robmcg

Amen to that. Such a stimulating discussion recently I have looked at pics of Clans with renewed interest, including clean ones in general service, and in 30 odd photos 10 above the running plate none look black, muddy mid-grey ash more common, and some look as if they have never been black. Pristine ex-works might have been for a few weeks. With a few Brits being green top running plates, with variations in sandboxes, green or black, I think it's reasonable to have 72004 with green, and the firebox lower side on 72009 although greenish often looks grey. In the many photos of Clans and Brits I have done I have never noticed the green top versions like 70046 'Anzac' and there was no comment at the time, So far as I know. Just to put the matter to rest, here is a colour photo of 70045 'Lord Rowallan' and we know photos never lie. with a Clan to remove all doubt on the subject.

Hi David, I can't help with the telephone poles but noted today when reading a book in appreciation of BR Standard Pacifics that Clans 72005 and 72006 were described as being allocated to Haymarket 64B from Oct 1957 to May 1958 (from memory) and wondered if your models cover this period and if you need an excuse to buy one of these superb models? Here is my pristine 72005 with appropriate photo trickery, these are superb models. I could have done it with a Haymarket shed background but never imaginged the class ventured there, unless very rarely. Now you can join the discussion about running plate top colour in the Clan thread... I suspect it was usually the colour of dirty workboots and general weathering as much as pure black or green. Cheers

Hi David, a valid option in my opinion, and with due respect for copyright, is to use a ptototype photo, or sections of several, and paste a photo of a model onto it, with hand-computer mouse painted touching up... Here are some examples; a Hornby/Jouef H0 241P SNCF 4-8-2, an Intermmountain H0 Southern Pacific AC8 4-8-8-2 in Colorado c1950, and a BR green Hornby Duchess. It may be phoney, it may look phoney to some, but I enjoy it. Sometimes I just go for atmosphere. My memories of steam begin in 1953 as a 3 year old standing on a footbridge and being covered in smoke, very exciting! Altogether most enjoyable and I like your thread. Gives an idea of some of the options, I even have several at Haymarket... but I certainly don't think 'adding smoke' is all that easy, And just to try to bring a little bit of balance back to what is an Eastern Region thread at least, here is Hornby's stunning A2/3 60523 'Sun Castle' at speed in a purely imaginary piece of English countryside. I enjoy the flowers and texture of grass, hard to model indeed. As some know I have injuries which limit my modelling, I used to be ok with two hands but it's harder with one and a bit. Thus the computer is my choice of modelling, together with our amazing RTR models, it's very satisfying at times.

True I have used Hattons photos and manufacturers' photos and not asked, but for photos by individuals I do make a point of asking, or in some cases offering to remove. I see the same Hattons and Bachmann photos widely copied by commercial operations and this is presumably a breach of copyright, where in my case the only financial interest would be in your site's visitors, the pics I use enhance sales of products and engender enjoyable reading, or so I thought until now. I do appreciate you requiring control of your images. I don't recall stealing any images from anyone on RMweb without their consent, unless by quoting their post and photo it represents copying and theft. Don't bother putting me on moderator watch. I've had it with the ads and the tone of your post has finished my interest in contributing here.

Pic removed, apologies, and yes my mistake it was a two page review.

I've read the BRM, Railway Modeller and Hornby magazine reviews. Gilbert Barnatt's BRM review praised the finish and detail, criticised the smokebox front a little, but it was a 2-page review. The others were mostly factual and without much opinion, other than that all three used phrases along the lines of '21st century' and 'up to date'. No mention of cab-firebox issues, nor of over-sized rods and motion. There is a very complete detailing pack though. Absent was any great praise. A lot will depend on assemby quality, as with all recent high-spec 00 RTR. I predict praise for the paint on BR green models but am not so sure about lining and so on on the LNER Apple green versions. For me and only judging from the review photos I wheels and motion are less than convincing, but I am being picky...

Thanks David, yes now when I think about it 60113 nee 4470 was regularly used south of Newcastle or York or somewhere down there. I half expect it to appear in RTR... it's large, famous, colourful and would sell.

Hi David, I do hope you find more V2s to inhabit 64B. In my opinion the old split frame and DCC-ready Bachmann models were among the best of the era, 1991-2008 for split frame and until recently a couple of DCC-ready upgrades but still with the older body. New model V2s are imminent, I can't wait! I was intrigued by your A1/1 in metal and can't reall if you have shown it before, but I created one digitally a while back, using various donors and freehand computer art. I have a lot more respect for Thompson now that I have read more about him, having previously taken the conventional and common view of C J Allen and O S Nock that his design skills were qustionable and he had Great Northern rebuilt into a 6' 8" Thompson engine out of spite. In reality I doubt that it was his choice, it would have been the loco superintendent, and the Gresley 4470 was worn out. My mind changed towards Thompson's favour when an ECML engineman from the 50s-60s whom I know pointed out that many Gresley engines had very poor ride and it required great skill to get the coal 'through the flap' on some engines, citing the nicknames of several; 'Tango' 'Jazzer' 'Ragtimer' among them, not to mention 'Footballers'. He had respect for both Thompson and Gresley. But I digress. Here is 'my' A1/1. I look forward to seeing your metal version. And in due course a V2 or two. cheers

I just bought a s/h Bachmann ex-WD 2-8-0 No.90445 aftermarket weathered and having read Gilbert Barnatt's review of the new V2 in the Nov 2021 BRM and his migivings about the thickness of the smokebox front and rivets on the smokebox, I was intrigued to see the very same on this 1999 design WD model... designed and made 22 years ago. The rivets are much less obvious on the older model. I don't think it will put me off a new V2 though. I look forward to seeing realistically-weathered versions of the Gresley 2-6-2. Above pic is slightly edited, but not around the smokebox. just for comparison... Cheers.

One of the finest examples of attractive perspective I have ever seen in 00 model photography, in my opinion. Could we possible have a current photo with similar perspective, and of course the extra detail which now graces the landscape? Your thread continues to be a 'must look' , thankyou. Cheers

Oops sorry David I get crossed wires in my brain far too often! Robbie

Further to the above David, do you plan to add yard lights to Haymarket? They might add to the look, and make adding skies in photos trickier!

Lovely photo David, a friend who fired on the ECML in the late-50s early-60s described the A3s as perhaps the only engine which looked fast standing still. Here is my Hornby 60062... they are great models. Not sure if it reached Haymarket though, in this pic it can't be Haymarket, the ash on the track wouldn't be tolerated.

I know it's wishlisting, which makes some around here wince, but my faourite livery for A4s is post-war LNER blue without valances... as per this non-existent Hornby model, edited. Will remove if required.

I bought one after they went up in price, then by sheer chance found another in a NZ retailer's list at RRP so bought that too... a brother bought one too, so between us we control the market, well, almost, ... here is one of mine at a virtual Camden shed... imposing bulk! edited photo will remove if inappropriate. p.s. growing up in the 40s and 50s we had an original Atholl too, and I bought a set two years ago as a momento of the age... almost unused, TW would not approve.

Lovely to see the grass foreground, I think it adds to the atmosphere. Great photo and those weathered Hornby models really are excellent. Did Haymarket have any V2s? With the new Bachmann model arriving I hope quite soon it would interesting to see something maybe renumbered and weathered? Cheers

Hornby has the capacity to use the same moulds and jigs and assembly workforce for many variations on the Princess, Duchess and Merchant Navy models, thus increasing the returns. The limit to 500 improved their margins by allowing quick sale at a good price. It may well be that these rather attractive models will be sufficiently popular to engender a whole series over the next few years, and that might include other models like A3 or A4 King or Castle, or whichever type appeals. In any event the die-cast tools will I expect be used for more than 500 models. With just a small change we could have a 'Duchess of Montrose' in die-cast limited to 750 models and I can just image what these would go for on Ebay!

It is lined on the boiler and running plate... my guess is BR green

When you enlarge it, there is a distinct change in tone between boiler and firebox, thus I think it is green. Isn't film odd! edit, Oops hilux beat me to it.

I doubt if Bachmann have changed their LNER livery, and I agree about the lighting... it does no favours to the model. Here is my photo of the DCC ready version of 2012 (I think) in LNER livery, the angle of the camera gives nicer-looking rods and motion than we have seen so far on the new versions, but just as with the new Hornby Clan colours vary so much according to cameras and lighting. edit; I really must check that all wheels are on the track!

I must say that to my eyes the review above shows a lot of bright wheels and motion, perhaps just my preferences.... I am sure to buy a BR version, but the bright white motion, hmmmm. Of course one can always modify one's models to taste. ...and end up with something like this... I look forward to treating the new BR models to similar slight enhancements.

Yes Ian it is one of the early split-chassis ones, but has had improvements made by a previous owner, front truck, blackened rims and motion, close-coupled, cylinder drains etc. as pointed out by Mike. I have a couple of the upgraded DCC-ready versions from 2016-on and they aren't bad but the flat dome and general standard is not quite up to the new version, going by the photos at least.

I have been tempted by older Bachmann V2s on the second hand market for under fifty quid, and have bought a couple, here is one ... 60694 , with the nameplates I presume will come with the new 60694.. Some details were loose in the box, front 3-link coupling and that steam pipe on the boiler, but it looks pretty good for a 1999-on model, split chassis of course, and someone has added cylinder drain pipes, coal and possibly other things, runs well. here below is the new one, factory photo for comparison Different lighting. ,mine was with a reading lamp and typical artificial room light, Canon camera auto light setting. And to finish, the other side of this UKP47 V2 from Hattons, UKP9.50 tracked airmail to NZ about 2 weeks. Am I missing something or was this model pretty good for its time?

Yes it looks my eye that the footplate lining is more yellow than boiler, cylinders and possibly tender. I subscribe to the rgb colour temperature camera lighting etc variations being primary variables. Some pic shown today look quite close to the original Clan production series, others are somewhat more yellow. Are not males rather commonly rather blind in green colour perception, statistically?

I too get the impression that these will be impressive models, especially the BR green versions, and cannot help but speculate on how they might be when given light weathering. I did a mildly edited version of the publicity photo of 60964 which I re-numbered... will remove if it offends, I think it gives an idea of slightly darkened rods and so on, but cannot wait to point my camera at the real thing.