John Isherwood

Mainline, surely? It always looked OK to me - and certainly capable of detailing. A full set of trussing and separately fitted brakegear were a revelation. Remember - the competition when introduced was a Tri-ang toy that resembled nothing that ever ran on rails! CJI.

Trouble is - H-D crane paint is red, I need black! Plus, anyone who has stripped a H-D 8F tender will have been amazed at the detail that is revealed; H-D paint was THICK! CJI.

I am currently modifying a Hornby Dublo breakdown crane to more accurately represent Colwick's No.124. (This is no small undertaking, involving much cutting of mazak, and consequent finger injuries)! 😫 I have tapered the rear of the crane body, and shortened the weight- relieving bogies, but I now need to scratchbuild a jib runner wagon. (The H-D crane came without the jib runner, which is too short, anyway). No.124 appears to have had at least two different jib runners. An early, BR-era photo; (Fig.51 in "British Railway Breakdown Cranes"); taken at Doncaster Works, shows a conventional, though LWB (15'-6''?) flat wagon with underframe trussing, a jib rest and a tool box at the inner end. However, "Railway Breakdown Cranes Volume 2" (Tatlow) has, on Page 328, a Nov. 1969 photo of the same crane, now BR(LMR) RS1106/36 at Toton. The jib runner then was a LWB low-slung wagon, and Page 321 of the same volume has a side elevation of this later jib runner. I should like to model the earlier (simpler!) runner, but I cannot find a drawing in any of the LNER wagon books. Can anyone point me in the direction of a drawing, or even a better photo, of the original jib runner wagon, please? Many thanks in anticipation. John Isherwood.

Be aware that these cranes were mounted in pairs on Warwell wagons as track relayers. Some slight modification to the cabs would be required, and the jibs shortened, but I have a pair of cranes and a Warwell awaiting surgery. CJI.

Would it be too difficult to make one from discs of plastic card? CJI.

Agreed, but I think that you'd agree that it was "extremely unusual". John Isherwood.

Oh good - I'm doing something right, then. I learned many years ago that, if you don't rub up certain people the wrong way, they get away with saying / posting all sorts of misinformation! I've said several times before that I have no interest in platitudes - I say it as I see it! CJI.

Oh, don't worry I will continue to post in every thread other than yours, when I feel that I can make useful comment. Funnily enough, many posters express their appreciation of my input. I must be doing something right ..... CJI.

Unfortunately not - the HD components are currently soaking in cellulose thinners; (my wife very kindly lent me a suitable glass vase)! First indications are that, especially around areas of chipped paint, the chemical bath is doing the necessary. John Isherwood.

Thank you for your input; I too resort to Mr. Muscle for plastic bodies, but HD paint has a deserved reputation for durability. I have cellulose thinners in stock, so I will try that first. Regards, John Isherwood.

You are very welcome - I will make a point in future of ignoring departures from prototype in your postings. CJI.

In my humble opinion, the Peco 4mm. scale well turntable is, when combined with a low revving motor / gearbox, a good option for anyone needing a large turntable. The original comment, though, referred to a SMALL prototype turntable. CJI.

You will not thank me for pointing this out, but .... it was extremely unusual for the load / number to have a black background on a bauxite, fitted wagon. I know that the HD body has a moulded panel for the load / number, but this is easily carved away. The P-prefixed numbers are also an anachronism on BR-built wagons. CJI.

Fifty years ago, when I last stripped a Hornby Dublo loco, I reached for the good old, reliable, Nitromors; but this, I gather, is now pretty ineffective. I need to strip a HD breakdown crane and I would welcome suggestions. I have a heated ultrasonic cleaning tank, and I wonder whether a very hot, strong solution of caustic soda crystals would be effective / advisable. The crane body is solely mazak - is this likely to be adversely affected by such treatment? Alternatively, can anyone advise a product or treatment that will effectively remove HD's very tenacious paint? Many thanks in anticipation, John Isherwood.

I have one - it's large by British standards; 75ft. diameter or thereabouts. CJI.

To support excessive overhang and to aid weight distribution. CJI.

I don't do generic transfer sheets - only completely compiled ones. John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

You may well find that the Clear Kote Flat will have soaked into the cut edges of the transfers, thus preventing them from releasing when soaked. I would recommend cutting off the transfer edges, if possible, before soaking. CJI.

Transfer producers are subject to copyright law in the same way as everyone else. CJI.

It was the model that was referred to - not the prototype. CJI.

Notable that so many of these contemporary 'Modern Image' models used the then recently specified chocolate brown / maroon paint for the chassis. My MTK three-car BRCW DMU was so adorned, and very smart it looked too. CJI.

A short length of wire-wound guitar string, curved, with a slice of styrene rod or sprue. Drill the footplate and the disc for the guitar string core, and locate the disc over the axle centreline. CJI.

Devonport wagons - china clay in some form? CJI.

My understanding is that DJH have a policy of not supplying parts, except to kit purchasers as replacements for faulty / damaged components. CJI

steameramodels.com CJI.