John Isherwood

It's the gloat factor ! A childhood spent staring at unattainable blue and white / red and white boxes, stacked on the shelves of the local Hornby Dublo agent. As age (hopefully) brings disposable income, the prospect of fulfilling those childhood dreams of having those (or very similar) boxes stacked on their own shelves is too strong for some people to resist. Whilst I can empathise with that motivation, I prefer to spend my disposable income on the more detailed models that come with modern production methods and kit-building. Regards, John Isherwood.

A mistake, I'd guess - the number block for 1/351 (SR type) was in the middle of the 1/350 (LMS type) group. Regards, John Isherwood.

That's done it - the clock has just started turning at twice its former speed !! .... you may think that I'm joking - but reread this in a year or so and tell me that I'm wrong. Regards, John Isherwood.

Accuracy - what's that? Did it exist (or matter) when the only alternative was the standard ranges of Hornby Dublo or Tri-ang? The point was that you could build something different WITHOUT having to try and get hold of a drawing - accurate or not. Just follow the instructions and, with care, you would have a runner that was different from what most of your mates had, and that looked reasonably like something that might run on the real railway. If you didn't fancy building a chassis, you bought a bodyline kit, that had been 'adjusted' to fit an RTR chassis. The fact that the wheels and splashers were in the wrong place, and / or the overall length wasn't spot-on, didn't matter in the slightest. It's only with the benefit of hindsight, and the capabilities of modern technology, that we have had the ability to know that some things weren't quite right - let alone to produce something better. Regards, John Isherwood.

Now - this is pure surmise. Loading gauges were sometimes (always?) adjustable to different permitted profiles, for different routes. If two different profiles were frequently used from one yard, it would make sense / save time to have two gauges, set to the two different profiles, for use depending on the route to be taken by a particular train. Of course - I could be way off track here ........ ! Regards, John Isherwood.

It was the livery which they were designed to carry - at a (brief) time when railway infrastructure design was taken seriously. Regards, John Isherwood.

Me too !!!!!!!!!!! Ohhhh - the joys of being an old fart !! Happy New Year !! Regards, John Isherwood.

Not really; travel was by no means as easy as it is now. I don't know what the percentage car ownership was in those days, but it was a fraction of what it is today. Even if you did have a car, journeys took ages before the days of motorways - to get from Leicester to Cornwall by car involved an overnight stop. Train travel wasn't cheap, either, and you needed to write off for a pass - by no means always granted - to get on railway property to measure up stock. Ignorance was bliss - if it looked like a XXX Class, it was an XXX Class - and we didn't query the position of the lamp irons because there weren't any; (or brakegear for that matter). Fortunately, there wasn't the internet, either - imagine the furore there'd have been when Hornby Dublo released their 'Deltic', or Tri-ang their 'Hall' !! .... but we did have fun in the good old days. Regards, John Isherwood.

Try http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/mjt/2931.php . Regards, John Isherwood.

Scratch brushes and abrasive paper are, in my experience, too aggressive for removing crest 'shadows'. I would simply rub the area with a cocktail stick - assisted by a tiny touch of T-cut if (not usually) necessary. Regards, John Isherwood.

Surely wet & dry paper is intended to remove material, including plastic rivets? There wouldn't be much point in using it otherwise! Any abrasive applied to plastic will remove detail. I'm not quite sure why you'd be doing that - to remove livery / markings? - but I would have thought that some form of paint stripper would have been more appropriate for that purpose. Regards, John Isherwood.

I couldn't agree more - I'm afraid that the redoubtable Captain Kernow seems to believe that we live in world where all is sweetness and light; where n'er a harsh word is spoken, and everyone lives in peace and harmony. As I have said before, it's time those of like mind woke up a smelled the coffee. We are talking about wilful criminal activity here, and all the 'give him the benefit of the doubt' weasel words in the world will not will change that. Why is it so hard for some people to face up to the fact that there is a section of society that does not give a s**t for the generally accepted norms of behaviour, and is more than happy to take advantage of the gullibility of those who view the world through pink, fluffy glasses? The best outcome for all concerned, including Dunn, would be for him to be brought to book and to have to face the consequences of his misdemeanours. Oh ..... and a Happy New Year to one and all !! Regards, John Isherwood.

Did you edit the original post by deleting the original attached image and its insertion into the text, and attaching the new one and reinserting it into the text? Simply saving the revised image won't substitute it as an attachment. Regards, John Isherwood.

I suppose so - as an alternative to building one from plastic card as I'd proposed. Regards, John Isherwood.

Thinks - IF the tools could be located; ex-Kirk roof & ends + Comet sides + plastic card floor + Ratio seats + Bachmann or Dapol bogies = Period 2 suburbans in 4mm. scale; (and no need to solder, for those who won't). Regards, John Isherwood.

Ian, I seem to recall that you once intended to / actually did introduce 4mm. scale kits for LMS non-corridor stock. What is the story about these - were moulding tools produced and, if so, what happened to them? Regards, John Isherwood.

I am perfectly prepared to believe that, AT THE OUTSET, there was no nefarious intent. I am also prepared to believe that Dunn is financially naive. I might even believe that he initially accepted payments in the honest belief that he would, before too long, be able to supply the goods. I strongly suspect that, in financial difficulties, he spent the payments on the essentials of life, thus leaving him in debt. I can well believe that any payments made to his bank account are immediately swallowed up in a debt to his bank. What I cannot and will not accept is that he continues to accept payments, still in the belief that he will be able to supply the goods before too long. He MUST by now realise that he is accepting payments with no hope of fulfilling the orders within the foreseeable future. I cannot be convinced that he cannot stop the payments being made over to his bank account. The only way we can help him get out of this mire is by doing all in our power to ensure that no payments are made to him, and that his on-line business is suspended. Regards, John Isherwood.

It staggers me that anyone can read the foregoing 54 pages of postings, and STILL play the sympathy card. Goodwill to all men be b******d; this con-man knows exactly what he is doing; how to continue doing it; and what to do if the law catches up with him. It's the b******g hearts of the world who these people rely on to keep them in (nefarious) business. Wake up and smell the coffee! ...... and a Merry Christmas to all our readers !! Regards, John Isherwood.

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You may be strictly correct (or not) - but denying bailiffs access to execute a court order doesn't suggest that he is anxious to fulfil his obligations to those who he may 'unwittingly' have induced to make payments to him. Bill - you really aren't convincing anyone, but you are attracting antagonism that can do your own business no good whatsoever. Why not just have a wee dram and a snooze - you may wake up feeling less provocative? Regards, John Isherwood.

In the spirit of goodwill and charity at this season, I am assuming that Bill is bored and is attempting to stir up an amusing little furore by way of killing time. However, he should remember that modellers are aware of his own trading interests, and reflect that his postings may well influence his own reputation. When making a decision whether or not to purchase, many prospective customers will be influenced by their perception of the character of the vendor. Having said which, I would like to wish all members a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and to thank customers of Cambridge Custom Transfers for their support during 2017. Regards, John Isherwood.

I came upon this - look at the shedpate on the bufferbeam valance. I doubt it was unique, but have others come across the version before? Regards, John Isherwood.

The point is that, sadly, there are a lot of people with less resources than they need. Fortunately, the majority do not turn to blatent swindling in order to remedy their situation. I really cannot understand your position - crime is never the answer. Regards, John Isherwood.

That is entirely possible - in which case I will have to live with the forest of struts. Not in my garden you couldn't ! That would have been the default option had it been possible. .............. and the garage is too small, before it's suggested. Regards, John Isherwood.

Bill, What are you trying to do here? By appearing to have some sympathy for Dunn, you seem to be being deliberately provocative - perhaps you are? Some would call that trolling - I could not possibly comment! Regards, John Isherwood.