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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.

The FreightConnection 90 project is go. A secondhand Freightliner example has been stripped to its lurid green plastic and will become 90130 in Sybic livery. Will I manage to reassemble the pan or not? I have a Heljan BW one on standby if I don't manage it! The one on the right will become the RFD one, 90022.

I'd absolutely love a job like that, though I've already carved out a career in a different field and my main goal these days is retirement. Looking at the recent output of Accurascale, Bachmann and many Heljan releases, it can be done and done well. I suspect where issues are identified early in the process and not rectified there may be budgetary constraints at play which must be frustrating for those involved. As a modeller I am happy to put right what I can, Bachmann's Class 40 being case in point. As for Heljan's 47, the NSE one looks OK thanks to its livery so if a sound one were to pop up for a decent price, it may just end up on my layout.

“The Accurakhazi”. Has a certain ring to it!

I've used Fox Transfers IC lining on every executive liveried electric I have including all my Heljan 86s as the lower edge of the grey band seemed a little too high on them. https://www.fox-transfers.co.uk/transfers/intercity-executive-mainline-ex-works-loco-coach-lining

Congratulations are in order, but I never realised you made overalls as well as models! I’ll get my coat!

One of the strangest yellows I’ve matched was the one Heljan use on the 33. It looks absolutely fine to these eyes but I just couldn’t match Railmatch pre/post 84 yellow to it. I ended up getting perfect match from Phoenix Precision Post 85 Warning Panel Yellow with a little white added. I was only patch painting around where I’d removed the headlight.

I must admit to having gone for a couple of blue/grey ones from Hampshire Models. For the eventual layout extension and of course diorama duties.

Another vote for the pre 84 lemony shade of yellow being correct on he Bachmann model. Ambient lighting and other factors will play their part in photographs. I used pre 84 yellow on my last detailing projects (classes 40 and 81) and it does appear pale compared to the later shade but it is technically correct.

My theory is to ideally strip the body first after removing the roof detail and glazing. Then spray the yellow end first, then the orange, the light grey next and then the dark grey. Doing in in this order means that it is fairly easy to use differing widths of masking tape and follow the lines of the cab front/cantrail. That’s how to do it in my mind’s eye anyway!

One of the advantages of modelling Banger Blue livery is that it’s quite a simple one so good to practise airbrushing techniques on. It’s also a good livery to work out how to mask properly before moving on to more complex liveries. Respraying is one of my favourite parts of the hobby. It’s great (and a relief) peeling off the masking tape and there’s a nice sharp and straight join, but any errors can still be fixed if need be.

I’ve just gotta do one after looking at that! I may just get a second DB style one if I can sell a kidney or other body part and do it. That looks smashing!

Superficially it looks like the corner windscreen pillars need to be black as opposed to yellow, though I’ll scrutinise more photos when I get around to doing it. The Hornby model looks a bit off in comparison to the Bachmann one, though I do have a PH designs kit somewhere if I every fancy upgrading one.

Quite possibly, though I’ll be up for respraying one myself if need be.

Just need the Sybic one now. I think I’ll also renumber and tweak the livery on my RFD one (to 90022 I think) and get it the plates to make the set of 4 to fit in with the end of my modelling period.