South Central

Sticking with the 400s theme, and specifically the Hornby 4Vep as a base model... A couple of early privatisation examples in the form of Connex South Central Phase 1 4Cig 1741 and Network SouthCentral Phase 2 4Big 2251. Both are repaints of units I built a few years ago in 1980s guises, so both were stripped back to bare MJT brass before receiving their respective new colours. 2251 was chosen as one of the last surviving entire 4Big on the South Central lines. It's buffet last served grub on Christmas Eve 1997 and the unit soldiered on into 1998 with its counter locked out before transfer to South West Trains. The Trailer Buffet made way for an ex-CEP TSO for the unit's twilight years largely spent on the Portsmouth Direct. Modelled very much in its last few years as a true BIG, I rather like the combination of the Connex front-end "Zorro" styling with faded NSE paintwork (white weathering powders) and retained Network SouthCentral shadow franchise branding. A legacy of the buffet's years in service...who burned the toast!? A few years ago, RMweb's number6 kindly recreated the 'mural' which adorned the galley kitchen wall - duly printed and fixed in place. And the beauty once again of using the Hornby 4Vep as a base is the factory lighting which pleasing survived the conversion... Next up was another yellow peril: MJT brass sides mounted on the base Mk1 bodyshells in the usual manner...looking rather at home in the Hornby box, oh what might have been! The view from the stops, just need a layout now... Thanks for dropping in!

Hi all, About a year ago I settled upon an era change to the years of local railway operation I could actually remember! Privatisation was still young, liveries were colourful yet most of the stock was of BR heritage, not least the Mk 1 slam doors in their twilight years. I've been steadily building up a fleet of stock appropriate for the Sussex "Coastway" lines radiating from Brighton for the 1998 to 2002 period. Trains wore the colours of the erstwhile Connex South Central, South Central Trains, Thameslink (the first incarnation), South West Trains and Virgin Cross Country operators with some vehicles clinging on to BR Network SouthEast and Intercity liveries. 750v DC third rail units naturally predominate, with interlopers adding to the variety including DMUs from the West Country, class 47/mk 2 rakes and Voyagers from the North West and Scotland. By way of a scene-setter, here is a Connex South Central 4Vep cobbled together from the Hornby RTR offering: The unit started life in factory NSE finish, which soon was lost to a bath of Phoenix SuperStrip. This model's failings are well documented on these pages, and a face transplant with MJT cast whitemetal ends was essential onto which widened end gangways were fixed. The cast jumper cables and recesses were drilled out and backed with plasticard. Airbrushed enamels from Humbrol added colour, onto which custom run Connex yellow stripe waterslide transfers were mounted. Copious amounts of Humbrol Decalfix helped these to sit down over the model's raised detail, hinges and rust prevention strips. Adding two bars to every passenger droplight with plastic microstrip was a laborious process! The beauty of using the Hornby 4Vep as a base model was the factory fitted lighting. Again, the flimsy wiring on these units is infamous however spare connectors and whole PCBs are readily available and the soldering experience is no bad thing...a final weathering to prototypical unloved condition and this workhorse is ready for the rails.

Hi all, Can anyone point me in the direction of a source for Thameslink (1997 - 2006 era) transfers to sit atop the dark blue/yellow/white livery in 4mm? Formerly available from Frank Warner who appears to have ceased trading. All or any of the THAMESLINK name, web address, CityFlyer cab front and passenger door side branding, first class and cycle space logos would be fab. Failing that, any artwork for a custom print would also help hugely. TIA

We have cattle at home and graze them on what's known as a paddock system - a technique brought over from New Zealand. The field is divided up into paddocks which provide just enough grass for the number of animals for a day or two, after which the cows are moved into the next paddock and the first one left to recover. It encourages far more efficient use of the grass by the cattle and improves grass yields overall no end. Thus reducing the reliance on supplementary feeds (largely based on soya from South America planted on former rainforest) and offering the consumer a far more sustainable source of milk and meat

I should have added sooner, but I did indeed telephone my order through to Phoenix and my paint arrived two days later. Very happy customer, looking forward to the return of the website though

Brilliant, thank you

Has anyone put in an order with Phoenix recently? I haven't been able to get onto the website for a while now - I thought I'd ask before trying a telephone order. TIA

Not quite what you are looking for but in the seventies and eighties, Newhaven Marine was served by a handful of daily local trains to supplement the "true" Victoria boat trains, their purpose being to carry local Dieppe day-trippers. At various times there were trains to/from Brighton, Littlehampton and even Portsmouth. Technically, the main "general" traffic was handled by Newhaven Town station in line with your other examples above.

I have, and a BIG too. Have a look at my Central Division c.1987 workbench thread

Might 12 CB CIG signify a CIG + BEP + CIG formation? I have a sneaky feeling that refurbished BEPs had replaced the ten 'phase 2' BIGs on the Portsmouth Direct by 1982, with the latter joining their eighteen 'phase 1' BIG sisters on the Central Div. Happy to be set straight on that one.

Superb work, love it! So I guess a third 456 in South West Trains red is next on your workbench

As above, superb work as ever. Following with interest

Just a follow up, received my drawings about a week after my above post. Very happy with them

Good question, could have sworn i'd seen his number but can't spot it either. Looks like you might need a stamp...

I gave up on the Phoenix Precision website. I managed to find the PP paints I want on the Fox Transfers website fortunately, although sadly only in 14ml tinlets.