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Alas I never thought to take a picture but I was told it will be released in the next week or so and all my 40s will be getting them so watch this space.

Be careful using black paint around the inside of window apertures. If the glazing is a very close fit, it won’t go back in. A sharpie is much better.

A little scene taken during the Crewe Station remodelling in 1985. A short train of empties passes through Nifkin's Bridge

I used to have a magazine supplement on the early electrics and it had a photo of the mockup. It looked strange without the headcode box and I did try and find it before online but work got in the way.

Whilst the layout extension is some time off, and will need the existing layout moving along the wall by a couple of feet, I have started collecting wagons, with some 21T minerals and HUO hoppers from Accurascale. I've just completed weathering the bodies giving rise to a short train for the 1985 Crewe Station remodelling. I'll go back and dull down the wheels a touch, methinks, but you get the general idea.

I do wonder if the 3 windscreened design of the AL series locos was developed from the prototype “Class 80”.

I've just detailed my E2001 and it looks the part. I couldn't get the original pan to follow the OHLE without snagging so I replaced it with a spare Bachmann Class 85 Faiveley pan and it can now go pan up all over the layout. I thought it appropriate to photograph Class 80 alongside Class 81. A shame it wasn't preserved or this scene would have been possible in the real world.

That reminds me of my last migraine!

I spotted the missing headboard clip on the Deltic, so one quick email to A/S support and a new one is on its way. 10 out of 10 to them.

A matching pair from different eras! I like to think of it as a fictitiously preserved Ballymoss.

Yes indeed! the OHLE stuff will be great and they will be doing all the components to model things like the tensioning apparatus and power feeds. When I eventually extend my layout to include a running line, it’s looking like there will be a massive selection to pick from - I spoke to them about this at Ally Pally. Another very useful kit will be the Class 40 chassis detailing kit to replace the inaccurate Bachmann detail. They had a 40 kitted out and it looked the biz. In the meantime, I have some point levers to make and attempt to install under my existing OLE. 😁

I found a folded up Tescos carrier bag was fine for the bits and bobs I bought today. In hindsight I needed 2 as it got a little heavy as the morning progressed. Admittedly I didn't bring any scran with me, though!

A couple of recent acquisitions.

The Kernow limited editions have come down in price so bagged a 37012 Loch Rannoch with sound. It ran for a long time in Large Logo livery without the headlamp and I wanted it to look recently repainted, so I removed it. After filling the hole, some white primer followed by Phoenix Precision P134 BR Signal Yellow was applied - it's a perfect match to the shade Bachmann uses so can be patch painted with a brush just on the communication doors. I also extended the black windscreen surrounds up a touch as the yellow band is far too wide on the original model. A Frankenstein-style marriage of the Accurascale centre plough with the Bachmann ploughs chopped and glued in place was fitted. The rather poor front windscreen glazing has been replaced with Shawplan Lazerglaze - an absolute must with this model. It's been lightly weathered. I've had issues before with one of the wires to the bogie pickups coming adrift, but 3 of them did this time whilst handling the loco, cue disassembly of the chassis and resoldering accompanied by a lot of choice language. That seems to be the loco's Achille's heel. I've ditched the chains as I was knocking the ploughs and pipes though handling it whilst attempting to reattach them. It still looks a lot better than the old Hornby, Lima, Vitrains and indeed earlier Bachmann models. This one was hard won, but one I remember well from 1985/6. ...and CV 60 to reduce the brightness of the lights - down to 35 in that image but may go down some more!

Some carefully discarded chewing gum…. 😈

Yes, and parts of the Paris Metro too. It’s quite a thing in France.

Brill, I must have gone down a rabbit hole before. Thanks for that - they are available up until 8:30am on the day of the show. This is the link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-2024-tickets-727397915747?aff=erelexpmlt

The interesting font on this old cast iron sign used to warrant a second glance. Someone’s nicked it now so it probably sits on someone’s mantlepiece.

A number were repainted with Large Logo style black cab windscreen surrounds and bonnet tops. I recently backdated the IC Mainline Accurascale 37 to represent 37415 and included this. It’s a subtle effect, but quite smart looking.

Look at the wheels! 🤣

A shame the tickets can't be purchased now, I was rather hoping it would have been like the Donny show where they were available right up to the event. Nevertheless, hoping to pay a visit on Sunday down from the E. Midlands if all goes well. Looking forward to it.

Yes, GSYP and NSE look OK. I’d like to hear the sound as this may swing it for me with the NSE one at the right price.

I’m afraid that livery seems to accentuate the tallness of the cab. Points scored though for the black windscreen surrounds which were a subtle feature on the ones released from Crewe. I had to add them on the 86 as well as tweaking the dark grey band’s lower edge down a tad, but that’s a different story.

I don’t know why they didn’t think it’s such a great idea for their locos. The new 47 has 2 screws under the cabs that are nigh impossible to get a screwdriver onto straight without removing the bogie frames and the 8 on the 37… Anyhow heading back on topic, Accurascale bodies come off nice and easily.

I think Bachmann have shares in a screw manufacturer. So much nicer to just unclip a body, especially when something goes amiss and you need to take the body off again.