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Thanks Jonathan. I don't have a 4mm drawing but have a copy of Ken Hoole's book which has a copy of the GA that can be scaled, although no view of the spectacle plate is included! I can usually rely on my "good eye" too, D R Dunn's book on the Raven B16's is full of very good images. Kind regards, Richard B

Having completed a fair amount of work on my 70D layout I couldn't resist building another loco for a break from creating a little version of Basingstoke Engine shed. I bought the DJH B16 kit a few years ago at the Darlington MRS show. It was a good buy at £50. It is a very old kit with big thick brass frames and obsolete bogie and tender wheels. I have a spare High Level two stage gearbox and big coreless motor that will do the job. I have located some used and cheap Markits 23mm drivers. That's the beast. KIt has no provision for brake gear so the pivot points have been marked out for drilling. Frames assembled but still require alignment in the Poppy jig. KInd regards, Richard B

If anyone is interested in following my build of a very old DJH B16 4-6-0 kit then please go to: Kind regards, Richard B

I have been busy with the Up Home signal gantry (West) adapted from kits as the down signals. Again, the result is fine given compromises already mentioned. Now that the signals have been completed, although some ground signals still need to be added, I might just treat myself and build a loco... perhaps the old DJH B16 kit. The signals for Oakley are part of Phase Two of the project. Kind regards, Richard B

Not sure I agree Gilbert. To me the sky looks early morning, sun almost up (or conversely, perhaps, the opposite) perhaps around June time? I like the image but then it has one of those ugly Thompson pacifics centre stage and I, perversley perhaps, like them. Kind regards, Richard B

Rich, I have added as many of the original images that I can find, both of the prototype and the model build. I really hope that this helps all those potential builders of G5 0-4-4Ts. This all started out as a belated tribute to my former railway colleague Ray Goad, who was a great fan of the G5. I am now helping to build the full size G5 by my contributions. I am also a founder member of the P2 build and look forward to the completion of the new workshop in Darlington. If you read the opening piece on this thread you will see why Darlington has a special place in my railway, and retired life. Kind regards, Richard B PS I still have an A4, A3, V4, B7 and B16 to build but my layout (70D) is the priority.

I will look into it Rich

Really like the close up of 60961's motion which shows the care taken with the weathering. It reminds me a bit of the pictures that I took with my Brownie 127 back in the 1950/60s. All a bit out of focus, no criticism intended, just a bit of reflective nostalgia! Kind regards, Richard B

CCE busy on the avoiding lines? Kind regards, Richard B

The were, sorry Clive. Let us face it when it comes to a bit weird and all this talk about North v South and both V Yorkshire is a bit pointless. As far as I can see anyone on this website is a bit weird..... But in a nice way. Kind regards, Richard B A Southerner that has seen the light and moved north.

I assume the footplate crew next to the water column is aware his steed is a diesel locomotive? Not had the conversion training yet? I see trouble ahead.... Lovely evocative image. Kind regards, Richard

Minor observation Gilbert. It seems that an increasing number of A3/4 pacifics photographed recently have been cleaned very well - are they all Kings Cross allocated? As always, the quality of the weathering/cleaning is just first class. I may have missed something having just returned from getting some winter sun in the Canaries. I should add that Mrs B takes a dim view of keeping up with this website when on hols.. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Ian, I bought a Nespresso Vertuo machine for the lovely lads and lassies that work on the NHS Ward that I volunteer on. It worked only twice and then it failed completely. I should add that the instructions supplied with the machine are awful and the on-line data is not much better. Nespresso very understanding and offered to fix the machine and loan the ward a temporary replacement. However the Nespresso's delivery agent finds it impossible to deliver to the hospital having tried six times... although I have my suspicions that its alll a bit too much trouble finding the mail room. I have bought another machine and dropped it off on my last shift. I intend to arrange return of faulty machine from home. On our holidays we have used Nespresso machines and I must say they do make lovely coffee. Kind regards, Richard B

Just need to add the ladders, this will be done when the gantry is fixed to the baseboard. Quite pleased with my first attempt at signals. As discussed earlier, some limitations but the result looks like the prototype. Kind regards, Richard B

Just lovely nuanced work on these two loco's. Whilst nuanced may sound a bit OTT in connection with our hobby I think applied to weathering it is appropriate. Heavily weathered loco's but with much local variation. Kind regards, Richard B

Spot on Ian. Even something as trivial as a reliability mod to, say, and EMU took for ever for all the reasons you oulined above. Kind regards, Richard B

Maybe it is due to unfamiliarity but signalling seems to absorb lots of time! All the signal boards are now painted and almost ready to fit. Kind regards, Richard B

Good work Jamie - I have one to build too so Simon's close up picture is very useful. Kind regards, Richard B

Quite a fiddly job building the signal masts and then locating on the gantry without the signal arm fouling the adjacent mast. I am fixing the signal to the bracket using 16BA set screws rather than wire as suggested in the kit instructions. This requires drilling out the signal boards and the mounting brackets. Kind regards, Richard B

AS we have discussed before Alister, just up the road from us. Lovely blending of the model with Derbyshire.. Kind regards, Richard B

Many thanks for posting this - as a contemporary of mine and a man I knew and worked with I found the service so very moving. Adrian was a truly great railwayman in an almost 19th Century way. He surmounted so many challenges to create a rejuvinated railway where only decline was expected. It will be his memorial. I am over 6ft, Adrian was one of the few railwaymen that I looked up to in many ways... Kind regards, Richard B

This mornings copy of the Guardian had an obituary to Adrian Shooter. Perhaps many will not know of Adrian who was instrumental in transforming The Chiltern Line. He negotiated a 20 year Franchise for the route when the norm was 7 years. The Franchise was a management buyout. He was everywhere on that route taking a direct interest in all activities and was a great motivator. I had the pleasure (I think..) of knowing and working with him, I am over 6ft tall but I had to look up to Adrian! He was a great railwayman, in an almost 19th Century way, no challange was too big. I am sad to see his passing. Richard B

Oh yes Gilbert. Some real gems although sadly I can't remember much about them except one called "The Tingler" - does that ring any bells (sorry) for anyone? Fear became incarnate and crawled around looking for a human spine to inhabit.... I do though remember all the original St Trinians films.... Kind regards, Richard B

Main structure now finished and painted. Not absolutely accurate to prototype but not too bad. Kind regards, Richard B

Nick, What a really good job you have made of this "kit". I have followed this build with interest. Some years ago I bought an ACE 4mm N15X "kit". It was simply the most difficult kit I have ever built and needed much scratch building. I posted some fairly well balanced comments along the lines of "not recommended for the beginner". I was PC'd by the owner of ACE to be told that the N15X was not a kit just a "few experimental etches" and my comments were unfair. The box said "N15X Kit" and that is what I paid for. I wonder if you (or your client) will face a similar response? 32331 alongside its home depot 70D. Kind regards, Richard B