RedRich

http://www.phd-design-etchings.co.uk You need to look in the model railways 4mm section of the website to find the sleeper spacing gauge. The thin sleeper 1 meter track lengths from C&L are not going to match Peco or Hornby points because they have thicker sleepers. The track from Peco and Hornby is all flat bottom rail and they don't produce bullhead rail. I would also be wary of having C&L track lengths delivered in the post in case of any damage to the track in transit. The one draw back for me with Peco or Hornby sectional track as it is, is that the adjacent track centers look and are wrong. A double track level crossing from Hornby or Bachmann is a great example when you see the distance between both sets of rail centers. However if you decide on getting the sleeper spacing gauge do yourself a favor and use Peco flexi rail to try and lay it in a flowing fashion as it will look better. Try and get to the MRSI show on the Bank Holiday weekend if you can and talk to exhibitors, ask them questions and you will get more info and food for thought. Rich,

Des that was a very interesting read. My family has taken part in events and raised funds for the fight against cancer. We have given to organizations in the fight for a cure against cancer, for research of cancer. We also have supported organizations that help people deal with the aftermaths of the loss of a loved one through cancer. Having read the piece in the link it does raise some questions about the organization his name is affiliated to. I had honestly assumed that part of the organizations brief was to raise funds towards finding cures for certain types of cancer. If it isn't true that the organization does work in that field then it is disappointing and I had assumed wrong. Rich,

No mate the honeymoon period is long over. Rich,

For what he did in relation to his cancer and his association with finding cures and treatment of the illness, and also raising funds and awareness of the illness he deserves a lot of credit. My father is a cancer survivor and we lost my Mother to the disease last year. As for the findings of the USADA and the testimony in the report, plus the interviews with Bradley Wiggins today on Sky and Stephen Roaches son on Prime Time tonight I'd have to agree with what Michael Hutchison said about only people with no credibility within the sport would continue to support his claim of innocence. As the Stranglers sang no more hero's anymore. Rich,

Dave if that isn't inspiration to OP nothing is. They look smashing, a big to the painter. Rich,

I hope everything goes well George and it leads to more fairs. How are things going, I haven't seen you since April. I hope everyone is well and the new arrival isn't keeping you up all night. Rich,

Rob I have some Details West large and small filters ready to go. They are a bit overscale for H0 and look just about spot on for 00. I may have looked at the avenue of seeing if the class 67 large air dryer filters would have been available as spares otherwise. I have brass rod and have tried using it with telescopic brass tube but the results aren't really what I was hoping for, and more experiment will have to take place to see how the elbows and reducers for the pipe work can be modelled satisfactorily. Some of the pipes are inch and inch and a half, some of the smaller pipes would probably require fuse wire to model them but it would be hard work to get it to look right and keep it's shape while handling the model. Nevertheless I will stick at it. Rich,

Cheers Fran, they are a huge feature of the underframe on the prototype and it's good to see it fitted to the model. Rich,

I'd go along with the lads and paint them in the Enterprise colors. I know that a lot of people run different rtr stock from different eras and it can be great fun. I think creating a fictitious livery is a bit pointless if it didn't exist. I hope to see some photos of your finished models and fair play for having a go, good luck. Rich,

Fran something I meant to ask was does the 67 have a large air dryer filter fitted to the air reservoir tanks. Rich,

I've watched it on Sky Sports News and read the report myself and it's very conclusive in it's findings. All cases and findings are based on evidence and the evidence in this case against Armstrong is overwhelming. The fact that he refused to fight the case looks more obvious now. We all have hero's in sport or entertainment and sometimes our zeal or loyalty to that person or persons can blind us from the truth. He's not the first sports star to be embroiled in something like this and he won't be the last. In any case where the accused refuses to give evidence or defend him or herself it is seen as admitting guilt to the US Anti Doping Agency. No one refuses to defend themselves if they are innocent of all charges. My brother in law is a racing cyclist and I spoke to him an hour ago in the in laws house and he had been a staunch defender of Armstrong, he has even said it's conclusive and a big let down. Sad really. Rich,

Good work Richie. I have the Windsor Newton Gouache myself in Burnt-Raw Sienna, Burnt Raw- Umber, Black, White, Greys and Beige colors. They are amazing for the realism and texture they produce and are a great alternative for anyone that doesn't have an air brush. Oils are pretty amazing for oil spillages on tanker wagons and fuel tanks also. Rich,

I hope they sell very well for you and they look great. I love the pic of 086 with the orange door. Rich,

The kind of track that P4 Track Co and C&L produce varies. P4 Track Co produce as has been said before the track bases some with sleepers and chairs moulded you thread on the rail. Other sleepers in the range need to have chairs added and are available in plastic representing wooden sleepers, plastic panels representing Dow Mac concrete sleepers with pandrol clips fitted you thread on the flat bottom rail and ply sleepers which you again fit your chosen chairs to and thread on the rail. They also make point kits representing the different sizes A, B, C, D etc. C&L produce 1 meter lengths of bull head rail on thin sleepers to match their thin ply sleepers used for hand built track as well some new timber tracks bases for points laser cut all you do is add the rail and chairs. They also produce the switch blades and crossings ready built and machined for those who don't fancy any filling and soldering. With the use of gauges it's like putting a kit together but it depends on a bit of skill and how confident you feel. They also supply some of the other similar products in their range that P4 Track Co supply. I think it is universally agreed by most modellers that build their own track that P4 Track Co products are far superior. All these items are available in 00 EM AND P4 gauges. 00 is naturally the 16.5 mm track as you would most commonly see used and is the same gauge as Peco Hornby etc. EM is 18.2mm to try and more correctly model the 4 foot 8 and a half inches of the British prototype. P4 18.83 is the exact gauge. Nothing is produced for Irish 21mm gauge which is 5 foot 3 inches in the correct gauge and needs to be hand built. If you use Peco track at 16.5mm gauge it equates to track that is 4 feet wide which is 15 inches under gauge for correctly modelled Irish track. If the sleeper spacing is your only interest then I would advise you to ignore any of the above and get one of the fold up brass sleeper spacing gauges from Peter Harvey, cut some of the webbing on the Peco track and even though it isn't in true gauge at least the sleepers are correctly spaced and it will save lot's of cash and sleepless nights. Rich,

That's a hell of a model Fran, the real deal only in America. Rich,

Seamus and Rob to my utter regret I had started to run low on space on the memory card when I had shot that wagon. The yard (Waterford West) was full of activity that day. There was beet, bulk cement, liner, beer cages among others. The Dublin Waterford train arrived and left for the return journey. The weather that day was amazing for the time of year. I had intended to make another trip soon but I never did. Pretty soon most of the traffic had ceased and it's why I always say that we should photograph everything now as it will be history some day. Timber trains are all one is likely to see there now and who knows how long that will last. I have lots of photos pre digital days that still have the negatives and I hope to have them resized some day. It seems that the only way to recreate that kind of scene these days is to model it. Rich,

I've seen these beer cage wagons with these type cages with both rectangular and round head buffers. It would be a matter of choosing which numbered wagon you would want to model. All of the wagons used for these cages had extra box iron on the top of the chassis for carrying those type of 90 keg cages. Rich,

Tom it's all about doing research and looking through threads about the subject online, that's the most important part. Kadees are sold with draft boxes where you can fit the whole unit to the chassis of your chosen piece of stock. You need to cut a small piece of the headstock from the item of rolling stock and get a Kadee height gauge to judge the height the draft box and coupler need to be set at. In some cases this may involve using some plasticard spacers fitted to the floor of the chassis to achieve the correct height. Couplers are also available to fit directly into the NEM pockets on the rolling stock and come in several sizes and numbers. Lots of the lads use them on their coaching stock on here to great effect and will be more than happy to assist if you ask, that's why we're here. MK11 and MK111 rakes are usually permanent and semi fixed rakes on the prototype with the outer coach ends fitted with drop eye couplers lowered to enable the loco to be hooked to either end (a Generator Van or a passenger coach) depending on direction of travel via the screw link coupling on the rolling stock or loco. The other coaches and the inner ends of the outer coaches are permanently fixed with buckeye couplers. It really isn't that difficult to use this system once you are shown how by an existing user of the process. Some lads fit the buckeyes to locos permanently to enable run around sequences on their layouts without having to physically uncouple the rolling stock and at the same time fit as much of the skirts and pipes on the loco as they can and it looks great when it is done. Anthony has done a lot of this kind of conversion on his stock and it looks and works great. Anthony always posts these kind of conversions in his work bench thread and always gives great and friendly advice when asked. My advice would be to have a good look at his workbench thread as all the info you would require is there in photos and writing. Rich,

I will but I better not let the missus see me doing it. Rich,

It would be my first port of call Des. I love a challenge and seeing a great piece of engineering take shape and become something living. Rich,

That's an excellent compromise with the hex spacers. The updates of the build are very informative and are a breath of fresh air as I haven't seen anything like it on here before regarding a 21mm build of a steam loco so well detailed and described. It's got me itching to have a go at something similar myself. Maplins are a great source for getting tools and other items for railway modelling. I've purchased wire for the electrics on previous layouts and the new build. Soldering irons, drill bits, transformers etc among countless other items needed for the hobby. I recently picked up a nice soldering fume extractor and some extra filters for a good price. Rich,

Brian was very obliging and willing to carry out the work for me Anto during our conversation. As soon as production packs for the loco are produced I couldn't see why Brian would not make them available as a part of the Lazerglaze range for the 201 model. I will take this up with Brian on our next conversation and let people know here. More often than not these can be applied as a friction fit without adhesive to the model. I'm a bit inclined to maybe use some Johnson's Klear around the corners of the window apertures and let capiliary action help the glazing set. I't maybe not totally neccesary but I'd feel safer. It will certainly move the model a few steps up the ladder in detailing looks and that sounds good to me. Rich,

Brian does all the work himself Rob in house. Things might require a little more time at this time of the year considering that we are in the height of the exhibition season. I think the laser glaze is as important an after sale detailing part as anything else we have had in the past from the cottage industry. People are using it in locos that are already factory flush glazed as it just looks more realistic and no matter how thick it looks to fit the window - windscreens on a model it looks ultra thin when fitted. I've seen it on Hornby or Lima MK111's with the correct extreme etchings window frames, and it brings the models to a new level of realism. I may use the Southern Pride Models MK111 bogie side frames on the MK111 trains as I will be using a modified version of the Jim Smith Wright (as sold by Brassmaster) bogie for 21mm wheelsets. Johnsons's Klear seems to have some great uses for the modeller and can be used when gluing clear plastic or acetate when the material is coated with the clear because if any fogging of the material occurs more Klear can be used to remove it. Klear seems an ideal product for using to hold the fitted glazing or name plates in place as it adheres to the model by capillary action and seems more efficient than varnish. As I've said I will be sending a 201 body to Brian soon for measuring and manufacture of the glazing. I had intended to have it produced for my own fleet but I don't see how it would be any problem for someone wishing to flush glaze their model to contact Brian themselves as all the spade work will have been done. I will leave the angular cabside windows as they are on the model and concentrate on the four windscreens and the other 4 cabside sliding windows nearest the doors. Although the four sliding windows aren't flush to the cabsides on the prototype they are considerably closer to the bodyside then they are represented on the model.I will have a go at creating the rubber seals on the 4 cabside sliding windows with microstrip if I can. If not I'll use some ultra thin paint lines to represent them. Hopefully and if time permits the waiting time won't be too long to have them produced. Rich,

Fran the content of that link is very worrying. I am appalled at the state of the models and the packaging and to offer those models for sale to the modellers that have supported the manufacturer in their modelling lives is disgraceful. I think a lot of the problem has it's origin in the factory that produce the models. There have been too many models reaching the shelves with poor finishing and errors dimension wise over the last few years. It seems that if a manufacturer does not have someone on the ground in the factories where the models are produced, then you can have very little hands on input in the manufacturing process. By the time errors are spotted it's too late as the tooling has already been produced and to rectify the problems would lead to new tooling and more cost to the manufacturer. It's a bit uncertain at this time to hope that a top class model will be produced for the price it will sell for. It doesn't bode well. Rich,

Fran I didn't have a chance to look at the link but I'm assuming you are talking about Pugsley (Martin McDermott) and his work. Pugsley's modelling especially his weathering techniques and use of different artists mediums oils, gouaches, powders, dry brushing etc is amazing. For anyone that feels a bit reluctant to shell out on an airbrush or compressor his uses of the other materials produce amazing results. His work is probably seen as an inspiration for many people to have a go at some modelling projects themselves. I would certainly put him on a par with Martin Welch and that is big praise. I followed the class 59 thread on RM web religiously and felt his pain as he really took the model to a new level. He worked on the side grille in brass on the mechanical end of the model and it produced a great result. The use of different gauges of wire and florists wire was fantastic, and he also used brass for the support struts on the main chassis. I remember seeing his class 47 loco weathering finish on Model Trains Weathered and he got some great praise from the American godfathers of the art. He also uses Model Color and Model Air acrylics in earthy tones and sandy colors to great effect and mixes all his own paint colors. The build of the Class 37 sprung bogies in 0 Gauge are in a different league. It's well worth a look for anyone wanting to learn and the chap is very friendly and always offers advice and encouragement to people. Rich,