John Isherwood

Possibly - but I'm afraid all 650kg. of the collection went to the local recycling centre a week ago! Sorry, John Isherwood.

Right - let's be clear - the K's kit represents a BR 24.5T mineral hopper - as such, my Sheet BL66 is not appropriate; what is needed is BL156. When I came to build my K's kit, I found that the components differed from photos of the real wagon, insomuch as the disposition of the side slopes resembled the 21T hopper, whereas the real 24.5T wagon had differently configured side slopes. Following some research - almost certainly in David Larkin's wagon data sheets, I learned that the first few 24.5T hoppers had side slopes disposed in the same way as the 21T wagon, but subsequent production had a different arrangement of side slopes. Checking the content of my transfer sheet, I find that 24.5T hoppers B330000, B330001 & B330002 are included. It would be unusual for me to include three consecutive numbers unless the prototypes displayed some special feature. I therefore conclude, without repeating the research, that these first three wagons were the initial batch, and that subsequent production was to the revised body arrangements. I hope that this information answers your query, but do get back to me if not. John Isherwood.

Certainly not - my speciality is civil engineering. I merely 'saw' the Dunning-Kruger effect as was recommended and found, not unexpectedly in that field, diverse opinions and research conclusions as to its existence or otherwise. CJI.

Subsequently debunked! CJI.

I'll just sit hear and listen, for the time-being - should something be raised that draws my attention, I'll be sure to make that known. CJI.

In my early days as a draughtsman, we would clean our drawing boards (and hands) of ink spots with carbon tet. We were all heavy smokers at that time, and I seem to recall that I later learned of some undesirable chemical compound resulting from inhaling carbon tet. fumes through a lighted ciggie. CJI.

I will try and remember to check the sheet tomorrow. Feel free to prod me if my aging brain fails me! CJI.

My greatest pleasure is in debate - whether I actually believe in the proposition that I make, or not. The enjoyment is in the cut and thrust of argument; maintaining one's 'sang froid' is crucial. As a member of the forum, I go where I choose and speak as I find. If the Moderators judge that I have transgressed decency, or expressed myself impolitely, I am sure that they will advise me accordingly - though I do try my utmost to observe the proprieties. For the timebeing, I find my surroundings strangely comfortable. CJI.

Without checking on my PC, I can't be certain - but I would be disappointed if I had failed to include the prototype on my 24T hopper wagon sheet. John Isherwood.

Suffice to say that I am more than happy to be counted amongst those with opinions diametrically opposed to your own. Two opposed opinions; but who is to say which - if either - is correct? CJI.

I'm afraid that you'll have to explain the significance of that Transatlantic insult(?) to me. For the record, I am oblivious to the content of the press in all its forms - I can form my views of day-to-day issues unaided. You will note that, as ever, I manage to express myself politely - why do my detractors always resort to insults; at least afford me the basic courtesy of a 'Mr.'. CJI.

The K's kit represented the sole(?) prototype of the BR 24T mineral hopper. The production wagons had significant differences - not least in the configuration of the end and side slopes. I have one of these kits running on my layout - though I modified it to be one of the production run. CJI.

I did the same when Klear was to be withdrawn - but I still have plenty in stock! John Isherwood.

FAO AndyY I note that the IGNORE buttons are absent from certain users and threads - is this a temporary situation resulting from 'stripping down'? John Isherwood.

I will spare you the details of the many and varied ailments / serious diseases which caused my wife to give up work many years ago, and which continue to seriously impact her enjoyment of life. Why do so many people assume that those with views opposed to their own have a trouble-free life, sailing along on a cloud of self-congratulation and good luck? Believe me, if I was to relate the encyclopaedia of injustice, bad luck and general lack of fortune that has characterised our lives, you might just begin to credit me with some knowledge of life. I know what I have experienced, and my 'uncomfortable truths' are wholly based on life as I have known it. CJI.

Having had seventy-five years of life experience tells me all I need to know of human nature. My long-term experience of social security 'dependent' neighbours in Cambridge was a walk in the park, compared to what goes on in more 'deprived' estates in our larger conurbations. We differ as to where we ascribe the responsibility for that situation - but taking responsibility for my family's upkeep has proved to be the making of me. I have no regrets, and make no apologies for the character that life has stamped upon me. CJI.

Human nature does not change, and I am not expressing an opinion - I am relating facts from personal experience. I do not nowadays have to rely on benefits - except for the State Pension that I pre-paid for whilst working. I have achieved that happy status through many years of hard work, but I still see many around me who choose not to work, but can evidently afford to smoke, drink and live on takeaways. ..... and in answer to someone else's statement that takeaways can be cheaper than home cooking - absolute rot; and time cannot have a value when you're not working anyway! CJI.

Living forty years in the same house, built on a very dense layout, one could not but be acutely aware of the goings-on around us. My references to social payments predate, by decades, any benefits cap, and couriers had not been invented at that time. Whether you choose to believe it or not - I care not - the abuse of the benefits system to which I referred was real and widespread. Being a local government officer for forty years gave my a clear insight into how a significant minority 'work the system.' I do not apply this criticism to those who, for a variety of reasons, need to rely on the State for their subsistence, but there is undeniably a substantial minority who could work, but choose not to do so. I would add that, in 1970 and newly-married with a newborn, I worked very antisocial hours at an extremely physical job, earning £12.00 per week for a six day week - which was less than the benefits that I could have claimed. Self respect was not easily preserved. You can tell me nothing about poverty that I have not experienced! CJI.

To be clear, I am not referring to disabled persons; rather to families who maximised family allowance payments with an annual pregnancy, and were able-bodied enough to spend all day, every day converting old cars into banger racers. Most meals appeared to be delivered fastfood takeaways, and mysterious deliveries were furtively unloaded in the hours of darkness. Never a day's work was done by any of the ever-expanding tribes. That is why we need immigrant labour. CJI.

You don't agree then?!? Having lived in social housing for much of my life, and been all too aware of the anti-social behaviour of many of the 'can't be a*sed to work' brigade, I am confident in my assertion. CJI.

Serving behind the House of Commons bar? CJI.

The UK is not short of labour - it is short of people who want to labour! Over-generous, long-term social benefit payments have bred a sector of society with no incentive to get off their a*ses! Any politician proposing compulsory National Service lives in cloud cuckoo land. The morass of legal challenges, administration and protest will see the idea dropped as a VERY hot potato. ....... and I can't see their own offspring being too keen on it, either - or will there be a nice cushy alternative for the Westminster set? CJI.

It's been like this for some time! The only way I could activate Premium membership was via a phone call to the subscription department. CJI.

Spot-on! The 'bell' or flare can be bored out on the inside with a handheld scraper, whilst mounted on the mandrel, or even on an extension of the chimney cap, prior to parting-off. It needs to be as thin as the flare on a bought-in turned brass chimney. Once annealed, brass is remarkably easy to deform - or in our case REform into the front and side profiles required. Gentle tapping with a hammer, or squeezing in a vice, will form the front and rear flares, and pressure at the sides with a round bar will form the side flares. Use of the round bar will ensure a smooth transition from one to the other. It really isn't difficult - I copied the method from a description in RM quite early in my modelling career, when I had few tools and even less skills! CJI.

I've never been convinced by Finecast Flushglaze - the visual distortion at the interface of the vac-formed glazing and the body is too apparent for my taste. CJI.