Bob49

The first batch are now available. They are £25 each as if you fit Gibson wheels fitted to their 21mm gauge axles they can be pushed in or out to suit your chosen gauge. I have just two of each left from the first production run. They will go live on the website on Monday. Marc

It's been on the cards for a few years. Marc

The first batch of 4mm kits will be available next weekend at Scalefourm (High Wycombe) and they will be going on the website as soon as I'm back from the show. They come with two sets of rocking sub-frames so the builder can used Gibson 5ft3 P4 wheels or OO if preferred. Other scales will be made available on request. The price is £30 and need transfers, paint,wheels and couplings to complete. If this sells there will be more to follow. Marc Dobson Pre-Grouping Railways

Axles and Back to Back gauge arrived this morning. Just need to adjust then rocker design.

Everything is 3d prints with brass fittings where suitable. I'm printing in an abs plastic which has the same properties of injection moulded plastic. Marc

I think I can give credit to my grandfather who always said if your going to do a job do it properly. Hence all my wagons are designed to either S7 or P4 standards if people want to alter them after they have bought them then that would be up to them. I've ordered some 21mm gauge P4 axles from P4 stores which should be after the weekend which will allow the final bit of the 4mm versions to be designed.

I'm in the process of turning the wagon bodies I produced in 7mm into full kits in both 7mm and 4mm. As part of the process I am developing a compensated under frame to run on 5ft3 track in both scales. I have both the 4ft8 and 5ft3 wheel sets in 7mm. But I don't have the same in 4mm. OO/EM/P4 all have the same length axle but I'm not sure about the dimensions of a 21mm axle does anyone have the dimensions? For the record the 1st wagons will be DNGR 2plk open GNR(I) 4plk open GNR(I) 6plk open The wagons will be designed to run on 5ft3 track however they should be able to be converted to either 00 or O gauge if anyone should want to. I'm hopeful that the first kits should be ready in time for Scaleforum in September.

I might be interested in a J26 or a GNR JT if they could be built to 21mm gauge. Marc

GNR(I) 4plk and 6plk and DN&GR 2plk. 3d printed bodies with sprung brass axle guards, buffers and 3link couplings. The 4mm ones would be to the same spec. Marc

I've done some wagons in 7mm scale 36.75mm gauge does anyone think there would be a demand if I turned them out in 4mm on 21mm gauge? In the way they are designed they wouldn't be possible to make them compatible with 16.5mm gauge.

On RMweb there is a thread on scratch building in S7 and the chap who posts his wonderful work hand letters everything. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/122168-s7-scratch-building/page/146/#comment-5451193 Marc

Does anyone know what's going on with their website? I tried to access the site today and got this.

You could the spray white paint onto waterside transfer paper. Varnish, cut up and use. It would be like screen printing. Maec

White is a big problem. You can buy white transfer paper but it only works if you can exactly match the background colour. I have used it on my NSWGR wagons but only for the brake marking panel not lettering. If you want a lot then POWsides or Light Railway Supplies might be a good point to start. Marc

I've been using rapid prototyping/3D printing for the last 25 years in industry. The first step in producing good 3D prints is the CAD package. It's the output as it's all about the density of the triangles generated for the STL file. The other thing to consider is the type of printer. Sometimes it worth paying extra for some a little bit higher spec. Marc

I might have been tempted to used either KDs or Greenwich couplings as they are less obtrusive. Marc

I don't think there is a jig out there for FB rail, in any code track. There are ones for bull head rail, the P4, EMGS and S7 group them depending on scale. Marc

Just a thought on 21mm track it would not only be useful for 4mm but at 7mm were it would be bang on 3ft. Marc

I saw it at York show many years ago. If my memory is still working properly it was a 6 hour round trip to see it. Worth it though. I have the Oakwood pressure book some where as I had a idea to do something like it but it never got any further than reading the book.

As a manufacturer of 7mm loco kits that date is etched on my brain. All my loco kits were designed round some of his smaller motors and over night I didn't have kits to sell I had scrap parts as noone will buy a £250 loco kit that you can't fit a motor in. These days I would be in a similar situation if the likes of slaters or Gibsons throw in the towel. It isn't nice that they have had to close, especially for the staff. However they are not actually making anything so they will be replaced. If other retailers started dropping them it might be the starting of something to worry about.

The West Clare Railway book arrived safely this morning. Had a quick flick through. From first glance it looks like a one stop shop. Enough stuff to keep me busy for a while. Once I have updated my website for all the new stuff that I have done over the last few months it will be full steam ahead with this project. The exhibition managers for my local shows have asked if I have anything in the pipeline for this year. That being the case I will have until the end of September to have something running. No pressure then.

KB Scale used to make one in 0-14 but it has been out of stock for some years.

Were the 2ft lines built with ex WD(ROD) equipment bought surplus after WW1? This scenario was quite common in the UK.

Surely that would be an ecumenical matter

Not sure yet as everything will have to be made from scratch it's a case of what will look best in the space. The whole thing will have to fit into 10ft by 2ft max.