Caledonian Railway Association Forum

The commercial realities mean that in future, to prevent rivals stealing a march, an assistant from Rails said to me that models will be kept under wraps till they are at the stage of development shown at Model Rail at the weekend. There seems little way that we as an association can have much input...

I saw the mock-ups of the 812 at Rails of Sheffield's stand at Model Rail today. They look absolutely terrific. It may be a while before the finished models are available but they will be well worth it.

Six-wheeled coaches are a challenge to get to run round curves the originals would not contemplate, so this is a welcome initiative. The wheelbase is a scale 23 feet, the breadth just under 8 feet and the body length 32 feet 5 inches or so. Checking out Mike Williams' magnum opus, the nearest fit se...

I think it might be useful to think about what R-T-R rolling stock we would like with the 812. I would suggest some McIntosh 48' stock - a brake 3rd, a composite and a 3rd. There are a number of ex-Decent Models 45' stock; that can also bought from the Worsley Works for £30 at time. Jim Smillie's 57...

Dave

Thanks for the heads up. I have settled on black for the uniforms. The layout (Shieldinch) will be at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall this Saturday and Sunday, running Caley (with an NB interloper!).

Larry

Dave You have made a superb job of painting Andrew Stadden's figures. They are really lifelike. The station is rather good too. I notice in the third picture you have one of the Caley's 'railway servants', with a dark blue jacket, grey trousers and a buff waistcoat. Was this the standard uniform of ...

Alan The buildings look great. Regarding Lamberton's factory, I stopped off yesterday on my fortnightly pilgrimage to Cliftonhill to count the bricks. The gable end is about 130 bricks high (allowing for my failing eyesight). At 3 inches per brick, this would make it about 32 feet high. It looks hig...

My daughters gave me half a dozen sets for Christmas and I have only now got round to starting to paint them. I can confirm that these are the best 4mm figures I have come across. They are beautifully proportioned and exquisitely detailed. They paint up extremely well and at £1 per figure, as cheap,...

The True Line recently featured Caley notice boards. Sankey Scenics have these in 4mm, at £2.95 plus postage. They also have a few Caley posters on their 'Eastern & Scottish' sheet (same price).

Dave

Great spot. I'm down for two as well. A Jumbo or a 439 would be great, too. With the NB 0-6-0 from Hornby, at last there seems a chance of a range of Scottish pre-grouping locos.

Dave

Great spot. I'm down for two as well. A Jumbo or a 439 would be great, too. With the NB 0-6-0 from Hornby, at last there seems a chance of a range of Scottish pre-grouping locos.

Dave

Your models are superb. I'm just sending off an order on the strength of seeing them.

Larry

David About 30 years ago John Paton gave me some black and white copies of photos of Dunblane station from 1906-13; I have a vague memory of seeing colour versions including the water cranes, which I think were black. You may be able to confirm this; the National Monuments Record of Scotland (Rokeby...

David Thanks very much for clearing this up for me. The photo in Caledonian Cavalcade is quite misleading. I have checked my model of Pickersgill 4-4-0 No 97 and the snifting valve is there clearly. I've checked the dimensions and have made a valve from a biro tube with rounded projections made from...

I recently acquired an unfinished scratch-build 944 class loco. Most of the missing detail I have now added but I am puzzled by two things. The first, relatively minor point is that on what seem to be early photographs, the tanks seem smooth, while on others, including those in LMS livery, there see...

Graham If you are looking to bash Hornby coaches into representations of CR stock, an invaluable source of inspiration is 'Steve's Caledonian coaches & wagon work bench' on RM web. Steve (aka London Tram) takes you through, in detail, how to make 45' and 48' stock from the old Tri-ang GWR clerestori...

If you are talking about plastic kits for rolling stock, I wash them in a solution of washing up liquid and scrub with an old toothbrush, dry off with a kitchen towel and then leave them in the oven at 50' for five minutes or so. I then use a spray primer from Halfords, B & Q or similar. Grey, white...

Dear all

The new coach transfers supplementary sheet is now available from Fox Transfers. The reference number is FRH4503/2. The cost, including VAT, is £11.50.

If there is a good uptake we may be able to persuade Fox to produce a set for goods wagons.

Larry

Dear All

Fox transfers supplementary coach sheet is now available. The code is FRH4503/2 and the price, including VAT, is £11.50. Hopefully, if the uptake is good, Fox will produce more Caley items.

Larry

Dear All

An update: Lynda says the supplementary sheet will be on the next production run, due in the next month.

Thanks to all for their support and comments.

Looking at the plan again, the trailing crossover and the direction of the sidings suggest that the yard was worked only by south-bound goods trains; presumably they would back their train in, sort the wagons, and then depart. I can't see how any northbound train would be able to do this, even with ...

Good news gents

Lynda of Fox Transfers has told me that the supplementary set of CR coach transfers will be included in the next run of sheets with similar colours. She said it may be up to four months away, so there is time to save up. I'll keep an eye open for the new sheet.

Gents The latest communication from Fox is as follows: "As far as the extra items are concerned – if we are just talking about existing items already on the sheets - this would be the most cost effective solution. We can print these to add on to the existing sheets and to buy as separates if require...

Peter Alba Models is alive and well. I had a similar problem last month. The problem is the server that David uses, which seems to store up e-mails for a month or so and then release them in a flood. David was most apologetic. If you have no joy soon, send me a PM and I will give you his mobile numb...

Guys An update from Fox Transfers: "Our waterslide transfers are not digitally produced. They are screen printed. Each individual colour is printed separately and built up in layers to create the final image. This is the authentic and original method which will never be replicated by digital printin...