D1030western musketeer

Lovely pics of westerns there. It does seem the Dapol western could be sold out before even being released,pity we cant get swindon/crewe to take the huge demand. richard.

Sliding cab windows and opening cab doors and working fans,know thers a thought in wishing. Knowing what work is needed to re model the Heljan version,yes i agree i would,nt want to dream of having hacking into a Dapol one. richard.

Atleast it has proved its not all quite on the western front and with Heljan again in there new releases getting a paint sceam wrong on 1030 and with farish going ahead with another old timer in 1015 the Dapol western cant come quick enough. richard.

Query. i have seen that Dapol have mentioned D1005 western venturer in blue to be modelled. She was i understand another hybrid in having lossed headboard clips from one end is this to be modelled. I have also noticed that D1045 western viscount is to be released as a weathered commisioned loco,and another detail of having a set of differant style windscreen wipers as having one at the top and the right one at the bottom from inside cab view.Little detail yes but highly noticed. Heljan made a mistake in adding headboard clips to all there hymeks in which the 1st 30 or so nether carried them so thought although may have been mentioned elsewhere about these highlights on a newer built model of the western. richard.

I still have that westerns record made by 2 members of a pop group and a classic. In my records of the summer 75 i remember the day it snowed for about 5 seconds and was again at old oak common in which played host to 1013/1069/1011/1063/1072/1012/1026/1022 and 1070 and hymek 7029 was still there. On all my visits to old oak in 75 D1026 was seen on every visit and alas on my 1st visit to swindon works may 76 was there having her fuel tanks dropped and sadly 1027 was being cut and 1050 just had cabs left.D1054 made up for the sadness of that day with haulage back to london. westerns on the line dump that day 24th may 76 were. 1030/1046/1047/1016/1057/1064/1025/1012/1040/1027cut/1069/1059/1055/1026/1067/1006/1050cabs/1031/1003/1035/1011and 1034. richard.

Again many thanks for all your imput and great photos and always cant get enough especially also ones off the beaten track. richard.

Thanks for your input guys and great pics that bring the memorys back. Its only fair for me to share my memorys. Although a western class 52 fanactic since the days i 1st see one i was actually born and throughout my life to date brought up around the eastern regoin,born hitchin/lived just outside biggleswade and now peterborough. I have regretted since that due to this and brought up in a poor family that i did,nt see all the westerns and like some nether had a camera until 1976. MY 1st sightings were infact on the midland my 1st D1030 at bedford midland rd 1973 followed by D1023/D1036 and D1045 at bletchley on stone workings in 1974. It was time for a visit to paddington and on a visit there with the youth club 15th april 74 1033/1046/1066/1029/1044/1015/1001/1009 and 1067 showed up in a space off 4 hrs. I aimed to step up my visits to london as pocket money of 2 quid got me that far. My 1st visit to old oak 22/3/75 i saw my 1st hymeks although by then all withdrawn with 7011/7016/7017/7018/7022/7026/7028/7029 and 7093 still there. Throughout 75/76 my visits to old oak increased and not until 76 i had my 1st western haulage with 1010 paddington-reading and had 1022 back. I can also remember being called to the scene of the wreck off 1055 at wocester and was not a pretty sight and the 1023 running through my village on the western talisman from kings x. Going back D1030 started a love affair and D1011 stays with me forever as still see her in mind sitting at swindon all those yrs awaiting the torch and just a few yrs earlier see her on a top link express out of paddington. memorys. richard.

With all the input from members and enthisiasts helping Dapol produce what could be the western model we have all been waiting for, i call and ask members and enthusiasts to come out of the cupboards and tell us your memorys and pics of this wonderfull beast and give us a well much read. So please lets here your storys and memorys of a muched class. richard

Lastest info i sourced today is now for a april/may release date as missed the last cargo ship delivery due to overload of class 23s and railbuses. May just now wait for a Dapol version.

All this talk and disscusions on the Dapol western has left me in a state of a small boy and must have and at last we may see the model of the year and a model that gives the looks the western deserves.Also i see pics posted off D1048 and wonder if she will ever run again. My days are counting down now with a release date although they all ready seem in huge demand and may sell quickly but is really a case of gimme/gimme as the westerns breath much happy memorys and hats of to Dapol and hope we see the real thing soon. richard.

If dapols western turns out like the class 22 then its going to be a big hit. I have 3 heljans and with a little work can be made into better things.I ditched the brake rigging supplied and did my own so as not to restrict them on sharpe curves.I also filed down the roof shape over the cab and gave them fans and see through walkways and fan grilles.I believe the new batch are being released this month but with an uncertain future on the job front the Dapol version maybe a little late for me unless i sell other stock to finance one or 2 as cad cams yes do look very good and a lot of time and effort has been well mentioned to what could be the model of the year.Although the Heljan western is a great performer they got her wrong and hav,nt listened to the responce and cant see them making any more once dapols version comes out. richard.

A fifty year old diesel at last getting the treament they deserve. Good luck and thanks to all at Dapol on this one. richard.

Un numbered and names has my vote,but question is will i ever get one as by the time they are due out maybe out of work. richard.

Sorry if mentioned,not a film but a kelloggs corn flakes advert using D1013 western ranger on the SVR. richard.

Maybach music to my ears as with the merlin. richard.

Wallet aching and waiting of any likely release date of this beauty. All diesel ahead and may put my heljans ones to bed. richard.

My trio. richard.

Many have faulted the Heljan western but with a little work can be made into a good model.Performance is second to none unless you have the older type wheelsets.As i run dc the only down side is the lights are very dim and needed changing which aint easy. I have over the years had the lima version but is very dated. richard.

Has anyone any step by step photos of any work done on re-profiling the roof visor to the correct shape and any fitment of roof fan and walkways . Would be most handy as dapols version has allready delayed for a few months so need to get my Heljan ones up to scratch. regards. richard.

Agree with what has been said so far. Its hard to believe that the best ever looking diesel has,nt yet been portrayed in all its glory in 00 or n gauge. richard.

I to await dapols offering of a much up to date western although i have 3 Heljan ones gimmicks like no see through fan grills are a must in my eyes but cant see this appearing until next year at the latest.Having seen dapols class 22 up close and personal yesterday then i think things look worth the wait. richard.