John Isherwood

I think that there is some evidence of patch-painting where there is white lettering. The main body colour, I would guess, is very dirty White or Ice Blue. The patches may be black or Rail Blue. JMHO. CJI.

So be it - just my experience on more than a few occasions. CJI.

Entirely reasonable - I take no exception to a counter-argument. Trouble is, any post here that implies a criticism of BRM is taken as, and denounced as, a personal insult against the moderators. Reasoned debate then becomes pointless! CJI.

If this is going to become personal, I decline to participate. Expressing a personal opinion is, I believe, one of the functions of a discussion group. Most fora manage to separate the occupations of the moderators from current discussion; RMweb seems to be unable to do this. CJI.

Further to the above - see the 'Brian Huxley' thread; read his articles referred to; and imitate. Many of us still adopt the mix, match and adapt philosophy of modelling - the trouble is, newcomers to the hobby rarely become aware of the possibilities of this approach. CJI.

Commercial sense - perhaps, but for how long? As beginners develop some skills, they need inspiration in order to develop; I see little evidence of this, despite browsing the titles at the newsagent. As for being a 'super-finescaler' - I wish!! I developed such modest modelling skills as I possess as a reader of RM, MRC, and the later model railway magazines. None of these could be described as 'super-finescale'! My output is very much at the 'layout stock' end of the spectrum - if it runs OK and looks like the prototype, that'll do! I am aware that constructional articles require more complex input than the picture-strip features so beloved of the bulk of the model railway press which, frankly, are patronising. If any of the current titles were to stretch themselves beyond their current, basic offering - or a new, more ambitious venture came along, I would be first in the queue to buy a subscription. I know that I would be far from being alone! CJI.

Spot-on; the magazines simply churn out the same old, same old; aimed at the RTR 'How do I renumber my new model' brigade. A notable exception is the MRJ - the partnership would be much better off advertising there than in the 'comics'. I gave up on the latter a good few years ago, despite having bought and retained them since the 1960s. CJI.

Back in the day, I just added talcum powder to a gloss paint in order to produce a matt finish. CJI.

I'm afraid that I have to agree. CJI.

I simply copied what you had said - WITHOUT NAMING THE SOURCE - highlighting those particular issues that might be deal-breakers for me. I reminded them that they had asked whether I would like to cancel my pre-order for DHP1 at the time that I returned the 'Fell' for refund, on the grounds that it did not accurately reproduce the prototype. I stated that the issues with DHP1 might affect my acceptance of the model - on the same grounds - and that I hoped that amendments could be made. All very polite and unprovocative! CJI.

Done. CJI.

First point - waterslide transfers should ALWAYS be applied to a HIGH GLOSS finish - if you have a prejudice against such finishes, (despite the fact that the final coat can be any finish you choose), avoid waterslide transfers as you will almost certainly be disappointed to find a white 'ghost' behind the carrier film. That said, and assuming that we ARE applying the transfers to a HIGH GLOSS finish, there is no need to trim the lining transfers as close as possible to the printing. I know that this is contrary to accepted advice, but it makes handling the transfers MUCH easier. The reason is that cutting the transfer film twice, close together, sets up stresses within it that produce twisting and other undesirable behaviour! Remember - if clear transfer film is applied to a HIGH GLOSS finish, it will become invisible when over-varnished with gloss. Thus excess clear film on one or both sides of the lining transfer will not be detectable, but the ease of application will be hugely improved. If you do not believe me, I can only quote from a recent e-mail from a customer who was having great difficulty applying my lining transfers; (which he had purchased over ten years previously) : - "John, I’m well on the way with the second side, and using a wider transfer strip is a revelation! So much easier to apply and get straight, and seems inclined to stay put. Wow! I had been cutting close to the line in order to minimise carrier film, and I think that’s where I was encountering problems. I have been modelling for sixty years, and this proves that there’s always something new to learn"! ..... and, for my own use, I print cabside and tender side transfers complete with lining and numbering / crest, and apply them as a single transfer. John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers. https://www.cctrans.org.uk/

Mike, I do understand the need to extract parts efficiently - but, in my experience, chisels are the quickest way of doing this. Each to their own! CJI.

My experience is that, with a metal cutting board - aluminium, thick brass sheet, etc. - distortion is virtually non-existent. CJI.

I bought one each of three different width modellers' miniature chisels (Tamiya?); ideal for cutting etch tags so as to need minimal filing. CJI.

Gradients are a recipe for disappointment on a model railway, to be avoided at all costs. CJI.

Joueff got this right on their Mk.3s. I saw some ex-works stock and locos with brown undergear but, either it was widespread and got too mucky to tell, or the practice was soon abandoned. CJI

Agreed - but Hornby (and others) need to be far more circumspect in what they publish in advance of release. There is a demand for this information, and reaction is immediate, so the need to check and double-check their information is paramount if a project is not to be released to a less than enthusiastic reception. CJI.

There was a day - when it was Hornby Dublo (original) - that their rolling stock liveries could be relied upon as to what BR was using at that time. Nowadays, I doubt that anyone at Hornby was even born when BR existed! I'm glad that I will not be around to see what horrors they will produce come 2053! CJI.

Shrug your shoulders and accept that we can't always have what we want! CJI.

Does Hornby really not have anyone who knows these things? The mind boggles! CJI.

It has been stated that a male presenter has been suspended. CJI.

Already done - see above. CJI.

I have sent him a message this evening, warning that a goodly portion of the model railway fraternity are well aware that he is trying to sell stolen goods, and that he is bound to be identified soon. CJI.

There is a Michael Hartley, electrician, listed on Linkdn (or whatever) from Blackburn. Anyone here from the Blackburn and East Lancashire MRC? CJI.