John Isherwood

That seems to be a comment at conflict with itself. I realise that you probably have more personal insight into this matter than most of us, but the first sentence implies an error that was not detected; the second indicates a conscious decision taken to avoid a physical issue. Surely it can't have been both? Regards, John Isherwood.

I suspect I know to whom you refer - and can confirm your assessment of their current mood. Regards, John.

Limited access, surely? ..... and, in most cases, very limited knowledge of the prototype - I certainly did not spot the defect. Indeed, if Lofty hadn't pointed out the spurious splashers I would probably not noticed them until I had taken delivery, and was studying prototype phots in order to personalise the model. That does not mean, however, that the model should satisfy me - when you know of an error it strikes you every time you look at it. Within the design / commissioning team, it must have been at least one person's job to have an intimate knowledge of the prototype and full access to the CADs? That the non-prototypical splashers were added must have been a conscious decision by at least that person or, alternatively, they were added by the factory designers / toolmakers and this wasn't picked up by the person who should have done so. I doubt that we will never know the whole truth about this situation, but it does seem to be part of a trend in some quarters to, shall we say, be a little cavalier with prototype detail when there is no apparent reason for the deviation. As to coreless motors; market forces will resolve this debate - but I have to say that I remain to be convinced that they are either obligatory for small prototypes or superior to conventional motors at the present time. Regards, John Isherwood.

Too true - I can think of a few who would fit that description. The 'my favourite manufacturer can do no wrong' brigade should reflect on that point before crying "Rivet-counter" !!! Regards, John Isherwood.

Perhaps we could have a comment as to whether the splashers appeared under Harry Holcroft's signature? Regards, John Isherwood.

Lofty, We've clearly offended the DJM Appreciation Society. Regards, John Isherwood.

I hardly think that the posts in question warrant the classification of temper tantrums - that in itself is rather an inflamatory phrase. Having troubled to re-read the thread from the point at which the new images were posted, I can't find anything that is 'over the top'. I suppose my own post on the subject could be described as one of the strongest. I pre-ordered the model on the day that it was announced, and I deliberately ignored the Heljan version as I suspected that the DJM one would be better quality; I held to this view until Andy posted the latest images. I was already concerned somewhat at the prospect of a coreless motor, and I do not like gear-coupled driving axles on steam locos as they are invariable accompanied by oversized coupling rod bearings that allow the rods to take up some odd attitudes. However, on balance, I would have lived with these factors. Inspecting the latest images, the mini-splashers stood out as an anacronistic feature; comparison with photos of the prototype showed that they are completely fictional. The misalignment of the cab steps is unfortunate, (if it is not an optical illusion), but this could easily be corrected. However, the splashers swung the balance for me - I cancelled my pre-order and ordered a Heljan model. I do not think that making such a decision on the basis that the model has clearly visible features which the prototype does not have, when an alternative model does not have these fictional features, is in any way "a temper tantrum". I have made a personal decision based on criteria which I apply to my own modelling. It has long been acceptable to deplore the fictional valance on Hornby's Stanier tender; I can see no difference between that distortion of the prototype and DJM's mini-splashers. Regards, John Isherwood.

I think so - I certainly had an enquiry for greyscale roling stock transfers. Regards, John Isherwood.

Me too - non-existent splashers were the last straw. Regards, John Isherwood.

They do look odd - could we have a comment from Kernow? Regards, John Isherwood.

Provided that someone other than yourself regards all this as railway modelling - I certainly don't !! Your dreams don't scare me - I'm just not that interested; along with, I suspect, the vast majority of railway MODELLERS. If you're going to have virtual scenery, you might as well go the whole hog and have a virtual model railway - why would you want actual track and trains? ..... and if you're going down that track, you're far from being in the vanguard; virtual railway simulators are getting to be 'old hat' nowadays. Regards, John Isherwood.

Not really - just a little more realistic. Progress is great - so long as it enhances realism. Frankly, automatically opening doors when no-one or nothing gets on or off would be a step backwards in realism. Similarly, suggesting that the fifth wheel should somehow rotate and stay on the rail on model railway radii - let alone toy train curves - is indicative that the practicalities have not been thought through. By all means aspire to greater things - but think through the reality of what you are asking for before posting. Regards, John Isherwood.

The LMS horsebox is / was very remote, and I've not been in a position to check that it's still there for about ten years. Typing Bronant into Google Earth (UK) will bring up the area in question. I saw the horsebox during a walk, from north to south, along the north / south road indicated on the attached plan. The body was on my left side - ie. the east side of the road. My recollection is that it was in a field, immediately behind a fairly substantial hedge / row of trees, and near some sharp bends in the road - quite possibly near the centre of the red rectangle. I will not have the opportunity to revisit the area, but if anyone is sufficiently interested it should be detectable - assuming that it's not been removed / demolished. Regards, John Isherwood.

Well, I do know of a horsebox body in reasonably decent condition in mid-Wales - but that is of LMS origin. Regards, John Isherwood.

Are you surprised? That Roco starter set is the most unrealistic thing that I've ever seen. Doors that flick open open and shut at the speed of sound, without human intervention, thereby decapitating anyone standing on the platform? I suppose that you'll be asking for mini-automatons to ascend and descend the coach steps next? Have you ever seen a 1:1 pantograph raised and lowered? If they shot up like that they'd wreck the catenary! I really thought that your initial post was a spoof - only the fact that you persisted in the face of sound reasoning convinced me otherwise. I know that, in truth, we all 'play trains' - but really? Regards, John Isherwood.

He's right, you know; a beading over the gap on the lower door - presumably to act as a draught-excluder. Regards, John Isherwood.

Clear plastic can be filed to rough profile, then smoothed and polished with increasingly fine emery cloth. A coat of Klear will ensure perfect transparency. Regards, John Isherwood.

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice! We have just returned from two weeks in Rhodes via Ryanair. No-one can say it was a fantastic experience, and they do deliberately make it difficult not to pay some sort of surcharge, but they get you there, pretty much to time, and no less comfort than the charter airlines. If you want cheap and cheerful - there's Ryanair if you choose to accept no frills. Regards, John Isherwood.

Yellow line - denoting first class driver's cab. Regards, John Isherwood. (That's what too much cheap Rhodean plonk does to your brain)!

All that's needed is a clear cast resin replacement end - 3D print the original and reproduce in resin. The end of the Heljan model could be 3D scanned, and the resulting file modified to provide the wrap-around windows. For those adept at such things, it should be easy, I would imagine. Regards, John Isherwood.

Phoenix pre-1954 is a bluish lighter green that I certainly recognise as having been used on early DMUs - mainly, I think, on BR(WR). (I note that Phoenix do not currently offer their BR DMU shades). Railmatch do :- BR Early Multiple Unit Green (15ml enamel) Original bright malachite shade pre-1961 and BR Later Multiple Unit Green (15ml enamel) Dark green, later standard shadein enamel. I have ordered both to see how they compare with the Phoenix colours. I'll know the correct colour when I see it; for some reason, the Lima GWR railcar in BR green is at the back of my mind; https://www.google.gr/search?q=Lima+gwr+railcar&client=firefox-b&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibybfuqYTWAhXFCMAKHcu-APkQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=659#imgrc=huCdi7Tgim8k5M: I also have Phoenix Early EMU green - I've never opened the tin, but I will do so when we get back from holiday. Who'd have thought that repainting the Dapol model would be so complicated - I think that the Mr. Muscle oven cleaner / paint remover will be required at some point !! Regards, John Isherwood (in sunny Rhodes)

Brian, I must confess that I am still a little unconvinced by Precision's 'Pre-1954 DMU Green' - though it is lighter than the post-1954 shade. I tend to agree that the Leaf Green is the shade that I recall on the GRCW single car units - but is that colour available commercially - preferably as an enamel? Regards, John Isherwood.

Typical tare weights are given in the table of wagon diagrams in the GWR 'wagon bible' by Atkinson, Tourret, et al. The most recent version is very comprehensive, but expensive; but https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22472250082&searchurl=tn%3Dgwr%2Bwagons%26sortby%3D17%26an%3Datkins contains the table and may well suffice. Regards, John Isherwood.

A little further progress - stripping the Dapol paint has been achieved using methylated spirits; an old toothbrush helped remove the last reluctant bits. The first coat of Phoenix post-1954 darker green was applied; the prototype being introduced in 1958. Then, I was browsing the Railcar.co.uk site - where I immediately came across http://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-122/liveries !! Fortunately, the dark green paint was still tacky, so a quick wash in white sirit took me back to square one ! The body has now had two coats of Phoenix pre-1954 light green. Moral - don't trust paint manufacturers shade descriptions. There will now be a modest pause for holidays, and I will report back when further progress has been made. Regards, John Isherwood.

I agree - but I can't believe that many (any?) of the affected populations will be aware of what is being posted here - let alone care !! Regards, John Isherwood.