JohnH

This is looking very nice Jon - please keep posting on your progress.

And many, in BR days, often had planks replaced that were left unpainted.

What an excellent idea - many thanks for sharing it Mike.

No need to apologise Rivercider - I'm hugely grateful for all the photos and fascinating information you post Thanks for the HEA totals. I find details like this are an essential part of trying to model a believable scenario in miniature.

As I mentioned in my first post , Large Logo 50012 Benbow was definitely working 'clayliner' type wagons - however, the presence of three(!) brake vans at the front of the consist may suggest it was a trip working from one or more of the dries, destined for St Blazey. These wagons would then be added to other OWV/UCV's for the trip to the potteries on 6V53. As D826 says in his post, most of the traction for 6V53 appears to have been class 46's or 47's although it wouldn't be impossible that a LL 50 worked from St Blazey to Exeter as Rivercider mentioned. Slightly unwell 50's were often used on local trip work around St Blazey so there's no reason why one couldn't be used on 6V53 for part of the journey to get the 'dodgy' 50 back to Laira for attention.

Clay hoods were not used (as far as I'm aware) on the 'Clayliner' service. This train usually consisted of various 5 plank wagons (including some very old) OWV's and also later on, some UCV's. Occasionally an OHV was pressed into service. The clay load was protected by a simple sheet or tarpaulin but without the support bar as used on the 'actual' UCV/OOV Clay hoods used on local traffic within Cornwall and Devon. Hood fitted UCV/OOV's lasted in local traffic until 1987.

In John Vaughan's 'An Illustrated History of West Country China Clay Trains' book, Plate 53 shows Large Logo 50012 Benbow hauling 3 brake vans followed by a long rake of what looks like sheeted OWV's (with maybe a few UCV's?) into St Blazey yard. Part of the caption reads as follows :- "Just before the advent of the 'Tiger' 80 tonne wagons in 1982, No 50012 Benbow brings the wagons for what was once called the 'Clayliner' train into St. Blazey Yard"

They look brilliant. One question - On the 3 D image I can't see the 'drainage' slots on the wagon sides and ends. Will the finished models have these?

Just a quick update - RE the brake van book from HMRS. It's arrived and it's an excellent source of information for anyone interested in the subject and their use from the steam days of BR right through to EWS livered brake vans - a great read! Also I'd like to publicly thank Tony & Heather Straw who run the HMRS bookshop for their efforts to get this book to me. There have been some delays and issues caused by the Covid crisis, but they kept me informed throughout and got the item delivered much quicker than was originally envisaged - great service, many thanks.

Many thanks Paul - I'll get one ordered

Where is the book available at £4? Seems a real bargain at that price.

That's great news Eddie and thanks for sharing it

Thanks Brian. I didn't realise they received demountable tanks of resin. I'd seen before in David Ratcliffe's excellent Freight Train Formations book that 'Highland Forest Products, Dalcross' (that presumably became Norbord at some stage) was listed as a destination for bagged powdered resin in vans - one train consist in 1986 lists a VGA in that traffic. I wondered if the resin (in tanks or vans) was actually delivered direct to the factory by rail or if there was a transfer to road at Inverness. Thanks again.

Thanks very much Keefer for your informative reply and sorry for the delay in responding. It would be great if the trial was successful and they could arrange to relay (or reconnect) the siding and run the logs directly into Norbord. Well, we can always hope... Thanks again.

I've been watching the log train trial from Georgemas to Inverness with interest. The eventual destination of this traffic is, I believe, Norbord near Dalcross. From Google maps it appears as though the factory is situated right alongside the Inverness-Aberdeen line. Was this Norbord plant ever directly rail connected? (ie: did it ever have its own private siding)

I've used poster paints for many years to weather locos and rolling stock in 4mm. It works for me and allows you to remove some of the weathering if you come back a few days later and realise you've made a hash of it...

The Grainflow Polybulk in 4mm...

I've been using some etched brass wagon strapping to scratchbuild some 4mm wagons and was wondering if any such equivalent was available in platic/styrene? I'm struggling with the brass and I don't fancy fixing tiny plasticard (or decal) 'rivet heads' onto styrene strip. Many thanks as always for any help.

Just recently received some Hycote primer in the post. Very impressed with it so far. Nice spray pattern, good adhesion and a nice finish.

I fully sympathise with the reasoning behind restricting the transport of paint, especially aerosols through the post. A Post Office or courier van loaded with a fair percentage of spray cans could be potentially disastrous. What I'm not quite clear about is how some companies/individuals seem to be exempt from the regulations. Presumably, as was mentioned by a previous poster, they have obtained some sort of 'certification' to send these items 'safely' (although some of the spray cans I have received have been very poorly packaged). Or perhaps some are just sending them and hoping for the best... Thanks again for all the replies and suggestions.

Thanks for all the replies. Strangely, the three companies they mention they use, have all advised me that they can't transport spray paint... Edit - Just checked their 'Prohibited Items' page - It is not possible to send any consignment that contains the following items with Overland Express (or through any other courier). Dangerous / hazardous goods including but not limited to aerosols, flammable substances, dry ice,..... I personally received 4 cans of Hycote primer yesterday from quite a large, well established motor body repair company in a plain, non padded cardboard box with a simple address label - no special instructions, hazard warnings, nothing Thanks again

Thanks Mike - I've not spotted those before. Looks similar to a 'DAVIES & METCALFE TYPE 4' with a metal deflector plate fixed to the top. Thanks once again

I'm detailing up some of the older version Hornby 00 gauge CDA wagons and was wondering if the brake distributor (seen in the photo, if that's what it is...) is available as a detail part, either cast or 3 D print or whatever? Many thanks for any help.

I'm trying to 'legally' (!) send some unused paint and varnish spray cans back to someone and I'm struggling to find any courier to take them. My local Post Office has said they can't accept spray cans or paint for posting. Any ideas? Thanks as always for any help or suggestions.

Is it actually china clay from Brazil or chalk slurry on this flow?