John Isherwood

Is there really a great deal more of a market for a GER van than an iconic GWR one? It astonishes me that, in light of recent commission debacles, anyone - let alone Rails - chooses to partner with Dapol. The strategy with this latest venture seems to be that there is only a limited market for wagons at silly prices, so we'll produce them by 3D printing because that way we can do a short run. The capital to do the subject justice is apparently not there, but there'll be a quick killing, nonetheless. JMHO, CJI.

Mine's a BR SAWDUST VAN - which is prototypical. CJI.

I too had to read the thread title twice and, even now, can hardly believe it! We only had on-line communication, but a more generous, helpful and thoroughly decent bloke I never came across. Why do the 'good 'uns' always go before their time? I'd love to have met him in person. A real tragedy! John Isherwood.

Mine came new from a Glasgow model shop; (name forgotten); that always had an ad. in the Railway Modeller for discounted Dublo 3-rail. It ran OK at first but, after a few minutes running, it would squeal, slow down, and then 'lock up'. In more recent years, Romford wheels and a Pittman motor have transformed it! John Isherwood.

If I am to produce a transfer sheet dedicated to the BR-era lettering on these vans, I would like to fill an A6 sheet with a good choice of subjects. I can obtain number series information from the appropriate wagon history tome but, if there were any recorded number / service allocations apart from the Bodmin / Wadebridge / Padstow one, I could include these on the sheet. I would need a decent photo in order to reproduce the spacing / layout of the prototype, so any contributions would be greatly appreciated. Regards, John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Spot on !!! Thank you. All I need to undertake the crane cab mods., and the two Coles cranes arrived in today's post. John Isherwood.

I have one of those! Unfortunately, I long ago fitted it with 2-rail Romford wheels and a replacement motor. The Ringfield motor was cr*p - it squealed and locked under load. I suspected insufficient clearance between ring magnet and armature. CJI.

Hmm, not sure; I can't see the logic for that. Whatever - a fine brush and some white / black paint will facilitate personal editing! John Isherwood.

I'd entirely forgotten about posting that! I wonder - could it actually be Work between BODMIN, WADEBRIDGE & PADSTOW only ? The tare weight I read as 10-16, or possibly 10-18? I would print these as separate black patches and lettering groups, so that off-centre application - as per the photo - would be possible. John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

A little more research has turned up quite a bit more info'. The illustrated unit is TRU No.6, (or is identical to it), which was converted from DM721234 - an ex-WD WARWELL which had been initially converted into a BOGIE BOLSTER B. There is a photo of TRU No.6 in 'BR Departmental Rolling Stock' (Larkin / Bradford Barton) with a lengthy caption, and the lettering on the chassis panel is clearly 'NOT TO BE LOOSE SHUNTED'. This second photo was taken at Hoo Junction in 1970, and illustrates the unit in departmental yellow with black lettering; black chevron stripes on the crane counterweights, which also carry the COLES logo in black, and 'KEEP CLEAR' in red on a white panel. It is clear in both photos that the crane cabs have been modified from standard in order to remain within the railway loading gauge. John Isherwood.

Anyone got a photo of the prototype? (Being in Bodmin, it goes without saying that I have the model). John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Thanks for that - I had wondered about 'Not to be loose shunted', but couldn't reconcile this with what can be made out of the word length and spacing. John Isherwood.

Copyright unknown I am seeking more information concerning the above unit, which I believe was allocated to BR(SR); (not least because of the attached loco and PW brakevan). In particular, I would welcome information as to the wording on the long panel attached to the WARWELL, and the unit's number. The photo would seem to indicate that the cranes were painted in BR crimson and cream, and the lettering panel on the WARWELL also appears to be cream, possibly with crimson lettering. I am guessing that the WARWELL was painted black. Any information would be gratefully received as I am about to model the unit, using a Hattons WARWELL and a couple of Hornby Coles cranes; (which will have their jibs replaced to match the prototype). Many thanks in anticipation. John Isherwood.

My Lima conversion has had Klear applied to the old glazing - which certainly helps clarity, if not the recessing. John Isherwood.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one of that opinion. I can see that these latest Heljan models are superior in some ways to the old Lima version, but not to the extent that that I'll be disposing of my stache of the latter. I did a little work on a Lima model not too long ago; fitting a High Level motor bogie and applying a modest level of extra detailing; the principal change was to the windows. With a repaint and reletter the finished model is vastly improved, and the cost is very modest given the price of S/H Lima models - the principal failing is the recessed windows; a 'layout model' in Tony's parlance! I have several more Lima ones, (and a Bachmann Collet coach), scheduled for conversion into a three car unit; plus cast metal kits for several of the earlier GWR railcars. John Isherwood. PS. Tony - I was only being flippant concerning the illumination of the Heljan model photo; no criticism was intended as I fully understood the reason for the exaggerated lighting effect. I have already completed one hundred lines of "I must not make silly comments that may be taken as criticism".

An opportunity, for those of us who like to personalise our purchases with a little modelling, to add / remove anomalous features to / from the KR Models offering. John Isherwood.

Reminds me of an illuminated Blackpool tram - all it needs is an advert for the Tower Ballrooms !! John Isherwood.

Just a picky point - the title of your thread suggested to me that you were turning the 4F upside down! I think that the word that you need is 'Transposing' - in this case, swapping left for right and vice versa. CJI.

Interesting to see the full BRITISH RAILWAYS on an EMU. John Isherwood.

I cannot see how test running a model on track laid on the carpet can provide a useful guide as to running capabilities. If the model derails on such track, does that mean that it will do so on more conventionally located track? CJI.

Without wishing to be rude, Sam's reviews are probably fine for those who, like him, are more concerned about the model's ability to pull a decent train on set-track - on or off the floor. He is far less concerned about prototype fidelity - as are, I suspect, the majority of his fans / audience. We are comparing two totally different wings of railway modelling here and, I suspect, two different generations. CJI.

Naturally not - an honourable exception. John Isherwood.

In BR days, the shafts connecting the outer axles to the inner axles were removed. CJI.

Judging by what I read on this website - the vast majority! CJI.

I think that the cardin shafts referred to are the cosmetic ones - not the functional ones. CJI.