FiftyFourA

Well no, I am NOT taking the rise actually. I normally model in 7mm gauge and 5" gauge so I do not keep abreast of 4mm as I only 'dabble' in this particular scale and while I was aware that Oxford were working on a J27 I was not aware how far advanced it was never mind it being 'out' already. I am very sorry that I am not 'in the loop' and humbly apologise for my ignorance. Rest assured, I will not be bothering you, or anyone else, on this forum again. I just wonder though, what anyone new to the hobby will think of such a condescending reply.

This looks a bloody good loco for around £90 and one much needed for us of a more north easterly religion, as distinct from that one to be found at the other end of England. Can I ask two questions on the EM conversion please - 1. how deep will that noggin have to be to cover the 'hole' in the wheel center ? (which really means how much of the wheel is left on the axle when you move the wheels out) 2. what size axles have Oxford used? Are they the 2mm suggested in an earlier post on the noggins? (in case I decide to use Markits wheels instead). Does anyone know if Oxford are going to do the other variations of P3/J27 - for example boiler/dome/safety valve/superheated/smokebox/lubrication/tender coal rails/tender chassis (correct wheels for saturated engines!). Glad I have a copy of Willie Yeadon's volume 47B

I presume that the comments you have been getting on this thread have given you some idea of how this layout is being talked about, but just in case I think I should tell you that over the last two weekends in the north east (England that is) I have attended two show, one helping out a trader and one as an exhibitor of 7mm 1970 blue diesels... and your train set appears to be on every enthusiasts lips, even those who don't 'do' diesels or O gauge. Many are saying they will be going to Warley (after never going in the past) JUST to see your train set. Like I said in my earlier post, I feel sorry for anyone else taking their 'pride and joy' to Warley next year . Peter

Simon - I have just found this thread after a comment on the GOG forum (I don't use RMWeb much these days). I have spent the last few hours reading your posts (in between fixing the various brass bits onto a JLTRT class 24 bogie) and to say I am impressed is the biggest understatement of the year. Its not just the sheer scale of the thing (pun intended) that impresses, it's the attention to detail that you put in to each part of the layout (the point rodding/locks etc are just one example). In my 55+ years of railway modelling I do not remember a more inspirational undertaking. There have been a few, 'North Shields', 'Hornsey Broadway', 'Pendon' 'Marthwaite' and others, that fall into that category, and this is 'up there' with them. Sorry if you are embarrassed by this, but it your own fault for building something so special. I normally give Warley a miss - not really my 'cup of tea' - but I AM going next year and I might even make a weekend of it. I might need that time to see all 180 ft of the thing! I already feel sorry for the other layout owners next year . Please keep up the excellent work to inspire the rest of us. Peter

A word of warning about these coaches, the first batch (according to Dapol's sales admin manager) are to be as per the original, that is without the raised beading around doors and windows that BR had to use to rectify the corrosion problems that plauged the early life of these coaches. The second batch WILL have these mods. That means you need to be careful about which ones you buy. Anyone modelling the 'blue/grey' era (certainly anything in the 70s) will need to wait for the second batch. The 'blood & custard' should be OK with the first batch and I suppose you can pick 'n' mix with the maroon ones . That said, they do look nice and hopefully will be more accurate than the Heljan offering and the 'close coupling' looks to be an advance (although I have my own hook & bar system that ensures this anyway) and at £199 per coach they are also cheaper than Heljan - win-win