sub39h

Hi everyone, So I’ve only recently remembered that early Mk2s had different widows with the two sliding vents rather than just one. Is anyone able to tell me which coaches had these windows please, and if any of these types of coaches were still in regular use in the late 1980s/early 1990s please? Also is anyone able to detail the underframe differences between Mk2, Mk2A/B/C please? Thanks for your help!

Are you able to elaborate on the differences between the underframes on Mk2a/b/c please?

More great work mate, well done. I still have a pile of your etches waiting to be used. Did you ever get around to casting up underframe components? I’m sure I’ve asked you this before but how have you glazed your Mk2C please?

I believe it is the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) in the Dettol that strips the paint. No other cheapo disinfectant has it in I don’t think. You’re better off buying IPA neat off eBay etc I think.

Thanks I didn’t appreciate that the networkers were built by different manufacturers. In 4mm/ft tho I feel the Hornby version is close enough and I don’t fancy selling body parts on the black market to get hold of Bachmann 166s to chop up!

I’m trying to convert a pair of 168/1s into a 168/0 and a 172/1. The Networker cabs will be grafted onto one pair of the driving ends to give me 168/0 ends which fits with the prototype. One of the central cars will have its motor removed to boost it to a 4 car unit, and the two spare driving ends will be converted into the 172. It has been done before: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/36894-Bachmann-170-to-1721-conversion/

Thanks for your reply Dave. I’ve PM’ed you.

They used to have stock of them but I contacted them over the weekend and they don’t have any left.

I’m guessing this has been sent out as a bonus to some accounts. It doesn’t work for me.

Hi all, I’m interested in converting a pair of Bachmann Class 168/1s into a Class 168/0 and a Class 172. In the past you could get Hornby 466 cabs as spares but not anymore and the units themselves seem to command strong money on eBay. Apparently MTK used to make a kit of the 466 but I can’t even seem to find a photo of the kit and it’s not listed on Phoenix’s website. Are there any other easily available sources of Networker cabs please? Thanks all, happy modelling.

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any spare networker cabs please? Condition not important but must be complete. Thanks

To my eyes the profile of the Hornby Mk2E matches the Bachmann Mk2/Mk2A very nicely indeed. Once the solebar issue is corrected as described above you can easily put Hornby Mk2Es and Bachmann Mk2As in the same rake, though the grey of the blue/grey livery is too light on the Hornby example imo.

Thanks for your comparison Brian. I’m glad I managed to pick up all the Hornby Mk2Es I need for £12.50 in the clearance sale. The Bachmann ones undoubtedly look better but not 4x better than the Hornby ones which with your reasonably simple fettling seem perfectly reasonable.

What an excellent thread. Love your shed, there was so much potential and you seem to have realised it all in your layout. Well done!

Hi all, I have a few Lima/Limby Class 101s that I wish to detail up. My main stumbling block is understanding and acquiring the correct buffers. Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of some replacement buffers please? If there were loads of types i’m looking for LMR units in the late 80s/early 90s. Thank you

The 62L Really Useful Boxes are getting hard to come by now. I was looking for more and managed to come across 3 for 2 on Really Useful Boxes at Robert Dyas. That works out at about £6.66 for the 62L box (£19.98 for 3). If you spend over £50 you also get free delivery at the moment, and I got 1% cash back from Top Cashback. Shameless plug - if any of you happen to sign up to Top Cashback (it is great and there really are no catches) I’d be appreciative if you could sign up via my referral link! https://www.topcashback.co.uk/sub39h. Since signing up in 2014-ish I’ve earned over £1k in cash back for stuff I would have bought anyway. Happy modelling!

I had no idea they closed their shop. I used to visit it a lot when I lived in the Midlands. Fantastic place it was with great staff. OP I'm sure there is a legitimate reason this has all happened.

Kernow, Derails and Gaugemaster would be on my list

You can cut the webbing of straight points and gently bend them. Might be a way of squeezing another road in?

I think the key to a big project like a loft layout is building one loop first and getting trains running early and then add from there.

Hornby track and Peco set track are exactly the same sizes and can be used completely interchangeably. Peco track is cheaper, more reliable and made in the UK. It is a no brainer on which to choose.

It is two wagons. But £45 each for a slab sided wagon with hardly any need for detail? I don’t mean anyone any ill intention - I hope they fly off the shelves and Kernow make a whacking profit because the hobby needs that. But I absolutely cannot justify that sort of price. Others can and will and I hope there are enough of them.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1049904

You can get the trapezoidal shape 62L one for £6.99 at Wickes. I bought a load a few months ago of the 62L at £10 for 2!