Robert Shrives

Hi Gang, At Warley Show were a number of HST trainset packs with 120 and 132 mm rad curves and PWM controller £149.50 - sold out at show ! Importantly were the prototype pack of 5 coaches inc buffet - TRUB as the extension pack - retail possible £80, Reason being the buffet car to include a third powered chassis ! The printing was great with the Inter-city 125 legible..... All need now is a 50 and mk2s or similar and the Bath Spa layout could take off! I prefer the idea of the bit of straight track between box and middle hill tunnels- the even for Brunel over scale tunnel mouths would look great ! Robert

hi gang 26040 arrived today, lovely model and great runner . Bits bag has two ploughs! ,headcode discs, magnetic couplers, dummy Dapol buckeyes hoses, dummy scew and MU cables. To watch however is that ND145J is a green D5326 with small yellow panel and very nice too! but not as shown in cat where it is a 26003 in blue. Unannounced change it seems but good for green diesel period modellers. Logical as it makes for two green and two blue releases. Robert

Hi nothing spoken about FGW at open day and I do not recall any on shelves- but the happy scrum buying did prevent super close checking. ND122J VT set now in paws, quick internet trawl shows both PC 43094 and 43104 correct for 2001 VT era. - less namelate on 43104! coaches are TS42322 and TF 41168. these are again great rendition of livery with a lovely matt dark grey roof - might be VT dark grey but better than gloss black seen on 00 offerings! As expected run very well . I will have to look at the options on the various extra yellow some power cars got just to vary the stock! Get them while you can ! Robert Shrives

Hi gang, latest VT HST pack here - well at postie but he did try to deliver today ! Dapol Dave has reported on Dapol club N group that MK3s are around corner with WSMR on display at openday last week and noted that the pretendolino artwork proved for production - which means unless a rocket under chinese production rates and some airfreighted that they will miss Warley, but perhaps some will have arrived. Given HST has broken cover ! who knows !! Robert

David , I am sure that Klear has seen a change in make up and current stock might be a problem, perhaps greater and better minds can advise on what to look for? Like the work done and certainly 4 intermediates on delivery would suit me. And given my luck I am sure to finish in time for Dapol to get finger extracted ! Robert

Hi At Dapol open day on saturday suggestion was weeks away with two containers , one in UK at docks and other on seas so hopefully some will arrive intime for Warley - but which was not a given... Openday for members had some good offers on remainng stocks but mK3 coaches good selection of eXec livry and newly arrived XC stock but very few Grand Central and not that many EMT. Boxed HST sets had just a fist full of XC sets and GC sets but reasonable numbers of others - well 10 or 12 boxed so dont hang about. Robert

This is an automatic notification to inform you that we have processed your order for the following items: 1 * Dapol Model Railways NC226B Mk3 1st class coach 'Cross Country Trains' @ £17.00 each = £17.00 1 * Dapol Model Railways NC227B Mk3 2nd class coach 'Cross Country Trains' @ £17.00 each = £17.00 Robert

Hi gang, Rails of Sheffield and Hattons now showing XC First class coach in stock . Images shown - This correctly the TCC with two windows overprinted in window side colour black and yellow first class stripe over 5 windows only. This being the best way to quicly provide at normal viewing distance the catering car ( trolley stores) on the XC set. TCC - Trailer catering composite - my translation anyway! yes ordered one as well! FWIW Railtec have done a set of coach numbers to allow renumbering TS and to give rail alaphbet continuity on set includes TGS , TCC and TF numbers to do - and very good they look in front of me as I type! Robert

Yep Hattons say one blue one on its way ! Re Large logo , 56036 lowest and first in LL, 56047/48/49, second livery carried 56078 as Doncaster enterprise in EWS days went LL 59084 to 56134 were all deiivered in LL logo. 56036, 47,48,49 would be correct on exsisting body others would need no buffer cowl and extended horn cover box. To note of course 56115 - 56134 were Crewe built examples. To get spot on with later grills will take photo -diving on the interweb thingy unless a 56 group expert reads this! Looking forward to all versions Robert

Hi the current catalogue lists the following : 4P-005-000 MK 3 first FGW 411103 "G" 4P-005-001 Mk 3 Second FGW 42083 "E" NC216H FGW Mk3 Buffet #4021 the cat does have typo as the 4 refers to 4mm but this is an 2mm - well N gauge model Second should be standard and buffet model number is off old numbering system , the painted number #4021 is an error but i guess last three digits are 021, poss vehicle 40221 which is a 4 saloon window TRSB even though coach modelled is a TRFM (B)- discussion passim) These all for production by 2013 just leaving TGS for later- but hopefully not that much - Dave ?? Buffets reportedly not too far way so saving up for mine hope this helps Robert

hi Slightly OT but sleepers and BFO and RLO are available as Hurst etches to go on the farish tube shells - and make up really well with a pre painted side glued on. Sure Fox/Railtec/ Precision/Blackham will sort transfers. I have asked Railtec about doing a set of complete XC MK3 trailer numbers to suit the Dapol coaches. Quick tip for light bars - I used "tackywax" to hold strip in roof guides - 5 coaches lamped in 15 minutes no faffing about! Robert

Hi David , that is good work possibly slightly wide on hips as it were but 1000% better than me , of course as Ben mentions the APT that would be for me if I could do the CAD stuff. I will watch your sucess with great interest. Shapeways certainly do good productions Robert Shrives

Hi re pickups - a personal view I found Dapol 73 much better with its later chassis with pinpoints. But as I have converted Farish 24 for 2mmFS I agree ease of current situation. Robert

Mk 3s in XC livery NC227B, car no 42375 arrived today - well three in fact so off to renumber and fit light bars, just need to sort a TGS - Dave ? and it is systems go ! Thanks Dapol Robert

Hi , 4 Cep has wipers for pick up on the power bogie - sorry ! Looks to be same mechanicals for class 20 albeit 20 double power bogie. Green one of mine how has yellow ends! Robert

Hi gang, Hattons advise XC MK3s on delivery - perhaps and this will hurt the plastic money some flood gate in china has opened! A good selection of stuff available post TINGS - shame missed a good platform. Light bars ready so here is hoping postie comes up trumps today Robert

At TINGS load haul and Rail blue on display and looking good ! Robert

Hi All, I agree the Layout stunning first time seen and spot on in every way! I only saw it running well on both days with a good crowd around the layout. Certainly a good crop of layouts and gets my vote for best current scene layout. The layout behind St.Ruths best for a period diesel layout. Best Blue layout was Lowbeck Hall East, a fine 70s blue loco depot in less than 3 foot by half a foot - very full of atmosphere and again a first see. Robert

Hi Just to say new chassis is a loose fit into old body 75mm over block / light contact wipers. 14.5 over coil resistors from footplate width 10.5 over narrow bonnet 15 over cab seats, but these a moulding and can be removed,, you would need to cut off two lugs to get 10.5 mm over whole length- but this does mean losing two body fixing screw locations. with lights having wiper contacts to body fitted CBs for lights easy to insulsate with tape to turn light off - and mod reversible. Little issue is that the new chassis has behind plastic footplate downward angled extensions that foul same parts on cast body. length overall max is 87mm which is 1mm longer than older body - but nothing that cannot be removed. body screws bested accessed with bogies removed- they just pull off . To extract chassis I removed cab moulding and gently levered chassis down whilst using small bladed screwdriver to ease fit of cabend bufferbeam, chassis loose and can then be wiggled/ shaken out of shell. Removing green side lader using scapelblade to ease lugs from shell- leaves 4 X 0.5 holes- little glue on my exanple. If you respray ends maskol the light lenses - well fixed in . I have green one with primered white ends dor a 20020 as shown on strathwood EE book, notes some 47 locos got green with TOPS no doubt some website can tell which! Windows are the smaller "English" version not sure if any ever got cab cutouts for token stuff as most fitted to the larger window "Scottish" version - but I am sure somebody will prove me wrong ! - they often do.... I suppose some good soul will make an etched equalising beam overlay for a bogie mod for variations sake - it might make as a template for drilling out as a thought as the brake rigging is moulded on to the bottom of beam.. hope this helps earlier answers Robert

Hi , to me it looks like bogie tower is off exsisting 24 and forthcoming 31 would use class 47 chassis - within 1mm of correct so unlkely that will make new ground. 4mm guys at work very impressed with model and agreed with couplings off could be any scale which is high praise. I fitted the plough ( singular in bits bag) - best to remove bogie sideframe - clip rear end and remove NEM clip and into the holes neatly clips the plough , might be 1mm forward to clear cab end steps but does look the part.if itted to bogie then use elastic for pipes instead of moulded because they will foul. funnily enough all the 4mm boys said "are they doing a dummy" - also suggested a motorless chassis would be good for a sound chip and speaker , perhaps this as added value twin pack is a line to take to Bachmann at TINGS- I will be. Robert

Hi All just to add the 20 bogies based around exsisting farish practice with wheel back pickups to a dummy would not be as freewheeling as a Dapol sort. Loco runs a treat . Bound to happen as I have just finished refurbishing a pile of old 20 chassis and sorting dummies ! I can see a load of repaints - DRS / etc and just around the corner a GBrF version... Robert

Hi re 56042 I too tried a quick swap - looks like a bit of a trim on 58 bogies should work. to note the bogies on 56042 were prototypes for the 58 and not the same, mind you to my untrained eye look the same in principle. Certainly one i will do on a second blue purchase. robert

Hi Like the weathering - the real engines were smokey joes so not surprised it dirty and trackside grime looks the part. just about to remove Uk grills for TPM Romania on mine ! Robert

Hi gang to add to above, a quick trawl of 56 group web gallery and flikr/ goggle images : For the Doncaster batch 56031 - 56055 with small horn grill and no 2 grill end mods all bar 56042 gained the no 2 end grills. However 56032 only one that matches 56018 exactly. 037/38 had EWS but got splithandrails and square headlamps. 051 got EW&S these three close. 56047 in coal livery before grill mods is a close one for 56013 054 got coal but by time it got grill mods it was in Transrail livery with sq headlamps. yet to be released is the RF livery - well preserved 56040 will be spot on but will need nameplates -Oystermouth.. The above batch shell was the type used for the NSE sponsored engineers pool that ended in Dutch and transrail dutch- these got the grill mods whilst in this livery so a respray option. The body group would best be triple grey transrail which would be possible on 56013 with just a little work. hope this helps Robert

Hi gang, Both 56s been to work and poured over by several 00 modellers and one continental modeller in N. General view was wow! At home both run at well matched speeds and look the part lighting is best seen sofar. As I am DDC not sure about light control on DCC systems. The bogies are well moulded and look the part. The body also is very good with fine details and handrails, etched fitted side grills and moulded roof vents and fans/ grills all at a very high standard. The model is well up the standard of recent releases and will please most people. The running is the best seen with the heavy metal chassis and quietest gears from the Dapol suppliers. What has to be said is that the class is a complex one with 135 locos with very few ending up as they started with variations of buffer beams.side grills, horn covers, cantrail grills, handrail lengths headlamps, split front handrails and three basic cab structures that resulted in variations to the roofdome/window area join. Add to this accident repairs and 56042 that had a short life with a prototype bogie for the 58. The body available now has both oval and round buffers and hopefully these will be matched to loco liveries The front buffer cowl is suited to the uk build as is side grill but these first few are sold as Romanian- they can be better seen as early uk build. the handrails suit all the later variations - but were retrofitted to the rest- not checked early withdrawls . The horn grill, buffer cowl as short lip along top and uk side grill makes the shell fit for 56031- 56055 only . The tooling has the later clean air compartment grills fitted to the no2 end which commenced in mid - late 1995with 56041,68,102 It has to be said that none of the 00 modellers spotted the clean air grills issue. 56018 is infact correct for EWS livery. But as ever the no2 mod will be "wrong" for a few prototypes and thus be wrong for some grill counters! Livery application is very good with clear printing etc. Issues with models not having beasties/ depot plaques/arrows might cause some wailling and nashing but for me I can add transfers and etches to customise. 56013 is infact right for part of its career to be plaque and arrow free. The body shell as before just clips in and has two mini plugs to detach chassis fully - not necessary for DCC chip feeding. The bogies clip in easily as well . The bits bags give hoses and working easy couplers diagram with instructions clearly shows how to fit hoses. In short a great model with lots done for the rtr runners and a great base for the fiddlers and detailers, the coating of grime and just good old filth will keep the weathering clan happy. I look forward to further releases - wallet my cry a bit but a lovely model. It will be good to see the tooling changes made to vary the theme. As noted TPM already do the side grills so the biggest change catered for and tonight I looked at the farish 47 buffer beam moulding on the early release as this has a full cowl and might make a basis for a cut and shunt. Go on buy one or more the class were seen nationwide over their career in some 30 livery variations! For pictures see Andys photo review. Robert