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Not understanding the thought process in Margate… you would have thought improvements to the coaches would be a priority especially given Oxford mk3’s as a template, and that probably like many I would be surprised to see any other manufacturer produce an hst.

Re the cravens roof vents , this might help…. It’s fron the dc kits instruction sheet for the same model.

Mmm many thanks, I did wonder, the plot thickens !,

Just collected a triang blue Pullman with what appears to be ultrascale wheels, so runs smoothly and quietly compared to the standard offerings… one set of the wheels have grooves with solid tyres…which have understandable gone hard over time…would anyone know if the wheels are indeed ultrascale ? …curious above anything else.

Excellent, glad to have helped.

I don’t know if this might work, but for the class 47’s , which can be a tight fit, the method is to slide plasticard or an old bank card at a number of places between the chassis and body and slowly inch the body off.

Mmm interesting the Captain Phillips comments, my Brother is a private yacht skipper, in his industry when cruising the caribbean they generally carry enough firearms to go round… and do avoid east Africa for obvious reasons .

I appreciate Andy’,s frustration and was not having a go at him at all, as like many I really appreciate the immense hard work that goes into running the site…very much an unsung hero ! (perhaps darker forces at play as I visit and subscribe to a number of other sites with out the same strange issue..ghosts in the machine).

Is this now hitting a new level , as since the last site upgrade I get credit card sized video,s running for about 30 secs and are not advertising, really annoying as they open each time you go on a new topic.

When buying second hand I always take the view that there’s a high chance that the loco was surplus to requirements, so probably not run for a while so will need a wheel clean and light oil.. usually right. My loco shop will always run them for me, where-as i am not always convinced that the two big box shifters do , so it’s more of a chance purchase given they are warehouses as opposed to model shops.

Mtk class81 on eBay at present, looks nicely built and lightly weathered, front windows a classic massingham disaster…and the price will make you take a breath!!

Great pictures of the early 50s, and modelling inspiration of a subject not really covered, I doubt Hornby will ever cover them… ought to be easy enough for us modellers to produce!

You have to feel for Ben having put his heart and soul into the 25/45/47 models with two being challenged by other manufacturers, I guess for us it will come down to price at the end of the day "……it’s becoming a crowded market place.

I would suggest a web search of , railtec, fox to name a couple.

And one to whet Clives appetite...a techcad example in 4mm

Here are some comparisons between the two Heljan runs, and credit to Ben for the subtle changes on the new version makes a much better model, particularly the pantograph which although does sit a little high on the insulators looks better, but as Ben explained was a compromise that had to be made.

Some more to whet appetites v/s one of my Hornby models with a Lima phantograph. Heljan model is nice not weathering issues like the 25.

Interesting as well in that hattons still have these on their website despite communication last year, be great if they have had a change of heart.!

There is always eBay as a last resort.

Excellent on the cams...many thanks

40106 looks ok....and as you say the Green is a bit challenging! and on a lighter note we both seem to be the prominent eBay trawlers for locos, I picked up an unmade class 24 last week ,all the mouldings look ok and just need a little filing ,so touch wood very little filler will be needed, the glazing looks to be a fair fit as well , a. Hornby class 25 unit will power it. It would be great if the trail can flush out some pics of MTK ac electrics ,as those always seem to fetch a hefty premium on EBay . hattons still have a peak kit on their books , the photos just don’t show enough to judge if any bits are missing.

That would be great please...also like others I have a challenge in getting all lights to function, which I imagine is down to the contacts as I have only one tail light. Working at present.

Great thread, I recently picked up one on eBay relisted as a non runner, the nuts/ bearings were locked solid with the famous green gunge, and now freed up and runs superbly , what I do find odd is that I have a number of other 56’s and 50’s which aren’t used that often and none have suffered the same way. I have another with a broken coupling mount has anyone any experience in replacing the part ? I assume it is mounted to the chassis as opposed to any part of the bogie.

Does look a good step up from the Bachmann offering , and as we all agree weathering is very subjective and in this instance almost looks dry brushed as opposed to an airbrush.

Per Andy and the admin, please give Heljan a break, take a step back to look at what they have achieved in the uk ...0 gauge for the masses and a great run of the unique locos, kestrel/ lion/ falcon class 128 to name a few , all of which I very much would have seen the light of day from Hornby or Bachmann, and ok there has been the odd hiccups in the learning curve but we have all been there.