Isambard Kingdom Brunel

I went to B & Q to get a replacement and they only had metric, no 3.2mm either. So I went to an Ironmongers/hardware store called Garners in Skelmersdale (much nearer than B & Q, but I keep forgetting its there) It has a big wooden counter which makes you want to ask for "Four Candles", it was a warm day so the fellow behind the counter didn't have his brown coat on. Asked him for a 1/8" Imperial drill and he goes behind the scenes and runs upstairs, comes down with a plastic tube full of drill bits, asks how many do you want? One, says I, he scanned the bar code on the tube and says that will be 52p. I didn't have the heart to say I would like a 1/4" drill bit too ! I really should go there more often, would love to know what they stock upstairs

I seem to have attracted a family of borrowers to my shed. Tuesday I lost my 1/8" drill bit, kept especially for reaming out bearings a la Iain Rice. Today, my manky old flux brush has disappeared. Wonder what they are building?

I used to cycle around Portsmouth Dockyard on my "Racing bike" on my way to my ship. I regularly hit the rails. Some said if you got stuck in the rails you could go twice round the dockyard before you got to the dock you needed

Sorry only just caught up with this Blog, I have 3 Comet Coaches to complete, although you havnt fitted the Comet Hinges did you drill out all the other holes for Door and Commode Handles, prior to assembly?

Shame that as they had started selling a lot of modelling bits and pieces, e.g. evergreen plastic and brass tubes and rods. I work in Mill Lane, just off Edge Lane and it was handy to pop in. In fact I used to pop in just for a browse if I had been visiting other units.

I use fulgerex point motors to move the blades on my P4 layout. .9mm droppers are soldered to bottom of blade, these fit into tubes mounted onto a piece of PCB under the base board. The fulgerex motor is mounted nearby and moves the pcb as in Miss Prism picture above. The auxiliary switched change the polarity of the frog. They can be used to operate both points in a crossover I use fulgerex point motors to move the blades on my P4 layout. .9mm droppers are soldered to bottom of blade, these fit into tubes mounted onto a piece of PCB under the base board. The fulgerex motor is mounted nearby and moves the pcb as in Miss Prism picture above. The auxiliary switched change the polarity of the frog. They can be used to operate both points in a crossover

Two more photos of the Signal Box more or less complete

I paint the mortar colour first, snow it to dry then dry brush diagonally with a base brick colour and finally pick out individual bricks in different colours. If needed a diluted mortar colour can be run between the bricks

The realisation of the site of the balance weight in relation to the signal being upper or lower hit me with a dull thud as I was driving to work today. Thanks for your help

Thanks to you both for clearing up the 'washer' problem, I don't know where I got the idea the washer was between the bracket and post, I think a diagram in GWR Branchlines book 3. Nite then back to the left and right. The instructions say push the axle through from the left, using your method Steve, that would imply pushing it through the post towards the track, whereas I would have thought if the signal were in front of me on the left, I would push it through the post away from me? Hope you can under stand me coz I'm having trouble explaining it

I hope you dont mind me asking a couple of questions regarding signal building. I am building a 16ft tall Home Signal for Llanfyllin from a MSE kit, but, am a bit confused by some of the instructions regarding fitting the balance weight It tells me to solder a washer to the end of a 26swg nickel silver axle, then pass the axle through the bracket trapping the balance lever in the bracket The instructions then say to drill a hole through left and right faces of post and push the axle through the post from the left hand side Questions: If the Washer is between the post and the bracket should it really be soldered to the end of the axle? Which is the left and roght of a signal? I have photos of signals, but, no close ups of the balance weight fitting, however it seems that some have the balance weights under the arm and others under the spectacle plate, that is really confusing. The photos of the GWR/Cambrian signal at Llanfyllin does not show the balance lever

Thanks Chris, I think Bill Bedford does d312 sides, will have to order a pair

Thanks very much for that info, can I ask a possibly daft question, looking at some coach sides could a 64' diag 327 coach side be used as a Diag 312 with an appropriate internal layout. Or are there striking external differences? Thanks very much for that info, can I ask a possibly daft question, looking at some coach sides could a 64' diag 327 coach side be used as a Diag 312 with an appropriate internal layout. Or are there striking external differences?

Going back to the BR MK1 Coach in the Photo, I don't have access to the numbers of BR Mk1 coaches, but, looking into it a bit could it be a non gangwayed Diagram 237 which appears to have 10 doors on the side can't see anything else which sounds similar and have not seen the original photo. Would appreciate any help. I am going to cross post this in the Coaching to try to illicit more help

That is a photo I have not seen in a book I have not seen. I look at any books regarding the Cambrian to see if there is any info regarding Llanfyllin. Sometimes, though, there is only one photo, or nothing new so I don't buy it. Thanks for the info

A few photos of Llanfyllin Signal Box during a trial fitting, looks like it needs to be pushed into its bas a little more

With the interior lit, albeit with only a 9volt battery connected to the lighting circuit A couple of Mobile photos of the Signal Box in place. The Telegraph Pole is not glued in lace yet so has a slight list

Any idea what type of BR Mk1 coaches would have been used. I have just acquired a Comet Mk 1 Coach Kit off ebay for a very reasonable cost, (about 1/3 cost price). Just need to get the correct sides

After Posting a couple of photos in the MRJ 242 Thread I was advised to post some photos here This is Llanfyllin a Cambrian / GWR Terminus Most of these photos were taken about 3 years ago when I was building the layout on a positive basis. Unfortunately not long after that a family illness has meant I don't get out to the shed as often as I would like. I have recently started building again, and will need to take some more photos

Chris, that's what I meant, I meant a flat rather than curved blade. O hold it at 90 degrees to the wall and scrape down. The plate follows the bricks and mortar. The important thing is to ensure that the brick courses are on line before you do it.

If you butt joint the corners, you can run the flat blade of a scalpel down the wall which will scrape the edge to match the shape of the bricks. I don't have a photo of how its done and hope this description helps

I work near Edge Lane and regularly use Penny Lane as a Rat Run to get to Mossley Hill (pop into Hattons on the way back, if I'm not too busy). The bottom end of Penny Lane is a nightmare if you time it wrong and arrive when the Magical Mystery Tour have disembarked and trying to take a phot standing by a Penny Lane Road Sign (there are a couple, but they have to stand in the middle of the road to take the phot)

I also work near to Hattons shop, I pop down there regularly for a look around and make a few purchases, I have no problems parking down the side road.The staff are very friendly and helpful

Sorry will have to drop out for family reasons. Have been looking forward to this, will keep an eye out for a trip in 2016 Terry

Apologies for late reply, is thatvthe photo by the signal box with the Ivatt running round. Could that cosch have been added to the usual b set to add extra seats eg on market da