Castle

Hi All, A few suggestions about the 6 wheel bogies. If they put flangless wheels on the rear of things like a Britannia then a centre set of flangless wheels on a coach bogie shouldn't be an issue I would have thought? Either that or put into practice what we modellers have done for years and do a wide tube axle over a blank normal axle to allow it to float. Noel's Hazelwood Models POLLEN E kits have flangless centre wheels and my version of the W17 6 wheel BEEETLE special cattle wagon has floaty axle technology. Both works well! All the best, Castle

Hi All, Don't you just love the way that the Captain cuts down to the nub of the matter? Absolutely right my good Bishop - No. 48518. It's only just part of the collection but it gives us a bit of variety! It could also be said that it's an inside out 28XX with a county boiler perhaps? I'll get my coat... All the best, Castle

You got it Simon! All the best, Castle

Hi All, There is still time to book a place if you are keen to come along with the gang! A little sample of recent delights: All the best, Castle

Hi All, In other news, things have gone a little bit LMS at Little Didcot... Oooooh - errrrr! All the best, Castle

Hi All, For most small bits and pieces I use Vallejo acrylics and they do a really good brass, copper and a number of other metallics if that helps. All the best, Castle

Hi Rich, Sorry, got distracted! No idea how long they stayed black but the engines concerned were No. 5001 Llandovery Castle and No. 5018 St Mawes Castle. I don't see it as being unreasonable that the repaint didn't happen until 1947 even if it didn't. I want to see you model a black Castle! Seriously though, looking at repair histories, No. 5001 was in and out of Swindon post hostilities (bit of a lemon at that time) so I wouldn't be surprised if it got a repaint pretty swiftly. No. 5018 on the other hand had an intermediate overhaul (repainting not usually done at this time although a black Castle may have been too much to ignore!) in 5/46 and a general overhaul in 2/48 so she is your safest bet! Even if it only lasted until that intermediate repair its got to be close enough surely?! All the best, Castle

Hi Pete, I know the last thing you need is this to turn into a wish list thread but I have a small suggestion. After doing so well with the 08, how about a replacement 03 cab for the lowered versions like No. D2120 at Fawley? All the best, Castle

Hi All, Thanks for all the information people! Very useful. Interesting that the late GWR pooled their tenders and the LMS didn't do it that much. possibly as there were fewer types of tender on the GWR having been standardised earlier on? Looks like she kept her riveted example then. Good point about the balance weights - I don't think Hornby have gone to the trouble of altering the wheels on this model however: https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/br-2-8-0-48045-8f-class-with-fowler-tender.html The reach rod looks like it's a builder / batch thing rather than a modification then? I'm sure there will be more questions. Let's see what the GWR nerd can do with the LMS engine then shall we? I'm awaiting a front number plate and shed code etch and I have the tender and some transfers at hand so we are nearly ready to start! Speaking of shed codes - I think I should have 87K Swansea Paxton Street (Victoria)... http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=119019&loco=8518 http://www.brdatabase.info/sites.php?page=depots&action=query&id=536 It actually ended up on the Western Region while No. 48518 was there in 1950! Perfect timing! All the best, Castle

Hi Jason, I agree - a really interesting subject! There are quite a few when you start looking. An SR Z class heavy shunter not quite making it into the national collection being one of the weirder ones. I know what you mean about 48518 - not many pictures at all that aren't showing the extended seaside holiday... All the best, Castle

Hi All, Tony - thanks! That confirms that the tender carried at that time was a riveted one. That's a start! LMS2968 - excellent work, thanks! So, I take it then from what you have said there that tenders were not pooled and moved around different locomotives like they were at Swindon? If there is only one tender listed then that's the one. What can we tell about that tender then? I understand that the Hornby one has a rogue almost GWR style hanging bar on it. The spare riveted example that I have is a Bachmann example that appears to be bereft this errant feature. It also appears to be very close to the one in the picture shown by Tony. Lowered lamp irons you say? Do tell more... I also understand that some locos had straight as opposed to curve ended reverser reach rods. Looks like our loco has a straight one. Is this something upgraded later on or as built? It's always interesting picking apart the minutiae pool that you don't normally swim in. Many thanks again for everyone's help! All the best, Castle Addendum: It seems that in all the pictures that there is no tender logo - is this possible or is the filth simply obscuring it?

Hi Gareth, If you are looking for something specific, then custom plates from Narrow Planet might be the answer? They are not expensive and offer a good service. All the best, Castle

Hi All, I have always harboured an ambition to add to the Little Didcot collection, the engines that were used as spares sources or the basis for conversions to construct some of the new build engines such as Nos. 1014, 4709 and 2999. A bargain 52XX a while back means that No. 5227 is already in the fleet. There is always room for more Halls, a 5101 and a 28XX in a GWR collection isn't there?! There is of course an LMS style elephant in the room here. This means that I am going to have to go well out of my depth and have a go at Stanier 8F No. 48518. I have just been very generously given a brand new Hornby 8F. The model is No. 48045 which is supplied with a Fowler tender. I would like to get little No. 48518 as accurate as possible but there appears to be very few pictures of her not in Barry condition on the Internet. I have ordered a spare Stanier 4,000 gallon tender because having read through the instructions on the Brassmasters detail kit, it looks like No. 48518 never had a Fowler tender. Yes I have ordered that kit too! The one I have on the way is riveted and it looks like the images of the loco from the BR totem era on the web that this is right at least at this time. I would like to know from the far better informed LMS experts here on RMWEB if there are any more images of the loco available - especially in the early BR period please? Also, what are the pitfalls of the Hornby model and what do I have to look out for please? Many thanks in advance for your help! All the best, Castle

Hi All, The Castles were mostly spared the black paint job. Evidence suggests that there were only two so treated. The information is in “The Book of the Castles”. All the best, Castle

Hi Horse, Mine was Just about useable. The only thing I changed was that I swapped out the roll your own parallel section with a tube section. There were copious amounts of filler used to blend it all together however... Perhaps a reissue with a resin boiler like their 47XX kit is in order? All the best, Castle

Hi Bob, No worries - see you both there! All the best, Castle

Hi David, Of course good sir - see you there! Hi Simon, There really isn’t anything in there any more sadly! One or two relics but it’s mostly the compressor room... the boiler is out the back of the Works these days. You are most welcome to have a look none the less however. Come and find me prior to the tour and I will take you in there. All the best, Castle

Hi All, This and what 81E is talking about is quite right. It’s the selection of the appropriate material for the job that is important. You could pay out for it all in FUD but that would be massively expensive. Noel got the balance exactly right with the mix of detail and main body parts with the POLLENs. They come up really easily with a little bit of effort. They are nicely unusual wagons as well. If there was a preserved example of either the bullion van or the SIPHON J at DIdcot, I’d be having a go at those too! I wouldn’t be surprised if one of my fellow Didcot modellers buys one though - it might cross my desk yet... It’s great to see both these guys not only having a go at furthering he hobby with 3D printing but also making them available too the likes of me too!l... It’s a great time to be a railway modeller! All the best, Castle

And the Pannier version too? All the best, Castle

Hi Alex, That’s correct - all the glasses are not in use at once, some are spares. Correct on the mechanical lubricator set up too. The steam supply from the valve under the regulator is still used down the driver’s side. No. 6023 has this set up and it is why the mechanical lubricator versions have the oil / no oil gauge in the cab where the hydrostatic displacement lubricator normally lives. Steam is still part of the equation! All GWR designed locos so fitted require the regulator handle to be lifted to open that valve when coasting to keep the oil supply running to the front end. All the best, Castle

Lovely Job Penrhos! They are a bit of a swine to do those holes aren’t they?! L version of the CROCODILE next is it? Hat, coat, gone... All the best, Castle

Hi Fatadder, If you want to tow this one dead in a train, you will have to remove the rods and cross heads as GWR locos can't be towed long distances with no fire in. The hydrostatic displacement lubricator needs steam to get oil to the valves and pistons and as such these are always disconnected to prevent damage. I hope this helps! All the best, Castle

Hi All, Oil pipe covers on Castles go like this: The covers simply hide the elbows in the oil lines that come from the lubricator in the cab to the various bits in the smokebox that need thick steam oil. Early locos as built, one large cover on the driver’s side. This is because they only had a 3 glass hydrostatic displacement lubricator. Most of the production run up to 5099 were built with and early locos also modified to have large cover on the driver’s side and a small one on fireman’s side. This is due to the 5 glass hydrostatic displacement lubricator having more oil lines to go to the front end. 5098 and 5099 were modified shortly after construction and all subsequent Castles built went to mechanical lubrication as a result of the new 3 row superheated boilers. There is still a steam supply to the front end so a redesigned cover is fitted. No need for one on the other side now though. This is also true of all 4 row superheater conversions but be careful with Castles as there are two types of lubricator used... I do not see why it would be vastly different for the Kings. However, it looks like the large banjo sort of shape thing in one of the photos above shows three little dots showing through. These are the shut off valves for each oil line so perhaps they ran three lines down one side instead of two on the driver’s and one on the fireman’s side like the Castles? I hope this helps! All the best, Castle

Hi Penrhos, These CROCODILES are excellent! Nice job! If it helps at all, my version of the preserved Didcot vehicle - Diagram C.12 No. 41934 of 1908 is here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/51212-little-didcot/page-45 Seems silly to have to figure out the same problems I have already done a second time... All the best, Castle

Hi Mike, The big issue is that without the current height modifications, No. 6023 can't even leave 81E - the site is rail locked and the issue is that you can't tow it out under the wires at full size. The amount of work it would take to keep taking the loco to bits and putting it back together - particularly the chimney that needs sealing - is just prohibitive. The cab roof and the chimney also needs a crane - you can't just lift it up there... You could just swap out the safety valve bonnet but it would look ridiculous with the short chimney and cab roof. It's a nice idea but unless she was to permanently live at another railway, there is no point in constantly swapping what is essentially aesthetic bits when there is a far greater need to use volunteer labour and time to keep the old girl running! The bits do exist however and if the time comes to display her static for a time then there is every likelyhood that they will be put on. The colour has always been controversial to some. It always will be I guess! It was paint and lining out that was paid for by a donation as long as the person donating got to choose the scheme. Not so easy to say no to when put like that is it? It also has become the loco's signature feature. No other GWR loco in preservation can authentically carry it! Like it or not, it does stand out. All the best, Castle