John Isherwood

Contrary to fairly widespread usage, it's Jidenco, not Jedinco. CJI.

Then he has taken on too much - any small trader has to be realistic about what can be achieved in a reasonable timescale. I'm all for enthusiasm, but as soon as you offer anything in exchange for hard cash, you have made a commitment to deliver - end of! CJI.

Yes - sorry - mistype. Regards, CJI.

..... and I remain to be convinced that Hornby ever intended the running plates to be green - more likely a factory error that Hornby don't wish to hold their hands up to. CJI.

It was / is indeed - I have one in my kit cache. John Isherwood.

It does not surprise me at all that two powerful trains, that had tried to enter the tunnel at the same time, had become wedged! CJI.

This seems to be an ailment that affects several turntable (alleged) suppliers! CJI.

Probably because this kit was designed to fit a Jouef 2-8-2 chassis. CJI.

In the past, I have used 1/2" x 1/8" (12mm. x 3mm.) bright mild steel bar. It is easily cut to length with a hacksaw; it fits between the wheels; if cut to fit between the headstock it acts as a spine, ensuring that the wagon does not develop a 'banana' curve; and can be used to mount the couplings. Any steel stockist or fabrication company should be able to provide it. CJI.

Yes - I have that one; so reminiscent of childhood holidays at St. Ives and environs. Copyright unknown This one, I think, is pre-lined green; arriving at St. Ives; (or is it Carbis Bay)? My recollection of the double-headed London trains was that they had the locos bunker-to-bunker, so that the leading loco was always chimney-first. John Isherwood.

Contact your nearest roofing contractor - he should be able to provide lead sheet; either offcuts or a piece off his roll. CJI.

What's wrong with lead - as long as you wash your hands well after using it; (or wear disposable gloves)? CJI.

Since 4571 was finally allocated to Penzance on 13/06/59, and withdrawn from there on 31/03/61, your Helston picture strongly suggests to me that 4571 carried lined green, with the early crest, until withdrawal. Whatever - I feel that I may be justified in getting out the toothpicks and isopropyl alcohol, in order to remove the late crests before applying early ones; (I do think that the early crest sits well on lined green). Moreover, 4571 was in use on the St. Ives branch when we holidayed there - and must have been in lined green with early crest at that time. I well recall a pair of small prairies pulling into St. Ives with the London train - the highlight of the day for a young trainspotter down on the beach! John Isherwood.

I have recently acquired the above model, and I have been studying photos of the prototype. All of the sixteen images of 4571 that I have so far found show it carrying a medium sized early BR crest - even when it carried lined green livery. However, the Bachmann model carries the later crest on its lined green livery; can anyone confirm or deny that 4571 carried the later crest before it was withdrawn from service? Many thanks in anticipation, John Isherwood.

If it stops dead, it suggests a short circuit - or just a single axle collecting current. I'd check out current collection on the loco first. CJI.

Another prototype - Midland Red at South Wigston, Leics.; backing onto the Leicester - Rugby line. (There were always a few ancient, semi-withdrawn buses and coaches slumbering away in the yard next to the tracks). John Isherwood.

"Investment" implies an expectation of a return - surely modellers spend money in anticipation of the enjoyment that the model in question will provide; and that alone. If the model is physically degraded by operating it - so be it. CJI.

I am assuming that was a joke - model photos to follow in due course! CJI.

In my model 1960s world - yes, in about sixty years time! CJI.

I have recently purchased (here) an Airfix LOWMAC / JCB3 kit box which contained two LOWMACs and four JCB3s - the mouldings were ultra-sharp and fitted together superbly. The LOWMAC EKs, fitted with metal wheels and Peco / HD couplings, are completed and painted in the correct grey (unfitted) livery; the JCB3s are currently drying, having just been sprayed with Halfords Rover Inca Yellow paint; a tin of Phoenix BRS red paint awaits for picking-out the wheel centre and buckets. Needless to say, I have printed authentic JCB3 logo transfers to finishe them off! As I have some Airfix RTR and HD / Wrenn fitted LOWMACs, I will be able to run a rake of four LOWMACS, loaded with factory-fresh JCB3s. CJI.

Agreed Tony - but I have been agreeably surprised at their strength. I started off treating the as-printed fret of components as if it was glass, but ended up hacking components from supports using Xuron cutters! Scale brake levers look impossibly fragile, but seem to be stronger than the polystyrene ones in certain well-known kits. CJI.

Within the limits of the admittedly few 3D printed resin items that I have used, superglue seems more than effective enough. I have also been surprised at the resilience of fine detail when printed in resin. I have very recently been given some 4mm. scale (and I mean scale) loco and brakevan lamps; the handles are present, free-standing and NOT overscale. CJI.

My Kitmaster Midland Pullman rake is coupled solely by magnetism. The buffing plates below the fixed corridor connectors are attached to close-coupling units, and have tiny opposed pole, rare earth magnets glued into holes drilled at each extremity. The magnets are completely invisible when painted to match the buffing plates. When the rake is railed on straight track, the buffing plates self-engage and the corridor connectors come together with only a paper-thin gap between them. As the rake enters a curve, the coach ends separate just enough to clear each other whilst the buffing plates remain in contact. A firm pull is all that is needed to separate the vehicles when they are removed from the track. For fixed rake trains, magnetism has much going for it; but I can't see how it could be adapted for shunting and remarshalling purposes. CJI.

Evidence that it was coupled, at least once, to an ex-SR RH ducket brakevan. CJI.

My recollection is that it was used on at least a couple of empty wagon test runs on the Derby to Crewe line. CJI.