Red Fox

Have you located my GBRF 73's that you've had for quite some time?

Good luck getting the PCB out on the NSE one. You need to remove all the glazing to allow removal of the luggage racks so you can get the PCB out. I'm pretty happy with my new models though not convinced the cab face is right. I've unclipped the new wider gangway piece and the door is moulded proud of cab face but not by much. Still no where near where it should be but an improvement on the original version.

Unfortunately mine is still demonstrating the issue on my circle of test track so reluctantly I'm arranging a return to the model shop. Hopefully they can supply a replacement. I currently have a Bachmann model running round with no problems so it's not a track or controller issue.

Had a chance to run 37602 on the rolling road under DCC and it still sounds like it's surging. Going to set up a circle of track (my layout is end to end at the mo) to see how bad it is before making a decision to return it.

I have two of the DRS examples. Both were tested with DCC Concepts Rolling Roads and a Gaugemaster Combi providing the power. 37602 had a couple of instances of the surging as described above during running at about 40% power after about 30mins. I increased this up to 60% to see if would reoccur at higher power and it did at random intervals but they surge seemed to last a shorter time. 37606 was tested in the same way and experienced no issues. I've installed Accurascale Lokpilot in both but apart from a quick run to confirm they work I haven't had much of a chance to give them a proper DCC run. When I get the chance I'll stick 37602 back on the rolling road but with the DCC controller and it's beefier power supply and see how it fairs.

Apologies if it's somewhere in the previous 269 pages. Is there a function list somewhere for the Accurascale Lokpilot sold specifically for the 37? The function list included with the loco is for the sound version and no info with the decoder or on the Accurascale site. My ancient Lenz Set 100 has only managed F0 directional lights so far and that's with the microswitches set as per the instruction card

Are the wheels correctly aligned on the non-powered bogie. It seems they have a habit of popping out of the bogie frames on the new 158/159 causing derailments.

The indicator panels are printed, they can't change colour, a white LED just back lights them in direction of travel though you can have both on for light engine moves which it sounds like is the way yours is set up.

Rolling stock update. Latest completed projects are for the early 00's fleet. I've now finished what will probably be my last Hornby VEP project (unless I find another cheap one!) and this one is South Central 3822. As with my previous Hornby VEP's I've rebuilt the front end, replaced the ventilators and horns and removed the solid First Class corridor bulkhead. As this is a 423/8 it only has First Class at one end, the other is open throughout as I've removed the corridor and the compartment bulkheads. Window bars have been fitted on all the passenger doors as per the prototype. I've also replaced the wheels on the trailer bogies with better free rolling ones with bearings to improve running. The South Central transfers are by Britannia Pacific Models applied with a lot of Microsol to sit over the hinges and door frames. I chose 3822 as I found pictures of it at Southampton, a 4-VIP was a slightly easier project than a standard VEP and I wanted one with South Central branding which is how I remember seeing them. While I had the airbrush set up and the appropriate colours I also made a Thumper centre coach from Replica Railway parts. I haven't sorted the couplings and the through wiring on this yet. Current big project is the VEP's replacement. An Electrostar 377/4. This is a cut and shunt Bachmann Turbostar with 3d printed cabs by CMAC Models which are available on Shapeways https://www.shapeways.com/product/MDAK258QN/late-model-electrostar-cabs-x2-00-gauge?optionId=206768682&li=shops I've finished the body shells on all 4 coaches and I'm just correcting the final faults and making the cab air con pods before progressing to the painting stage. Since these pictures were taken I've removed the hump in the middle of the air con pods as Electrostars don't have these. 1 chassis out of 4 is ready, the other 3 are stripped down ready for chopping up. I was making pretty good progress on rolling stock and the layout but this may shortly come to a grinding halt as while typing this I was offered a job so my focus will be on that for a bit.

I've used this to update my FGW Neon 166 and a 165 conversion and they work really well and are very easy to install. I'm also in the process of updating my NSE ones to WIPAC lighting clusters from Track3D which require a little more effort, needs a hole drilled for the marker lights and head taillight holes opened up a bit but the result is far superior than the original Bachmann LED's.

The undeframe detail clips in to the chassis, the only thing that can make it difficult to swap between centre and end coaches is how much glue the person who assembled it decided to use which varies between either the bare minimum and excessive and nothing in between! The bogie frames also clip on so the ones with the couplings can be easily swapped round. I've never had any trouble with 170 bogie frame clips but the ones on my 158's regularly break so one does need to be careful.

They actually were running the 'Space Charter Agreement', probably right up until the ships were ordered to remain in port this morning. The agreement is under investigation by British and French authorities but no action has yet been taken. Dutch Contract Officers and Crew of P&O Ferries were also made redundant today Correction - Jersey contracts onboard the Dutch registered ships were made redundant and were marched off by private security, Dutch contract crew remain. . Shore based staff remain under contract.

I use these on my 150's and 153's mounted on the removable destination board on earlier Bachmann 150/2's or mount on a bit of black plasticard on the inside of the glazing on 150/1, 153 and later 150/2. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Great-Western-Destination-Blinds-for-Hornby-Bachmann-Class-142-150-153-158-DMUs-/153913362713?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Zero metres down aft as they land the stern on some heavy duty fenders and have lines out to help swing her in the Harbour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4kQ7-hbKZI The port is so restrictive the can't even have the ferry berth parallel to the quay as they need to be at an angle for the bow door to line up with the linkspan so there is a Yokohama fender down aft keeping the stern off the quay.

Have checked my packs and found two wagons suffering. They are from original batch Freightliner packs B724B and B 724D the D pack being the worst with a long crack across the deck.

Bit of a long shot but I'm converting a Bachmann Turbostar in to an Electrostar and my unit doesn't have the Cab Air Con pod on the roof. Does anyone have a spare roof or part of roof that has the cab air con pod? EDIT - going to have a go at it myself using a plain roof.

Illuminated Models have just released a Voyager kit, it is on their homepage https://www.illuminatedmodels.co.uk/

I believe Precision Labels have done the DB version, it was on their Instagram. Fox Transfers do the EWS version. DB DVT has been out for years and no follow up MK3's or 67.

Been looking on both websites and the only silver white I can find is Phoenix Great Western Trains Silver White(P242), is this right colour or is there an NSE specific silver white? Or are Phoenix calling it NSE white (P178)?

There should be a major difference in performance as the original has problems with trailer car bogies derailing on curves as the bogies moulding couldn't clear the body. Sets that had this problem needed to be modified by Hornby with a thin plastic washer that lifted the body slightly, see the 800 topic on the Hornby are of the forum for more info. Subsequent sets shouldn't have any issues.

Two more rolling stock projects for Ampton are now complete. 150001 in First Great Western livery. A minor disaster occurred when I was putting the cab moulding back in and one of the joins cracked but this was rectified and the unit is now ready for service. SWT 4-VEP 3417 Gordon Pettitt. This originally started life as an NSE example and has had quite a bit of work carried out on it to look more like a VEP than an out the box Hornby model. This included reworking the cab face, removing the solid First Class corridor bulkhead and replacing it with one with windows, turning the non-powered bogies the right way round and replacing the malnourished vents and horns. It joins SWT branded NSE 3415 which has also been modified and a Connex example will follow in due course. I'm considering drilling out the axles boxes and putting bearings in and replacing the wheels on my three VEP's to improve running, that is why the axle caps aren't yellow yet. Other projects in the pipeline are Gatwick Express 488/2, 488/3 and GLV even though they are out of area for my layout setting, a SWT 442 and 4-BEP to finish plus the layout itself.

Been a while since the last update and there has been some slow progress on the layout since last time. Scenery wise the tunnel mouth is done. It may not be a perfect match colour wise but it's firmly in the good enough category! Signals facing away from the tunnel work and are CR Signals heads, ones facing the tunnel are Knightwing dummy heads. Signage for the gantry will be added. Eight out of ten baseboards are more or less done. Scenic length is around 15 feet as is the fiddle yard area, each area is made up of three roughly 4x2 boards and one 3x2 board. The boards will receive extra cross members for strength and to prevent warping once the electronic layout is finalised. All that is left to do is a pair of 6 foot long boards that join the scenic area to the fiddle yard to complete the roundy roundy. One will have some city scenes above track level to make use of the space. I'll get on with them when I can get some screws, don't think a trip to B&Q for them is an essential journey! The boards are seen below with some random members of the fleet for scale... Stock wise since last update I've added a pair of 165's to the fleet for the Ampton Central - Reading service, one for each of my modelling era's. A Thames Trains one and a FGW Neon, they have had their roof vents modified, extra window added on one coach and more hopper windows. 165125. Since that picture was taken I have corrected the window frame colour so it is consistent along the unit, I used the wrong shade of grey initially. 165125 is the first piece of rolling stock that has Ampton Central displayed on it's destination board at one end, the other shows Reading. 165132, I'm considering spraying a lighter blue along the top of the coach side to improve the Bachmann paint job. My new and improved 150001 has finally made it to the spray booth and as of today has had its yellow ends sprayed on. It is a cut and shunt of Bachmann 150/1 and 150/2 parts. It will be painted in FGW livery. And last but not least for today the 442 has also been making progress, here is a shot of the TSW in its first coat of primer to pick out any issues, of which there were a few. The 442 will be painted in SWT Swoosh v1.

A Ukrainian company called BPK (Big Plane Kits) do the 737-200, CRJ-100, 200 and 700 and soon the 737-800 in 1/72 scale. Welsh Models do the A320, 737-100, 200, 700 and 800, BAE 146-200 and DC-9 also in 1/72 scale. All quite expensive kits. Southampton Airport and the South Western Main Line are in close proximity to each other with various buildings parallel to the line and the terminal building a stones throw from Southampton Airport Parkway station, somewhere to look at for inspiration maybe?

You're welcome. I'm interested in GBRf 'Sarah' and the BR large logo one. If they are good I'll consider getting a Freightliner one to replace my Bachmann version.

Email from Hattons says:- There is a deadline as to when we can offer the Airfreight option but at the moment this date has not been confirmed. We will advise customers before the deadline is coming up but you do still have a couple of weeks minimum as to when that will be.