Blackthorn

True, but why bother to introduce them at all then? The panniers et al . should had have worked to the end and retired gracecfully. Don't get me wrong, without Dr. Beeching the UK wouldn't have the best railway preservation communities in the world, his cuts would not have led to the preservation movement of the '60's, '70''s and even today. This side of the pond any kind of working heritage railway is a rarity. I have visited the Canadian Railway Museum in Montreal, the museum, in Toronto, at the former roundhouses where Flying Scotsman, and I think the Royal Scot were housed on parts of their Canadian tours and the museum in Squamish, British Columbia. All worth visiting just don't expect the British heritage line. They're basically static displays.

I saw 9516 at Didcot in 2017 and was surprised what a well proportioned machine it was. Such a shame BR wrote the 14's so quickly, at least they found success in private hands. BR's short sightedness with the hydraulics again, not to mention some of the steam classes!!!!!

Thank's John. Sorry for the late reply. I've been transferred back to Ontario ....Oh the joys of the GTA.... I've ordered one. we'll see. I hope it works as well as Rosspops. MJ

I like the look of that! I have three airbrushes at the moment, a Paasche dual action, a cheap thing from Amazon and another cheap thing I bought at Canadian Tire (even though I work for Canada's other hardware retailer). I usually do my airbrushing inside, but if I use anything that had a strong odour I have to drag my compressor outside. That can be a pain in the backside. If I can ask, do you really get 30 minutes run time from the battery? Thanks. MJ.

Don't open that can of worms!! Personally I would love to see a star running, as well as the Great Bear and just about any other class of locomotive. Another Johnson 1F (half cab) would have my funding if I won the lottery. I just wonder if the expenditure now is worth what interest the yoof of today will have in the project in 10,15 or 20 years time? I've been accused of being an old fart because I found the 'yo, yo, yo, hibbie, hibbie, chibbie' music very annoying. Holy Carp, I guess my mind and my body are disagreeing again! MJ

WTF!!! What else is there to say....

Thank you, @andyman7.

So, So, wrong. If my localish British import shop gets them in I'll tell them to send them back, or feed them to the moose (they'll eat just about anything!). Damn, now I'm craving pies....

I've just been watching some You Tube videos of RIAT from Fairford, what an array of aircraft!! It was great to see some Tornados, Harriers and even a Couple of Phantoms flying. I didn't see any Jaguars though.... You Tube, a great way to waste a few hours.

I have only ever had one negative experience with Hattons and their pre-owned sales. The issue was sorted within hours. I often buy items listed as non runners etc. as they usually take five minutes of work to repair and I can't afford the crazy prices of new models. I also really don't care if the box is pristine, I buy my models to run on a layout and/or be weathered. The whole collecting unopened models baffles me a bit, they'll never be worth a fortune, the plastic will disintegrate in another fifty or so years anyway. Plus it just drives the prices of pre-owned models up making the hobby more unaffordable. Sorry, in a bit of a mood this morning. I forgot to buy tea yesterday and have run out.

I've a good collection. Coming to the sudden truth none of us live forever, I'm going to have sell them on. There are a few pieces that I won't part with

I'm looking forward to see how this build progresses. It reminds me very much of the school I went to in Dursley, Glos. Now all knocked down and rebuilt into something modern.....but VERY ugly.

I wonder if it's still around? I would like to track it down if anyone knows. I have to go to Vancouver in a couple of weeks.

The driver of pannier tank 7752 takes a rest. I think I took this in 1991. It was at the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton, Bristol, on a trip home.

One I should really put up at work!!

Those buffer beams look really good. I have a Mainline 45 that could use the visual improvement, the body mounted buffers drive me nuts. Now there seems to be an easy solution. It's a shame the seller doesn't ship outside the UK, I might have to ask a friend of mine over there for a favour. Can I ask how easy (or fiddly) they were to fit? Many thanks! MJ

My deepest condolences David. MJ

Thank you all. I have just had a call from a place that can take me in. I guess it was worth being woken up by my phone at 5:17. Who knows what hell I'm in for.

Thank you. I'm not proud of this. Totally ashamed.

I know this will be a tough subject but I have to put my hands up and suffer this. I guess it goes with bein a train nerd.

Now I do have an excuse to buy one of the Hornby six wheeled coaches!!!

Thanks for that tip!! I do have a Relco that I had planned on using. I guess I’m going to have to go the blanking plug route. I did have a brief look at eBay earlier the blanking plugs looked cheap enough but the postage rates were through the roof! They all seemed to be located in the UK…..I’m going to keep looking. MJ

Many thanks for that information. I’ll figure out what blanking plugs I need. I think the Bachman Cl 25 I just received from Hattons came with one but I’ll have to dig out the other locomotives. It would be interesting to find out if the analogue function is enabled though. I don’t know if there is anyone on this rock with a model railway let alone DCC. The Great British Train Show is coming up in Brampton, Ontario at the end of the month, so I might take the along and see if anyone can oblige. MJ

Thanks Steven. I will have to look and see if there are blanking plugs. Or, set up a piece of track and just try them on DC.. I always assumed the two systems weren't compatible and would fry a chip, so to speak, on DC. If I let the smoke out of one it's not the end of the world. Are blanking plugs available as an aftermarket item? I'm not sure what brand are in which loco's, so I will have to do a bit of work. If it comes to it I can just re-wire them. MJ

Apologies if this a daft question but I'm not up to speed on DCC. I have, I think four locomotives that are fitted with DCC but I'm not planning on using DCC control on my layout, whenever it gets built. Can I simply remove the chip and run them on DC? or do I need to do more? I have to admit DCC and sound does appeal to me, but to fit chips to all of my loco's would hit my wallet pretty hard. Thanks for any advice. MJ.