PhilJ W

Bernard TPM does the Atkinson 'A's.

One of the best Oxford models is the AEC Regent fire engine. Currently available from Atlas Editions for £1.99.

Almost certainly 1/80 scale. I have the complete sets of 'Railway Magazine' from Jan 1928 to Dec 1939 and I will have a trawl through the ads to see if I can find anything.

The Vickers Vigor was based on the Tetrache light tank. Both were designed for use by Airborne forces and carried in the Hamilcar gliders.

Lot 22 is an ex LSWR Dreadnought.

This is actually being unloaded from a lorry! Not just any lorry but one of two (or maybe three?) special rigid 8 wheel AEC's operated by Pickfords. They can be identified by the use of Trolleybus rear axles.

Photos 1 & 3 the 'Bridge beams' are in fact balance beams to evenly spread the load over all axles. Photo # 6 is of a cracking tower used in oil refineries.

IIRC some Sentinels (or Rolls Royce) were used by British forces in Germany. When the forces were withdrawn any remaining locomotives were disposed of locally, probably for scrap but at least one was used in Holland or Belgium for a while.

You could always add the sound effects, but keep it to the flush PLEASE!

Further to my comments about the under run bars on the Scania livestock carrier, they are now coming up on e-bay and none of those have the under run bars either.

But can the mince pies make it?

The latest tranche of new releases from Oxford is now available. This Afternoon I acquired the following models > Land Rover Discovery (Essex Police and normal model in silver), Volkswagen T25 van and minibus, SWB Transit vans in white and Post Office livery, Transit MK 1 recovery (RAC), Volvo animal transporter and the Eddie Stobart Scania horsebox. The Discovery's are to the usual standards we have come to expect from Oxford as are the modern Transit vans. Strangely the Volkswagen van had left hand drive despite having the single drivers seat on the right and a double seat on the left! When I examined the minibus I found exactly the same in reverse and furthermore the sliding passenger door was on the right hand side (the side door on the van was on the left) When I dismantled the models I found that the dashboards were separate mouldings and it was a simple matter to swap them over. The Volvo Animal transporter appears to be missing the under run bars behind the rear wheels, these appear on the box illustration and published pictures of the model so I will be taking it back to the trader after Christmas. The Scania 'Eddie Stobart' horsebox was again up to the standard we have come to expect from Oxford. The Transit Mk 1 recovery vehicle however is terrible, the grill bonnet and front wings are OK but the rest of the cab does not even look like a Transit, the roof is completely the wrong shape, it is too short and the side windows are curved at the top. The saving grace is the excellent interior seats and the wheels. I have a resin Transit 'droop-snoot' cab and I think that I will use that to replace the cab on this model.

Not any that show the errors, I don't have any means of photographing the one that I have. I have also noticed that the glazing appears distorted, perhaps I have a 'duff' one. I also obtained other of the new releases by Oxford, I'll pop a review in the road vehicles sub forum.

I didn't fancy the idea of hacking the Corgi Transit but it looks like I may have too. I attended the Brentwood swap meet today and obtained an example of the Oxford model only to find that it is really bad. The bonnet and front wings are OK but the cab looks nothing like a Transit, on the model the rear corners of the roof curve down to the B pillar which itself slants forward and the cab is too short and the doors have a distinct curve to the top. The good things are the wheels and the interior which are very good.

No, there's no toilet.

How wide is the pavement in front? As long as the toilet block is not in line with the gate and the lorry brakes are OK you should have nothing to worry about.

Mine hasn't got any mirrors.

Your welcome Stubby, I'm waiting for the Oxford Transit Mk1 car transporter* to appear in the shops. I feel a 'totters truck' coming on, to collect the scrap from the businesses you all are creating. (*Shorten wheelbase and fit dropside body.)

Width 30 mm Length 90 - 100 mm. EDIT height 32 mm

I've purchased something similar from Homebase for £9.99.

The AEC and Bedford can be further enhanced by fitting them with the excellent etched grills etc. produced by TPM.

If it's 1975 a Leyland National would be possible, but it would be almost brand new. Registration numbers would be no later than the 'L' suffix year letter. On the subject of registrations the 'L' registrations were the first where reflective number plates were compulsory.

As long as earache is all he gets from Maisy (Signed Bill's wife).

Not at all, but you forgot the copy of the 'Sun'.

I forgot to mention that you should not use side cutters to cut the actual components as this could distort them, it is better to use a knife or saw.