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rodney21

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Everything posted by rodney21

  1. Thanks again for the replies. I've gone for the ProtoNeo ones. I'll give them a try.
  2. Thanks very much for these helpful responses. It’s enlightened me because I was unaware of the ProtoNeo brand. I'm leaning towards the ProtoNeo plates, the attraction being the pre-cut nature and the self adhesive aspect. This will massively assist me because I’ve had disasters in the past with cutting from sprues and filing, albeit these have been 4mm. And, who hasn’t mucked up application of a plate with adhesive creeping out. Question - with the ProtoNeo plates how strong is the adhesive? Just thinking about renumbering and renaming. Has anyone removed any that they have applied? in 4mm I would build up a fleet, whereas in 7mm, due to space as well as cost, I’d like to periodically renumber locos to add variety. Thanks all.
  3. Not sure if this has been discussed before (I can't find anything on here) so apologies if it has. I'm branching out from 4mm to 7mm and would like some advice/opinions please. What 'Modern Image' 7mm nameplates would be the best in the opinion of you 7mm modellers? I'm wanting some for class 50, and for Class 52 'Western' locomotives. In 4mm I've used Fox, Shawplan, CGW and Modelmaster (Jackson Evans) over the years and settled on the opinion that Shawplan currently are the best. Are there any other manufacturers who I haven't mentioned who may be larger scale only and thus I would be unaware of them due to my lack of knowledge of 7mm? I'd like to take into consideration quality, cost, delivery times, but, most importantly, how easy they are to use in terms of cutting off the sprues or cleaning up the tabs form the sprues, or indeed if any come already prepared and ready to fit. Thanks in anticipation of your anticipated helpful comments.
  4. In the mid-seventies there were two regular daily services from Cleethorpes to Sheffield where the DMU hauled a parcel van. From memory, one left at about 4pm and one at about 6pm. I'm fairly sure one went via Retford and one went via Doncaster. The '08' shunter came from Grimsby Town each morning and positioned the vans at the buffer stop ends of the platforms (usually plats 2 and 4). The incoming DMU buffered up to the van for the shunter (person) to couple the van up to the unit (screw coupling and vacuum pipe). The van could be almost any 4-wheeled van going, but usually was a BR CCT or a SR CCT or PMV but occasionally a BR SPV (ex-fish van) . I do seem to recollect also seeing a LNER type CCT, and a six-wheel stove van but both of these types would have been close to withdrawal at this time. Bear in mind at the time, 99% of services here were Lincoln based Derby 114's or Cravens 105's (lightweight). Very occasionally a Derby lightweight or a Met-Cam would rock up. I am also aware that if the incoming DMU was a 'lightweight' (105 or 108) they could only take a tail load if the van was a SR wooden bodied CCT or PMV type. Presumably this was because the BR type CCT being steel would be too heavy?. I have known a BR CCT waiting in the platform and the incoming unit being a Craven and the driver refusing to take the van out. Not sure therefore if this was official instruction or just driver beligerence, but it should be noted that the Albion-engined 114's had significantly more horsepower than any of the lightweight types. The Cravens units were not exactly know for their sprightliness so a tail load must have affected their acceleration performance. The trailing load was always referred to locally by railway staff as a 'swinger'. I can only speculate that this was because the van didn't half swing about behind the DMU, especially on jointed track. Us local enthusiasts took great delight in travelling at the rear of the unit watching the van bouncing and swinging about behind through the trailing drivers cab especially going round the tight reverse curves in the vicinity of Grimsby Docks. The effect was more marked if the unit was a Cravens which bounced about plenty enough when running without the tail van. What I don't know is how the vans got to Cleethorpes because I'm not aware of any incoming DMU services with a 'swinger'. If there had been it would have needed the '08' to shunt the van to release the DMU. I can only speculate that the vans arrived in Cleethorpes on the newspaper train from Manchester every morning (several BG or GUV's with a couple of passenger coaches) which then retuned as a passenger service to Doncaster or Sheffield (varied over time) and thence empty to Manchester Red Bank. These trains are well documented and were odds on for a class 40 but have seen 31's, 47's, 25's, 37's and peaks. The other possibility is that the vans were brought to Cleethorpes from Grimsby by the '08' every morning- there was a mail/parcel train into Grimsby daily which left to return to (I believe) Peterborough at about 7pm each evening and the stock was stabled all day waiting to go out from platform 3 (the platform now used for EMR Lincoln/Leicester services). At one time I'm sure this conveyed a TPO coach of some description. The vans may have been detached from this train when it arrived at Grimsby. Another local oddity was that the fueling point was supplied by TTA type wagons tripped by the '08' into Cleethorpes and these were often stabled at the buffer stop end of platform 6. Platform 6 was out of use by the seventies as being unsafe as it had very dodgy platform edging. For many years a 'steam heat pre-heating boiler van' occupied the platform, but tanks could be seen either in front of the van or in front of the buffers when the van was removed. I have seen DMU's used to drag the tank from the platform to the fueling point for emptying, then pushed back to the platform again. Hopefully some useful information here and I would be delighted if anyone can add to it or correct anything my memory has muddled!
  5. Interesting comment about haulage capacity. Personally I've never had issues with Bachmann Peak haulage capability. Like I said all the ones I have manage twelve coaches on the level absolutely fine. I have an under baseboard storage yard and the rise is about eight inches over about 20 feet and they manage ten coaches up that no problem. So, I see no advantage in the Heljan version being any better.
  6. I know no model will ever satisfy 100% of collectors/modellers BUT - I note that the front of the roof above the front cab windows looks too deep. I wonder if this is associated with the roof curve on the sides starting too high. For me it just doesn't make the face of the loco look correct. As has correctly been pointed out the roof curve should be lower because the cab doors definitely had a curved top portion. What's everyone's opinion as to if Bachmann 'Peaks' will be consigned to scrap lines (or auction sites) in favour of the Heljan variety? For me, I see no need or desire to replace my fleet of Bachmann 'Peaks' with these Heljan offerings. Can anyone say they would and why? Surely the only plus is the weight and pulling power, but Bachmann's offering will handle 12+ coaches up decent inclines which surely is more than sufficient for most layouts?
  7. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/71225/K9965-The-Sapper-Cargowaggon-Pack Kernow newsletter has the Bachmann 47 'The Sapper' and a EFE Cargowaggon (unbranded/weathered) for £149.99. That's ten quid less than the usual price for the loco alone. The cheapest I can find the Cargowaggon is about £46. So, to get ANY Bachmann 47 for a shade over a ton is an absolute bargain ( a ltd edition in an atractive livery to boot IMO)
  8. '''Finding this discussion on the headcodes all a bit London-centric! There are other places you know. ''' I suppose the suggestions about destinations are 'London-centric is because for 95% of their working lives they worked between London and Reading with common visits to Oxford, Newbury/Bedwyn and Basingstoke (Post Thumpers). I would suggest we will see a wider geographical spread of destinations if/when Bachmann may do a Regional Railways set. ps. not wanting to be pedantic but I am aware there are places outside London - I do actually live significantly north of Peterborough but just happen to model WR based loosely on Reading.
  9. Thanks for your replies. Very helpful. I find the choice of destinations curious for the blue/grey versions. Whilst no doubt working these services, I would have thought something far more regular for 117's would be Paddington to Reading or Slough, whilst for the 121 either a Thames valley branch (Slough/Windsor would be an obvious one) or Paddington to Oxford line where these often supplemented 117's or stood in for a missing 117 power car. Also find the choice for the NSE slightly curious. Whist no doubt working these services occasionally, certainly in NSE days 101's and 104's supplemented the 119's on their last legs more than 117's did. Again I would have thought destinations from Paddington to Slough, Reading, Oxford, Newbury or Bedwyn would have been more appropriate. Do we know how easy it might be to change the blinds?
  10. Really sorry if the answer to this question is elsewhere, but if it is I can't find it! Does anyone know what the destination displays are on the Bachmann 117's and 121's? The only reference I can find is that one end of the NSE 117 is 'Reading'. I could really do with knowing what they all are but especially the Blue/Grey versions of both the 117 and 121. Thanks if anyone can help. Rodders
  11. Agreed. Works for me too. It's absolutely fine. As a rule of thumb I scan the messages for a link. If there's no link I assume there's no bargain to be had. For me this works 95% of the time. If its a response to a bargain then the header usually gives a clue. The only thing I detest is someone posting that they got the last of a 'bargain'. I don't see the point in boasting and find it as irritating as being rude or abusive. Lets all be polite and appreciative and I'm sure it will work for the majority of us. At the end of the day it's akin to those who complain about TV programmes when there's an OFF button - If you don't like the thread you don't have to read it.
  12. I'm not entering a slanging match otherwise I become as guilty as others. I completely agree with you that it is a forum and forums are for discussing things BUT a topic is also a topic and a bent chassis do not constitute bargain. Suffice to say that the original poster brought it to everyone's attention that what appeared to be a bargain MAY be a substandard item. If it needs further discussion open a new TOPIC.
  13. The original bargain hunters thread was closed down by the moderator because it kept digressing. Can someone explain to me why bent loco's are bargains? Please open new threads if something you want to say isn't advice on a BARGAIN.
  14. I find it interesting that myself and others get slagged of for mentioning the prices of MODEL RAILWAY ITEMS yet others, even moderators, are getting sucked in to ridiculous comments about call-girls. Can the moderators therefore please explain why it is OK to talk about call-girls but NOT about the prices of our hobby please??
  15. Would love a 4-TC, but at this price - no chance! A 4-TC is nothing more than 4 coaches so would not expect to pay above £160. I base this on purchasing 4 x coaches at £50 each (at exorbitant current pricing!!) and getting a discount for buying four at the same time (-20% ish). If this had been a motorised unit it still would not be justified. (I notice the new versions of the 4CEP are similarly priced so I will not be procuring any more of those either!) Well done on the selection and good luck to Kernow on this one but sorry no matter how much I desire one I cannot justify the cost. There is little wonder we struggle for new blood in the hobby and as a railway modeller of some 45+ years of experience I feel it is perhaps time change hobbies. I fully understand why the prices are skyrocketing, but, I can't fully understand those who are happy to pay the prices. There must be an awful lot of folk who earn substantially more than I do and have much more disposable income.
  16. Classix T - There was an ideal reason to model a 50 at Peterborough. 50030 worked a Cleethorpes to Kings Cross service train in 1982 This came about as the inbound working loco was failed, and with no available loco at Immingham the next place to call upon was Donny. They had a 50 waiting to go back to the WR (which was usually sent south-westwards via a loco change of a NE-SW working at Sheffield), The 50 was sent light from Doncaster to Cleethorpes to work out to KX on the train which left Cleethorpes at about 17.40 hrs. Presumably once in the capital it would have worked back to the WR, perhaps to OOC. I believe the reason Immingham couldn't supply a loco was because they didn't have anything with ETH as by this time kx-Cleethorpes services had gone over to Mk2 Air-cons. See this - http://www.phantasrail.co.uk/archive_class_50.htm
  17. Bachmann used to supply a pack of sprung oval buffers (I think the cat no. was 36-031) which I think contained either 6 or 8 and which I believe were a straight replacement for the ovals fitted to the very first batch of 37's (eg Tre Pol & Pen and Loch Rannoch etc). I'm not sure they will be the same as the ovals fitted to later model 37's and obviously no good to replace round buffers. I have also successfully used these in the past to replace Deltic buffers, by removing the buffer from its shank (be careful not to loose the spring!) and used them to replace some Heljan loco buffers. As far as I'm aware, like all Bachmann accessory packs, they seem to have supply issues and drift in and out of stock for many months at a time. I needed some recently and was told Bachmann are saying Nov/Dec delivery. (The retailer didn't say which year that was!!). They are handy to have in the spares box and whilst not a brilliantly scale item they used to be very reasonably priced, though with the recent price rises I suspect they may not now be good value and you may be able to source better quality cast, but unsprung, items cheaper. I'm not a purist by any means and I once very successfully used cast oval buffers meant for a 'Duchess' on a Lima 37. They captured the chunky look of the 37's buffers very well to my eye. Good luck!
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