Dan Hamblin

There are two lugs on the cab sides down in the corner nearest the firebox foundation ring. I found that sticking some spacers under them prevent the screws from pulling the cab assembly downwards and thus bending the running plate down. I took a load of photos when I carried out the surgery, but I don't think I took one that clearly showed where I fitted the spacers. Suffice to say it is now straight but I haven't yet managed to refit the cab seats and boiler backhead gauges! Regards, Dan

Try looking behind the foam in the lid - mine was in there along with the information sheet and diagram. Regards, Dan

Exactly the same problem with my 38xx model, only with a left hand turn out and left hand curve leading up to it. The track is level, but the wheelset is skewed over so hard that the flange climbs up the point blade. Both locos share the same bogie design as I understand it. Regards, Dan

My one got a fair bit of running on Horton at Brighton Modelworld this year and on my home layout. No problems yet! Perhaps having drive to both driving wheel axles helps? Regards, Dan

A bit confused here - I've just tried to open up my Dapol Britannia to apply a little bit of oil on the worm gear as per instructions. I can't separate the boiler from the running plate and chassis, specifically the smokebox won't come off from the saddle and the cab appears to be stuck to the rear end of the running plate moulding. Anyone else had similar issues? I have removed both bogies and body to chassis screws. The loco seemed to have a slight growl when I tested it just now, hence I wanted to apply some oil to the worm gear before further running as a precaution as well. Regards, Dan

Something from my own layout, which catches the sun quite nicely in the evenings through the loft windows. Not quite the same league as the stunning compositions in this thread, but not bad for a point and shoot digital camera. Regards, Dan

TfL does have a semblence of control over the DLR, but has franchised out its operation and upgrading to Serco. Regards, Dan

Bear in mind the real boiler is effectively a new design based on the Peppercorn original. Certain changes have been made for it to fit within the loading gauge and the details you mention are likely to be standard fittings on boilers constructed at Meiningen works in the former East Germany. The Bachmann model is not brand new, it was first produced over five years ago and standards are continually improving. There are two noticeable changes to the standard Bachmann model to make it look like the modern Tornado - the special tender body and the additional chime whistle located behind the fireman's side smoke deflector. To make a totally new body and tender chassis would cost a considerable amount of money when there is a standard product available that will please many. This is a deliberate design detail to permit the model to traverse 2nd radius set track curves whilst still having a flanged cartazzi truck wheelset. On the equivelent Hornby LNER pacific chassis the wheelset is flangeless but the cartazzi frames are at the prototypical width. They are just different solutions to the same problem. To be fair to Bachmann, this is very much a locomotive designed to be run on a layout. Regards, Dan

You will also need to ease out the wire beneath the running board on the right hand side of the loco. Decoder socket is in the firebox behind the motor. Regards, Dan

I'm not quite au fait with this 21-pin DCC stuff - do I need a 21-pin decoder or can I use an adapter and put an 8-pin one in? Is there room to fit an adapter and the decoder in City of Truro's tender? Any help gratefully received! Regards, Dan

This was the rake used for the Top Gear special to Edinburgh: http://www.riviera-trains.co.uk/theroyalscot.htm Most railtours use a mix of coaches from this rake and others in the Riviera Trains fleet, anything from chocolate and cream to green and cream or maroon! Regards, Dan

Ian - I've had a similar experience with the same model, managed to test mine with nine Maunsells and a van and it could pull that train (whilst straddling two second radius set track curves) but with a bit of slipping. Regards, Dan

Let's see - brake rods (loco and tender), etched plates (v. nice), painted front steps, dummy screw coupler, two white lamps, vac pipes, cylinder draincock pipes, painted cab doors and a pair of spares electric lamps (unpainted). The buffers are painted silver, I might try and take the paint off with a wheel cleaning pen at some point. Regards, Dan

A few of Tornado on Westwood Junction. Outside the tunnel (with Maunsell rake in tow) Front end from the right hand side Tender and cab Top of the new tender moulding Nameplate and naming plaque 60163 Tornado, 4472 Flying Scotsman, 60019 Bittern. What chance of this being repeated in 1:1 during 2010? 60163 Tornado, standard record shot next to the roundhouse 60163 over the shed pit road next to the Super D Regards, Dan

Mine is sitting in front of me waiting for the loft to warm up so I can run it in!! Regards, Dan

Just given mine a quick run to make sure it all works before being wrapped up for the 25th Of course, I had to shunt a few things out of the way to clear the DC controlled loop, and oh woops! There is a rake of GWR clerestory coaches in the way. Who put those there? Superb model - well done to Bachmann and the NRM! Regards, Dan

I have 72008 sitting front of me now. Lovely model of the 'Baby Brit' One really nice detail on this later period model is the AWS cable that hangs from its supports next to the firebox on the drivers side. Will run it in later on. Regards, Dan