JSpencer

I cried when Hattons cancelled theirs, but now I can finally add that final touch to my engineering train. Nice one EFE

All these new fish vans are starting to make me feel bloated.... Nice one EFE

My 6 SECR ones and GC and GW ones were also loose. I'm tempted to make these working ends 😅

Now how I imagine a 517 making it all the way to the Kent coast???🙃

Another 3 RCH received. This time POs from the south. I've mixed them into a train of other RCH (9 in total on this train alone) and other POs (Bachmann, Hornby, Oxford). Previous pics used a Grey C class or simplified Wainwright livery C class, now we step a little back in time with a full Wainwright livery C class and to top it all, we have top and tailed the train with Rapido 6 wheel brake vans (I thought I had brought too many of these, but the number is turning out to be just right). One thing about mixing these different makes of PO, is that the rake looks very prototypical in having wagons of slightly different sizes.

Only if they do a WD 2-10-0. Then it will include parts from Bachmann (WD 2-8-0), Ellis Clark and KR models....

Thank you, mine is actually quite high standing 4ft off the ground. But yep, kids can quickly write off something if you are not careful. And one reason why I keep much of the old robust stuff!

I do have a GN gunpowder van along with an NB one. These are quite bright compared to the drab SECR greys but plausible (I could of brought more Iron Minks but then it would look overpowering and non realistic). An Earlier train today with the SE&CR RCH wagons, also the GC and GW RCH pair, a Rapido GWR 4 plank and some Rails 1424 vans and Rapido Gunpowder vans. I have too many 1424s (I only wanted the 5 SECR ones, but ended up with SR ones at the start that I repainted before later getting the SECR ones - you can see why I need more opens 😅).

I'll take a few of both 😉

Another pair RCH arrived today. The GW and GC ones. One way to quickly add additional opens to a pre-grouping layout is to include a few from other railways. For the SECR, midland railway opens were a common sight, but I have also seen GC wagons too. And why not a GW version. The brakes on this pair are one-side only unlike the SECR versions which have brakes both sides. And the contrasting greys to boot....

Now in a train with mostly other Rapido wagons including the 3 RCH in late SECR, a pair of Bachmann ones and 3 Rails 1424 vans (of course the C class might see itself replaced at the head by an O1 at some point): On an inner line, 3 early SE&CR RCH can be seen with 3 other early coloured SE&CR opens. The free running of these wagons really allows us to capture the length of these mixed trains. No issues for the C pulling it all.

Comparisons.... I think it is safe to say that the Bachmann Collectors club of 3 SECR opens has now seen its day. The paintwork is generally too dark and obvious within a rake. (the same can said of Hornby and Dapols standard wagons in SECR colours). Rapido Maunsell 7 plank bottom (could do with a few more of these) vs Rapido RCH top: Bachmann Collectors club right vs Rapido Left (that Bachmann is dark...) Rapido top vs Bachmann bottom Bachmann left vs Rapido right Bachmann top, rapido bottom

Rails SECR versions arrived this morning. Very welcome in helping to rebalance my SECR wagon rakes back towards being mostly opens. The end doors were not glued in though and I now wonder if they could be made working so as to discharge 😅

Their new class 31 but only the deluxe models. Most of my HM7000 fitted locos (I have about 10), do not have space for a powerpack. Most are older models made between 2005 and 2015 with 8 pin loco fitted plugs and certainly not designed with sound in mind. Worse, often only the 6 driving wheels actually picking up (no tender pickups). But despite this I found I have run some of these models non stop for 30 minutes (including stops at stations etc and not simply just going round) without issue of cutting out. I only get issues when there is dirt, but then it is out with the track rubber, and cleaning the wheels then it is all fine again.

Also Bachmann's OO-9 mainline Hunslets have them too.