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Hi, Thanks for the link to the G5 build. I started to donate to this build in January - it looks really professional with good progress. Thanks for your kind comments and good luck with the 7mm version - building on that scale must be great and so much closer to the prototype. Kind regards, Richard B

Have now reached the end of the world! As expected all the talk of a round globe is wrong! After Oakley station the world just drops away to a deep nothingness! Looking back towards Basingstoke, site of Oakley station. Nothing ahead!! Where is that fiddle yard board! Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Mike, Yes that's what I had assumed, the fireman would have known the road and his drivers approach to the route as well as what was happening to the fire and the exhuast and would have intervened with the reverser. Like you though, I wasn't really sure. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Chas, I am no expert but there were, I think, three Push - pull systems in use, air,vacuum and mechnically operated. The mechanical system was used by the GWR. Other railways used either air or vacuum or in some cases use dboth systems (although not on the same loco!). Both air and vacuum used pressure difference across a diaphragm which will move in rough proportion to the pressure difference. The diaphragm is connected to a rod the movement of which can be used to operate the loco steam regulator again, in rough proportion to the pressure difference. You can see the diaphragm housing on the side of the smokebox and the operating lever on my model. I'm not sure if and how valve cut off was remotely controlled. Hence one vacuum pipe is for the train brake and the second pipe is for transmitting the loco regulator position from the remote cab in the driving coach. Incidently, the white metal castings are adapted from Alan Gibson LNWR components used by the Coal Tank. Kind regards, Richard B

Now that the ex LNER G5 0-4-4T is complete bar painting I can return to tracklaying and soldering electrical supply droppers, what fun! My version of Oakley (Hants) station should accomodate a 4/5 coach train depending on coach type. A small yard is planned for location at each end of the station. Looking towards the end of Basingstoke station with the shed on the left. Shed yard with site of turntable marked out. Further view of shed yard. Site of Oakley station, sorry about the "heat haze" distortion!. I plan to hide the station from the shed and vice - versa with a double sided bridge, i.e. with different faces and divided by a sky backscene down the middle......we shall see. The Oakley siding on the left of the picture will be shielded from the shed with trees and backscene. Train running is fine although there is room for improvements to track levels and (lot of secondhand strack used) cleanliness. Track laying has reached the third board - the fiddle yard. Clearance and mounting holes all drilled for point motors. Kind regards, Richard B

Loco is now complete and ready for painting. I am very happy with the result and, I hope, Ray would have liked it too. I can imagine him looking at it closely and then saying but you have missed the......followed by one of his full blooded laughs! I have really enjoyed the build and LRM have done a good job with this kit. I hope the painting doesn't distract too much from the model as it now is. I hope we come out of lockdown in the near future (although not too soon, we seem to have done that twice with bad results) so I can visit the Darlington Model Railway Club at North Road and hand the model over (when painted). Thanks to everyone for showing interest and for all the help. Kind regards, Richard B

Just a few pictures today - I've said enough already! Soldered two channels on the inside of the cab roof so that it can be removed. When fitting the vacuum pipes along the running plate I discovered I had fitted the front steps the wrong way round easy to fix. Kind regards, Richard B

Mike, Thanks so much for your kindly comments and for the picture - is that a J21 in the background? Will probably have a break from loco building to continue with 70D layout and then on to a Urie S15 at some stage. Have watched and enjoyed the NYM programme. Back in the 1980's I spent a week up there having a break from the family. Cleaned the Stephenson fitted Black Five 44767 and then helped to fire it for a few days. For my 70th birthday treat I drove ..... Some of my daughters who fired for me. and with the most understanding and lovely wife a chap could have! It was a fabulous day! Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Mike, Many thanks for your kind comments. I am surprised that the kit was developed all that time ago, it is really well thought out. The instructions are a bit sketchy in places but then I tend not to stick to them anyway (explains a lot I know!) a result of experience I guess. I am getting worried about my modelling - I have a B9, V2, V4 and A4 to build and am ordering a B7 kit. Whats more I have a whole raft of Hornby LNER big engines and a J27 (spent a bit of time in NE sheds in the early 1960s on my free pass trips collecting engine numbers) on order. I MUST GET BACK TO SR MODELLING! Kind regards, Richard B

The Hilman Imp had many problems not least the negative camber on the front axle which took out many a tyre. Having said that I loved mine, being my second car and was such a modern vehicle after my Moggie 1000. My recollection was that most cars in the 1960's and 70's were trouble, simple to repair yes, but then you needed to so often! Bought for my layout - the exact colour of my Imp. Kind regards, Richard B

Almost finished the build. I just need to add the vacuum pipes along each side of the running plate - on 305 the drivers side is fully visable on the firemans side much less so. Lamp brackets, cab roof and a few odds and ends on top of the side tanks and then it will be ready for painting. The build has presented a real dilemma in that I wanted to produce a close copy of 67305 as Ray Goad would have known and photographed it as well as make it as robust as possible for layout operation. The loco runs very well on the tight curves of my 70D layout and has good pick-up performance using a combination of studs and wipers. For an 0-4-4 it has decent tractive effort and should be able to pull or push prototypical loads. As far as couplings are concerned as mentioned earlier - I will only fit screw couplings. By drilling 4 holes in the buffer beams it should be fairly simple to fit a robust "bar" coupling. It will though need careful handling if a lot of the buffer beam detail is to survive. The LRM kit is of high quality. Building little locomotives - what a satisfying pastime! Kind regards, Richard B

Lovely work Mark, lining transfers(?) can be a devil though. If you have done the lining by hand - well done I don't have the knack! The kits are first class. 40022 was the first ex LMS engine I ever saw at St Panc. so many, many, years ago. That loco had condensing gear fitted though. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Jack, The reversing lever end attached to the valvegear is made of scrap brass bits. The drivers mechanism is a combination of LRM parts and scrap brass parts with the wheel from an old etch. I suppose most lever reversers at the valve gear end look alike. The drivers end is an imperfect representation of the prototype but as close as I can get it! The real thing. Valve gear end As you know I have a completely scratch built an 0395 - an early effort so don't judge too harshly! Sorry, a poor picture. Kind regards, Richard B

Brake gear today - fairly complex set up - need to make sure brake cylinder is positioned correctly! Etched parts are nicely made and fit together well. Handbrake operating lever still to fit. Detail a bit clearer in this shot, 30777 looks on in the background. The very fine angled sections fitted to the base of the sidetanks seem to have caught the light in a way that suggests rivets - in fact - these are extrusion markes. Kind regards, Richard B

The Push-Pull fitted G5's had a very busy bufferbeam! Not only 2 vacuum pipes and a steam heat pipe but the RCH lighting trip and set cables/supports and conduits. There won't be much space for red paint! Conduit passes into cab to, I assume, the trip and set switch. Tanks side looks very rough, it is fairly smooth! Will polish up before etching primer applied. Front buffer beam has most components fitted. Still needs trip/set conduit and cables for connection to coaches and under bufferbeam pipework to vacuum hoses. Camera is very cruel!! Kind regards, Richard B

Much work on adapting some Alan Gibson castings for Vacuum Push - Pull as fitted to LNWR locos. Brass angle for base of side and well tank has arrived from Eileens Emporium so thanks for the suggestion Arthur. Kind regards, Richard B

Really good work, sorry no images to help. Kind regards, Richard B

Spent much of today's time dealing with lack of traction when pulling with drivers leading. My test track does have a bit of an incline but much wheel spinning initially with two Bulleid coaches. Front of boiler is now stuffed with lead and added some to the frame too. This improved matters and she will pull three Bulleid* coaches from a standing start up hill. Pushing is no problem and I suspect on more level track things will improve further. Four coupled wheels not as good as six - as in prototypes. More detail added - cab roof just temp fit. Thanks David - From drawings and images those fitted looked to be best fit but will take a look at Brassmaster item. Kind regards, Richard B * Sorry LNER Coaches packed away - even SR layout need ex LNER coaches for those trains from the NE!

With today's progress I guess the build is closer to the finish than the start. Cab detail is about complete and the chassis is running in now that additional weight has been added - lead embossed to look like the two internal cylinders from the front. Running as a chassis or with the body on it runs best as a 4-4-0, which is good given it is push-pull fitted, but will add further balancing weights to improve traction further. Chassis runs from very low speed. All that brake gear to fit soon. Fairly pleased with cab details. Kind regards, Richard B

Today's update - worked on the tank filler's and the clips that secure them - some very tiny scratch built parts. Handrails fitted on boiler/smokebox sides. Those eagle eyed will notice that the leading wheel is not in contact with the track - due to trailing wheel compensation issue - the gearbox idler shaft just fouls the boiler preventing movement - easily solved. Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks Arthur, I have ordered a slection of brass angle from Eileen's, thanks for the tip. Kind regards, Richard B PS Ken Hoole's book on order.

Hi Arthur, Thanks for the really useful advice. I have some good images of the cab interior. This shows the vacuum pipe entering the cab top R/H and then to the manifold on top of the firebox. I have fitted the pipe and terminated just inside the cab with a 14BA nut to connect to the copper "pipe" running across to the manifold (That looks like the Vacuum Gauge just above the pipe). I have fitted a drivers brake valve to the cab sidesheet but would be happy to replace with a "Dreadnought" - what an evocative name? HMS Dreadnought's appearance in1906 revolutionised capital ship design and many other companies, making all sorts of kit, used the Dreadnought name to enhance their products. Anyway, I will buy a couple of valves from you please send details in a PM. Kind regards and thanks again, Richard B

Continued with the cab today and marked out and drilled boiler/smokebox for vacuum pipe and handrails. The vacuum ejector pipe from smokebox to cab is such a feature of these loco's. I really am enjoying this build despite the very blue air at times. Handrail and vacuum pipe holes drilled. Cab front soldered into position so that vacuum ejector pipe can be fitted accurately. Sorry about the poor snapshot! Some of the smaller cab parts - the ecxcellent Branchlines drivers brake valve which on this loco is mounted on the cab side sheet. Also the fairly complex reverser mechanism which is mostly scratch built. Kind regards and thanks for all the interest and help, Richard B

Hi Mike, Thanks for the info - I am still not certain I will fit the angled strip - I think that it is riveted its just that they are CSK rivets. Yes the hopper bunker is a swine - I called my etch some very crude things! Kind regards, Richard B

Hi, Thanks very much for the info, a great help since it confirms my own thoughts. Regarding the tank top beading, I agree, no evidence of it in any of the images apart from the supporting loop for the handrail at the end of the tank. The rivet detail in the image is interesting. The curved section follows the internal curved "splashers" which are a feature of the cab interior so at some stage snap head rivets were used to secure but, as you say, in later images CSK rivets are used so the rivet heads vanish. 67305 will be modelled mid 1950's when shedded at Darlington. There is though an angled riveted strip at the base of the tank and bunker - it doesn't show up that well - I am in two minds about adding this detail since it will be very hard to get a very thin flat section with rivet detail that doesn't look a mess! Very lucky that we have a lot of images of the G5's (popular engines then?) and in particular, 305. Thanks again, kind regards, Richard B