Bristol Barrow Road

Hi Tony, Do you mean the numbers if so a friend printed them using his hand held printer which produces numbers and letters on a cm wide adhesive strip. Not sure of the font but I can ask.

Robin
 
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Thank you all for your kind comments.

Here are a couple more photos, this time of Jubilee 45561 Saskatchewan which has stopped alongside the 11 coach marker to await assistance from the banker for the climb out of Bristol up the bank to Fishponds, which had a maximum gradient of 1 in 60.
The model is a Bachmann Jubilee converted to P4 using Gibson wheels and a Dave Franks tender chassis which has been weathered by my good friend Gerry Beale.20251202_160715.jpg
20251202_160651.jpg
 

Dave Holt

Western Thunderer
The layout really is looking better and better. The ballasted main line track makes a massive difference.
The Jubilee is pretty smart, too.
Dave.
 
I have recently converted a couple of Hornby Black 5 models to P4. I have used a set of Ultrascale wheels on 44805 re-using the Hornby crankpins which enables the direct use of the Hornby valve gear. I had to open out the 3mm ID bearings and enlarge the slots in the chassis but the conversion has been successful.
For the other converted Black 5 45263 I used the 3mm Gibson wheel set conversion which proved slightly easier.

Here is 44805 on a test run. 45263 is on the shed exit road along with other recent conversions Patriot '45519 ' Lady Godiva and Jubilee 45682 'Trafalgar'.
The latter two are Bachmann models with Trafalgar converted to a LFB engine using part of the firebox and boiler from an old a Mainline model. It still needs a coat of BR green. Typically a week after finishing this conversion Bachmann announced a new LFB Jubilee!!!

 
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Purple-haze

Western Thunderer
Robin, us trainspotters on Fishponds,Staple Hill and Maggotsfield (sic) used to groan every time Godiva appeared, and I can honestly say I never saw it in green! always BR sh***!

regards Rog
 
I have a Hornby 61ft 6in Gresley Corridor third which I have just got around to converting to P4. Having watched Tony Wright's video I decided to keep the Hornby body with the lack of tumblehome and keep the body without any modifications other than adding Keen Systems corridor sprung end plates. I removed the bogies followed by the 00 wheelsets and filed material off the inside of the frames to give a 22.3mm clearance. Maygib P4 14mm coach wheels were added to complete the conversion. Finally AJ couplings were fitted and the coach added to the head of a rake of Bachmann Porthole coaches and given a test run behind Bachmann Patriot 45506 'The Royal Pioneer Corps'
 

Captain Kernow

Western Thunderer
Having watched Tony Wright's video I decided to keep the Hornby body with the lack of tumblehome and keep the body without any modifications
Another very nice piece of footage, Robin, thanks for posting. I sympathise and agree with your pragmatic decision regarding the tumblehome on the Gresley. I've left it alone as well!
 

45609

Western Thunderer
A lot can be gained visually on the Hornby Gresleys by narrowing the underframe. I’ve done it on a BG. It sounds drastic but isn’t too hard to do as the plastic used on the underframe is quite soft and takes solvent based glues. Larry Goddard documented this a long time ago on RMweb but I think it’s long since disappeared.

Cheers…Morgan
 

LarryG

Western Thunderer
I narrowed the underframes by neatly cutting off the solebars with a craft knife, narrowing the floor and then gluing the solebars back on.

I retained some Hornby bodies before embarking on assorted diagrams using etched brass sides after the plastic sides had been removed from the roof and ends.

Narrowing the floor might not be good idea if modelling EM and P4 gauges...
 
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