Ressaldar

Received my Large Logo model this morning just before being taken shopping by SWMBO. The box was soon opened once we returned and I am delighted with the model. I shall be fitting a Zimo MX699KS and noticed that in the instruction leaflet packed with the model, it states 'more detailed instructions for decoder installation are available on the Heljan website' - guess what? - there no instructions on their website principally due to the fact that the Class 50 does not even appear on their website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how long we will have to wait and will the Clayton be out sooner? regards Mike

After various bouts of loss of mojo coupled with 'something else better coming along', I have now completed this project going from this to the finished model the Guards side the corridor side waterpipe end close up showing the 'wing mirrors' and grab handle the 'tell tale' end taken before the fitting of the wing mirrors and grab handle. Paint is JLTRT rattle can with three coats of Johnson's Klear over then transfers from Precision Decals and lining by HMRS Pressfix, followed by a further three coats of Johnson's Klear. Now that this is finished, I can turn my attention to completing a similar BR conversion of an ex LMS Kitchen Car into a Diag 1/551 Inspection Saloon using two Sidelines body kits and one chassis and cut and shuffled - easier in brass than the resin of the H33 kit. regards Mike

Has anyone managed to find a stockist for the extension leads 4A-000-014 yet? Especially bearing in mind that the same lead is used on the OO signals which have been available for some time. regards Mike

John, I think that you are referring to the Class 3 82xxx tank which is supposed to be following the GWR 45xx small prairie. Lionheart announced a type of 'common rail' 2-6-2t chassis development a few years ago which would also cover some of the LMS and LNER 2-6-2t types - we wait with interest................................ regards Mike

Hi Phil, many thanks for posting your pictures. regards Mike

Hi Jo, I think that you could be right there on both counts, many thanks. regards Mike

Hi Keefer, thanks for the confirmation and the heads up on the braking system alteration. A couple that I did earlier - regards Mike

Hi Keefer, I will have to pass on that one. But what I have noticed on your picture above is that the original ETH connectors are still in place, which may indicate that the original equipment was retained after all. regards Mike

Hi Simon, many thanks for posting the link, that helps fill in a few blanks. The 'gauge glass' in the bottom left hand corner of the body has similarities to a fire alarm glass, could it be such a thing? regards Mike

Hi Keefer, many thanks for the heads up on the control jumper socket, presumably, these are 'standard' fittings on EMU stock and if so, would enable the saloon to run with the 4TC set that LT have in their stock. regards Mike

Photos of the ex Inspection Saloon DM45029 in its refurbished guise as London Transport Saloon LT45029 have started to appear on Flickr - photo by Brian Creasey and after nearly ten years of work at Eastleigh, it looks fantastic. Having made three O Gauge models of DM45029 it cries out for doing another one in this form. The bogies have been upgraded and there are other signs of changes to the undercarriage but the main visible changes are the removal of the roof vents and those over the doors, security bars on the doors, a 'tell tale' in the bottom left hand side and another above the window in the Guards compartment and an upgraded ETH system. It is the ETH fittings that I am most interested in and if anyone has close up photos or better still drawings, I would be grateful to see them. regards Mike

Herewith photos of Heljan locos as seen at Telford over the weekend. better start saving now! regards Mike

Phil, Where in my original post do I imply that I was asking for freebies???????? for your information, in my email to them I asked them to advise me of the cost of the replacement parts! Yes, you are correct in your second sentence, but the point is that they totally refused to supply me with parts that I was prepared to pay for. It raises the question that if I were to buy one of their 'Wholesale' models from one of their 'outlets' would they refuse to supply me then? In fact the 14 was bought from Rails, who I understand are one of their 'outlets' regards Mike

Hi Tony, many thanks for the heads up, order placed, great pity that Hattons could not have let me know! kind regards Mike

I have been involved in railway modelling for a long time, the last forty solely in O Gauge. A few months ago my wife suggested that I build a small OO layout for my den. I drew up a plan for a 6’ 6” x 1’ 6” layout and ordered the baseboard kits and made my first trip to the new Hatton’s facility at Widnes for the track. While I got involved with the baseboards and track laying, I scanned various sites for suitable second hand locos - 1960’s to cover both steam and diesel and came across a new Class 22 and a second hand Class 14. I fitted DCC sound into the 22 and sent the 14 off to have sound fitted as I had heard that things were a bit tight under the bonnet! I received the 14 back last week and while it was working away on the rolling road, I looked at the accessories bag, still intact from new. The brake pull rod assembly was broken and on opening the bag, I noticed that two of the sand boxes were missing. I checked the paperwork supplied with the loco, which stated that spares were available from Hattons. Having checked the part numbers required, I sent an email to Hattons requesting the replacement/missing parts, which was responded to requesting ‘an order number’, which I could not understand so I telephoned Hattons only to be told that as I had not purchased the loco from them in the first instance they would not supply the parts requested. This is the shortest sighted piece of customer relations and service that I have come across. There is no mention of this short sighted approach in any paperwork, in fact you are told that the spares are there! There red will be many people out there that have bought second hand locos and stock in the same boat as myself, it is after all a thriving market, if every manufacturer took the same ridiculous stance as Hattons, this market could disappear overnight. Needless to say I shall be making no further trips to Widnes, cancelled my pre-orders that I had arranged and will be dealing with other, more amenable suppliers in the future. regards Mike

perhaps it is the height/depth size of the engine room windows that is wrong on the model? regards Mike

Hi Paul, I'm working on it, give me time! regards Mike

Hi Pete, In this particular loco, the boiler is a resin casting and therefore the spaces left for putting speakers is somewhat limited. The fact that I could use a double sugar cube in within the chassis was a bonus. The sound volume is more than enough for my requirements. regards Mike

Having completed 34014 Budleigh Salterton eight years ago as a 'showcase' but fully working model, I thought that it was time for it to earn its keep. So having done a few hours in DC on the Club layout last Thursday and a few wrinkles ironed out, I installed a Youchoos sound decoder with one of their double sugar cube speakers With the convenient deep chassis, I was able to fit both decoder and speaker 'piggy back' style between the centre drivers, making the whole installation rather neat. regards Mike

Does this one qualify? https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/11359268023/in/photolist-iiMdCF-cMBp7Q-anz3zq-FhZ1x4-5nknUw-qjmCNx-at8vg7-atXR8G-9zg2d-93fjkG-bkS2uD-6wLSr6-ayhQ4u-6N4MyM-at8wss-TsKNJo-nxWmN4-Fu1kne-22KHSXv-dvSjfz-9GsYmj-fzLy5F-dWWEMc-bkS3uZ-bsA6ur-4mxKrw-5kojmN-oVf1LD-74Vgiz-fL4Sgj-bkS3Fz-TsKP9S-frjtv6-dFJauw-M2kFTG-fkoPoH-dPNyNs-fqd3x-8Z2tcG-qcGobF-phrEHq-57ty1y-pxYeRk-dFt45L-51xxz3-bkS2Tx-dKD1t7-WHDjgH-aDcefV-9RjMj9 regards Mike

Hi Steve. dimensions as requested, hope that it what you were after, the coal chute dim is with the 'drawbridge' itself in the raised position. let me know if there is anything else.. regards Mike

Hi Steve. I'll run the tape over it tomorrow and let you know. regards Mike

Hi Andrew, will they be single or double deckers? Really enjoying the journey here, especially the ups and downs of the track layout. Keep it up please. regards Mike

Received my sound fitted Class 15 from Hattons yesterday at noon, having ordered it at 14.00 the day before. Excellent service and a great loco, had two hours of running in at the Club last night, having put the number D8226 on during the afternoon. Really looking forward to the Class 22. Regards Mike

Hi uk_pm, As there is a similar button on the inner end, perhaps it is a magnet for easier coupling, but with the screw coupling if you want it. regards Mike