Steadfast

As he retained the lead after Leclerc's challenge in the first corner or two, I thought to myself game over. Wasn't long until I fell asleep in front of the telly... Jo

Now, we normally complain that the lights on our models are too bright, but the LED lights on the replacement clusters are properly bright! Jo

040 could be a decent base model for future runs (sorry to wishlist!). DB stickered, and one of, if not the first, to gain the replacement LED light units. Would open the door for plenty of other DB stickered locos as Bespoke locos too. Something to watch on the stickered locos is they don't all have the front logo on the yellow panel. Jo

A brilliant announcement. The bespoke numbering idea is excellent, I'll have to go through the notebook for notable ones I've driven. Here's 66083 today still in full EWS colours, transferring a hefty rake of Falcon from the Down to the Up yard at Westbury. Jo

I assuming we're talking about a separate incident, the metal fatigue cracks in the yaw damper mounts at a guess Jo

I don't disagree in rhe slightest, but that's a new cab at minimum on the HST Jo

Much as I hate IETs, it was a bit more than a new skirt on the HST! It never ran again. Link from Flickr. The HSTs have done us proud, and for me what is a crying shame is that the IET is not a patch on what went before. As a passenger, yes everyone moans about the seats, but the ride is atrocious, they're worse than Voyagers along the sea wall, the catering has been dumbed down, the interior ambience is non existent and the saloon lighting is so bright it's ridiculous. It's interesting hearing complaints from the drivers too when I've been upbthe front on them. General consensus, they have some good features, but lots of problems. Whilst it's not the fault of the IET themselves, but relevant to the discussion they are becoming more and more overcrowded too as the DfT led removal of HSTs before replacement stock is available sees them redeployed on the Cardiff - Penzance corridor. This means as you bang across pointwork at 125 mph you're probably being thrown into another standing passenger, rather than watching your drink sway violently while seated. It comes to something when the most comfortable trains in the area are 30 year old 158s! Jo

I'd go 2 part epoxy. With tube, you're potentially increasing your surface area, as the glue will secure both the inside and outside of the brass, whereas a solid rod would only have glue on the outside faces. Also epoxy isn't brittle like superglue so less likely to snap. A slight recess in the surface or a lip / peg on the surface the brass is being mounted to will help secure it too Jo

Leaving a waterslide in a bowl of water won't make it release any quicker. Once the paper is saturated, you're not gaining anything, other than potentially losing the decal as it floats off into the water if its a quick release. Tiny decals I often just put a blob of water on the cutting mat with a brush and soak the decal in it there. Always take the backing paper to the model and slide them off - picking the decal up on a brush or tweezers risks it wrapping round and being ruined. I like @Gareth Collier's suggestion, will have to give that a go. Jo

Nice one Al, that's come together nicely. Glad to have been able to help. Jo

Nice, the RMCs look great when grubby and covered in graffiti Jo

If you're a member, read the first page of this thread. http://wnxxforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=37383 Tony Miles, a respected industry journalist, gives some background to the "why not more Hitachi" question. They've priced themselves out of the market, and have proven difficult for industry to work with. Almost like they don't want any more orders. Jo

Excellent work Matthew, you've got a great result there! Jo

Interesting. I guess it's like anything, published once then repeated all over! Jo

The 159s have the 400 bhp Cummins NTA855-R3 as do 158863-872. Backed up by @Cruachanwho replied as i was typing I'm not sure if the 158s converted to 159/1s retained the 350 bhp or got upgraded to 400 bhp lumps. Wikipedia suggests they kept the 350s, but well, it's Wikipedia so pinch of salt and all that. Scottish 158s were apparently built with first class. 159s have a 4 step brake handle, the 158s have 3 step brakes. Jo

Add me to the list of people mixing some PGAs into a set of RMCs too! The white livery will soak up some weathering brilliantly Nice progress on the layout too Graham, really coming on well. Jo

They're larger (compared to an 800) rheostatic grids to allow the rheostatic brakes to function when off the overhead wires. They are on any vehicles with an engine, in this case the 3 non driving vehicles. The non driving vehicle they hold on the video appears to have them. It'll be interesting to see what they do for day and night lights, since IETs don't have this function. 3 markers and two headlights are lit on the mainline, the option is for full or dimmed on the headlights. Jo

When 59003 gained the revised livery (post Europorte) only the orange was repainted. The GBRf text and orange numbers are paint not stickers, so these were masked and painted too. Up close in person you can see one or two tiny areas where the original insipid sandy orange colour is visible on a corner or a letter or number. Jo

They look nice and chunky Mike, should survive a few shows! Jo

Yes definitely a welcome reduction. Possibly also helped by the reduction in shipping costs? I saw an article the other day, the shipping cost of a container from China has gone from around 2 grand, to 18 grand, back to around 2 grand over the last couple of years. Jo

No problem, an LDC layout sounds interesting. I've spent the last 8 years in and around an LDC so give me a shout if there's anything you want to know. I think from memory the FEAs are loaded at Doncaster Wood Yard, but it's been a while since I've seen one up close to look at the load exam card. Jo

Correct, these (and the ex Jarvis KRA wagons) work with the NTC machine. The NTC machine has a pair of FEAs with it too, but I can't remember if they're twins or singles. The sleeper FEAs can be seen on trains (particularly the trippers between yards) without the NTC either going to or coming back from reloading. Say for example the NTC is working in one area for 3 weekends running, it may stay in the local yard, with Balfours attending to do maintenance in the week, and the FEAs going away on the trips for reloading. The 3D print of the sleeper carriers looks ace. I'd be tempted to have a go myself, but the N scale FEAs are best not talked about. Jo

Found the article! https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-can-of-worms-opened-by-hamilton-and-leclercs-f1-us-gp-disqualifications/10536696/ The relevant section: The FIA can zero in on which cars to single out for further inspection based on a variety of indicators. In the case of a worn floor, a beaten-up titanium skid plate gives off a strong smell that can arouse suspicion from the pitwall. A better read is the onboard footage, which the FIA will monitor to see if drivers’ heads are wobbling as a result of bottoming out over bumps. Jo

Nope. https://www.Bachmann.co.uk/product/class-47-7-47745-'royal-london-soc-for-the-blind'-rail-express-syst/372-262 Jo

An article I read the other day mentioned that they can also choose a car to inspect based in smell. The metal the skid blocks are made of give off a particular smell when hot apparently, and the FIA can inspect should they be suspicious Jo