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scottystitch

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Everything posted by scottystitch

  1. Re your return loop for the locomotives going off and on shed, would it be better to use a cassette system instead? It would mean that A) they wouldn't have to come back on shed in the same order that they left and therefore B) you wouldn't have to actually fiddle i.e. remove and replace on the track, thereby minimising handling of the model. Just a thought
  2. Am I right in thinking the difference between pre and post TOPS is a panel on the side and the wagon number? (excuse my ignorance.) If so, even though I'd be looking for pre-tops and that gets my vote, if it was the difference between getting the wagons made or not, I'd be okay with post TOPS and modifying the markings myself, along with an un-healthy dose of weathering and filth.
  3. When I expressed interest on the website, I got confirmation on the screen that the order had been received.
  4. I've expressed for a single and all four four-packs in N. This is, however, dependant on their livery, etc., being suitable for early-mid 60s transition period.........
  5. Good progress, and with the platforms and buildings mocked up/in situ, the overall effect is apparent. It screams WHL.
  6. Thanks for the update and pictures, Anthony, always a pleasure seeing your progress. Looking forward to seeing the viaduct in all its splendour.
  7. Many thanks for the description, Roy.
  8. First of all Tom, I agree with much of what you've said. Presumably, though, making room for the speaker has altered the weight of the model, so I wonder if there is a reduction in haulage ? I would like mine to pull 12-14 coaches up a 1/100 incline, which previous Farish Type 2 and 4s do without any angst. (I am DCC but have no interest in sound.) That said, presumably the speaker can be removed and alternative weight added, without affecting future re-installation of said speaker. I'd need to look when I get mine, unless anyone can comment just now?
  9. Thanks, I understand now, just the cut edges/corners. I will dig that booklet out. Alas it is in my "to read properly" pile. Thanks.
  10. Grahame, Apologies for digging up a post from so long ago. You make mention of soaking in superglue. Can you elaborate, for me? You soak the whole sheet sheet of card in superglue? Brush it on over the whole surface? Apologies if I have missed something obvious (which is never beyond the realms of possibility.) Best Scott
  11. This is a great thread, and many thanks to the OP for starting it. Of course, also thanks to the respondents. Incidentally, how is Ranelagh pronounced? I'm guessing Rain-Lah?
  12. DCC Supplies have announced a LE commision of 50 015 in CE Dutch livery: http://class50.dccsupplies.com/
  13. What an outstanding layout! Yet another inspirational piece of work. Thank you for sharing. I don't ghink we'd tire of photos of this; any chance of a video?
  14. Me too, Roy (both green on order). I ordered mine through an Exmouth shop who assists customers by taking instalment payments between order and delivery. Not a boast, but it may be of interest to you in the future. That said, I'm happy to have their respective delivery split, if it helps other modellers. :-)
  15. Good news indeed (re Mauretania, certainly) Thanks for sharing.
  16. These appear to be O Gauge, have I got that right?
  17. IMG_2994.jpg Finally, a close up of the back scene under the viaduct, showing just how crude it really is, although it is not generally view so close. many thanks, Andy I don't think the backscene, in that example, is necessarily as crude as you maybe feel. I think it blends in perfectly with the buildings in front. I'm not sure how much better you could make it. I think the church tower has good perspective and certainly look spart of the scene. Well done, your work is an inspiration.
  18. I would like to propose and poll the Brush Class 53 Falcon prototype locomotive as the subject of a crowdfunding project. If interested, there is a poll running on the N Gauge Forum, here: http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=38805.msg465704#msg465704 We are hoping to attract the attention of the usual crowdfunding facilitators. This is the route previously used to get the 35T Class B tankers into N Gauge model form Many thanks for reading. BACKGROUND AND EMPLOYMENT (Not definitive, intended to give a broad outline only) The Brush Falcon project involved a single, prototype, Co-Co Diesel electric locomotive, intended as a potential forerunner to a fleet of mixed traffic, general purpose locomotives for BR. Due to the lack, at the time, of a diesel engine powerful enough, yet light enough, the locomotive employed a twin unit of Maybach MD655 engines, similar to those fitted to the Class 52 Diesel Hydraulic, albeit powering electric traction motors. The locomotive was first out-shopped in September 1961 and put to work on test on the Eastern Region and London Midland Region. Regular runs included King’s Cross-Hull and return as far as and from Doncaster. King’s Cross - Cambridge was also a noted turn, mainly due to problems with the Baby Deltics. Another route for Falcon, on the Great Eastern area, during this period, was Liverpool Street to Norwich, as well as some regular freight turns between Norwich and March. By February 1962 it was to be briefly found on the Western Region, where its performance was tested on the Lickey Incline. There are reports of Falcon with 18 coaches accelerating up Lickey without the aid of a banker. Other tests found the locomotive under test on the route to Plymouth over the Devon banks, with similar favourable results. After a spell at Brush, Falcon was sheded at Sheffield for the summer of 1962, where it was employed on two return trips per day between Sheffield Victoria and King’s Cross on the Master Cutler and Sheffield Pullman, high end trains. By the autumn it could be found mainly on freight duties, notably coal trains. By the time 1963 came along, the locomotive was being used on genuine mixed traffic turns, equally as happy hauling passenger or freight trains around the Sheffield area and further afar. After a year out of traffic, whilst the powers that be decided on what to do with the locomotive (the type 4 ‘standard’ locomotive being settled on Brush’s Class 47), it was decided that Falcon would be leased by BR and employed on the Western Region, where they had experience already of the Maybach engines. Bristol Bath Road was the chosen depot and by February 1965, after a spell of crew training, Falcon was employed on Paddington to Bristol diagrams, in concert with other, mainstream, Type 4s - the diesel-hydraulics. Unlike previous employment on the Eastern and LM regions, where the diagrams were steam ones, the Type 4 timings forced Falcon to work hard. This led to some major failures, for virtually the first time in its short working life. Due to its propensity to break, the locomotive was kept almost exclusively on the Paddington/Bristol turns, presumably to keep in easy reach of Swindon works. Reliability took some time to improve, and it wasn’t until 1968 that Falcon exceeded it’s contracted yearly mileage of 80,000, when it travelled 90,400 miles in the 12 month period. Despite being non-standard, and potentially ripe for withdrawal, Falcon was fitted with Air brakes, to allow it to work with the new Mk2 air-braked coaching stock. The vacuum breaking equipment was removed at the same time, to make room. Late December 1971 and early 1972 found Falcon on test again, primarily between Swindon, Old Oak Common and Didcot, and also at high speed between Bristol and Taunton. However, by May 1972, it was back on its old stomping ground on the Paddington to Bristol service. Passenger work finally ran out for Falcon during 1972 with the advent of ETH stock. Fitting of ETH equipment was considered unviable Subsequently the steam heat boiler was isolated and the locomotive was transferred to Cardiff Canton to work steel trains between Newport Docks and Llanwern Steel works. The following year, 1973, Falcon found it’s next and final operational home at Ebbw Vale junction, working Iron Ore trains. In october 5th 1975 one of Falcon’s traction motor bearings failed, and following a number of months spent languishing at Ebbw Vale Junction, the unique machine was sold for scrap. A preservation attempt was made, however, apparently a clause in the contract between Brush and BR stipulated that at the end of its working life, Falcon would be cut up for scrap and not be sold for preservation. LIVERIES Falcon wore four liveries during its lifetime: September 1961: The initial livery out-shopped from Brush in September 1961 was lime-green body with darker green bands along the top and bottom of the bodysides. D0280 October 1961: By the time the locomotive was employed on BR metals, the livery consisted of lime-green body with chestnut upper and lower bands in place of the dark green bands. The chestnut was also painted around the window surrounds. Later this livery carried a SYWP at each end, but dates are unclear. D0280 1965: For it’s full service on the western region, the livery was changed to Brunswick green with a pale green bodyside bands, and yellow nose panels. D0280 December 1970: Swindon painted Falcon in its final livery in 1970, when the air brake mods were carried out. The machine emerged in all over BR Blue with full yellow ends and window surrounds. It was numbered 1200 and had the BR double arrow on diagonally opposite cabsides. The other cabsides carried a full TOPS data panel. CAVEAT: My suggestion would be to discount the first livery, as it was only extant for barely a month before the scheme was modified. PROS AND CONS OF A CROWDFUNDED FALCON PROJECT Pros: A 10+ year service life, bridging transition and corporate blue eras. (see cons) A truly mixed traffic locomotive, equally at home on express passenger & pullman services and heavy mineral freight trains, etc. A large geographical area of employment, Great Eastern, Eastern, London Midland, and Western regions, including South Wales. Incursions into Scotland on ECML parcels trains to/from Edinburgh. A relatively small number of liveries. Heljan have produced a OO and an O gauge model, which suggest drawings may be available. If not, assuming the O gauge model was considered accurate, it may be possible to scale an N gauge version from it, similar to the method Kernow employed on (i think) there early Warship model for OO. A surprisingly large amount of photographic reference material available. Farish had what appears good success with DP1, another prototype machine, with a smaller geographical area of deployment. Consistently high polling in the RMWEB annual wishlist (2016 7th in Diesel, Electric, Gas Turbine Category (above Class 28) and 23rd in all N Gauge categories) Cons: Only one was built so poor to almost impossible prospect of multiple purchases, except in respect of collectors. No existing example for scanning purposes A reasonably short lifespan in the grand scheme of things Less than astounding up-take of “transition” era crowdfunding models Best Scott « Last Edit: September 22, 2017, 12:19:00 pm by NGS-PO »
  19. Outstanding, they look so so good. As one of the proposers who pitched the original idea for this project, I'm very much looking forward to seeing these in the flesh at Warley; and then hopefully not so long after, assembling my order into one, long, 18 wagon rake. Hats off to everyone involved in bringing this wagon to market. By all accounts, it had a rather slow initial uptake, but I think all the hard work by Revolution, et al, has paid off in spades and it's great to see more modellers come on board with orders. Best Scott
  20. Outstanding and inspirational work so far, thanks for sharing. I note the use of electromagnets. What couplings are you using and who's magnets are They please?
  21. All, Here we have some nice images of the Carflat samples on Paul Churchill's Tormouth layout, giving a nice impression of Motorail trains. I think you'll agree, they look fantastic. The layout will be at Folkestone show on October 8/9 this year, as will the Carflats, so head along if you can and see them for yourselves in the flesh. The models have been authorised for production, so the society is just awaiting a delivery date from the manufacturers.
  22. Exactly the route I have gone down, Buchanan Street being considered having been damaged by a Heinkel (other bombers were available) crew, unable to find Clydebank, perhaps............
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