John Isherwood

Exactly my approach to Evercreech Junction, which will be entitled 'Creech' - being a much condensed form of the original! John Isherwood.

I think I read above that the Ebay system will automatically delete any 'Paypal only' wording and substitute their list of available payment methods. John Isherwood.

I download images - just short of 100,000 at present - so that I can catalogue and refer to them in future. To find photos of a particular vehicle or location, all that is needed is a search of the appropriate folder. If I did not do this, the chances of Google finding a specific image that I could recall having seen would be minimal. Any image 'owner' that imagines that they can display images on the internet without them being available for all and sundry to download is simply deluded. John Isherwood.

I was conscious, as I typed my layman's interpretation of the photographic process, that I was rushing in where angels fear to tread! Nonetheless, expressing an opinion is well worth treading with size 10s on a few sensitive bunions. I too have no legal expertise, other than a firm opinion that the law is quite often an ass! John Isherwood.

A photographic image results from someone placing a light-sensitive surface in the path of photons reflected from objects. Any skill is expended in deciding when, where and how to place that surface in the path of those photons. The claim to copyright presumably arises from a belief that such skill has a monetary value. How many of the railway images that are now available to view were created with a primary motive as to their potential monetary value? How many people have inherited / acquired these images from their originator, and convinced themselves that they have a potential goldmine worth protecting by asserting 'copyright'? I'm not sure why it matters if someone copies 'someone else's image', and claims it as their own; they know it's not true, and why would anyone else care? Even if they sell the image - which I understand they are not in law entitled to do - who is the loser? The rightful owner could have sold the image if they'd chosen to do so - so no loss there; and does the buyer enjoy the image any the less because he / she believes it to be the property of one person or another? I know that copyright is a fact in law; but when images are advertised for sale 'With copyright', it all gets very silly. How does the buyer know who took the original image, and how the 'copyright' has passed to the person now making the sale? Buyer beware! It strikes me that the only ones who profit in these matters are the lawyers! John Isherwood.

What is the point of putting watermarks; copyright notices, etc., etc. on internet images? Some site curators try to give the impression that they have disabled downloading, and even have pop-ups which say something similar to "The copyright owner has disabled downloading". Nonsense; any image which appears on your monitor has already been downloaded, and can be saved to your device. It may take a few extra key strokes, but it can be done. The bottom line is - if you are 'precious' about your images - don't put them on the internet. John Isherwood.

Mine arrived today - very nice indeed, and remarkably heavy. Just one point - it seems to be fitted with a form of sprung plunger pickups. There is very little sideplay on the outer axles, and the pickups remain in contact with the wheels over what sideplay there is. The same cannot be said for the centre axle; on sharp curves the wheels move sideways beyond the ability of the pick-ups to follow them. On my curves, this is not an issue - but it could be for anyone using first radius curves. John Isherwood. PS. I was a little surprised that etched number plates are not supplied.

I merely made a correction to a typo in my original post - how it has appeared as a repeat post is beyond me! I received a notification that a member had reacted to the original post, and saw that I had made a spelling mistake. Being a bit OCD, I corrected it, but the correction has appeared as a new post. I had no intention to repeat my post. John Isherwood.

Commonly known as load banks, I believe; used for testing diesel electric locos, presumably after overhaul. I'm guessing here; but perhaps they had the equivalent of large electric kettle elements, with which to dissipate the generated electrical energy as heat, into the tender tank full of water? .... or not?!? John Isherwood.

It may be worth asking Cambrian if you can buy just the hopper mouldings. John Isherwood.

I've a feeling that they may still be available - if not, I've seen plenty on Ebay. Regards, John Isherwood.

Not look right? It can never 'look right' if a word is missing, surely? You'll have to compromise somewhere - the question is where. That said - as the windows are printed, rather than transparent .......... John Isherwood.

I think that it's called modelling. John Isherwood.

It is possible to adjust the character spacing so that the correct wording will fit. John Isherwood.

..... or, as there is a photo of wagon number x, if you use an alternative number y - of which there isn't a photo - some clever-clogs will come along and say "That company never had a wagon number y". John Isherwood.

I'm afraid that it is highly unlikely that these wheels 'will do fine'. You are, as you admit, out of your depth; best to sell the kit on. John Isherwood.

Short version :- College of Arms awarded BR the right to use LH-facing crest; BR thought they could use both LH and RH versions; College of Arms said they couldn't; BR stopped using RH version; (eventually - probably when they ran out of RH transfers)! John Isherwood.

8405 had a right-facing crest on its RH side - I have a photo which shows this. John Isherwood.

Please Sir - me sir !! John Isherwood.

Fading somewhat reduced. John Isherwood.

It looks exactly like what it is - a badly assembled kit! (That's what current RTR models are). As with a badly assembled kit, the only (unsatisfactory) solution would be to try and dismantle the poorly aligned components and reassemble them in their correct orientation. Frankly, if this were my model it would be going straight back - but I can understand a reluctance to do this, given the uncertain supply situation that seems to be the norm, nowadays. John Isherwood.

Looking at the underside of the loco, push an axle / wheelset assembly to one side. Does the pick-up on that side still touch the wheel? If not, using fine tweezers or some other fine implement, bend the pick-up towards the wheel until it touches it; (release the pick-up, and check that it remains in contact with the wheel). Push the axle / wheelset assembly to the otherside, and repeat the check / bend / check. Now repeat the above operations on the other wheelsets. Done - but don't overdo it or you'll add too much friction, which itself will cause poor running. John Isherwood.

As my LMR interest is focussed on the Midland Mainline, and my SWS-FRS was a mere whim purchase, I think it unlikely that a Princess will be added to the stud. John Isherwood.

Thanks for that - I'll check my 'SWS-FRS'. John Isherwood.