SouthernBlue80s

It seems appropriate to put this here

Some of the 1959 design Transfesa ferry vans which were a common sight into the 80s would be great. https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/ferrytransfesavan1959

An earlier map of the rail network, for any that are interested http://www.lowestofthistory.com/pic/carousel_a0041_b.jpg

Thanks Andi. Does it show the track layout as it was in 1980? I am not sure. I will look into it.

A couple more. Something that shows the track plan at the station end would be good.

I have always wanted to model Lowestoft. That bit next to station in 1980. Pictures of Flickr are limited. These are three I have found so far. Does anyone have any pictures they can post please? so there is a pool of pictures which I or others could use as reference. Photo credits are in the links

Does anyone know if Bachmann will bring out a plated headcode version in rail blue, the everyday loco of the early to mid 80s. Are there any anouncements due? Or if there is a kit, shawplan or similar, to change the domino headcodes 47012? Thanks Photo Awwalker - Flickr

No problem, just get in touch when the time comes and I can post up some pointers on this thread or my thread. For the time being, if you have not already - I would build up a picture file of both bits of stock just to see how dirty or clean they were in real life. And also make sure you have a bit of old stock as a test bed for techniques. (For instance my two 33s are lightly weathered as I remember them usually being pretty clean on the Southern and my two 31s are filthy as thats what they often looked like when I saw them) All the best Steve

Real nice stuff. I am often cursing fidling around with 4mm, so anything that small so well done always impresses me. Steve

Ferry van. I am slowly building up a fleet for an early 80s ferry van working from Dover. I am hoping someone will bring out a decent model of the transfersea vans at some point. Others so far are....

They look spot on. I also did the same with my hoppers too further back in the thread.

A bit of an update. I bought some Hornby coal wagons second hand a while back. £8-£10 each. I'm sure they don't look anywhere as good a the Acurascale ones. But at a distance they are OK with a bit of weathering. I also gave the layout a good vacume today and added bits of static grass. I have also been through my whole loco fleet with a critical eye to see if anything could be improved. The roof of 47436 was too dirty, so I knocked it back to look more like the real thing. Jury is out on the 47 fleet. But a decision coming soon. I have 4 Heljan tubby 47s, weathered with wire handrails and so on 47010 47076 47285 47324 I think I will probably sell them for a token price. I also have Bachmann 47436 above. So new rail blue Bachmanns would sit nicely with that. Initialy 47012 would become 47285 as that was a WR machine I used to see alot Cheers Steve

For me, that is one of the best ever images to appear on this thread.

I currently have a fleet of 4 tubby duffs, I have put alot of work into. I am not sure what to do Has anyone got the old Heljan 47 they can photograph next to the new one for me please? Epecially if it is rail blue, as I would like to compare the yellow ends. It is a lot of money to upgrade them all. I want to see if it is worth it. I can either 1.Keep my tubby duffs, which don´t quite cut it next to my newer models. 2.Upgrade to New Heljan. 3.Upgrade to New Bachmann So a photograph or two comparing the two would be of use to me. Some pictures of the existing tubby fleet

Having had several MK MX5 Eunos and having supercharged them with no internal modification or gearbox work and having left the MX5 world years ago, its interesting to read that they are not what they once were, As back in the day they were massively over engineered.

Hi I know nothing about 2mm. I want to buy track and not build it. There are several manufacturers of it. My layout will be early 1980s British Rail. What is the ´finest´ most detailed track that is off the shelf. Is it peco bullhead? Thank you

It evolved over time. Unfortunately all the pictures were lost in the big outage. It also is 4 boards stuck together. It was 32cm deep but was extended to 42cm deep It is now 240cm long

Thanks, It's one of my Heljan tubby duffs. Very lightly weathered. Soon to be replaced by either a new Heljan or Bachmann loco. My two Hornby 31s might also be retired for new versions.

Class 47285 runs past an empty stabling point light engine. Taken on my camera phone in artificial light but thought it was a nice if not slightly blurred overview of the non yard end of the layout

Crap and muck around the fuel point buffer stop.

I spotted from 1980 until 1990. Being kent based, then lots of trips to Reading and from 1985 based in Bristol... ...Class 20s and high number large logo class 56s were the exotic alien machines. So Bescot holding sidings always felt like the edge of a new mysterious 'northern' class 20 world. Weirdly I saw a pair of 20s at Reading, that was a real pinch myself moment.

My only non rail blue loco. Which doesn't get much of an outing, 56040 Oystermouth with my two Dutch wagons. 56001 is very lightly weathered so 56040 was made a bit gubbier as a contrast. Here she is on the fuel point before collecting two wagons from the yard.

I very much like the way you have done the rusted marks where the name plate once was

My approach is that I see my efforts as a 3d painting, trying to create an atmosphere. So I totaly get where you are coming from. I look forward to your next project Steve

A few pictures taken today, including my new VBA in the foreground. I am still awaiting the Heljan 47 to compare with the Bachmann to see which way to go.