Great British Locomotives Magazine

[Saint Johnstoun]

There's only one down side - I'm going to finish up with all the A4 variants that Hornby were not likely to produce and possibly not now ever to produce! If others do the same then .....???

[D2100]

I have 9 at the moment and am wondering what to do with them.

I know somebody who'll give you £1.50 for them

[Atlantic 3279]

Is that a bid for each one, or for the job lot of nine

[S.A.C. Martin]

Something said on RMweb today piqued my interest:

In which case, you would be able to top Hornby's effort by softening the clothing bend at the front of the firebox. It's much too clinical and defined on this and the Hornby moulding. Plenty of photos of Top Shed-shiny A4's about for you to judge the degree of softness required!

I'm not sure of this - can anyone elaborate or illustrate better as I'm not sure I can see what he means. If it's there and it's a real discrepancy then certainly this is an opportunity to correct it.

[Saint Johnstoun]

I've studied a few photos and I cannot see a lot wrong - problem with the photos is that being in the place it is, the reflections can distort the appearance of the contour line, and I suspect that over the years the clothing panels weren't always folded to the same radii! The fold on some looks sharper than others!

[earlswood nob]

Afternoon all
At long last the magazine has appeared in Reigate. We always have been a little behind the times. I'm sure there are some locals who believe we stll have a king
I bought a couple, just in case. I don't have a double chimney A4, and Capercaillie would be a good model.

Earlswood nob

[Kestrel]

When I said "I have 9 at the moment and am wondering what to do with them." I didn't mean they were for sale and besides, why would I take £1.50ea when I paid £2.99ea for them? I've run out of Asdas although I could go to WH Smith's in Chester but that's being greedy. The A3 and beyond are going to be £8.99ea so I won't be getting 9 of those.

I mean 'what to do with them' ie the conversions. They might end up in the TO BE DONE box and stay there for twenty years, I don't know. I need to dig out my green books and have a read but the cricket season starts in 7 weeks so I can't see much being done then. Looks like next winter at the earliest.

[drmditch]

Just to say that WH Smith in Durham market place still had several left this morning. I didn't see them last week, because they had them in a different place, not near the other magazines or the tills. Fortunately the staff were very helpful.

My plan, when it reaches the top of the list, is for SNG in post-war LNER blue with stainless steel lettering.

Currently I have :-
'Seagull' in pre-war LNER blue with valances. (New Hornby)
'Mallard' in 1946 black numbered 22. (New Hornby)
'Miles Beevor' in 1947 LNER Blue (Old Bachmann with re-worked tender) I may use this split chassis (which runs very well) as a donor for the new conversion.

Anyway, tasks for the future! Now back to my J21. Some engines have to earn the real money while all these big things flash up and down the main lines!

[D2100]

When I said "I have 9 at the moment and am wondering what to do with them." I didn't mean they were for sale and besides, why would I take £1.50ea when I paid £2.99ea for them?

Just a wee joke Kestrel, hence the winking smiley ...

[Kestrel]

For 9, now read 15. I went to Asda last night and 6 more had been put on the shelf. Being an A4 addict since childhood, I had to have them. It's a pity there aren't 15 chassis to go with them.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all
At this rate, Kestrel, you'll end up with all the class modelled.
Remember Herring Gull/Sir Ralph Wedgwood was destroyed in a bombing raid, so you'll need 35 locos.

Earlswood nob

[Tom F]

Good morning all
At this rate, Kestrel, you'll end up with all the class modelled.
Remember Herring Gull/Sir Ralph Wedgwood was destroyed in a bombing raid, so you'll need 35 locos.

Earlswood nob

Think you mean Gadwall/Sir Ralph Wedgewood was destroyed at York.

[Saint Johnstoun]

Successfully Devalanced one of the GBLC bodies yesterday. This will become Seagull as running in the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges.

[Kestrel]

Good morning all
At this rate, Kestrel, you'll end up with all the class modelled.
Remember Herring Gull/Sir Ralph Wedgwood was destroyed in a bombing raid, so you'll need 35 locos.

Earlswood nob

It's more than 35 Earlswood, 13 of them were renamed, one of them twice, so that's 49 plus the various colour changes. The 'silvers' must have had 8 colours (silver/green/blue/black/blue/purple/blue/green) making 32 for them alone, and then there's the bodies required for the P2s and B17s. With all these we're getting close to 100. Somebody somewhere must be doing that but I'm not.

Sunday afternoon
OMG. 15 is now 23. Why doesn't Asda stay shut? There were three more on the shelf but I ran out of money.

[earlswood nob]

Oooops again
I really should look things up before I post.
Gadwall was the first A4 to be renamed Sir Ralph Wedgwood, and Herring Gull was renamed Sir Ralph Wedgwood after the first was destroyed.
I prefer the bird names over the people names. My solitary A4 is an old Wills kit with a single chimney and built as 4486 Merlin. The original Hornby chassis has been replaced by a Comet A3 chassis. The magazine A4 will probably become Capercaillie which was built with a double chimney and non-corridor tender, and IMHO is a beautiful name, but I don't think they were good flyers. However, I'm sure they were good to eat.
Earlswood nob