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I submit Michael! I will do the best I can - I'm not sure that the crosshead would survive dismantling since it is not wide enough to bridge a 2mm or so wide slidebar. There does seem to be some variation (not unkown in locomotive classes!) in the slidebar images, some, I agree, are flush to the side view but some are "T" shaped BUT reversed with the wide section forming the sliding surface. Blast! It all works very nicely too. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Michael, I have looked again at all the images I have of the B9 and they are not of ideal quality - not a surprise given that they had all gone by 1949. I hope you don't mind, after all you designed the kit!, but I beg to differ. I have changed my version of the slidebars in the light of your comments namely: 1. Reduced the width of the top of the "T" section along the section of the slidebar that is coincident with the stroke of the crosshead. 2. Removed the top section between the end of the stroke to the cylinder chest making it a flat bar. I accept that I have overdone the taper at the end of the slidebars and they are too deep but I wanted them to be robust. This is how they now look: And fitted to the mainframe: The best example I could find is: Your help on this build is much appreciated. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Michael, Will check it out prototype photographs again tomorrow. The illustrations of GC outside cylindered 4-6-0's in V22 of Yeadon's suggests a "T" section slide bar with the top of the "T" removed beyond the maximum stroke of the piston to the cylinder face. The slide bar fitted is 2mm wide at the top of the "T" and 1mm wide below. It is a compromise. Drawings don't help! Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks Michael, praise from the praisworthy! Final update today. Michael suggested 1mm square section rod for the slidebars which would be fine but I had some "T" section brass rod that I thought might do the job and used this because I had no 1mm square. I have two sizes and chose the larger section to make the assembly robust. The lower section rod was used for the slidebars. The cylinder end of the slidebars required filing to fit. I tacked the slidebars to the frame support bracket since if the setup didn't work it would be easy to unsolder and think again. In the event, after a little easing of the cylinder tube (I suspected some solder) the set up worked very well. The result is, perhaps, a little "heavt duty" compared to the prototype but I am pleased with the result. I still have to solder the cylinder end of the slidebars. I shall leave the firemans side until tomorrow. Kind regards, Richard B

And so onto the connecting rods. The connecting rods themselves are straitforward, two sections that need to be tinned and then soldered together making sure that crankpin holes are aligned. The crosshead consists of two identical etches that need to be very carefully handled. The piston rod (1.1 mm brass rod) fits between the two halves of the crosshead. I flattened the end of the rod and then cleaned it up with a file so that it would provide a good solder land with the two crosshead halves and look prototypical. First rod assembled, parts for the second rod prior to assembly. I used a 16BA screw and nut to nip the two crosshead halves together making sure that they are square. The piston rod is just nipped by the two crosshead halves. Leave a 1mm space between the end of the rod and the 16BA screw to avoid solder running into the thread. I used some paint (matt black) to protect the two inside halves of the crosshead and the connecting rod from solder migration, we don't want a solid assembly!! Ensure all is in line before soldering. After soldering, bend over the four (two each side) vertical extentions to the crosshead to create the raised boss at the end of the crosshead (see above). Connecting rod alignment with piston and slidebar bracket looks good. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi John, My recollection is that your comments are always helpful. I do have 4 or 5 ex LSWR/SECR coach kits to build but have never attempted this art so I will follow your thread with interest. The rake LNER coaches look very good and very well painted. Kind regards, Richard B

Agree, a great film. I'm sure you Know that the BTC made a whole series of 15-20 minute films in the 1950/60/70s, indeed in the 1980's too about our "wonderful railway". All available from the BFI (British Film Institute). I have most of them, they are also, of course, unwitting social history of the times, which is my interest as well as the railway aspect. Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks to Michael Edge's help futher progress has been made with the B9 chassis. Ashpan and associated crossmember soldered into position together with brake hanger supports. 10 thou brass sheet for boiler and firebox provides "backdrop". The cylinders and slide bars are at quite an angle on the B9. The frame slots and cylinder crossmembers set this very well. To align the piston rod and provide stiffness to the cylinders, bearing in mind the outer cover will be fairly thin brass sheet, I have cut a piece of brass tubing to size to solder between front and back cylinder crossmembers. This is probably not essential I should add! Piston rod diameter on the B9 is large - 1.1mm. Soldered in place. Kind regards, Richard B

Andy, Sorry I have not replied earlier, busy with home refurb. It has been an absolute pleasure. Ray was such a great guy, always looking on the bright side. I am just sad that I missed seeing and chatting with him again, it would have been a real laugh. So..its the least I can do for a really good railwayman and fine chap. Please get in touch when current (and hopefully last..) lockdown ends so I can come up and present you with the G5. I will probably travel up by train..... Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks very much Michael, much appreciated. Richard B

Update on the B9 which continues to go together well providing I can identify the parts! I have an Isinglass Drawing (4/479) for the B9/1 and B9/2 and it's the latter that I am building. A bonus was digging around in my spares box and discovered a set of 21.2 mm wheels which will be fine for this loco. They are 16 spoke with the crank correctly located between spokes. The wheels are a tiny amount too small but not enough to worry about. Those front guard irons will, I'm sure, require trimming! Cylinder and crosshead supports in place. What I hope is the ashpan ready for fitment. Cylinder crossmembers located. Michael (Edge) are these the ashpan pieces? Kind regards, Richard B

Whilst I wait for some parts for the E4 and E5 to be delivered I have moved on to the LNER again and started to build a Judith Edge ex GCR LNER B9 4-6-0 etch/kit that I bought some time ago at something called "a model railway exhibition" whatever they are. The etch is first class and is supplied with a single sheet line drawing and some instructions. It is minus boiler fittings and smoke box door etc but is priced accordingly - its very good value. The instructions and etches. All very clear and includes a template for boiler and firebox - not supplied. Frames and frmae spacers . Drawing clearely shows location of all spacers and these are located by slots in the frames. The kit (as I shall now call it) has provision for compensation but I intend to make this loco a solid frame so 1/8" bearings all soldered in position. Frames set up in my frame jig. Spacers progressively fitted and tacked to frame. It all goes together very easily. There are two more frame spacers to fit One spacer fits over the centre wheel - I have left this off until I have sorted out motor and gearbox arrangements. The other spacer fits inside the ashpan which is yet to be fitted. Impressively easy to assemble. I now have a tender kit on order from Judith Edge kits which is a reasonable £32. I also have some printed parts from same and some from Graham Nicholas (G-Train Locomotive Works - more on this later) which are really detailed and of good quality. Both suppliers recommended. Kind regards, Richard B

Dear B Bishop, Have you tried contacting the South Western Circle? https://www.lswr.org/ They have a wealth of detail on all matters South Western including an excellent range of books and profiles. In addition, I have a copy of The Oakwood Press The London and South Western Complied by M Sharman. This has a series of 7mm scale drawings of SW Locomotives and tenders from around 1850 until the 1880s. They seem to be first class although most of the drawings relate to Nine Elms built locomotives. Good luck! Kind regards, Richard B PS Tony - sorry for the Southern intrusion!

What a disapointment Michael! The pivot is about 5mm too short then. Lets hope that the weight over the axle helps a bit.Tests on my layout seem encouraging. I have to complete the build of the E5 kit mentioned so lets hope I can resolve it. Kind regards, Richard B PS Your V4 and B9 kits are on the list for completion. Any news on Maunsell 350HP shunter?

I have now bought a couple of old part built kits from a fellow South Western Circle member. One is a T9 which will probably end up as an S11 6ft Drummond 4-4-0 and an old Wills E5 kit which needs some work to complete. Meanwhile the E4 is moving along slowly. I have now assembled the radial pony truck. The cast mounting point for which was discarded due to ride height issues (trailing driving wheel off the rail) and used a 1/8" axle bearing as a substitute. Side frames soldered to casting. Chassis test mounted to body. Brighton radial tanks gallore! Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Ian, Its a little tricky to advise without more information regarding which loco's and the radius of the curves. However, have you looked at axle sideplay? Kind regards, Richard B

PPS I have always been surprised by the tendency for railway engineers and their loco works to retain a "loyalty" to their works at the expense of limiting good practice. This seemed to have survived the grouping and the formation of BR in my experience. I remember back in the 1980's when HST Power Car bogie repairs were transferred from Derby Loco Works to Crewe Works. One of my tasks was to ensure that repair practices were transferred to maintain fleet availability. Whilst I understood the reluctance of Derby to help Crewe that had "stolen their work" at a time of great uncertainty, the terms used were interesting, stating that they would not help "those North Western b......s at Crewe" with the retort that those "Midland...... you get the idea I'm sure! Kind regards, Richard B

Sir Henry Fowler had, I suspect, a difficult task. Convincing all those ex Midland types that dominated the LMS that perhaps double heading with lots of small loco's was not a good idea for the future. Oddly, the same thing seemed to happen when LMS men dominated British Railways somewhat limiting BR Standard designs. I nominate the Fowler 2-6-4 tanks as a good design that did its job well and was the prototype for all those Stainer and Fairburn tanks that followed. Kind regards, Richard B PS I rather like the original Patriots too.

Agree first family of modern 4-6-0's if we define modern as having outside Walschaerts valve gear and the H15 was first of the Urie/Maunsell family of simple, but effective, 4-6-0's (Churchward and Wordsdell fans might have a bit to say?). I rather liked the H15's for their simple rugged lines so they get my vote, I have five 4mm models of them so that must count as an obsession. Kind regards, Richard B

I am making good progress with my layout 70D Engine Shed and have completed the ex LNER G5 0-4-4T for the Darlington Model Railway Club although I await the April easing of lockdown before delivering the latter. So I thought I would continue with building my Rodney Stenning E4 0-6-2T kit started many years ago, well before the excellent Bachmann E4 was available. I have one of those too but am happy to build the kit for the pleasure that gives me. Basingstoke shed also had two E4's allocated to it in the 1950s, 32481 and 32502. I also have a picture of 32505 on shed too. The kit is well designed with N/S frames and a cast whitemetal body. I will be using Markits wheels and a combination of Alan Gibson plunger pickups for the leading two driving axles and a wiper pickup for the trailing driving axle since this is driven and plunger pickups would foul the gearbox. I will also see if I can fit a wiper contact to the trailing wheel. The chassis was assembled many years ago so all I had to do was fit the pickup housings and paint. I spend a lot of time cleaning up the whitemetal parts and test fitting before soldering. Low melt solder to assemble the body - it is simple to use providing surfaces are clean, flux applied and soldering iron applied sparingly! Body temp. fit to chassis. I plan to fit a flywheel to the free end of the motor. All square. The Bachmann version is very good I will endevour to match it!! Kind regards, Richard B

Very good selection of O4 variants Tony and they all look just as I (and you) remember them very workstained. They must have been very sound locomotives to have survived so long (although being a large class helps) and to some extent their career mirrors the NE Q6. Both survivors. Happily the GWR bought some that lasted into the 1950s so I have one for my Basingstoke shed layout to work turn and turn about with my 28XX. Any excuse! Kind regards, Richard B

Tracks all in position ready to programme controller. Kind regards, Richard B

I have started to adapt the Heljan turntable to look more like Basingstoke's example. Firstly I removed the little grey cabin and then added brass outriggers to the turntable bridge. The well is improved by simply adding some brick paper. The latest addition are the protective covers for the four corner wheels of the bridge. These are not fitted to the Heljan device and their absence is not realy noticable but the covers are. These were constructed from 10 thou brass sheet and plasticard. They will be painted before fitment. Awaiting some thin plasticard strips for the centre of the bridge track. The result is not perfect but closer to prototype. In the fullness of time, debri, grass etc will be added to the well and top of the well. Kind regards, Richard B Richard B

Well Mr Hudson, Just breathtaking - the ambition that you must have set out with, underpined by not a small amount of confidence, has been fulfilled. I am in awe of the quality of modelling. Not just the structures themselves but of the creation of the "feeling" of 1950's East End. Masterful! Many thanks for sharing all this. I shall give up modelling now!!!! (Not really, just an overload of inspiration) Kind regards, Richard B

Hi George, Really great work capturing this tiny, but important, part of London. I agree, Brick Lane Bakery produce is very tasty. Brick Lane is famous as the venue for a number of 20th Century historical events too, as you well know I'm sure. Must take a look at more of your work. Kind regards, Richard B