Help required!! (I’m also posting on Facebook) I’ve recently started to build my 5″ Winson (I know, I know – why did I buy it?) GWR 14XX kit which has been in the garage since 1998 awaiting my retirement. Although I have some engineering skills, they do not seem, unfortunately, to be sufficient to overcome the first known problem with this kit of aligning crossheads with the slide bars and stretcher. I’ve had several goes at emerying the crossheads/slide bars but still can’t get one of them right – and, frankly, a bit scared of filing too much material away. The revised stretcher bar never materialised and I’ve been quoted £125 for a replacement! So, is there anyone out there that would be prepared to move this forward for me – I’ll happily pay for time/labour as it will be great to be able to progress this.

Without playing my violin too hard, we’ve got a very sick daughter recovering from a major operation and most of my mental/physical energy is being used in supporting her convalescence over the next 6 weeks – I’d get a real boost if I can find someone to sort out this problem so I can move on to the next stage – I fear there’s bound to be more “issues” with this kit as I go through the stages!

PS Many thanks to the members who responded re the cab/smokebox number plates – these have now been made and are ready to go on my engine(s)