic at times, especially throughout the festive period but you know the age old saying, not knowing what you have lost until its gone. Modelling will fit in somehow Best regards Bob

A great advert for the Ivatt and the excellent job MOK have done in designing and producing such a truly accurate kit. Not forgetting your talents Tony in completing a couple to perfection Now where is those 9Fs Regards Bob

As my 40 will fit alongside my steam fleet timescale wise it will require two crew members. There is a lovely image of D279 standing at Leeds in June 1966 with a Liverpool bound service in the Ian Allan book "Heyday of the Class 40s". Standing alongside on the Platform is the driver hands on hips still decked out in steam era blue overalls and jacket with cap tipped to one side just gazing up at his cab. The 40 looks spotless for a Gateshead allocated loco not so surprising then as the shed had rid itself of a steam allocation the year before. To be fair it was that image which in the end caused me to pull the trigger on a Heljan 40 Thanks Guys for the heads up re footplate figures. I'm busy looking at the sites concerned trying to make my mind up

Chris, your reply containing paint colour info was very much appreciated. Its been a while since I did a couple of footplate crew sets for a succession of steam locos. I was hoping the Dart figures could save me the trouble of starting all over again Oh well !!! Best regards Bob

Many thanks Chris These look excellent ---- Do they come ready painted or did you do it ? I was considering repositioning the seats to gain a little legroom but then I doubt anyone looking in would see the legless figures

Lovely work as always Brian Considering the conditions in your Garden when you started up your 47 did you discover it was leaking all over the place as was normal if they were switched off for any length of time during cold weather. They used to keep them running at Gateshead to avoid such problems. A question for you and all other group members that model O gauge diesels. Following Christmas I've taken the body of my Heljan 40 with a view to seeing how easy/difficult it was to fit a footplate crew. The position of the cab seats would suggest that future crew members would have to have very short arms and certainly be Legless (nothing to do with alcohol) so a repositioning of the seats would be necessary Has anyone fitted a crew to their Heljan 40 or any other Heljan O gauge diesel and if so where did they source their footplate crew from. My best wishes to you Brian and all who follow and contribute to Brian's excellent RMWEB topics Regards Bob

That's quite a production line you have going there Tony. I hope with the modified brakes fitted you have had a chance to test fit the wheels to identify any possible ensuing shorts Bad enough with six wheelers but ten hmmmm Regards Bob

ozzyo Great link by the way, sadly I don't have either a Mr Milling machine or Mr Dividing head so I shall have to consider other options for when I get around to doing the chassis. Just finished the tender and now making a start on the loco body

ozzyo I'm most grateful for the image. Are those Martins cranks. I only ask as the kit arrived today without the cranks which will follow. How did you fix the cranks to the Slaters axle. Was it with silver solder as per MF's instructions or an alternative method. Regards Bob

I'm on to my last Finney Kit, a Duchess with an A4, A3 and V2 already completed. All purchased some years ago when I could afford it. Just received my set of inside valve gear set this morning for the Duchess and a last minute decision when I discovered he was retiring. A bit OTT for me but hey its worth a try. I've never done inside valve gear before so this build will be interesting. I can imagine there will be a lot of folk out there myself included counting their blessings that Martin came along with some of the best kits ever offered both in 4 and 7mm. I hope he finds a buyer and his kits becomes available again though I doubt we will ever see the full range reappear but then you never know. Regards Bob

Steve I'm thinking you will be after a Double Chimney with 1A tender 9F variant. Last I heard from Dave Sharp was that they were only planning to do 50/60 kits. With Loveless, Masterpiece and Lee March all promising 9Fs we are lucky that MOK are still pressing on with their own kit. Mine will be one of Tyne Dock's Iron ore loco stud and hopefully will end up looking very like Tony's 43155 above. That will be of course if I can miraculously become an expert at weathering by then. Regards Bob

Absolutely superb inspirational modeling Tony and just how I remember them when numbers increased here replacing aging J27's and Q6's towards the end of steam on the NER. Just a little grease / oil application on the motion would be all I could think of adding. Looking forward to getting my hands on my first MOK kit a 9F hopefully before year end. Regards Bob