kintbury jon

They are but I am only really want a couple of rakes of air con mark 2's. Whether they are d's, e's or f's, it makes no difference to me. Can't keep hoarding stuff either!

I visited the Hornby shop at Swindon Outlet Centre on Monday. Not expecting to buy anything, there was an offer on coaches 4 for the price of 3. I ended up handing over £240 and came away with 12 of these mark 2e's. 4 are lit and 8 unlit and I have to say I don't think they are bad at all. The solebar isn't as bad as what I thought it would be and due to the fact that my layout is just over waist height, it's not visible when the coaches are on the track. Although it is a little disappointing that the lights are not the full length of the carriage, I am impressed by the way that they stay on for a short time after power is removed as this will avoid flickering on dirty track. Now to dispose of my Lima 2f's...

Look at this 'pro conversion'. Aren't the shutters in the wrong place? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Network-Rail-mk1-test-coach-Professional-conversion-repaint-80211-/251933853384?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aa86d86c8

It's an interesting service. The peak hour services are well filled. During the day, there are around 5-10 people waiting at Kintbury for an eastbound train. Probably no more than 20-30 people are already on it. Changing at Newbury won't be a problem for me but I am aware that other members of the public see changing trains as a big issue though. At least Newbury only has 3 platforms so it's nowhere near as manic as somewhere like Reading. Interestingly, one of the fastest journeys to Padd from Kintbury is by changing at Newbury for an HST. I've always felt that it is a shame that the services from Newbury to Westbury are not better connected. At one point there were 5 daily 'slow' services to Taunton that connected Newbury, Hungerford and Pewsey with Westbury. I assume it wasn't that successful as they no longer run. A regular stopping service from Newbury to Westbury would be convenient as it would connect with the Southmapton/Weymouth and Bristol line. I did manage it back in 2010 when the slow services were running however the lack of regular services and cows on the line meant that we missed our connection! See this post: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/16318-a-day-trip-to-cardiff/

Sorry if I've missed this in previous posts. Reading the Newbury Weekly News it seems like electrification will cease at Newbury. There has been debate as to whether it would extend westwards to Bedwyn as the current services terminate there. Will be interesting to see what happens in terms of trains to Kintbury, Hungerford and Bedwyn. I imagine that a shuttle service that connects with London services will suffice. It would be out 'in the sticks' compared to other diesel units locally. We will be stuffed if it breaks down!

104 in Mexican Bean?

Just spent half an hour messing around with one of the DTCL's. Numbers have been removed and replaced with 3130 - saves renumbering the sides! Tis was done by gently scratching them off and then a burnishing pen was used to smooth off any remains. I have also fitted a Heljan pair of double white blanks. This time I have used a pencil to dirty a few areas. Not sure i'm convinced by it but being pencil, it can be easily removed. Must remember to glue the windscreen wipers back on!

No damage thankfully! They are conversions done by myself. Info and photos on the one with hopper vents is here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/69509-4cep-conversions/ There are a few photos of 1500 in the thread with it.

1500 is at the front, followed by another with hopper vents that I have not numbered (or finished) with a Replica bodied Jaffa MLV 9005 on an EPB chassis at the rear. The CEP/CEP/MLV train crashed as soon as I stopped recording and I hastily made it to the controllers before the VEPs crashed into the carnage!

I have managed to get all three of mine running together. Here is a video of 3588 leading 7830 with 3470 bringing up the rear.

Mine arrived yesterday morning though I had ordered about an hour after the message on the Bargain Hunters thread had gone on. Very nice model - nice compartment interiors. Plus, extra seating in the luggage area!

Mine is to be pimped up with some NSE flashes. Perhaps a renumber to 3130 as well maybe...

You could also use a Lima mk 2b FK interior which may be easier and cheaper to get hold of.

I think the sound is pretty good. However, I haven't heard the Howes sound to comment on whether it is better. I have used blue-tac around the speaker and this (to me) improved the quality of the sound. If you don't like the sound though, as Brian says, you can get it re-blown. I am happy with mine though.

Not wishing to be a party pooper but I think this may be a 3 car unit with the third car just at an angle so it cannot be seen. Reason? The second coach looks like a TSO with visible window frames all the way along the coach.

Many thanks, makes an interesting read. I think that October '98 looks highly likely.

Over the Christmas period I succumbed to the sound fitted 205012 in Connex livery. It is my first DCC item and I am delighted with it. It is out of my era but it is a model I have been tempted with for some time. Does anyone have a rough idea as to when 205012 was repainted from NSE into Connex?

Nice pictures. Although there has been much criticism of these units, they look like a VEP to me.

Maybe they have all gone through extensive testing and quality control!

Here's a shot of it, renumbered to 3130 complete with NSE branding. This is how i'll do it (if I buy it!) https://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/4498423326/ According to my platform 5 books, it was in blue /grey in 1989. By the 1990 book it was 3493 in NSE. I assume it was renumbered from 7830 to 3130 sometime in 87/88.

That's a very good call. I've just ordered 8 of them.

I hope bogie improvements means that the wheels are no longer clipped in. I would get some as spares if this was the case. Ditto regarding the compartments. Whilst I butchered the interiors of one of my sets, I have not got round to do the other. I'm not surprised that they haven't changed the ends as I don't think it's a quick fix. I'll probably get a blue/grey set but will wait until they can't sell them at full price and start knocking them out cheaply.

Those lighted coaches do look nice. I did have a good look at a Railroad version today at Warley and felt that the minor saving in price doesn't look like it's worth it. From looking around the lighted coaches are only about £3 more than the standard ones which is making them a tempting proposition. Trouble is they may look a bit daft mixed in with some non-lit coaches. Is there much drag on the axles of the lit coaches?

Is it just chance that this seller from the Wirral has these five items listed: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-8941-Class-128-DPU-in-Royal-Mail-Red-Full-Yellow-Ends-Flush-Fronts-55995-/291303945748?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43d3117614 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-8942-Class-128-DPU-BR-Blue-Weathered-M55995-Parcels-Service-/291303958057?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43d311a629 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-8940-Class-128-DPU-BR-Blue-Full-Yellow-ENds-Flush-Fronts-Parcels-Service-/291303953402?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43d31193fa http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-8902-Class-128-DPU-Early-BR-Blue-White-Roof-Domes-W55991-Parcels-Service-/291303950147?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43d3118743 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-2323-Class-23-Baby-Deltic-D5909-in-BR-Green-Head-Code-Discs-Weathered-/291303942829?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43d3116aad And they just happen to be the same as the ones Hattons are selling for £69.99

Who is the Railroad Range aimed at? If it's for kids that don't care whether their stuff is accurate, why bother tooling a new coach when they could have continued with the old Airfix range. I'll be keeping on to my Lima mark 2f's for now as I don't think the upgrade is worth it.