Robert Shrives

Wow , grills great - off to order now ! Robert

Andi, A great pleasure to see in the flesh! and the APT awsome! Signalling great need a bigger screen ! or as you say mimic screens. OLE is great and working tension gear a lovely piece of art. and thanks for a go! Keep on going I hope RM day spurs on the good work . Robert

Hi Guys loco looks really good and will be well used on my layout. There is a good Grids book out - a couple of years ago but as noted with 135 locos from 3 factories and several versions from Doncaster it would have been a massive investment to tool for all sorts of changes . I understand 3 cab designs, two horn covers , two grill choices on main grill plus later EWS mod at No 2 end on cant rail grills , buffer shape and cowls - with three versions of cowl - each getting less and less! Head lights, front handrails, marker lights, cab handrails give a mass to be going at. The recent range of independent operators give rise to even more livery variations... plently of scope for modelling Robert

Hi In N one of the Warley club used LM 170 plus scratch end and Electra sticky sides - looked the part from normal viewing distances - since scrapped and chassis used elsewhere. One piece N shells not suitable for reduced PH etch sadly.. I have done bits shuffle on a couple of Farish 168/170 compromises to give a 4 and 2 car options.. But this work is great and at least it will not have door faults! Robert

Hi all, collected green and grey 26 from postie and agree with all lovely models and - sorry Roy both ran a treat! I am looking forward to adding pipes. Good selection of pics at the ready . Both oiled and run for over an hour last night and wisper quiet with great slow running. All I need do now is swap 26015 body on to the green d5301 chassis for its time in the far north - or I can wait for a bit and do its later boiler version with round buffers. such fun to be had... Robert

Hi , Yes 4 window RFM is the plot Robert Shrives

Hi gang, My Swallow IC HST arrived today and runs a treat. Trailers all printed ok. After 20 minutes each way motor car fine. I note that again the trailer window has no glue but driver has but only picked up on this when reading above comments. I guess Dave will need to explain what a "spot" of glue means.. For a "laugh" ran my XC farish trailers between - what a difference, so plain.I had thought to run a mixed rake but this will not be possible. Just have to sit on my hands and wait I guess - I did wonder about buying a couple of NQP Mk3s from Hattxxxx to repaint for the blue grey version- might still do.. I did however not find on the interweb thingy any pics of the two power cars showing the large vehicle numbers on the front, Only one of 43118 with coach sized numbers on the front at KGX with 43042 alongside with small numbers underlined. Several other PCs with large numbers and I recall them from spotting days, so perhaps right at some point. What might be bigest own goal is that I found a pick of 43194 without the side window on the van end in this livery taken by BTM. I wonder when conversion took place. Regardless a good model and set. Hopefully Ben will get Bernard to do a fine etch for the cooler group roof alterers among us.... Viz missing slat - not a drain but a quick mod to allow platform side rad refills during the hot summers ( remember them) of late 1970s and early 80`s when the coolergroups suffered. happy modelling Robert

Hi gang , The blue grey set was subject to inspection by work mates at control all bar noe are 4mm guys and they all drooled happily no one spotted the glazing issue which It I think shows how minor a problem it really is - a shame perhaps but that is all. for £129 I could not make such a good model. I too was happy to see roof cowls as an add on - would be good to see as a spare part to upgrade the other market offering. Roof colour seemed ok and mixed fleet not really noticable - just bring on the TGS and TRSB . For info modelrail 96 October 2006 has great article on formations and general HST "trivia" . Next move is to get some Intercity 125 side transfers with the black interiors for 43003 and 004 and do a 1976 orginal set - no need for TGS ! Robert

Hi , Just been running my Virgin set 2+7 using a couple loco hauled vehicles - fitted light bar as well, runs really well pushing or pulling. Colour not an issue. Set will be running at Warley club openday Sunday 22nd May 11.00 - 16.00 on Lea Bank. It has to be said it is whisper quiet with coach wheel noise on joints the major sound. Dummy car has chassis void for the motor crying out for a speaker ! Chip fitting a doddle . Also test ran Voyager 221135 in Xc for open day and motor noise really shows the improvements - I will have to work out foam filling to deaden out noise.. Happily waiting for blue grey versions, also buffets and TGS .... Robert Shrives

Hi gang, re drawings for NBL diesels - not all were drawn in Glasgow, my Dad worked in an office in Bath and it did drawings for many parts. Dad drew up the parts for the fan drive after shown an "approved" set that would have sheared first time power applied ! The offices were a sub part of Stothert and Pitt. My dads loco training at Hunslets and the other ex Swindon man were ignored and gents who designed conveyors and cranes did the loco drawings except when NBL visited when drawings were dumped on all boards - spin is not a new evil. If only the good Dapol boys will do a N version ! Mind you the Gauge one is a real monster! Robert Shrives