Retro_man

The first Railroad Flying Scotsman R2675 was basically the older tender drive version with a new loco drive chassis and the guts removed from the tender drive. The latest Railroad version R3086 is a completely retooled model. http://www.mremag.com/news/article/Hornby-railroad-a1-4-6-2-r3086/12344 Steve

In 1955, a rake of Hornby Dublo crimson and cream coaches behind an A4 looked pretty good to my eyes, and not just the colour! :-) As they are readily available, it may be worth having one scanned at a paint store to see if the results are any good. I understand some paint stores can even do custom matched aerosols but do not know of one here in Canada. I agree with Coachman that the Precision coach crimson is far too dark.

I have often wondered if the Hornby Dublo 1950s tinplate coaches in carmine and cream are an accurate representation of what was in service at the time. I recall that when I was a lad I thought they looked pretty close to the originals, but then so did a lot of things I would not touch with the proverbial barge pole now... Any thoughts... Steve

Hi Chris, I improved a couple of my J72s with the Mainly Trains chassis which now look very basic compared to yours! Will it be possible to fit the inside valve gear in an OO gauge chassis? The cab of the J72 is very empty once the Bachmann motor lump is removed so a backhead and other cab details would be a welcome addition. The improvement your Pug kit made to my ex-Dapol model is amazing, so I am eagerly anticipating this one. Best regards, Steve Canada

Hi Chris, When you do the short chassis would it be possible to include an etch for the short bunker? Thanks in advance :-) Steve Canada

Hi David, Yes, it will be 65033 in nicely polished up condition as on May 7 1960. I chose 65033 as this was one of the few J21s that I could find photos of both sides on the same date. Pictures are so important, but like the lady Armstrong, the ones I really need don't turn up until everything is done! The other contender was 65099 but the Westinghouse brake lines were not clear on the photos I found on the web. 65033 had the 67A boiler in 1960 so hopefully I have modelled it correctly as the kit instructions were pathetic. Look forward to seeing yours complete - it really looks good. Steve

David, Photo of the model in the paint shop prior to adding the missing bits :-) Steve

David - the J21 is looking really good! Hard to believe it is mostly plastic sheet. I am close to completing a George Norton J21 and should have made a "to do" list as I discovered after painting was half finished that I had forgotten to install the smokebox door hinges and sand-pipes! All fixed up now and after touching up the paint, I shall be applying the transfers. Steve Canada

Hi JCL Canadian Tire has a One Step Self Etch Automotive Primer in an aerosol can in the automotive touch up spray section. It's not acrylic and it's a very light grey colour and adheres really well to brass and white metal kits.

The Hawksworths are current state of the art whereas the Colletts were state of the art way back in 1983 when Mainline first produced them. Hopefully future Hornby coaches will be to a similar high spec as the Hawksworths and not return to the standards of the past that we have seen in some details on the 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 tanks, etc.

Model Railway Imports in Canada will be stocking these models. www.modelrailwayimports.com info@modelrailwayimports.com

Thanks Merfyn, David and Phil, very helpful replies.

Was the 76OWB006 British Railways version of the OWB based on actual vehicles? If so when and where did they run and did they operate on public services or just for railway personnel? I see the DFE registration was from Lincoln. Steve Canada