John Isherwood

AndyY, Can we have a permanent header reading "Black Beetles Live!" plus a link to the manufacturer? (Only joking - I think)! John Isherwood.

I think that your worm wheels must be old stock - I'm pretty sure that they all have bosses and grub screws nowadays. CJI

Clean cab / bunker, dusty tanks - a bit too much of a contrast? CJI.

Implying nothing - but I've not noted many (any?) other members having the same negative experience as you. CJI.

Constructive - really? CJI.

For crying out loud! There are more important things going on in the world - or hadn't you noticed? Anyway, you'll be back at school soon, so no time to play with your toys! CJI.

Comical or not - from the perspective of manufacturers of MODEL railways, that's exactly what EM and P4 are. Whilst some wish it had never happened, 16.5mm. gauge, 4mm. / 1ft. scale is far too well established as the most popular UK railway modelling scale. Any concessions to other gauges for 4mm. scale RTR will always be nominal, and subject to nil or negligible additional cost. CJI.

It has been posted here several times - by me, amongst others - that Black Beetles are still in production, and can be ordered, and efficiently delivered, from the manufacturers in Australia. It is my understanding that the manufacturers laid in a large stock of Mashima motors before production ceased. CJI.

Me Sir, please Sir!! I have gathered more than enough Airfix, Parkside, Cambrian and Trix versions over the years - not to mention the dozens of hybrid kitbashes. CJI.

About the same size as mine, then (layout!). What you need are walkabout controllers - you get your daily exercise that way, too! CJI.

Hornby Class 86 chassis - probably needs adjusting for length, but fits a treat! The spares are still available from the Trix Collectors Association - or some such group. CJI.

They can do wonders with modern medicine! 😀 CJI.

Bl**dy big layout - or, should have gone to Specsavers? CJI.

Phil, If I had a pantograph milling machine, I would be cutting myself some nickel silver components in order to build an unmotorised 4mm. scale VoR 2-6-2T as a wagon load. It would be a doddle to a man with your Peckett-mutilating skills! 😄 CJI.

The instructions suggest a 50:50 mix of water and methylated spirits in order to release the transfer - never found the need for a decal stting solution. CJI.

I understand that they were classed as Permanent Way Machines (PWM - geddit)?, in the same category as tampers, etc. I gather that most other PW machines were allocated PWM numbers - they were not, however, known to most enthusiasts. CJI.

Can't say it often enough - model railways + gradients = complaints. CJI.

That would have been my (bodger's) solution, too. CJI.

Bl**dy expensive wagon load!! CJI.

Not far from the truth - and exactly the same impression that the vast majority of British Rail stock gave at the time. A period of my (railway enthusiast) life that contains not a single memorable image! CJI.

I know what you mean - I produce, for my own use, waterslide transfers for complete cabside and tenderside; lining plus numbers / crests. Unfortunately, the quality of printing for such large transfers is not reliable enough for retail sales - even using Alps printers. John Isherwood.

Look at what Precision Labels offer, before reinventing the wheel. Unless you aspire to the kind of tech that Railtec has, (big money), Alps printers (legacy technology, not been available for years), are the only game in town for the production of waterslide transfers in the domestic environment. Not wishing to pour water on your enthusiasm - but we have been here on many occasions previously. Believe me - no-one would be more enthusiastic than me if a printer company were to produce a printer that used opaque and white ink - but there's nothing on the horizon, as far as I know. John Isherwood.

That'll be the ''big'' railway that had had all individuality and character obliterated with blue and yellow paint? What's not to like? CJI.

As a producer of waterslide transfers of 24 years experience, I can assure you that there are no shortcuts or software tools that will assist you in your endeavours. You need a good vector graphics programme - I use an ancient version of CorelDRAW. Find a good, square-on image of the subject, and start tracing! How will you handle the transparent ink problem - computer printer inks need a white undercoat to be visible over dark body colours? You're getting into deep water here - beware! John Isherwood.

Ahh - a pantograph milling machine - you lucky b*gger! CJI.