John Isherwood

How difficult can it be? Main body moulding with two holes in each side; separately moulded doors that clip-fit to body - look, no glue!

Now this is a perfect example of why potential KRM models customers were - and still are in many cases - wary as to what the finished item will look like! The KRM proprietors may not run empty trains to balance full ones - but many, many modellers do so. The lack of a proper understanding of the market is still evident, I'm afraid - and, until remedied, will continue to hamper KRM's attempts to foster customer confidence. John Isherwood.

Most / all thinners will cloud clear plastic glazing. I would obtain some Johnson's Klear - or Humbrol Clear - and apply it to the windows; it should restore the glossiness. John Isherwood.

Ratio - from Peco. John Isherwood.

Can't be done - they would be constantly saying 'After the style of .......'! Why let odd details such as wheelbase, chassis length, decade of prototype, vaguest resemblance (whilst squinting) to the prototype, etc. interfere with a 'pretty' product? John Isherwood.

The bit where no quantitative substantiation of the statement is being given. John Isherwood.

Are you sure about that? I don't pay a fee for BACS transfers - either to me, or from me. I didn't pay a fee to receive an IBAN payment, and the payer gave no indictaion that he did either. My understanding is that IBAN is simply an international version of BACS. John Isherwood.

I just received a payment from the Netherlands using my IBAN number - the first time, but I'll offer the facility in future. No fee at my end. John Isherwood.

Not true - I have a Barclaycard and there is no fee; I just pay off the full balance at the end of the month. Exactly like a debit card except that, before interest rates became virtually zero, I got paid a little interest on my credit card spending before I paid had to pay it off at the end of the month. John Isherwood.

The paying-in envelopes issued by Santander specifically state that the must not be posted, but paid-in at a post office. John Isherwood.

I have always been a staunch advocate of cheques, but ........ as a small supplier who (currently) accepts cheques, it is becoming a time-consuming chore to pay them into my account. Bank branches are now an endangered species here in Cornwall. In theory, I can pay-in cheques at post (and sub-post) offices, but ...... post offices (and sub-post) offices are becoming an endangered species here in Cornwall. Result - when you can find a post (or sub-post) office that is still open, you will easily recognise it by the endless queue which snakes around the premises - especially as most can only accept one customer on the premises at present! So - I may seriously have to consider withdrawing cheque payment facilities; much against my instincts. John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Does the sound version play a musical-box version of 'Greensleeves', and does the driver have a white coat? I can't see the 'Mind that child' sign, either! John Isherwood.

A couple for me too, please. John Isherwood.

Comical is the only word that springs to mind! It's a freight-hauling, slow slogging, workaday beast from a passed and dirty world - to dress it up in the clothes of a prestige, pedigree express passenger mover is an insult to both categories of loco. At least it's current owners seem to recognise that fact. John Isherwood.

Did Andrew comment on the dissimilar lining of the cab panels? I can't get my head around that one! John Isherwood.

I suspect that the OP is interested in the earlier open ferry wagons, built by the SR; (Dia. 1387); as opposed to the BR(SR) ones. These were versions of the standard SR eight plank open; (Dia. 1379 etc.); and have been produced in 4mm. scale kit form : - https://www.cambrianmodelrail.co.uk/store/C6-SR-12ton-8-Plank-Open-Wagon-p94211526 John Isherwood.

Courtesy of Wiki Overhead line maintenance train In 1949 BR converted the articulated unit to a two-car set for overhead line maintenance. The centre car was removed and the number of engines in the set reduced to two. The driving cabs were given flat ends. To enable engineering staff to work on the overhead cables the roofs of the two coaches were flattened, creating a work space 130 feet (40 m) long and 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) wide. Between the two cars a manually-operated lift was installed that could be raised to 6 feet (1.8 m) above roof level. One coach was converted into a workshop with all passenger seats removed and workbench facilities installed. The other coach was converted into staff accommodation with lockers, cooking, washing facilities and a WC, and 12 seats with tables as a mess saloon.[4] An old 30 feet (9.1 m) coach was converted to carry 2,000 feet (610 m) of overhead wire and attached to the unit as a trailer. Portable floodlights for night work were installed in the two coaches and in the trailer. The unit worked on the Manchester – Altrincham line. It was moved to Longsight Depot in 1959 and taken out of service shortly afterwards. It still existed in a derelict state as late as 1967.

Well ....... I understand that the two power cars - in much modified condition - ended up as an overhead wire inspection unit ! John Isherwood.

Another figment of someone's imagination - a modern, might-have-been livery on an ancient tank wagon. The trouble is - the liveries applied to the prototype were not that visually striking. This flight of fancy will be attractive to the kiddies! John Isherwood.

I'm a great fan of Klear - every RTR loco that I buy is unweathered, and every loco gets a coat of Klear before I do anything further to it. Klear gives that straight-from-the-paintshop sheen which, IMHO, should be the basis of all weathering. I have just received my second Kernow D6xx Warship; the finish is flat and lifeless- but not for long! John Isherwood.

I looked at a photo of the prototype; (not my copyright) : If anything, both the Hornby and the replacement wheels seem a tad long in the spoke / thin in the rim - though there's only a gnat's whisker in it! John Isherwood.

Looking at those bogie wheels from the perspective of someone who does not model LNER / BR(ER); all I can see that is notably different is that the Hornby spokes are straight, whereas the replacement ones are dished. That being the case, and assuming that the Hornby spokes are plastic, it should be dead easy to place a Hornby wheel on an axle in a mini-drill; (or lathe if that is available); and apply a sharp, curved edge - such as one of the smaller curved scalpel blades - to the front face of the spokes. Done carefully, after a little practice with a set of wheels from the junk box, this should result in dished spokes that can then be cleaned of any 'rag' with a fibreglass pen. Given the price of replacement wheels nowadays, this may well be worthwhile; (if the originals really offend one's eye). John Isherwood.

Firefox has an option to block trackers / adverts - I use it and I get no adverts on RMweb. Regards, John Isherwood.

As I posted yesterday - this issue is getting out of proportion! A simple two pole / two way / centre off switch, to apply the appropriate controller to the specific loco, is all that is required. https://www.rapidonline.com/sci-ta203a1-dpdt-c-o-min-toggle-switch-75-0145 A task that anyone who can attach a controller to a layout can achieve; John Isherwood.

If you are, or know, Mr. Alex Swan - who has made a payment via BACS to Cambridge Custom Transfers - please contact me ASAP; either by PM here, or via e-mail at cctransuk2020@gmail.com . John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.