John Isherwood

Perhaps we could sum the situation from your perspective - and then we can all get on with something else? Kernow announced a model wagon. It's taken somewhat longer to produce than you'd like. Kernow are not constantly patting your hand and reassuring you that it will appear eventually. You're not happy !!! Right - we've all got that; we're off to do something else! Regards, John Isherwood.

No need for solvent / glue - a little gentle pressure with pliers will distort the recess in the mounting block just sufficiently to produce a friction-fit for the fish-tail. Regards, John Isherwood.

No chance - my knowledge of all things military is zilch! Regards, John Isherwood.

Well done withy the BBEs - batch lettering can get a bit monotonous though, can't it? I quite fancy https://www.hattons.co.uk/340490/oxford_diecast_76lr2s005_land_rover_series_ii_swb_hard_back_civil_defence/stockdetail.aspx and / or https://www.hattons.co.uk/89789/oxford_diecast_76lan2007_land_rover_series_ii_lwb_station_wagon_44th_home_counties_infantry_div/stockdetail.aspx . The period's right for my 1961 modelling era, and they're something a bit different; a couple should sit nicely on a WARFLAT.

.....perhaps because very few of us feel the need to get worked-up about when this projected wagon appears - or not? Chill - there are far more important issues going on in the world. Regards, John Isherwood.

If anyone wants to buy my tank, make me an offer ! I'll source some late 1950s / early 1960s non-armoured military vehicle(s) for mine. Regards, John Isherwood.

.... and receives an announcement in the latest MRJ. Regards, John Isherwood.

Good-oh ! I hate to disappoint. Seems one could have built a kit - no need to scratchbuild. Regards, John Isherwood.

Given that Kernow have just issued e-mails to pre-orderers of the Bachmann WARFLAT, sort of inviting them to cancel if the £45+ price (plus postage) is considered excessive; I somehow doubt that Kernow will be able to sustain the announcement price. (But I'd be delighted to be proved wrong)! Regards, John Isherwood.

.... as did I - but then put it from my mind until it eventually arrives via the postman. It's the only way to deal with today's pre-ordering regime. Regards, John Isherwood.

But surely the whole of your current and future railway modelling doesn't hinge on the appearance - or not - of this particular brake van? If the extended delivery time is an issue to you, you could have taught yourself to scratchbuild in plastic card, and had the model running, well within five years! Regards, John Isherwood.

Consider it this way - the pavement is available to the general public, who have no training in its use. The third-rail railway environment is strictly off-limits to the general public, and only accessible by staff who have been trained in safe operating practices. Hardly a valid comparison ! Regards, John Isherwood.

Quite so - I was simply making the point that the issue would not have figured high in Bachmann's priorities. Regards, John Isherwood.

I doubt that the overwhelming majority of potential purchasers would be any the wiser - or care ! Regards, John Isherwood.

How could I have forgotten that I identified these wagons and containers more than five years ago ?!? Senility sets in, methinks. tregards, John Isherwood.

M2.0 x 0.4 - commonly sold as laptop screws. Regards, John Isherwood.

Sorry, but I don't think so. The BOCAR P was built, apparently, to two diagrams; 1/290 & 1/293; but both batches are stated to be built on ex-LMS coach chassis. BOCAR P The wagons illustrated in the RCTS image are built on ex-LNER turnbuckle coach underframes, and the supporting frames certainly appear to be demountable. The Modern Railways photo which accompanies your post IS the same type as the ones shown in the RCTS photo, and this makes it clear that the car body 'pallets' are demountable; it's not a BOCAR P. It's a shame that the wagon number in the MR photo cannot be read! I do wonder if the RCTS / MR wagons are, in fact, BR Diagram 1/293; of which only eight were built at Derby - the date of building is not given in the BR wagon 'bible' Appendix 1. I wonder if Paul Bartlett can cast any light on this matter? Regards, John Isherwood.

A little research in my files identifies BR 1/290 & 1/293 BOCARS - but these are the fairly well known car body transporters with sheeted sides, built on ex-LMS coach underframes. I have a vague memory of having read of a bogie CONFLAT for carrying demountable containers of car bodies - which seems to match what we have in the photo. I can find nothing in my files, though. Regards, John Isherwood.

I came across this on the RCTS site :- Can anyone confirm that the wagons on the right - apparently converted from ex-LNER coach underframes, are intended for carrying (Rootes?) car bodies from the pressing factory to the assembly factory? If so, what was their BR wagon diagram number, please? Regards, John Isherwood.

Surely the perfect subject for 3D printing - anyone with those skills / equipment up for the job? I'd have one like a shot !! Regards, John Isherwood.

That's fine - sh*t happens; but surely the thing to do then is to dispose of the business to someone who CAN make use of it? Just sitting on assets that are in demand can surely never be justified? Regards, John Isherwood.

Why DO people - in this case Kalgarin Models, I believe - buy these excellent kit ranges, and then do absolutely NOTHING with them ?!? Impetus kits were beyond my budget and skills when I used to see their stall at ExpoEM - but now I have the wherewithall and skills, they've disappeared off the face of the planet. By no means the only ones - but it is immensely frustrating ! Regards, John Isherwood.

Precisely !! These kits have to be considered in their context - as pioneers of the sophisticated etched kits that we now have. The very fact that they didn't fall together forced us to use our initiative, and find solutions and techniques which stood us in good stead when we started scratchbuilding. They were - and are - a challenge; but not an insuperable one, given imagination and persistence. You were obliged to think ahead. Is this going to work as intended? Can I devise a better way? Not a bad lesson to learn early on in one's modelling development. There are still plenty of these kits unbuilt and for sale - it would be unfortunate if they were tarred with the 'unbuildable' brush, when they should merely be regarded as a challenge. Regards, John Isherwood.

Admittedly, my experience has been confined to wagon kits - I'll try and find them when I return from Portugal and post images. I can see that Jidenco / Falcon Brass kits are anathema to professional builders - but that is not a reason for the self-builder to reject them. If the alternative is scratchbuilding - which it usually is - then the pre-etched parts are a bonus, even if they need 'adjustment'. If a subject was only available as an Jidenco / Falcon Brass kit; (or scratchbuilt); I'd go for the kit any time. (I find that cutting out parts with a piercing saw is far more frustrating than 'adjusting' etched kit parts). Regards, John Isherwood.

A caution too far, Tony - I have built a number of Jidenco kits, and they are perfectly acceptable models of subjects that are otherwise unavailable. (I still have some, in Falcon Brass guise, to build). Have you built any yourself? Regards, John Isherwood.