John Isherwood

As far as I can recall, the smooth tank would have been filed / sanded down. CJI.

Buy these https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=xuron+track+cutters+uk A 4mm. gap will cause endless problems. CJI.

As I have commented previously - this person confuses his responsibility to paying customers with voluntary work. When the latter takes precedence over the former, something is very wrong with his sense of personal responsibility. However, it would seem that failure to fulfil expectations also applies to his voluntary activities - https://thereadingtradeshow.co.uk/ ; he cannot be arranging a show that has been cancelled !! Perhaps an approach to the Guildford O Gauge Group, drawing attention to the failings of one of their members, might bring some peer pressure to bear? John Isherwood.

I'm afraid that the OP is far more patient than I am. Some time ago, I would have sent a formal, first and final letter to the trader, stating my intention to refer the matter to UK Trading Standards if the complete, working unit had not been supplied by a stated date. That's the only way to deal with this kind of 'you need me more than I need you - and I've got your money' trader. John Isherwood.

I'm afraid that there are a minority of small traders who think that they can give up work, model all day to their heart's content; (when it's convenient to them); and have someone pay them to do it !! The day you accept money to produce something for anyone other than yourself, you take on a responsibility to communicate; work to an agreed timescale; produce the model to an agreed standard; correct ommissions and defects as a matter of urgency and, above all, to put your own life in second place to your business. If that doesn't appeal - don't do it !! John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

I am sure that is exactly what Tony intended. The spot repair train had been sent out to deal with some loose platform coping, and one vehicle became derailed in the little-used siding in which it was stabled. The rerailing train then arrived to put right the mishap, and the combined trains now await a loco and path to return them to base. Simples!! John Isherwood.

To you and me - and there is no greater wagon addict than I - blasphemy indeed !! Nonetheless, we must accept that there are less enlightened people on the planet - and we would want to be labelled the 'Wagon Taliban' would we?!? John Isherwood.

Tony has made it quite clear that wagons and other such ephemera are not something about which he has much knowledge (or interest). That is fair enough - I can't get worked up about head and tail lamps! That being the case, if the existing departmental train conveys to Tony and the majority of his visitors the atmosphere intended, then he has satisfied 'Rule 1' on his railway. John Isherwood.

Whilst having an interest in your Engineers' vehicles, (insomuch as I supplied the transfers), I would strongly encourage you NOT to take this drastic course of action. The vehicles in question are very characteristic of the kind of miscellaneous, superannuated stock that populated the ends of nonedescript sidings, all over the country. Remember - AT THE TIME - we had little or no idea what purpose they served, beyond the fading inscriptions that they sometimes carried. With the benefit of over half a century of research and study, it is now possible to identify a proportion of these subjects and to compile some form of history of their duties in semi-retirement. Nonetheless, they were always something of a mystery and consequently added considerably to the fascination of the more off-beat aspects of the railway scene. So - unless you are obsessional about running the 'correct' departmental formations - whatever they might or might not have been - I would stick with what you have. Those 'knowledgeable' souls who can pick holes in your service stock and, more to the point, can tell you what such a train at that location on that date should comprise of, are few and far between; (thank heavens) ! John Isherwood.

None of my model trains has a cord - is this normal, or should I send them back? CJI.

Precisely what I had in mind to do - when I receive mine on Christmas Day! Thank you for confirming that the theory works in practice. CJI.

Having happy memories of the Chew Valley BEFORE the lowest of the reservoirs was built, it would be a shame to see the ancient tranquility disturbed by high speed trains. CJI.

IF resorting to such drastic measures, the least one can do is use a straight edge to guide the knife!! CJI.

The brass coach sides are quite capable of being used without a plastic backing - after all, Comet supply complete coach kits. In some cases, when converting Tri-ang Hornby Mk.1s, I have dispensed entirely with the plastic sides and attached Evergreen plastic rectangular, L and Z sections as the bracing / location strips to the edges of the brass sides. CJI.

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Your posting would have been much more understandable - and effective - without all the crude irony. CJI.

They can't - Ebay is an auction site which relies on the photos and description which you supply. CJI.

The GWR had trolleys which could carry excavators; in fact, I would go so far as to say that they were designed specifically for that purpose. Having superimposed a diagram of a Ruston Bucyrus face shovel over one of the trolley, the end profile fits the loading gauge like a hand in a glove! I have modelled the combination in BR era format; the trolley is accompanied by a former ROLL wagon, adapted to support the jib and bucket. CJI.

If you have the spec. code for VGB, there are plenty of online outlets that will fill a rattle can for you. John Isherwood.

I can supply a full set of transfers for the FORD version - see Sheet BL61 at the Cambridge Custom Transfers website. John Isherwood.

I believe that there has been contact between Phoenix and John Talbot. C J I.

I saw these working at Doxfords during 1969/70 whilst at college in Sunderland. CJI.

Errrr - no! 16.5 mm. gauge at 3.5 mm. scale equals 4'-8.5" (ie. correct gauge). 16.5 mm. gauge at 4.0 mm. scale equals 4'-1.5" (ie. incorrect gauge). What would look odd is a 3.5 mm. scale crane loco pulling 4 mm. scale wagons. CJI.

£415.00 plus P&P for an HO scale model of a British loco ?!? No accounting for some people! CJI.

'Fraid not - if there are any remaining you'd need to talk to John Talbot. John Isherwood.