TravisM

Best person to answer this question is Tony Wright, I suggest sending him a PM or asking this question on his thread 'Wright writes'

I took these pictures a few weeks ago of my Accurascale 37423 and 37609 along with their KUA's on the Market Deeping MRC test track. I'm still waiting for the MK2E BSO escort coaches from Rainbow Railways to make this train complete.

I think the last four BR blue Class 56's were lined up at Leicester depot (I think) for a photoshoot in the early 90's. I can't remember the numbers of them but I think 006 was certainly one of them. I seem to remember that Rail magazine had a pull out picture of them all lined up within the magazine.

I recently bought two Hornby Mk2E's, a BSO in Virgin Cross Country livery which will be de-branded and weathered by GC Weathering, to similar to when DRS were using it. The other is a TSO in DRS livery and will go into the loco/DBSO set. As you can see, I now have two set of loco hauled coaching stock, and I do plan to create a third but not sure if to have it top and tailed with Class 37's or with another DBSO. I also decided to replace the points at the west (south) end with curved as they worked better, though straight is more prototypical but I just don't have the room. I lined up the two trains at the eastern end, to show where the level crossing, signal box and rail footbridge will go. I'm still dabbling and I think I'll move the tracks about 3-4 inches further away from the back scene so there's less in the foreground, even though St Bees station will be positioned within the arc of the curve (if that makes sense) Helpful suggestions would be most welcome

After a lot of procrastinating, I've decided to abandon my Sellafield layout mainly because it was planned to go out onto the exhibition circuit, and I honestly feel, because of health issues, I would struggle loading it into a large car or van. So the idea is sadly no more. On the upside, I've decided to reuse the baseboards I had and go with my original plan of St Bees during the time when trains were loco hauled with Class 37's and later, 68's. The baseboards will be hung off the wall and to get the full length along the wall, Tim Horn is going to create a 6inch 'filler', so I get the full 8'6". I've started roughly laying out the track plan for the station to give me a sense of perspective, though I'll probably move the tracks away from the back scene and nearer the front and put the points on another board. If anyone has any sensible suggestions, I'd like to hear them.

I saw this today on a model railway shop facebook page and I nearly spat my cornflakes out. They are very, very naughty people 🤣🤣😎😎

Here's a new one, nicked from Facebook but 50023 "HOWE" at Oxford Carriage Sidings on ECS, to form the (1F71) 17.00 to Paddington Service on 14/2/89. Note the black windscreen surround over the white.

Who does the barbed wire?

Great catch and I certainly need more of these FNA-D’s. I’ll probably get between another 6-8 for my Sellafield layout, but I think I’ll space them out between Accurascale and Revolution Trains models.

It's a book, you can see where it folds 🤨

Any news on when there's likely another announcement on a third batch of Class 37's? Is it likely after the second batch has arrived and been dispatched and all happy 😊

Finally managed to get two of my Accurascale DRS Class 37’s out of their boxes, along with the KUA wagons on Market Deeping MRC’s test track as my Cumbrian Coast line layout is still waiting for the wood butchering to start. They drew a lot of interesting comments and now waiting for the pair of Mk2E BSO escort coaches from Rainbow Railways to make it complete.

Going to be a b****r to reach over if something derails, even in N gauge

His ballasting could do with a tweak as well

I’ve seen the etched inserts as well, but like you, I can’t remember who did them, though Shawplan seems to ring a bell. I’ll get a good friend to install the sound as he’s brilliant at fitting it and just seems to get it to sound ‘right’.

If I get an earlier batch version, I’ll probably have someone fit DCC & sound to it, as well as the aftermarket disc brakes. Problem easily solved if you throw money at it 🤣

Been there, had the t-shirt many, many times 🤣. I tried DCC Supplies but no luck, so I think I'm going to have to buy a used Class 68 and swop the body shells over. The Scotrail and Chiltern versions seem to be reasonably priced at the moment, so might go for one of those.

As previously put, I recently purchased a body shell of 68001, which I was going to swop with another Class 68 model, but I thought I'd email Dapol and ask if they sold working chassis from models that had been returned and repaired as I thought it was a waste to scrap a perfectly good bodyshell. I emailed Dapol off the website but to date, had no reply, which I thought was strange, even if it was to say 'sorry but no'. Should I contact them again or just buy a used model and bin the bodyshell?

I’ve been watching this series and it’s very informative.

Thanks for all the input guys, all very useful and I’ve been watching Tony Wright’s YouTube video’s as well. Obviously, the key thing I’ve learnt is preparation, which is far more critical than on say a plastic or white metal kit. Also, take your time and don’t rush.

I’m thinking of buying a OO/4mm Judith Edge 50t Hunslet kit for my Sellafield layout, and I was wondering if anyone has any experience of building this kit? As I’ve never built a brass etch kit in my life, I’m finding the thought of building it a little intimidating, to say the least. Any tips or advice would be very welcome.

I’ve not ordered any of the first batch of Accurascale Class 66’s as I’m waiting for a second announcement which includes a DRS Tier 2 (5 door) variant. I’ll have 3 please 😎

Doesn’t stop loco’s with 645 or older engines being preserved in the US, including a few of those with the newer 710 engine. Spares are plentiful but the only downside is that their mainly produced in the US or Canada, so your going to have to pay import duties. Okay for a big transportation company, not so good for a small preservation group. I believe both 66001 and 66779 have been claimed, but I don’t know by who, as well as 59001.

But even he had to selectively compress large parts of his layout

Does anyone know if this loco is still available as a Judith Edge kit? Looked on DC Kits website and it showed out of stock (as were most of her kits). Does anyone else stock them?