nigel newling

Am I right to believe the gas tanks under an H33 are 8' by 1' 4''. If so, david Geen does a pair for £1 (from his 2009 price list - he really should, at least, update that. :-) )

A lot of the ambulance train rebuilds show up in late date lots to create all sorts of timewarp oddities. :-)

At some point in the transition from toplight to collett coach builds, the orientation of the angle iron in the underframing was reversed from horizontal face at the bottom to horizontal face on the top. I never use the 2 dimensional framing of the Comet kits, making up a suitable frame from brass angle, as recommended in recent posts.

You might like to note that, based on compartment size, the railroad D95 interior appears to be for a brake tri-composite with the guard enjoying the 1st class compartment - wierd.

My approach to this was to use an Exacto sawblade to slice the roof off above the cantrail. The saw thickness is just about right to remove the "upright" portion of the roof profile and the cantrail provides an easy "rest" for the saw to sit on as it cuts into the roof. The cuts on each side continue in to meet in the middle of the inner baulkhead. I then just glue the roof straight back on. It does not matter if the cut has not been kept dead level as the same error will exist on both sides of the cut and will disappear when the roof is replaced. The coach ends are then narrowed to fit between the sides, the top reprofiled to fit under the new roof profile and the bottoms trimmed to get the hight right.

I believe the single platform layout implemented at Swindon had nothing to do with operational convenience and everything to do with BR management of the day transforming itself from a transport enterprise into a property development enterprise. The down platform went in order to make room for a tower block to be erected between the annoying remaining railtrack and Station Road. At about that time I remember sitting in a train travelling from Westbury to Bath sharing a compartment with a bunch of senior railwaymen who were congratulating themselves on the success of their ploy to demolish Trowbridge station "by accident" in order to thwart the local planning authority who were refusing them permission to replace the listed building with a multi-story car park.

I do not understand why Hattons didn't request that the numberplate recesses be made smaller than the actual plates, with a corresponding extra thickness on the back of the plate - positive location and the numberplate standing proud of the cabsheet as it should.

Can you give us an update your exhibition callendar so that I can work out when I am likely to be able to get my hands on one? From your web site, your last published engagement was railex last May. :-)

We have watched the footbridge pillars grow but have not had a sight of the concrete creation that has been built into the cliff face. Is it a 5th pillar or is it a solid block fixed into the ground? I take it that, whatever it looks like, that is what we saw being poured in post 3383.

One surprised and very happy seller I would expect. :-)

I do wish ill informed people would stop talking about "Mr Coopercraft" and start talking about Paul Dunn. Better still, talk to the man, he attends enough shows for most people to have access to him. He is doing his best to return historic ranges to the market but many of the toolsets are worn out or incomplete. He produces what he can so, for example, most of the Blacksmith etches are available but not complete kits. He advises people to place orders directly with him for what he does have available as he admits his track record at coping with internet orders is not good. Slaters did not supply him with the full set of tools required to enable him to continue production of their 4mm range of kits. The very fact that they are still producing kits for Powsides (having "sold" the production rights of the complete range to him) provides proof of this.

... but they are made from a very early tooling (note the solid molded brake lever) and depict a modernised chassis fitted with roller bearings. Not GWR at all.

Still some available from where I got my 6 : http://www.derails.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=18_46

I am pretty sure that a consignment like that should be sheeted :-)

... those white rooves are going to have to go ...

Interesting Rob, I was quite expecting the crest to be centred under the Guard's desk light on the compartment side. Hornby, with their GWR 30s livery have placed the crest in the panel between the 3rd and 4th compartment.

Does anyone have any photographic evidence as to where the Great <crest> Western branding was placed on the sides of D95s in Hawksworth livery?

... and I can endorse that statement - probably over the same supply issue. :-) I will definitely be coming back with my future modelling needs.

"Like" is just not expressive enough - can we have a slobber slobber voting button please?

You simply can't have these beauitiful new coaches formed up into cross country rakes without adding a restaurant car. I now have an R454 H33 out on my wokbench receiving a hard looking at to see if there is any way it can be brought up to scratch. Just maybe Hornby will get there first with a new tooling and save me the bother. :-)

An H38 would probably look better. In the mean time I am going to have a go at the Hornby H33. Cut off the roof and stick it back on - doesn't solve the profile but, at least, gets rid of the vertical start Move the ends inside the sides Block off the bottom of the kitchen light Remove the solebar footsteps where not required Replace the underframe detail Replace the molded handrails Repaint Have a think about replacing the toplights and reglazing Anything else I have forgotten - come on Hornby announce the re-tooling before I start :-)

Have you any idea when Hornby will be supplying you with your allocation from the second batch of deliveries? You seem to be the last of the outlets to be so blest.

Is H1406, as now being shown, a revision to the original plan? The listing at page 1 of this thread described H1406 as a 14XX lettered GWR, coloured green and including top feed. I was very disappointed as my modelling era definately favoured them being without. My vote, therefore, would be for no top feed.

Just for information - I have been in discussion with Brassmasters to see if they can separate out the Bogie and Pony Truck artwork from the MF archive as I would like to improve on the 72XX chassis kit. Apparrently it may be "possible" to create these as detailing kits so a few extra votes may bring them up the project priority order :-)

I don't think page 1 of this thread is that difficult to find.:-)