John Isherwood

Dia.23 - very obviously mud / dust from the reballasting work - further evidenced by the discolouration on the RH axlebox cover. Dia. 48- again, almost certainly discolouration from a muddy surface at the point of loading. CJI.

A question. Can anyone point to a single photo of a wagon with white wheel rims IN TRAFFIC - as opposed to a photo of an ex-works wagon? If white wheel rims were intended to assist wheel-tappers at night, it would surely have been necessary to renew the white paint on a very frequent basis - and thus this feature would be clearly evident in photos of in-traffic wagons? I'm afraid that a little thought should have led to the conclusion that white wheel rims would be wholly impracticable, other than as a photographic embellishment. CJI.

No - but I am sceptical about the reference up-thread to a renaming label for a destination board being self-adhesive vinyl and produced at Nationalisation. It just struck me as anacronistic. CJI.

Scotch tape was cellulose - we are talking about self-adhesive vinyl film. I cannot find any evidence of such a thing prior to Fablon - which was introduced in 1960. ..... unless you know differently? CJI.

If we are still talking about sticky-back plastic, and labels used to alter destination boards at Nationalisation - received wisdom on't internet seems to agree that it was first introduced in the 1960s as Fablon; (that's my recollection, too). It is therefore unlikely that labels for use at Nationalisation were sticky-back plastic. CJI.

I am open to correction - but I seem to recall that paraffin is a good lubricant when machining mazak. CJI.

Sorry - overlooked the photo links. Definately a figment of someone's imagination at Hornby. Why? It would have been just as easy to tool a genuine CONFLAT B - if only the designer had known that such a prototype existed. Together with an equally simple-to-tool, correct length container - which could authentically be liveried as BIRDS EYE, MACFISHERIES or BR - Hornby could still be knocking out large numbers of accurate CONFLAT Bs, and we might have been spared Bachman's spurious BIRDS EYE livery on the wrong container. Such is life! 🥺 John Isherwood.

It's the body that intrigues me - was it a proper CONFLAT B with chain pockets, etc? CJI.

OK - is this a French version of the Jones Goods? .... and what's with the second vehicle in the train? CJI.

Was it not just a generic PLATE-type wagon carrying a container, lettered as a CONFLAT? I certainly don't recall anything other than the Trix CONFLAT B that resembled the prototype. CJI.

To the best of my knowledge, no-one currently produces AFP containers in 4mm. scale. Genesis Kits produced a whitemetal kit - no longer available - and correct transfers are available from me. John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers

Me too - and I came up with most of the Woodhead Transfers range. These were, IMHO, by far the best researched, designed and printed range of transfers ever produced up until that time and, when they ceased production, the inspiration for my own Cambridge Custom Transfers. Regards, John Isherwood.

I am loathe to have to say this, but - beware of Ken Werrett drawings! I'm afraid that they cannot be relied upon for accuracy - even when it comes to such basic measurements as wheelbase and overall length. CJI.

Amazingly, I'd never previously given any thought to the company initials of Trotters' Independent Traders ........ CJI.

Bletchley in ExpoEM days was best described as Post-apocalyptic!! CJI.

The railway has now gone, and all you'll see now from outside Bodmin JAIL are well-heeled tourists travelling up and down in the new glass lift, going to and from their hotel rooms / cells! (The jail was redeveloped using Russian money - probably a fact that is not mentioned lately)! John Isherwood.

Tony, The Deeley tank arrived this morning, in good aesthetic condition - not run yet - despite being dropped through our letterbox!! Considering that the box was clearly marked FRAGILE and sent Special Delivery, there was no excuse for this method of delivery. Fortunately, the oversize box, packed with paper towel and bubble-wrap, defeated the best efforts of Royal Mail! Thanks for the opportunity to purchase this little gem. John Isherwood.

As per above - I read your comment as referring to the Co-Bo. CJI.

Is that correct? My recollection is of two driven axles from a horizontal lay-shaft. CJI.

Best not to frequent such sites, then! CJI.

I wholeheartedly agree - but when I have made a similar comment, I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that careers could be ruined overnight if it became common knowledge that the posters in question dabbled in railway modelling - shock, horror!!!!!! Seems far-fetched to me - but what do I know? John Isherwood.

For future stripping, you may wish to try Mr. Muscle spray-on oven cleaner foam - in the orange can. Spray it all over the model, then place it on a sealed food bag for 24 hours. After that, rinse off the gunk and wash the model well. Watch out for the fumes when spraying - they make me cough! CJI.

Is it possible that you are seeing a difference in surface texture, rather than a difference in ccolour? It is just possible that the solvent in one of the original paints has slightly textured the plastic; perhaps a light rubbing-down with 1200 grit wet & dry? Also, how about spraying the interior of the coach body with grey primer, to remove any chance of translucence in the plastic? Regards, CJI.

If you do strip and repaint, a mist of grey primer from a rattle-can, followed by white primer - also from a can - should cover all traces of the underlying livery. I would also apply the yellow from a can - plenty of different shades available and much easier / reliable than brush painting. CJI.

No. Cambridge Custom Transfers.