Scalefour Forum

Branchlines/Steam Era wheels have been my first choice wheels for stock and loco/DMU/EMU conversions for some years. If available they will continue to be. I've done 10 or more DMU conversions for friends in the last 12 months and with the arrival of the the new Bachmann DMU and hopefully Bulleid co...

Some of us will have a delayed start to virtual Scaleforum, my GP surgery has booked me in for my flu jab in the morning. Gives me an excuse for sitting in front of the computer as I 'recover'.

Tony Comber

The first of the prototype photos has what I can only describe as bi-concave discs on the bottom plank and the bottom of the door. Indicative of a product of Ashford works. They were where the ropes holding the sheet could be fixed.
Tony Comber

Posh versions of my home made ones

I have a set of home made nut runners for small hexagon nuts. The 'working part' consists of a socket cap screw. Most of them have been neatened and fitted to aluminium handles but a few are just the screw chucked in to the plastic drawer containing the nuts. Years ago I had a chart (probably from M...

Although Eastleigh built some BGs none were allocated to BR(S) until late 1965. These were dual heated and came from the LMR. They were some of the last repaints into green and therefore the repaint was from maroon to green. Details are to be found in Parkin, BR Mk1 coaches. These vehicles are there...

Beware WD 40 as a rust preventer, after about three months it starts to break down and become hygroscopic, in other words instead of repelling water it starts to absorb it. Duck Oil from Swarfega may be a better alternative.

Cif used to be called Jif. Name was changed so that it could be used across a number of countries. A bit like Marathon bars becoming Snickers.

That's captured the look of an ergo cabbed truck beautifully. The cabs were supplied by Sankey, a rather more basic version used on Albions; the central window in the back of the cab and sound proofing being amongst the options. AEC's were often said to have thinner steel used than their Leyland bre...

Pete,

Don't forget the old trick of using 7mm scale handrail knobs as the ball end for UJs. Saves drilling holes through the end for the wire.

Tony Comber

An aspect which has not been mentioned yet is those of us who have been asked to bring a club layout. Effectively work has ceased on any collaborative working. We have already missed one weekend when we were hoping to set up the layout in a hall. The local show in August we would have used as a dry ...

For those in the UK Halfords now do their own etching primer at about half the price of the U-Pol one. I've only used it on full size wagons (ventilator bonnets on 12T vent vans) so can't comment on how it works on smaller items.

The green on the axlebox and buffer body will be algal growth. The atmosphere is now so much cleaner that this is now seen much more often than years ago. When we start work on a new wagon the first job is always to give it a good pressure wash to remove all the moss and algae. On one occasion we al...

After some years now of working with full size wagons can I suggest that if metal parts are becoming darker it usually means that rust is spreading beneath the paint layer. A tap with a hammer usually results in the paint on the head of a bolt falling off. Round rivet heads seem to last longer befor...

Pete, I made a miniature marking gauge along the lines of the traditional woodworkers gauge, but in steel many years ago. An old gramaphone needle provides the 'scratch maker'. I think Rod Neep first described something similar possibly in a very early MRJ. If you haven't found anything else before ...

Slightly OT but not that far away. Having read through this thread two thoughts occurred to me. When did the mounted regiments of the British Army cease to move their horses by rail? And in a similar vein, when was the last foxhunt conveyed by rail, I suspect before WW2 but I really have no idea but...

I have both Q1 and light pacifics in need of wheels.

Thanks for the replies with regard to Helvetia leather. The reference to being heavily greased would tie in with it's use as a gasket with the axle revolving in contact with it. I wonder how long they lasted in use. Perhaps they were a regular 'service item' or maybe they were expected to last the l...

Brilliant resource, answered a few questions that had been nagging, such as axlebox dust shields. Only ever found the remains of them when working on 12":1' restorations. Now all I need to know is what Helvetia leather is; does this refer to the country of origin do you think?

Tony Comber

After a major rebuild and refresh the Glevum Group will be giving Brinkley it's first outing fully assembled in it's 38' length at the Lydney Model Railway Show. Since it appeared in the pages of Model Rail two baseboards have been scrapped and the loco shed area redeveloped on new and longer boards...

Steady on Philip, A trip down memory lane, the Sundeala works (recycled newsprint) and Weyroc. I lived not far from the Weyroc factory, usually referred to as the 'Airscrew' on account of their production of propellers, especially during wartime. The company was actually called Airscrew-Weyroc Ltd. ...

Allan, Find yourself an old tin and try spraying that. Other options include something from the trays second hand dealers have at shows, often under their stall or a no longer wanted model. I used the tin that Boots used to sell meths in for over twenty years but any tin or old model will do. Stop w...

A couple of friends and myself have recently bought toggle latches of this type sold on ebay. As you can see they are adjustable which means that when fitted the pressure exerted between adjoining baseboards can be adjusted. I have a layout with 'standard' toggle latches, but that requires the appli...

When the MMS resistance unit was developed the electrodes were from the carbon arc unit that came with my arc welder. Subsequently a box of the electrodes was bought from a welding supplier. Eileen's still sell them in 4, 5 and 6mm diameter.

Tony Comber

Gareth I did one years ago after buying a Dapol, as it was then, body. I used a Branchlines chassis but modified for split axle pick up. Whatever you do you will need to research your intended loco very thoroughly as there are innumerable variations. I chose an ex-Isle of Wight loco so had to alter ...