Good to say hello at Gilling, hope the locomotive build is going well. Great to see some pictures of the chassis of the coach - rarely get to see the detail in this area.

Is there a BR/RCH rule book on this? I vaguely remember hearing that if it was highly flammable/combustible like petroleum it needed a barrier, but things like tar wagons did not. I should go and look up the red solebar/red stripe regulations, but that all changed during the war I think. An interest...

I'm asking this question here because I've been asked a few times and never heard or found an answer that I thought convincing! :-) The question is: Just what were top flap (or "London traders") doors on mineral wagons for? I speculate that they were just for ease of unloading without having to cut ...

I just accepted they would be loose, they're locked in by the knee behind the headstock at the buffer, so even though they'll wag from side to side when you've riveted one end, once you've got the headstock on (as far as I'm concerned) it won't matter.

Anyone tried squaring of the corners of the head stocks? That is building up the corners to hide the curvature of the bent channel. I know Dave did it, for me the build is long enough as it is. Having seen it, it does improve the look of the wagon, but as you can see a lot of the other frame channe...

What is the press tool like? Looks like a spring loaded punch based on the photos. If you're off to Gilling this weekend would you mind bringing it with you? Mine doesn't have eyelets at the moment as it is just the "test" sheet/tarp I made. They do make a real visual difference though, even the fir...

Yes, I should do the same - post some pictures somewhere. What would be a good site to use for this? Yahoo's Flickr? There's a few places that allow you to image upload. As for the Vac cylinder, you're right, no scale fitter with his spanner means it's tough to access and I just fixed it in place a...

Difficult to know if they would have used the full width of the cloth, but the minimum across the body opening of the wagon would have been three strips, with an allowance for the folded over seam, I don't know how wide that would have been. Anyway, I was looking for eyelets, and searching on the ne...

Richard, Some very good info there. You mention yours was made using the Midland Wagons drawing - i presume you are refedring to a sheet. How did you go about this and is it complete with eylets, rope etc? If so what did you used toe "treat" the fabric with? I am inlcined to machine (sewing machine...

I've taken a few build photos, I've been meaning to put some pictures on the web and some other full size photos and information eventually. Dave sent me a separate drawing of the positioning of the vac cylinder that I didn't have with the first kit so you should have that one. I should have worked ...

Another great issue #50 and thanks to everyone who worked on it. I suspect like myself, most members are intimidated about putting pen to paper, most of my knowledge has come from learned members in GL5 so I don't know how I could contribute back. I'd like to see more members work in progress and ma...

Sorry no one has got back to you, the traffic on this forum can be a bit slow but there are some Y4 builders out there in GL5. You will almost definitely see at least one at the GL5 rallies coming up at Gilling if you can make it across. That's probably the best time to discuss any issues with the b...

A tarpaulin reference on the web: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/9-loads/9-tarps.htm He lists book references on the web page: "I found pictures and descriptions of LMS sheets in 'LMS Wagons Vol.2' by R.J.Essery. MR sheets are described in 'Midland Wagons Vol.1' also by R.J.Essery. The SR sheet is...

I think the MMB tank illustrated on this site is the same diagram the kit is based on but I'd need to check my book, either way a few milk tanker pictures here:

http://ray.fotopic.net/c397986.html

Oh, and I forgot, the original LMS 4 wheel (subsequently converted to 6 wheel) currently sitting at Midsomer Norton http://www.sdjr.co.uk/Graphics/homepage/news_stories/desktop_station_3.2.09.jpg And it's a shame Ray Chorely's site is now longer available. Get the archived version here (scroll down ...

There's not a lot of information online about milk tankers that I've found, and they seem to be fairly elusive in books also! The LMS carriages Vol I book is about one of the best, but that's equally as elusive in book form! I have taken some construction photos of both mine and Paul's chassis under...

Nice to see that Dave's posting has got some replies. In answer to Richard's comment about elitism... no GL5 is not elitist, it is just a group of individuals who wish to run 5'' groundlevel trains in a prototypical manner. If you unsure about any spect of operation then please ask the likes of Dou...

I read Doug's article and I have to admit at first reading I didn't distinguish between the GL5 rallies and the "mainline" rally. On first reading I thought Doug was suggesting the equivalent of "it's my ball and I'll take it somewhere else to play with it" but on re-reading it I can see it as more ...