Robert Shrives

Hi Reason why underframes were arranged same sided in a rake was to enable a crew to isolate brakes easily - no need to crawl under a train you just walk down the correct side and if even luckier this would be cess side and no next to the other running line ! It was necessary to reform a couple of XC HST sets after conversions at Wabtec as this little bit of history was lost on the new boys! It great being a dinosaur!! HST buffets and the variations to the menu is a book waiting to be penned ... Burgers and NCR tills and Keg bitter all part of the experience, tills broke with vibration and nobody cleaned the beer lines ! to say nothing of the mega head available. Real food cooked onboard is a skill dying on the real railway ! Robert

Hi If you want numbers try railtec transfers - Steve the boss did me a set for the XC rakes and if you note numbers you want then a fairly quick turn round and very light carrier makes for easy application, removal of old numbers dead easy with IPA / switch cleaner and a cotton bud, but have seen neatly removed using a blade as a chisel. a little bit of gloss varnish to restore a good surface and transfers sit really nicely. Given how 3 of 5 XC sets based around loco hauled stock it is good to see replication in the model world.. Robert

Well nobody has mentioned the Network yellow - all the ones at the Glasgow show sold out within the first hour ! mine waiting form Hattons on my return I guess all sold out now. Robert

But did you notice that 82101 has orange line correct for the prototype of the class and did you know that there are photos of it on test with out the IC begie section - quite a nightmare. Sadly I think the Falcon stripe is not that it tends toward earlier livery but from a few feet away not as noticable, not that makes it right. Hattons have had my money aswell Robert

Hi I am looking forward to having a look at the details captured in a complex livery Robert

HI, The only problem with stopping 170s on the NOT - CDF route is that they are full already! Platforms on both routes need to be HST sized as well. the 20 minutes/3 per hour XC service level with 3 car 170s and a mix of 4/5 voyagers and HST looks on paper as a winner but really the Bromsgrove wiring needs a bit of project creep ! Yesterday for second time in 3 days the signalling at Bromsgrove just expired , 1S43 dealyed 37 minutes talking past 3 signals. NR Western TRC announced without discussion that 1S45 would be diverted via Kidderminster- adding roundly one hour to a schedule already one hour longer due to Engineering wotk on the mainline at Central Rivers. This prompts should the thirt line of the junction at Worcester Parkway have platforms otherwise you exclude a parkway opportunity for the City and the Worcester - Gloucester - Brighton! services. Just a project creep thought? from a railway servant! Robert

Hi Jivebunny - viz relivering the errored coaches been suggesting that for a long time but never got any responses. The same with the blue grey intercity 125 with the legend too low -easy to remove and use a transfer to replace- done two rakes and best of all the CM02 four mk3s sets also on offer prices of around £72 makes a decent rake - you can clip off buffers and add a Intercity 125 transfers - FOX, Railtec, replica all do them. I must think that the TGS blue grey livery legend looked to be further up the side but not got another with which to compare. Robert

Hi, Viz red/white stripe a lot of angst caused but view folk just starting with Mk3s and the DVT had a better division it defo not match. I have suggested to Dapol that perhaps once this rerun filler done leave alone for a number of years and revisit the whole livery question and create a better spec and hope the chinese actually do it! I have also asked about an EMT first class as a short run as it is a missing item. for many on the N gauge Forum and here ? any thoughts on others wanted please post and PM me as well, if you would be so kind ! As ever no promises but always worth a punt. cheers Robert

Hi It looks better in the flesh I am told, The orange stripe on 82101 was unique in positioning and this picked up on model, the upper grey is slightly browner than the early shot put on the face book page and as noted the colour saturation is making it much browner as it has with the Exec/ intercity beige. From a few feet away it looked very good and matched other Mk3s available well. The stripes are everso slightly lower than first versions and sorts the corner alinement issue. No pic but the NR one looks a real treat so hopefully here before new year holidays in China kick in would be really great . As an aside found alovely pic of an INTERCITY pc plus bluegrey stock - full xc 7 car rake and an Executive liveried power car on rear i the Platform 5 combined vol for 1989. Robert

Hi , A while back I spent time with folk at SVR looking over the class 50 and this highlighted a couple of additional issues with the face of the 50 and some more work was commissioned on the CAD work Dapol Dave had worked upon. Hopefully these are nearly done and some work done on liveries for them as well. As Dave found the PCBs are a weak spot when produced in China so Andy came on board from DCC supplies to add his techincal excellence. He is like me an N gauger but business eats into the hours available. Some design work done on 142 but as with all 4 wheel vehicles getting an effective drive is fun - I have been looking at Kato parts to do the 3D print version not that easy to shoehorn in bits and have some internals. TGS makes its way - Livery details checked and corrected. No doubt Chinese New year hiccup will come into play so early summer is my bet... not taking money!! Still I am sure it will work out in the end. Agree with Ben on IOA and Falcon boxes. robert

Hi Refunds sorted today Robert

Hi no refund as yet but Hattons aware and working a fix asap per email yesterday. Robert

Hi Yes Hattons have noted via a spokesperson on the N Gauge Forum that an internal glitch casued cards to be liberated of monies. Dapol as GH noted not yet had second EP approval after retool. I understand livery plans in hand but not yet heard of approvals. spokesperson for Hattons noted refunds to be arranged, hopefully on Monday I guess. cheers Robert

Hi , I doubled pledge the other week to get the poppy pendo so I really hope enough get on board or Rapido are willing to take the jump into the "dark." Funnily enough has been the resistance to the real train stopping co workers giving me time of day - flyers in office ignored. Also some Branson kick back experienced in other spheres! Robert

HI Simon, The 37 looks a beast in 1/32 I have the cast bits for one from a friend but the brass body will never fit the castings but would give up grills into a body like yours, do you have a future for the body ? or up for sale? Cheers Robert

Hi , Before you have an earthquake of modroc and foam have you tried coating it with a textured masonery paint with some brown tint added or perhaps a grey. It fills all the little holes and adds an evening coat. I have experimented with long length grass matt - sprayed lightly with greys and fawns to kill the green to give a quick win scenery on a bus diorama would suit the basic flora of the area. great model and more strength to the elbow Robert

Dave , Thanks for update. I have to second Mark`s comments please do not end up on beans on toast! I am sure J94 will fly off shelves but say a small increase across the range will not kill the bird. Especially as you can use forum to explain needs more easily than the likes of the big boys. Still keep at it and enjoy xmas as only you can on Merseyside !!!! Do I finish my cut and shut 117 or wait for a Kernow one ? Regards Robert

Hi Dave, Any news from the front ? Cheers and hope all well in DJ land! Robert

Hi, Latest fun size operation was on FGW due traction knowledge in last 6 months or so if my memeory serves ok. Yes VT and ICXC before run fun size for many reasons most famous after axlebox failure fears so many MK3 trailers stopped , remember the HST parked on Newton Abott bridge?. VTXC flirtation with 158s on Birmingham - Swindons saw a few short forms as well. A well known short form HST was the pint size for the launch of the dyamic lines livery 2+3 set... but wether it stopped at EB? Robert

Hi Gang. Well it Proves Dave Jones is up and hard at work! He has asked be to correct my previous post ! "Stating thay the O gauge models in the current Dapol range were all my work." - This is incorrect. Apologies to Dave in FULL and sorry to misled anybody. Regards and humbled Robert

Hi If you look in the 2mmfs section you will find a fantastic rendition of the Worsley works GWR car , details achieved beggars belief and looks and runs really well. But it is clear a real ###### to build from the thread! Sadly I think the problem at Dapol is that the developers are working with some errored base work and are playing catch up with Chinese CAD staff, the class 33 tooling went into bin and a much better result is the result ! having seen CAD pictures in Collectors mag that arrived yesterday. The Brake, tankers and wagons were first efforts in O for Dapol and look like were toofar down the expensive production process to bin. At least it gives you the chance to modify and do some modelling using them as a basis, sadly some of the advice given to Dave over standards acceptable might have been taken to literally. It is a learning curve game and at least at the price it is a value range starter wagon or siding filler/ train expander! The railcar CADs perhaps should not have been released but I think comments were sought - well you gave them on this thread and perhaps that will be the last before production. Having had a little input into the TGS I have found Dapol staff really keen to make the best within the small budget that N models make - proving the case for a new roof took a while so changes and improvements can be made and hopefully Railcar will devleop and a N version will make it into daylight. It will be fun to see as like buses "none" for years and it looks like a flood of vehicles on the way. - In N a newly chassied Razor car slated for 2015 release will please most users, nothing on body improvements after last tweak.. heres hoping for models from CADs that are right Robert

Hi Gang , Hopefully some pics later but TINGS at Leamington had a test shot of the TGS -correct looking roof with tank access one end only and lovely looking door deatails - you still get SDL lamp moulding on passenger door and a standard seat insert etc . Hopefully for mass production shortly , loads of liveries to be going at and HST sets to be completed... yip peee! Robert

Hi all, good to report more surface finishing in Bull Street and towards Snow hill with only a 12 foot section to do. Viz Port in reality 3 years work doing all the land reclaimation and alterations to services along with environmental stopages to allow breeding seasons to be undisturbed and allowing three seasons of trains to run so like the works in Brum not simple - certainly a smaller site but just as exciting. I guess the wait will be worth it. Each day I vary my walk to work to see how work progresses Robert

I really look forward to this long overdue project creeping to completetion, it does gall at the seeming lack of drive - I am sure folk are beavering away but it does seem so very slow. I know concrete days 21 days to fully cure but it took ages to get just three welds done in Bull st. The easy win in summer to remove grass from trough at back of Snow Hill will now be a wet winter mudbath. At least on Friday the final surfaces laid in 95% of bull street just need to add a little bit of cobbles and the rasied Island platform surfaces. Still work on linking up the mainly complete single?? line down Corp st to the Bull st works nor the exciting bottom of hill bend at New st but at least that bit out side the station is getting on well and hopefully the pedrestrian crossing will move in the next few months now the school holidays are over the the foot traffic is at a maximum from the station. Still no sign of any electric string works . It is cheap to take shots at a big and expensive scheme but it does amuse that in less time a whole new station has been errected at Porthmadog, track laid ballasted and signalled and opened for a sucessful season. I look forward to my first tram ride to work! and I really hope the network takes off with link to Eastside and up Broad st asap. thanks for pics on here -never seem to stop in right place to take a pic. Cheers Robert

I think the CADs show the problem of designers not from this country knowing every fiddly detail and working off one scheme (2-4) and then getting changed to the later batch. years ago Dave showed a CAD where his comments had been taken too literally with a 22 top to mid body and a hymek below after early discussion of chassis being based around the Heljan style of chassis... The CAD discussion on here has been talked about and futher work will I am sure follow . Viz N version seen kickstarter - put in for 3 but it does seem a waste of engineering time as Dapol can redesign its 4 or 7mm version to 2mm/N given Swindon declined Dave`s early attempt to scan no4 while he was at Dapol not sure how it is now possible but the Judge books and others do give good drawings it would be possible. I note the Farish version slated for a new DCC friendly chassis so a razor car possible that will run up to modern standards - I guess it might get a bit of internal detail if modern half chassis used. Chassis would be good in making a twin set ... Hopefully the interlectual mauling over for a bit and I wait to see revised CADs in the future! Robert