Steven B

You may be able to remove the N and E lettering leaving you with a plain grey wagon that can go at the end of your rake. If you decide to go down the route of a repaint, the body is held onto the chassis with a couple of clips, one either side of the body, both located between the hopper chutes. Steven B

The yellow marker shows the wagon is "circuit working" - i.e. on a dedicated out and back working, usually on a predefined route. Steven B

Put some tape on each of the brass contacts at the faulty end in turn and re-run your tests - this should help work out which feed is for the red LED. Once you know this you can follow the tracks and wires back towards the Next18 socket. The wire runs may look OK, but from your photos of the PCB marked "F7118+PCB08-A" a couple of the solder joints could benefit from being remade. Steven B

Former HMS Grimsby (M108 - now M310) & HMS Shoreham (M112 - now M311)? If Turkey does let them into the Black Sea it'll be interesting to see how they manage against what ever Russian throws at them (or if Russia take a shot at them before they get there - so far their training has been in British waters). Steven B

Ditto, but just in case it doesn't get through to you (got error after clicking submit), I've also PM'd Trains4U. Steven B

I'd be tempted to mirror the layout on the indicated NE-SW axis, putting the station throat near where the current text suggests the canal will go. This has a couple of benefits. Firstly, the point work is closer to the platforms, freeing up space for scenery Secondly, with just two tracks to turn through 90 degrees, you'll be able to run with a larger minimum radius (at least on the scenic section). Steven B

I've got some P7 hoppers to finish off (still got black iron work to paint), but I'm quite pleased with the repaints I've recently finished using Dapol 21t hoppers and minerals. I started with a coat of Halfords red primer followed by Humbrol gloss "Italian Red" (#220). The photo below makes them look a little brown, and perhaps should be a little more orange in shade but I'm happy with them. They look the part behind a NCB loco which is what matters to me! Loco is an EFE Hunslet austerity and they're sat on a T-TRAK module belonging to a member of the NGS's Yorkshire Area Group. Steven B.

The VCA and VDA bodies are now available from the NGS (along with the former TPM POA, limpet, PTA and Russell coal container. You'll need to find a Farish OAA or VAA as a chassis donor as the NGS haven't managed to convince Bachmann to make a batch of the chassis. I'm hoping Rapido follow on the OAA with the air braked Speedlink vans. Steven B

I can understand not mixing the different eras within a single triple pack; It's that the wagons are identical apart from the running number that's most frustrating me, particularly comparing them to the initial release of the VEA. Compare images for the first release: https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/5003/sonic_models_n_vea_vanwide_van?instock=true&onorder=true&soldout=true Each wagon is slightly different - for example, there's different styles of Railfreight logo, white on black vs white on body colour TOPS panels and different location of depot logos. These changes are much more noticeable than a different running number. Steven B

Don't forget the second air-horn. Steven B.

Yes. When originally built in around 1961 they had vacuum brakes and plain bearings. The VEA rebuilds from 1977 had air brakes, roller bearings and FAT 19 suspension allowing operation at up to 75mph. Prior to the full rebuild, several hundred of the vac' braked vans had their plain bearings replaced with roller bearings at the behest of the MoD (TOPS VEV). This meant they could be used for explosives traffic without having to have the bearings inspected every time they were loaded. Interestingly, Sonic/Rails's art work for the VEV shows plain bearings which I believe are incorrect for that code. More history here: https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/br-vanwide-and-vea-wagon-story What's slightly disappointing is that the models within each triple pack are copy and paste as far as livery detail is concerned. Only the wagon numbers are being changed. On the original VEA releases there were several different variations on each livery with variations in text locations etc. Without this variation and given the text size, Sonic might as well just produce a single wagon number in each pack. The vacuum braked version hasn't been available RTR before - a kit version was made by Parkside and is now owned and produced by the NGS. Steven B.

@Trains4U are you still planning on scaling these down to N? I'd like to swap my PG Models pewter Warriors and CVR(T)s with something my locos can haul... Steven B

For 1990s BTCC, my favourite has to be a Volvo 850 Estate! For current day Accurascale, Mk2d and HEA please (in N, along with the Mk2b & Mk2c if it's not too much to ask for!). Steven B

Copy BR and mix 'em in the same train: D802_ExeterC_1441-to-Wloo_22-7-68_crop by robertcwp, on Flickr

Very nice work! What's the source of the brick paper? Steven B

I wouldn't count on any green or blue class 47s - the body shell used for the current release is the mid 1980s "Crewe Cut" where some of the metal work was removed from around the buffer beams. More sector and privatisation liveries are more likely. It may be that Farish have yet to modify the body shells for the older periods to match the new chassis. Steven B

Some exquisite modelling and one "it's too small for old fingers and eyes" and you make your mind up? Can I suggest you pay a visit to your local N Gauge Society Area Group and get hands on with the actual models? You'd be more than welcome at a Yorkshire Area Group meeting. Alternatively, a few Peco wagons or a Gaugemaster starter set (GM2000105) will let you get a feel for the scale without a massive outlay. Steven B

Or reference a copy of the original design guide: http://www.doublearrow.co.uk/intercity.htm Steven B

Nice work! For the route number and destination blinds you could have used white transfer paper and just printed the black - it would have avoided having to paint the white patches. Steven B.

"Pick your own" running numbers are going to upset those who attempt to collect all the catalogue numbers! Steven B

Watch out for Siphons! The Dapol Siphon is the earlier outside framed version - non of these survived to received BR blue. The Lima model is the later inside frame vehicle which did. Steven B

It still is. Whilst a lot uses computer generated animation, you'll still find many of the old skill alive - the new Clangers is still stop-motion animation as an example. Steven B

1978: 27011+27032* n by Steve Thorpe, on Flickr May 1995 was when Motorail was stopped by BR: (6089Gardener on Flickr) If you want to ride on a train with a CCT, head to the North Norfolk Railway - they attach one to a train during the summer months when it's used to carry prams and pushchairs belonging to the youngest of their passengers. Steven B

Using the Dapol Siphon chassis (2A-000-020) is an alternative - for around the same price as a pair of B-Set bogies you get a nicer underframe. Steven B.

This is somewhat disparaging to those not actively involved in operating the trains. Safety critical training goes beyond track/footplate access and is needed in many roles. Would you want to eat at a cafe/buffet where the staff don't have food hygiene training? Steven B