Norton Wood

Ah I see, Interestingly I found a company which does high-quality 3D Printing for the Quint -Articulated set, but a bit of modelling will be required

Thanks for your message; Grimy Times fitted nothing extra to the model bar the Steam Heat pipe running on the front buffer beam which comes with the model, I spent a long time surfing through photographs online and via the Yeadons to find the N7 which matched the profile of the model Oxford produced. Which ended up coming from the Wikipedia page, as I always say re. Locomotives you cannot argue with photos. To answer your question, yes the extra pipe on the Drivers side running from firebox to the Smokebox is the Vac-ejector, honestly I don't know if 8011 should or should not have it, because I couldn't find a photo of it I made a decision to re-number and weather it as per the photo so I can run it as prototypically as possible. Next plan is to get a 3D Printed kit of a LNER Quint - art set for it The only other things which I did before it went away for weathering was paint the buffer shanks black, paint various parts of the brass work and paint the stainless steel ring on the door.

I sent Grimy Times my LNER N7 having looked far too clean. Having re-numbered it from 8011 to 7993. I think it’s turned out brilliantly so thanks to them for there work

With Oxford Rail having announced they would produce 3 N7 variants I was like many very happy, as the N7 filled another hole in the GE/LNER modellers world. As these engines would be responsible for suburban services in and around London they also ventured around the former GE Suburban workings replacing many older suburban locomotive types the F5's spring to mind and later on they also were tasked with working some Kings Cross Suburban workings. So with the LNER N7 finally in my possession, I was very pleased with the quality of the build and running of the locomotive, as many modellers on the RMWeb N7 thread know, there are a few misgivings on the model, which I am willing to forgive. Most of the mistakes that befall on this model are mainly in small area's, which only picky modellers like myself will forgo to resolve... So I began with what myself and my model club will do when they receive a new locomotive, either painting or modifying an engine to suit how we would want them. I am a stickler for having locomotives re-numbered & weathered with minor alterations. So I began with the model as it came and decided to paint: The Smokebox Door Ring Buffer Shanks Black (Originally in the incorrect Red) Brass work around the Clack Valves Steel workaround the Westinghouse Airpump Safety Valves catch Red Frames & Frame Stretcher into Red Then off to Grimy Times for Weathering & Renumbering into 7993 And well here's the end result... The white mark in this image is actually dust inside the camera lens not on the model Overall I think it's turned out quite well, and the weathering is the only way you can get around the fact that the model should be in LNER Lined black with all the necessary paint apps but, honestly I think it's turned out really well and I think it looks very smart now.

I really should speak to a driver (Former Fireman on BR) I know who worked on the Jazz trains and on the N7's especially, he always said the N7 was his favorite loco to work on, may have to find his regular loco, and see if he knew the men who worked on the 69670 & 65. Be really interesting to find out.

Further Details from Oxford Rail regarding the newly announced BR Late Crested N7 - New Photo attached OR76N7004- N7 Late crest: Livery detail includes white smokebox ring, White chimney top. Full lining including Westinghouse pump and a red smokebox number. I asked in the comments for those interested if they'd be up for producing an LNER Lined Round Topped Boilered N7, to which they replied Everything is possible...So fingers crossed

Latest news: Oxford Rail have announced a BR Late Crested N7: Source Kernow Models Facebook Page So BR modelers in this thread going to be very happy

Purchased and took my new LNER N7 into the 'paint-shop' thought I'd spiv the loco up with some work on the buffer shanks in black as per LNER practice, brass work, stainless steel ring, and safety valves. I think the engine looks great, but the loco needs to be weathered for it to fit into the fleet, so I'll have the loco weathered and renumbered as 7993. Looking forward to showing the end result

Oooh, if you don't mind photographing it and putting a few photo's it on here that would be fantastic

Ah there's an excellent point, but you are quite correct. Even getting an N7 is amazing (Bring on a J69 or E4 (T26) and I'll be very happy) we have to be thankful that the model is being produced anyway Thanks Tom

It's quite interesting with Oxford's move on this, to have produced 3 versions of the Locomotive and not produce all three at the same time. Initially, I thought could it be that OR want modelers to purchase the GER liveried version first to see whether the interest is there. Testing the water you could say, which brought me to my next thought, well why not bring the BR version out first, at the moment BR steam is very popular with pre-grouping steadily on the increase and the Big Four era standing as strong as ever? Or it could be very simple, they're getting them out as and when they are completed, and Oxford Rail is doing the BR version last as it's a little more complex compared to the first two produced? I'm not positive on these theories but I'd like to hear what others have to say Thanks, Tom

An interesting new comment put up Oxford Rail: "Since the announcement of our N7 we have received a number of questions about producing this locomotive in GE Blue. The N7 never carried this livery in service and was painted in the grey from new. Would you want this as a possible future release." Of course as previously stated for it to be accurate, the locomotive would need to be slightly altered with a slightly different Cab & boiler due to the placement of the dome & various other items, which I cannot remember off the top of my head. Personally, if Oxford Rail was to do another N7 I'd like another LNER model with the round-topped boiler and red lining.

Something I'm planning, which I think will work, I have the intention of taking 2 of the J70's, the LNER Unlined Skirted 7137 and the LNER lined Unskirted 7139 and swapping the skirts and lower part of the chassis over so, the lined model becomes skirted and the Unlined becomes unskirted. I say this mainly as I have no idea if there will be another batch of these models produced so for my W&U Exhibition layout which I am working on I need a variety of loco's all to fit a certain period. This is the best way to do that I think. I'd like to hear other modelers opinions. Photo's below are a friends LNER Lined Unskirted J70 7139 and my Skirted and Unlined 7137 with all the fittings bar the windows (that's a future job) Thank you

To end off... The Tank has obviously gone for airbrushing, as I finished last time I'd just applied the sand base coat. Following this, I began by painting the Green and following that the Brown, very easily carried out. Following this, I painted the dot's using a small brush using the 3 colours - beginning with sand, Green then Brown. In that pattern. I think the result was brilliant. Following this I gave the model the gloss coat, following that I applied the decals to the model which took all of 30 minutes, course after I applied the Matt coat which finalized the model, which is not shown here but it has been done, trust me on that one. Finally... It's done and on display, before finishing I thought I'd put them next to my brothers Panzer V Panther & Panzer VI Tiger I, so to show the German development of the tank range...quite impressive really. Glad to finish another project. Thanks Tom

My LNER 7137 & 7139 have arrived, they look fantastic, sadly will have to send 7139 back as it's not running But 7137 is lovely and running smoothly

Haha, it appears that my question has been answered, funny how the world works. Thank you

Sorry to sound like a repeating...Broken record, but is there any news on the second group of J70's??

Been a while since I've been on this thread, however, I ordered some LNER N7 Title boards from Sankey Scenics's. They are really nicely printed and look forward to getting them onto the LNER/BR N7.

Haha, funny you should say that I'm currently in the works of building one myself, rather than going down the Peco Bullhead track path, thanks to Model Rail Magazine No.257 from Micro-layout No.1 I'm having a go at hand built track. And I look forward to the results and hopefully sharing them on here if that's alright.

Had a nice little surprise this morning, both NE 7128 & BR 68222 Arrived today for my brother and father, having seen the samples at Peterborough & Warley the one thing I did forget was how small they are. They are absolutely amazing models. I noted that the spark arrestor top had gone missing on 7128, but having looked in the box I found it so that case was solved, I've now re-fitted it and it looks like it had never come off. Chris, I've had a brief look through the manual, forgive me, but does the model have a works plate for both sides or just one side of the model? And what paint colour did you use for the Bell? Thanks

Now the moment Chris has been waiting for, to see satisfied modelers receive their product... Honestly, it looks amazing. The research, level of detail, workmanship. I think Rapido have really gone to town with this, it's amazing. Well Done Model Rail & Rapido

It's interesting to hear about possibilities of when these loco's might have been turned or how they would have been moved. However knowing what these blokes would have been like, it would have been, whatever way it was facing it was likely to run in that direction for the time it was on the W&U. But there has certainly got to be a pattern to this. Would, the J70's have been dragged with water in the boiler? I'd have thought it would have been brought to the yard empty bar being oiled up for movement... Then the Loco fitters and locomen would organize when they would prep the loco for the start of next week.

PAINTING... That was the aim of the last few weeks, battling cold weather, but luckily we avoided too much snow. But the Like the King Tiger it battled through the weather and emerged pink...Guess it wants to show it's true Cat self off... On the other hand, the tank has now gone into the Dark Yellow, acting as the base paint before the brown and green schemes onto the model. I am now drawing in pencil, around the model how and where the camouflage will be when I begin the airbrushing work. Well, this was the shortest part of the blog so far, but the next part will be the first and second part of the painting work and the decal work.

April! Wow, that's a long way off, with 2 BR versions and 2 LNER versions I would have hoped the rest would have come the following month but two months wait...ahhhh. Nevermind we've waited roughly 2 years 2 months we can wait a few more months