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Like many of us then!

We have been busy planning the move so not much time for building loco's although I did find time to buy a Brassmaster A4 and A3 enhancement etch. They are very good if a little fiddly. I have to confess that I also bought a second hand Hornby A3 and Bachmann A1! This LNER thing is getting serious! A few pictures of my 60026 purchased a while ago (to compare with 60700 which is on order) with some of the Brassmaster mods fitted plus a few more of my own. I carefully re-profiled the cylinder fairing - it seems too flat to me. New cylinder end cover Hornby moulding is a little small. Front gravity sandpipes added. Its a great model, well done Hornby but one can always add a bit more! Kind regards, Richard B

Good day Tony, Sorry to interupt the flow. Just had a look at the Virtual Show and Little Bytham. It is a really outstanding achievement Tony, you must have worked so well as a team to create such a great piece of work. The loco's and rolling stock all first class with a totally correct sideways "shudder" on some of the head on shots. I was particularly taken with the appearance of 46245 City of London pulling, what I assume to be, the Home Counties Railway Society trip to Doncaster Works and Shed on June 9th 1963? I was on that trip with my late brother and Father and it is still such a vivid memory. I remember my brother "cabbing" Mallard and Willbrook I still have the pictures somewhere. It was our last trip out together before I started work at Eastleigh Works on September 2nd. Thanks. Kind regards, Richard B

I've just discovered this thread too, agree with above, fabulous modelling! I lived up near Ashbourne for twenty odd years and we return to Buxton hopefully before Christmas. Well done Alister, first class. Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks John and all, much appreciated. Kind regards, Richard B

Just finished my Crownline A1/1 kit so I thought I would post a few pictures that might interest this thread. Enjoyed building the beast, so satisfying. Kind regards and stay safe, Richard B

Final post on Great Northern which is now finished and I am pleased with the result. I always hope that the next build will improve on the last. In this case my DJH Sun Castle. I would say that the Crownline kit was a bit more difficult to build than the DJH A2/3. In a sense that is not a surprise given that the former is an etched brass kit. I have already mentioned my difficulties with the resin boiler but given that it really wasn't that difficult to construct a reasonable version of the prototype. My use of 2 thou brass sheeting over the firebox created some problems namely surface distortion but then I looked at many photographs of LNER pacific fireboxes and many had just the same distortions! Anyway, I intend to stop building loco's for a while, at least until after our planned move to Buxton which should take place at the end of the month or early December. Following the post move chaos I plan to make a serious start (re-start really) on the layout in my new 25sq m hobby room. I suspect though that I might just drift back a little and start my Urie S15! Some final pictures of 60113 Great Northern Kind regards and stay safe, Richard B

Some like it hot anyone?

60113 just needs tender weathering and coal. Kind regards, Richard B

Loved this piece of work - great visual and musical feast - time's winged arrow. Thanks, Richard B

Couldn't agree more. BTF is an excellent source of first class documentary film that builds on the work of the pre - WW2 pioneering work of the Post Office Film Unit. As is the case with all historical documents (and film is so) it is the unwitting testiment, the underlying assumptions of the film makers that is so valuable. To name a few: Snowdrift at Bleath Gill from 1955 - a great tale of team work. http://nicwhe8.freehostia.com/btf/productions/films/BT0213/BT213.html This is York from 1953 - just a great film of railway practices that have gone. http://nicwhe8.freehostia.com/btf/productions/films/BT0067/BT67.html The catalogue is well worth looking through - I have often thought that a BTF night would go down well at club nights, that is, when they start up again! Sorry to go on but this is a perhaps neglected source of railway knowledge and entertainment in these difficult times. Kind regards, Richard B

Andi, I didn't know that New Model Army were still performing, thats great - is Justin O'Sullivan still the front man? Thanks for the info. I saw them a few times in the 1980's and my daughters many more times. Wonderful lyrics, now where are my clogs? Kind regards, Richard B

Dear Clive and Gibbo, Sorry Clive, my initial thoughts were "as a young man in his twenties" but could just see the beginnings of the older man due, I thought, to the arrival of children. I think I should stop digging! Gibbo, I'm with you - 73 and still a full head of hair (NOT bragging, its down to genes and chance) and inside (don't let the daughters and army of grandchildren know though) I'm about 13, 14 maybe. Isn't life great! Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks for all that information Tony, a really positive contribution to the hobby. I have a number of Bachmann Thompson coaches and would I be right in thinking that the etches are still available? I would be using them on South Coast trains from the North. Again, quite exceptional pictures, 27 looks very fine but then I guess it should! That wonderful BT film of "The Elizabethan" stirs great memories except for the silly commentary! Sadly I was too young and poor to have a trip on it but did a few trips on the Night Scotsman going North although it was diesel hauled, my first railway "free pass" was used to visit York, Gateshead, Darlington Works, Tyne Dock and N/S Blyth. Seems so distant now such a different world. On one occasion I had a nice run behind an A3 from York to Leeds, think it was Blink Bonny but I could, and as my family remind me, often wrong! Kind regards, Richard B

But Clive, your picture is of a thirty something - a slip of a lad....but back to reality. They are a lot younger than me too but they are not in the "flower of youth" either - except for the youngster on drums. As always - keep up the good work! Kind regards, Richard

Loco and tender united. KInd regards, Richard B

Clive absolutely ...king great! They are old gits too! There is hope in the world - unreconstructed PUNK! Thanks! Kind regards, Richard B PS Nice picture of a French Pre-Dreadnought after the play -- my goodness they were ugly!

That's good news Tony - the crane is a nice piece of work though. Lovely shot of "The Elizabethan". Kind regards, Richard B

60113's tender is now ready for painting with only the coupling, buffer heads and steam heat/Vac pipes to fit. Took a few pictures before doing so. I have adjusted the tender/loco coupling spacing and made some adjustments to the trailing wheel that improves rear driver traction/pick-up. I am conscious of the fact that I don't have a layout to run Great Northern on only a metre or two of track with some test curves. This is a concern and I will stop building loco's for a while after we have moved to get that layout up and running. Kind regards, Richard B

Starting to look like an A3 non corridor tender. Kind regards, Richard B

Today's update describes the stages in constructing the tender. I have also added some forgotten details to the loco - running plate footsteps on firebox and front "curves" and windscreens at between the cab windows. Firstly the tender tank top and coal space soldered together. Underside of the tank top - soldering a bit messy but on the underside so no need to clean it up! And soldered to the tender. The tender sides are very thin etches that require careful handling. Ready for soldering. One side soldered in position, thats enough for today! Lastly mated up to loco. Kind regards, Richard B

Wheels for the tender have now arrived so on with the tender chassis. The holes in the tender frames need to be opened up for the bearings to fit - I used a broach. I soldered one side of the chassis to the body and then fitted the wheels followed by the other side of the frame - very fiddly. Tack solder the second frame side and then check for square and free running. I soldered the second frame with the chassis on a glass plate to ensure it was all flat. Underside ready for the brake rigging and lastly the drag box/buffer beams. Kind regards, Richard B PS Rather rough wet windy weather down here in Wiltshire!

Progress with the tender. Although the tender fitted to 60113 has no rivet detail on the tender body (A3 standard non corridor tender) it does have rivet detail on the frames. Firstly the frame cross members and secondly around the brake hanger mounting holes to secure the hanger casting to the frame. This was all added to the kit since it was not represented. Cant go much further awaiting 14mm disc wheels with pin point axle ends. I stupidly purchased wheels with standard axles assuming an inner frame with brass axle bearings in the kit design - should have confirmed! Kind regards, Richard B

It looks as if our models of Mr Thompson's A1/1 are just as controversial as the prototype! I think it is good that we have (or had, I can't recall if PDK still make the A1/1 kit) two routes to reproducing a 4mm version of this prototype. My experience with the Crownline model does not echo Mick's comments except in regard to the resin boiler. I have not used G King's components to modify a Hornby A3 so can't comment. Whats more important is that we encourage each other and in particular, modeller's thinking about building their first loco kit with positive constructive advice. In my view, all kits have their limitations and difficulties that we have to overcome to make our best shot at a model of our chosen prototype. Kind regards, Richard B

Good evening Tony, Wonderful pictures of your Great Northern running on your great layout. It obviousely can pull a bit and whilst built so long ago is still to a very high standard. An ugly prototype but it still makes a powerful model! One thing I replaced on my version was the casting for the superheater manifold covers - too small in my view. Kind regards, Richard B