Corbs

Thank you both. Colour - Very interesting, just goes to show what a difference light can make to a shade/colour. The drawing uses Pantone 7526 C currently (subject to change). Numbers - I agree that to have matching lettering colours looks gooderer but can't shake the feeling that the numerals are gold. This is one of those humdingers - it is our intention to represent things as close to what they actually were rather than an idealised version, but one needs to be dang sure about it and the photo isn't the greatest quality. First draft of a post-war livery below (thanks to checkrail for the Russell reference) for perusal. Gold outlined black typeface - The lettering is interesting, I have been looking for matches but this mimics what the SDR used on some of their stock, which is an adapted version of Gill Sans, I think the actual lettering might be slightly different but this will need refining if so. Cross referencing the photo and the diagrams/descriptions in Great Western Way and GWR.org.uk, we have the thicker (7") band of chocolate at the top with corresponding 3/8" gold and 3/4" black lining band. Double lined at the waist but without the 'boxing in' at the ends as on the inter-war livery. Grey roof, naturally. 6894 and 6895 are at this point labelled as 'Kingham Branch' on the ends. From what I can tell in the photo the THIRD compartments are not labelled. Smoking and No Smoking signs may need revision, I have done an approximation on the wartime livery but need to look into this more as style seems to have been all over the place depending on the actual coaches. Adding previous page's wartime brown draft for completeness:

Hi folks, I come seeking advice (for which we are all very grateful, it helps us to improve what we make so much). Thanks to forum members for sending over relevant pics of wartime brown, we have a draft (please be gentle) in progress: The main references (and the running numbers) are from coaches pictured in a Model Rail Constructor article. 6453 and 6454 were at this time 'Kingsbridge Branch No.2' set, I imagine the scarcity of these pics is why Lionheart did the same running numbers for their model. Colour - whilst Phoenix have a colour available for orange lining, I am yet to find a good match for wartime 'reddish brown'. The Pantone and RAL books I have don't really have a good match. Has anyone got a recommendation for a paint they have used that we might be able to get mixed? Numbers - Great Western Way makes a point of rationed materials in wartime and how existing stocks of transfers were used until they ran out. With that in mind I am wondering whether the numbers are actually the older gold-shaded-black style instead of the yellow-outlined-black style as depicted above (and by Lionheart). The 'G.W.R.', Guard and First decals are all in the newer style but the numbers look different. This is what it looks like with the numbers from another set, in the old style, for comparison.

Have dropped you a message. Thank you! Will look it up.

Hi @The Johnster - My reference photos of 4404 in this era with the BRITISH RAILWAYS lettering show it as having inside steam pipes, but the smokebox has previously been fitted with outside pipes, the holes being covered by a blanking plate. Circa 1951 on the caption. For a small class they have been photographed in quite a few locations other than the 'main' ones, including Birmingham Snow Hill, Tondu, Bristol Temple Meads, Totnes, Newton Abbott, Laira (last three presumably related to Princetown and Porthcawl allocations), Cardiff Canton, Torquay, Wellington, Plymouth and Tavistock, so hopefully a little geographical spread there.

Hi, Just want to correct this - our internal reference had not been updated (think we are all still recovering from Warley!). The relevant staff member claims they only own 1 J H Russell book, they shall be made to polish copper caps until they have learned better. @The Fatadder is correct. As I understand it, the livery trends should be: Inter war (1927–1934): 'Twin Cities' crest with G W R above, white roof (as per 946002) Roundel (1934-1942): Shirtbutton GWR (as per 946001) Wartime Brown (1942–1947) - mainly non-corridor stock repaints: 'Twin Cities' crest with G W R, grey roof* Post war (1944-1947 ish) : GREAT (twin cities crest) WESTERN or G.W.R. over crest with yellow lining, grey roof** *I have omitted 'new' stock and corridor stock as it got too complex for this post. **Regarding the post-war livery of GREAT (crest) WESTERN, if anyone knows of one and can point me in the right direction of an E140 in this scheme I would be grateful. I have seen a photo of an E145 with G.W.R. over crest and grey roof, but not the other livery. All the best Corbs

Almost but not quite - the 4500 CAD has the curved front end but with an angle underneath. Tooling/livery variants are not confirmed at this stage. The angled front ends were slightly different as the join is up against the smokebox saddle and the valve chests poke out. From my notes, only 4400, 4407 and 4410 were rebuilt with the Holcroft curve from the 4400 class.

Found it, 1952 according to GWR.org.uk http://www.gwr.org.uk/liveriescoach1948.html

Thanks, I will ask about the cab back. I believe it is the intention to represent the different frame types at the moment but unconfirmed as yet.

The suffix/prefix Ws did change over time from what I have read and the photo research, depending on when they were repainted. This is why this set has W prefix only: https://rapidotrains.co.uk/product/dia-e140-b-set-br-crimson-2/ and this set has W prefix and suffix: https://rapidotrains.co.uk/product/dia-e140-b-set-br-crimson/

Only on the screens, not received engineering prototype yet.

I had a quick glance at the stand at Warley which confirmed to me that I want to buy a Manor.

Decoders being fitted to the DCC ones, should be shipping to the UK within the next few weeks. Hope to have them out to customers in January.

Here is a link to the page on the website: https://rapidotrains.co.uk/leyland-national-bus/

Just want to check this as they conflict - I understood that the 4500 and 4575 both have the same size wheels (4ft 7.5in) and wheel spacing (5ft 6in + 6ft) and that it was the 4400 that differed by having both different wheel size (4ft 1.5in) and wheel spacing (6ft + 5ft 6in) - rather than the 4400/4500 sharing a wheelbase.

Just checking my notes, I believe only the Bodmin Branch No.2 (GWR shirtbutton) and the Bristol Division No.49 (BR crimson) sets will have end lettering, the others should be plain.

Hello Daddyman, Please could I check something on this - the notes and CAD I have for 68089 have the bottom-right corner of the opening blanked off with a shroud for the handbrake (to allow it to turn) sticking out of the back. The main photo ref. I have shows this arrangement with a jury-rigged tarpaulin, so hopefully this should be correct? With the frame differences between NER and LNER batches, is it the profile of the ends of the frames (as they lead up to the bufferbeams) you are referring to, where the height of the end of the frames are different?

Some decorated samples of Dan’s House have arrived. This tries to reproduce the ‘grunge’ that the film makers applied to the prop for the film. This test sample is on display at Warley if anyone is stopping by the stand.

Someone told me that even just leaving the wire wrapping on the zinc when you throw it into the melting pot can lead to Mazak rot. Ahhh just like River Avon?

I did a little video slideshow, basically summarising what was in this thread, but just in case it's of interest....

The Peaky Blinders were a real gang in Birmingham (but were not as depicted in the rather stylish TV show) - the nickname actually referred to their appearance and behaviour rather than the razor blade in the cap (which was applied as an explanation retrospectively). I believe the Shelbys are purely characters in the TV show rather than having a real-life counterpart.

RCTS have a pretty good photo of 41, the chimney looks about right height-wise to me although it is the tapered rather than straight sided type, think the capuchon is a bit smaller.

gimme

To be fair the Hornby D Class is built like a tank anyway....

What about 'ish'?

Well technically it's neither, 1930s were in the Interwar era in Britain.