Robert Shrives

Well obtained a twin vehicle formation from second batch - original DTS batch with middle door.  CMAC have also jumped the leap with a 450class unit - two sets moulded and sold quickly so perhaps in new year.   I have asked if motor cars only could be obtained as it would allow making the sandite train a bit easier. - I have already got a suitable end door only DTS but these could be done easily enough it seems. Hopefully arrive in a few days time for a bit of work and painting.   

So sad to read, had a few orders and so very helpful and knowledgeable.  As said above condolences to family and friends.

Robert       

17 hours ago, murphaph said:

Variety is the spice of life!

Like Heuston perhaps ?  !  Sligo would do for me  nicely framed with the walling and middle sidings and loco shed remains close by. Freight if it were shown would be down the branch before the station, so would only need hinting at.

mind you just bought a 6 car as a way of holding down a shelf..

Robert   

On 29/10/2022 at 18:15, McC said:

Probably. 

Bound to as I have just painted up my second fox model!    The Mk2s look really good and just await news of Hunslets and original livery Mk2s 

A good big investment worthy of a win and a long term life  given the number of sets a second and future runs will keep the number folk happy.   Certainly with a bogie powered low floor drive train now in the business we can all spend IRM/ Accurascale budget in a blink of an eye.  I have ordered a 6 car so I can re marshall as a not quite right 3 car.  But tempted by ICR for NI services from the first delivery.   

Hopefully the UK market will see a benefit - class 124 trans north set or a Hastings 6S/L/B ... same sort of investment as here with the ICR.   Being greedy of course the powertrain works for a 80class or a 450 class for NIR fleets  but could also do the CIE 2600/ 2700 series of "regional/ local" sets.

A big leap for mankind etc and a good positioning model for the long run and in a possible trainset pack ideal for railway model starters in Eire.   

Robert   

The Stafford cab shot  makes it look like the cab decal has silvered- put on a matt surface ! the bain of many modelers.

Robert 

Hi A little digging but likely location is likely St Marys Crossing on the Golden valley 

As a young boy I was lucky in that my dad bought the Awdry books on a regular basis whilst he travelled as an inspector. I used to then pour over his railway magaines and often found the picture used by the later illustrators when real images were used - often adding a bit to avoid any copyright issues.  So I expect this is really taken from the real world but two pics melded together.  I will have to go looking as well.

Robert 

Hi 

Might also suit Sonic after the mogul but also valid here would be a S&D 7F .

Robert 

Way back - 1991 at Saltley depot outside the fitters messroom was an oleo buffer and housing on end as  a seat and oildrum as a "table" plus oil streaked ginger tom/ tiger. Perhaps you have the beginings of a depot scene, the other buffers on a pallet ready for attention elsewhere? Ladder lent against the wall ready for use.

Robert  

It does occur that hopefully spare bodies will be available as the non panto car is a dead ringer for 150001/2 middle car. 

Robert  

Well that will be good as I am sure BA will order several!! And I am sure if like the What - if APT e sells then it will be another winner .  Rapido also showing an N gauge class 44 peak in many colours - well green and blue noting it is a 3 peaks challenge/project. So defo broke now. 

Robert 

Seen an item in this Month`s RM suggesting a BR what if in lined black 57925- last one in LMS terms as 17925. Will keep Ben Alder on here happy I am sure.  

Robert  

Good to  see this going so well  track is very good and the ballast does say Scotland. I look forward to seeing progress.

Robert  

As an aside I was looking to touch up the front of an EFE 1938 tube set as part of an "upgrade" and having shaved off moulded handrails a dot of paint required . Well a dead ringer for Precision paints "blood" from blood and custard colours  P116 .  Just now to sort the yellow panel on the front and yes the helpful painters at Ryde gave two widths of yellow ! 007/ 009 were narrow.  004,006,008 were wide .

Robert      

I can understand  that the suite of tooling required would be large for a 3 car unit and in O these would have some large tools so serious investment and a long if ever time to get money back so can see a desire to back off positional statement of years past.  Have to say I often pass a field -currently two rams in residence but normally enough mole hills that make it look like a mole town!   

Hopefully a 119/ 120 /123/124/ 126 sort of  cross country/ Intercity unit will appear at some time for those not willing/able to build kits but across the scales are kits and now 3D prints that all form a good basis and I am sufficiently old to recall the fleetline/MTK 2mm  kits of yesteryear.   As I have said it is easy to spend somebody else`s money and as in football the way to make a fortune is to start with a big fortune!

Thanks for all Heljan have done in making a great range of rtr O gauge.

Robert   

IF it has reached Wack -a-mole rates then perhaps the public has voted....  might get picked up by another major O gauge player... 

Robert 

Good sharp modelling as ever, this of course means the missing parts will be found in another box -so you will get two grounded vans!  Along time ago I helped wire up such a body and later helped scrap it after if rotted and got in the way for another project.  

Great pics, good to see it did happen and thanks for taking it, I guess for many the pacer fell off the bottom of taking photos pre digital era. I guess you enjoyed a journey across the Hope Valley  with pics at both ends of the valley of no hope!  I recall a guard friend of mine buzzing his driver in a 158 to telling him the pacer was airborne on the back - speed knocked off! 

I guess in N I can now happily mix and match the 142 fleet.

Robert 

Wow - good to know Heaton keeping the wheels turning, even  got a bog as well, I wonder where 55668 and 55651 respective pairings were?  and at least livery the same which hides the fun.

Robert 

Was that when there was interoperability problems with changing of gearbox types once renumbered they did not revert  from the 1436xx just to add even more confusion and mirth.   The 143 as last build and not with a Leyand body were quite good on welded track .. perhaps best of the bunch. 

Robert  

I cannot recall seeing it.  Sets were kept together for ease of maintenance, splitting a set gave all sorts of fun with TOPS RSL reports and Gemini  reports for allocations etc.    I did get involved  ( a little bit) with 156/153 lash ups when  156`s got battle damage after level crossing incidents. Scotrail did 156 3car reforms for Oban line summers when the obvious lack of seats compared with a LHCS came home to bite.  the 150 fleet due to sad accidents lost two 52xxx cars so there was a time of a non toilet twin and then 3car reforms at TS.  But that a bit off topic I think pacers were a bit tidier but sure a Newton Heath observer will know more.

Robert    

Hi Great modelling shown here.  FWIW checking the Replica website the  flush glaze units for suburban sets and the emu cab windows are  both out of stock , I have noted a likely order for a 304 I have to hand, plus have several 3H / Hastings vehicles that would benefit.   Hopefully a  positive response on timescale for restocking will be advised.

Robert   

Hi ,

Thanks for showing your photos, great looking layout and I guess it ran well.   Good to see smiles  as it is a hobby!

Robert       

Finally chains on balance weight wheels  and a bonus set of pics of tanktainer frames. 

Despite a search I could not find a clear pic of how the pull chain on the balance weight was secured on end - cue 10 phots in perfect clarity showing my fiction !

Tank frames are the last from S kits - having been in a loft for some years and came with a bag of misc bits so hopefully enough for 3 more tanks - Milliput on ends to make a dome end - luckily the frames will hide any really naff shaping.  Leslie has chassis for these - 5 standard flats and I make two IRM 20` side container boxes into barriers but these will await  a while pending bits, no rush it being a hobby.

Painting next for the cements- faded french blue would seem the way to go and a bucket of rust and grease streaks looking at photos I found.

If Grunt - shite comes good on promise to fire and rehire I might even have a bit more time to model.( minister of not interfering in transport matters unless a photo opp available.)- other views are of course available..

Robert