John Isherwood

Solder pins - from a multi-pin connector? Regards, John Isherwood.

It's because that's what the prototype does. Regards, John Isherwood.

I suspect he was already down on the track, ferrying a succession of mail sacks across, when he saw or was warned of the approaching EE Type 1 and train. Knowing nothing was due on the other track he takes five, leaning against the platform edge whilst the train passes, then resumes his work. Nothing out of the ordinary, in those more leisurely and common-sense days; (or was there a BR conspiracy to cover-up the daily carnage of mailbag-toting porters)? Regards, John Isherwood.

..... and breathe !!!!! Regards, John Isherwood.

Kernow are the most efficient and obliging model railway shop that I have ever dealt with. Given your attitude here, it would seem that Kernow and you are incompatible; they will probably benefit more than you from your having taken your trade elsewhere! Regards, John Isherwood.

As I found out, the dodge of cancelling the renewal and insuring as a new customer via a comparison site doesn't always work. Some insurers automatically cross-reference their records, and won't offer you a new policy if you were a customer the previous year. Another case of discount for 'brand new customers only' ! I do wonder how many customers are lost, compared to how many are gained, by this policy of not rewarding customer loyalty. Regards, John Isherwood.

The old water-washable Nitromors 'ate' Hornby Dublo paint very effectively, and washed off easily. If I were doing the job now, I'd first try a hot, strong solution of washing soda crystals. Careful though - rubber gloves, eye protection and face mask obligatory. Don't be in a rush - it may well need to be left to soak overnight. Oh for the days when you could buy an effective product, and use it with a bit of common sense! Regards, John Isherwood.

Some people will simply not be able to afford the house / car / holiday they want - so why should model railways be different? We all have to adjust our aspirations to meet the harsh reality of the resources at our disposal. Regards, John Isherwood.

Other wagon numbers are available ........... ! Regards, John Isherwood.

Should the second and third numbers read B333501 and B333502? What would the chances be of ever seeing three consecutively numbered wagons together - except when they came out of Shildon Works? In which case B333500 would not have had the yellow triangle marking? Surely, three randomly numbered wagons within the appropriate series would be far more useful to the vast majority of modellers. A rethink called for here? Regards, John Isherwood.

I know what you mean, Larry, but there are reasons why suppliers of some products are reluctant to publish drawings / photos. A good, square-on photo or drawing can be, (and has been used as), a shortcut to a pirated copy of the product. Regards, John Isherwood.

Whereas, I understand that Wellington (NZ) has very recently; (November 2017); abandoned its remaining trolleybus routes. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/98394485/wellingtons-trolley-buses-take-last-ride-after-transport-minister-says-he-wont-save-them Regards, John Isherwood.

If you can live with the length / finish discrepancy between the Tri-ang and Kitmaster vehicles, surely a carefully matched pair of Kitmaster coaches in a Bachmann rake would be fine? After all, at least the Kitmaster coaches are the correct length. Regards, John Isherwood.

If you're that desperate, keep an eye on Ebay. Kitmaster BP coaches pop up quite regularly, even as unbuilt kits. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KITMASTER-33-MODEL-RAILWAY-PULLMAN-CAR-DECALS-UNMADE-COMPLETE-SEE-PHOTOS/202198412695?hash=item2f13f6ed97:g:A6oAAOSwKXdaUACJ Regards, John Isherwood.

So - a complete new two car DMU requires what? Two new body moulds and two new underframe moulds. Following your example, it would require two new body moulds and one new underframe mould; (assuming that the trailer car underframe mould from another existing DMU model is exactly the same as the one required - which is most unlikely). It has to be accepted that all new releases will require a complete new set of moulds - there are NO shortcuts! Regards, John Isherwood. PS. You do realise that there were at least two DMU underframe lengths, don't you?

But did all DMUs have the same underframe? .... or doesn't it matter to you? Regards, John Isherwood.

What you believe, and what are the facts, are probably two very different things. If you want to settle the matter, do a survey of 1000 families and ask how many male children / teens have a trainset. Then do a survey of 1000 over sixty males and ask how many of them buy model trains. I suspect that I (and you?) know what the outcome would be. Model trains and the youth of today? Sooooo not cool! Hornby does market research like any other company struggling to survive in the modern marketplace - and it KNOWS (not believes) where it's market is. Regards, John Isherwood.

Yes - PWM650 had a different cab, and other details, from the rest of the PWM Ruston Hornsbys. The radiator and cab plates came in the kit - and very nicely etched they are too. Do Judith Edge not provide them with their kit for PWM650? Regards, John Isherwood.

As I have intimated in other threads, I have spent the last few weeks - more off than on - building a 4mm scale Impetus etched brass Ruston Hornsby 0-6-0DE Shunter, as BR PWM652. The kit was built largely as intended, with a Mitsumi motor driving a High Level gearbox and fitted with a flywheel. As I wanted to build the model as three separate units - chassis, footplate and body - I strengthened the latter by soldering in a cab floor and a base to the radiator. The three components screw together, and the cab roof is removable, being clipped in place. There were no basic errors in the etches, other than misplaced holes for the exhaust and the cab roof mounted horns. The finished model looks and performs like the real thing - all that one can ask of a kit, especially one this old. Regards, John Isherwood. PS. I had promised a photo 'in the brass' - but forgot! PPS. The white brake blocks are authentic - I have an ex-works photo.

... but there you have the problem! If the kit producer paid a professional modeller to test-build the kit - twice - and write and draw the instructions, no-one would be prepared to pay the necessary asking price. There is a host of things that SHOULD be done in an ideal world, but life's not like that. I regard kits as the starting point, and am more than prepared to amend them to suit my requirements. The Impetus PWM652 kit that I am just finishing SHOULD have had a representation of the mechanical lubricator and linkage - it didn't, but it has now! Regards, John Isherwood.

... also sold on the domestic market, and used by the railway, were 'ovoids' - same material; different (goose egg) shape. Regards, John Isherwood.

Not quite sure that I follow that one - a pony truck has one axle, regardless of whether its leading or trailing. Regards, John Isherwood.

It must have been an Ebay pre-delivery sale - the details in the listing specify 'Estimated 2018 delivery'. Regards, John Isherwood.

If an R. Benn is a member here, and has recently made a payment to Cambridge Custom Transfers via BACS, please could he contact me via e-mail to cctrans@hotmail.com, or via the PM facility on this group? You wouldn't believe the number of payments that I receive via BACS or Paypal, without a clue as to what is required or to where it should be sent !! Regards, John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve here. Having seen and sampled Sydney's DD interurbans, I would acknowledge that they are a very good solution to the transport challenges posed in Sydney; I would not accept that those particular challenges exist in London, or anywhere else in the UK. The DD solution was tried and rejected in London for a particular set of challenges that existed there in the late 1940 / early 50s; I can see no evidence that those particular challenges exist today, or that there would be any benefit in reappraising the DD concept in today's circumstances. Purely as an exercise in trying to shoe-horn a Sydney DD EMU into the British loading gauge you are producing some interesting sketches but, beyond that, I'm not sure why adapting Southern Hemisphere designs to presumed UK conditions hold such a fascination. Regards, John Isherwood.