Robert Shrives

Hi, Yes other industries offer skills and knowledge. A big problem was that BJ and his immediate circle of "advsiors" did not seem to know of the differing track gauge. Not the first time as during the buildup to to Privatisation it was noted that the Ffestiniog Railway was going to run through trains Porthmadog to Llandudno jn. as part of a micro franchise idea. The snigger from some North Wales MPs might have given the game away ! Let alone the tricky flexible bit required to overcome the fractured plates of the earth surface- a crack that runs up the Irish sea , and is most visible as the join between the parts of Scotland along the Caledonian canal. A bit more than a sliding rail joiner or Triang converter track could cope with. Nothing to serious of course... Robert

Sir, So true with £900K quoted in press for the Boorish link to NI from Scotland conslutant fees - it must be a good report with plenty of colour hand drawn cartoons and simple sums on hand made south Kent paper with a nicely stitched Labybird books cover for that amount of small change.... I guess the consultants were able to enjoy several working meetings ( parties? ! ) on the catering allowance whilst obviously ensuring compliance with COVID rules... ho hum. On topic I really hope the outcomes allows for seats that are designed for the enlarged frames so obvious when you walk down a city street. Sadly the abuse trains get having adjustable seats is a no go and while I like face to face and tables the current fad to always put feet on seats - might be that the under 30s have massive medical issues that mean feet need to be raised but not all disabilities are visible. Then airline seating will be the likely outcome with reduced face to face/ tables other than perhaps is a business coach or a reserveable family space that is unlocked by train crew- compartments they used to be called ! Have a reasonable day regardless. Robert

Worse here in UK with seemingly government inspired austerity interiors on "800" series Inter city project trains - described as at best planks with a cloth covering - too narrow too hard and too upright. It resulted in the Railway Standards and Safety Board (RSSB) to launch inquiry into comfort standards it seems it was not even considered at Privatisation. Unsurprisingly they took a MK3 as datum and it was still on top of everything with the Voyager 220/221 seat coming close. No new urban seat got anywhere near and it resulted in a standard being discussed - no doubt it will be ignored. Only light at end of a long tunnel was the 800s for Lumo have better seats for its 5 sets on the East coast budget operation, there by debunking the transport departments weak assertion that the IEP/ IET seats were like that to meet safety standards and could not be changed. It would seem from a European point of view the same penny pinching abuse of passengers is now of concern to its administrations. ho hum ... I wonder what outcomes came from it. Robert

Jim Allwood coined "SABLE" Stock Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy..... which sums up all of our collections I suspect. Robert.

I think the other gauge to get is a 21mm gauge button gauge - aimed at placing say in a point blade area to ensure gauge as blades thin. I have some stainless steel hair grips of ebay that are good for holding rails as well. Hopefully 3D bases and plug chairs or so printed that rails slide in will help those not too happy with soldering - that skill does open up so much. Robert

good to know as I would have been tempted but being a bit naughty, this sale looks like a way of suggesting an rtr project to break out shortly... gets coat ( well it is cold ! ) Robert

Hi Re comments on joggling of stockrails check out the many and varied comments on the point building topics on RM Web - generally it is supported and in 2mm essential as the rail does need to offer a smooth flow for the flange. Having just that bit more meat in the rail allowed by joggle/ set in the stock rail does allow the blade to be a bit thicker and thus more robust at the blade tip and gives more material to affix the tiebar - I think the fine trax idea of a plate that holds the blade and stock in vertical alignment with a pin solder to it that can rotate in the tiebar bar is a sublime idea removing all the risks of detached blade from tiebar when the fine soldered joint gives up. Robert

That looks a good space ,but as ever planning will fill twice the space! Door as is means careful design but easier to sell in future perhaps- does door if moved open in to a walkway ? - risk of belting somebody important might not go down to well..... Having like Patrick a walk around with out bridges or duck under layout takes a bit of skill but might end up with something more interesting that a "belt around the walls" sort of layout. Nothing wrong with a roundy of course but you can make a masterpiece. Now in N gauge of course you could model a great swath of scenery with a single line passing through.

Hi Mine are fine, things to check - are all wheels fitting properly and free spinning , do bogies rotate freely - Tip vehicle on its side whilst held in air and bogies should flop down easily - check both ways. Equally do they tip back and forth to allow for changes in gradient. The sprung couplers are normally fine but do check when flicked they return to the straight position - possible to dislodge cam so out of line and then they will jam and a derailment inevitable. Check location do they sit level compared to vehicle bottom edge and couplings are correctly located. After that questions depend on how other stock operates on the layout and if derailing always at same location? robert

Have you seen the magnetic coupling alternatives by Hunt couplings https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/westhillwagonworks?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2563 might stop the uncoupling lark, festive greetings Robert

Do not junk the point - cut in half before the crossing and you get a double bladed trap point for end of loop - fixed to suit route out if needs be - fitting a little spring from a coupling or perhaps a biro might give enough "locking." Robert

Hi , First packs came a few days ago, stout box and well packed. Good to know you have plenty as these are the obvious basis for many wagons. Hopefully the smaller suppliers can get a trade offer so they can be enclosed in future kits - I guess it might need work to alter current designs to take the design of retainer over the good old 10 ba bolt. thanks Robert

Great news and some ordered, thanks to the good gents at IRM! They will certainly help my bogie Ammonia tanks. I hope you can keep these as stock items as I will be after more as funds allow ! cheers Robert

We can only hope that the good gents at IRM read your last comment on the 80 class - it is a (in my tiny mind) a logical step from the MK2s on their way. Perhaps via a hunslet to get a "Bo" power bogie sorted.- Just think of the fun with British units that could be had when in Accurascale "mode." Robert

Thanks for all the phots and vids - an great bit of modelling and as said enhanced by the track work and lovely Irish and BR models. I look forward to seeing how you extend in to a through station. Happy and not too stressful move. Robert

Hi nothing last week in Tornado books but suggestion was sometimes months can elapse in the industry and I guess the old supply chain issues will be rolled out , but sure it will be worth the wait. Robert

Well that has found a use for my resin 121 model. in grey u/c a few moments ago! Robert

In the last century a supplier to the model trade did a 2mm/ N etched 07 -16 but what with all the issues only a few were delivered and some angst caused. The 1:160 model without central roof is a reasonable model and some have added a central roof section to make fit the common UK version ( Not that many if any left in traffic now.) It might be something that Revolution models might have on the pad given it is working up a drive train for a LT 1938 tube train model which would suit a tamper . Robert

To add a box landed from NZ this week with TPO /tool van , should look the part in the weed killer train, might take a while to build mind you - real world in the way again ! A great looking kit and a good set of instructions. Robert

That looks very good , and I am sure more reliable than the real thing - but they do live and work in a hostile world of dust, vibration and the human hand/boot ! I like the way it looks as only the 2mmfs track it stands on gives the game away the fine scale z track is also very good. It is a mark of a model or work of art in this case is that the gauge/ scale of model is not instantly definable. It shows how the fidelity of the hobby has moved on in the last decade or so. Mind you doing it in 2mm would test the most saintly of us ... thanks for showing.

TBH , thanks for all the hard work and I hope you can catch your breath after a few hard weeks - Dublin based beverage ? now required. No doubt you will surprise us with more ace models to go with the coaches and reruns of waggonery. - 5 good choices ( if money was no object) suggested already ... Thanks for all your work helping the marketplace and three thumbed average modelers like myself. Robert

Brilliant room in the warehouse for the 80 class an MV then.... Hunslet might be a a squeeze on the left hand racks by the staff door ?!

You do like to live on the edge, having been caught in the act of having a delivery ! Good luck and I hope you keep your head when the time comes to explain !

Well just for fun 4 sets of powercars in N from Dapol on the Network Rail measurement test train runs as a short HST of 5 or 6 vehicles around UK on a data gathering exercise - NR now know how bad the network is they have loads of data to prove it - doing the repair work of course is another matter ! Top to bottom the power cars show the 20 year life of the train with a simple line livery to blank and now a vinyl rich livery. The unlined pair achieved using "peek" metal polish which is a water based cream version of brasso and then Railtec trasfers and a Dapol nameplate. The bottom pair are the Gaugemaster offering as a commission from Dapol - comes with two coaches and I have started 3 more to ensure Dapol off the rest of the train in short order! Robert

Hi , Late to the party again - collected my two in Brum this morning and agree with all said and the loco booklet is a great idea. regards Robert