On the Guild forum, Technical committee member, Nick Dunhill is chronicling his latest superb builds of a pair of NER W Class Tank Engines 
 He has reached the point of detailing the 'backheads' and I was really taken with the way that he had modified the gauge glass castings.


 by nick dunhill, on Flickr



 by nick dunhill, on Flickr



 by nick dunhill, on Flickr

 by nick dunhill, on Flickr

All images copyright Nick Dunhill and posted here with his kind permission.

After an enquiry as to where he got the 2mm square perspex rod, Nick very kindly sent me a piece but warned that his supplier had gone out of business and that his stock was dwindling after giving a few pieces away.

  This prompted me to do a bit of searching until I found some. Sadly like many things for sale online, although the base item wasn't that expensive, the fixed postage was a killer. So I ended up buying 11 meters of the stuff to make it more cost effective. It still worked out at £1 per length (500mm) but I didn't think that too out of the way.

  Should anyone have a need/desire for some, I will be happy to bring some along to Guild shows next year for you at £1 a length. Just let me know nearer the time

Really beautiful Rob.   Hope I can produce something close.  The perspex rod is a good idea.  You also remind me that I really should have a look at the Guild forum.

John

Hi Rob,

Neat idea with the rod. Boiler looks empty though. 2mm square clear plexiglass (acrylic) on Amazon here is $3.66 for a 25cm length.

Nigel

Hi Nigel,

That looks to make £1 for a 50cm length look very reasonable.

Hi Rob,

It does. Point is it's still available.

Nigel

Wow - now that's what I call "fine" scale modelling.  What superb detail.  :shock: :shock: :shock:

I hope you'll be able to show us his finished article Rob.  ;-)

You'll have to do quite a few locos yourself to use up your 11 metres of square rod …………….. :hmm

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Wow - now that's what I call "fine" scale modelling.  What superb detail.  :shock: :shock: :shock:

I hope you'll be able to show us his finished article Rob.  ;-)

You'll have to do quite a few locos yourself to use up your 11 metres of square rod …………….. :hmm

Hi Peter,

I will on both counts. That said I already have 5 meters of it spoken for but I am sure that I will find other uses for it too.