The Nth Degree

Thanks for your help, as always, Paul. I'm afraid I can't get any pictures of what these labels looked like so I can reproduce them, so avoiding guessing and getting them wrong I'm going to leave them out. I'm a bit disappointed about that, but I'd rather not make a mistake. If I can get an example in the next couple weeks I may be able to squeeze them in. Moving on to the sole bars. I've seen it written (by you, actually!) and the C15PS have told me that all these locos were supplied with sole bars painted gloss black. Unfortunately I've only been able to find two definite examples of this; D8225 and D8242. At a couple different times D8234 has had black sole bars (and buffer beams!) too. I've examined many photographs of clean locos entering service and not long into service and all of them (apart from the ones above) have no discernible difference in tone between body and sole bar, which is highly suggestive that they were green, not black. All of the colour pics I can find confirm this. Can you shed any light on this please? The restored D8233 will have black sole bars, so no worries there, but I'm not so sure I should supply the standard green model this way. Cheers, Steve

Thank you. I'm hoping that the agreement I have with the factory will be honoured and they will be ready by the end of November.

Hello Paul, the C15PS are on the case too. In fact, they have been deeply involved in the project from the start – I'm donating up to £12,500 toward the restoration of D8233. I'll see what they say when they get back to me. Steve

Thanks Paul, I may call on that photo library to add to my own, if you don't mind. Regarding the Class 15, there's only one problem left to solve, and I've tried several sources but I've had no luck. If you know what was printed on the circled notices I would be eternally grateful. Just about every shot that shows what may have been there is overexposed and is whited out. One thing I have ruled out is recommended tyre pressures!

I'll change the shed code, thank you. I did notice the nose D was later changed to the old style serif D later, but before that it had the D as pictured. I only have space for one so I used that one. I may be able to squeeze in the serif D somewhere. I didn't know you had compiled the livery list - that is an essential resource for any Class 15 enthusiast and I was going to recommend it in the owner manual. I don't suppose you are equally enthusiastic about Class 21, 22 and 24 are you?...

I'll let Railtec pick up on the ADB enquiries. Which method is used to fix them?

And this is an enlarged etch sheet:

Ahh! Thanks for that. All of the photos I have seen, except the one you put here yesterday, have been impossible to tell which shed stickers they carried by being too far away or too blurred. I was going to include them as a failsafe, but it seems this may not be necessary. This is the decal sheet as it stands. If you find anything missing or in error I'll be glad to hear of it. I have to send it off next week. Anything in black is printed on the carrier to help with alignment and positioning. I'm still deciding whether to have these as rub-down or alcohol fixing. If anyone can outline subjective pros and cons. I've only ever used the rub-down types, like the Letraset alpha-numeric sheets.

That's very useful, thank you Paul. Along with Stratford, I will include Finsbury Park, Ipswich and Norwich shed stickers, just in case they do surface on some long-lost photos at the bottom of somebody's drawer. I'll post the complete transfer sheet when I've completed it tomorrow night. Steve

Which other names were shortened like Stratford above? Potential candidates are Ipswich, Norwich, Finsbury Park and Liverpool Street. The latter looks to be written out in full from what I can make out from photographs that I've seen, but I also thought Stratford was, was its very uncertain when you don't have clear and direct evidence.

Brilliant Paul, thank you!

I'm just finishing off the transfer sheet for the model, but came up short on a couple details which I hope someone can help with. The specific problem is the loco data panel applied to some locos in around 1969-71 – this would later become standard item in the TOPS program. I can't find any photographs of a close-up image to copy the details from, so have made an educated guess about the detail on it. In addition, aside from the Liverpool Street pilot, there were a couple locos that carried the TOPS-style shed code, but I don't know for absolute certain which shed codes were carried. I may well include a few shed codes for 'good measure' and a bit of modeller's license, but it would be good to at least include the definite codes. Here's what I've produced for the data panel. If anyone can spot any errors or omissions I would be grateful.

I'm struggling to understand why one manufacturer is suffering so much flack on a model that has not yet been released, while this shocking QC error gets away almost totally free from criticism or comment...

Absolutely David. Very limited supplies will be available through our stockist, but the majority will be available directly through our website.

While I'm thrashing away at the keyboard, we have added another retailer to our list. The stockists list, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Amberly Services Antics Digitrains Trains4U Their full details are on Little Loco's website under 'Stockists'. I'm very grateful to them all for being part of the project and the commitment they've made.

Thanks Rich. I sent a link to your video to the factory to spur them on a bit! Thanks very much for making it, and they seemed to enjoy it. The registered account is a separate 'opt-in' section to the reservation section as I was worried about people thinking I was spamming them. There have so far only been three emails on updates, but I pretty much give a summary of those updates on here a couple days later or when I get the time. Don't worry, you're not missing out on anything! There may be a time in the future where I can use it for special offers or early bird discounts or something, but that is some way off yet. Cheers, Steve

A small, but hopefully not too boring update post Guildex. There have been some detail enhancements from the model on show at Telford, so the journey continues in an upward motion. The buffers (because they are turned, not cast) do not have steps plates on them, but this is now rectified with an additional set of parts. Some further improvements have been made to the bogie detail, including removing the handbrake linkages from the front bogie, which were not present on the prototype. So far, this means that a production schedule is in place and will mean deliveries by the end of November, or sooner if I am able to twist some arms. It is looking likely that the Liverpool Street Pilot limited editions will be put back to another production run to enable these ones to get out before Christmas. I will confirm that as soon as I can. Tooling on the UK model starts before Christmas, and will be ready for sale by February/March. I'm quite looking forward to physically watching this one run off the production line! I sent out an Update Newsletter No.3 just before Guildex to all those who had registered before Sept 2nd. If you had registered before then and did not receive an email please let me know. The admin software says that a few have still not been opened, but all have been delivered. Thanks, Steve

The end of another encouraging day at Telford. I got to speak to a lot more people today, yesterday was more about tying up a few loose business ends and meeting people that I've only previously emailed or phoned, especially regarding the next model - UK designed, UK sourced and UK built. Thanks to all the people I spoke to and apologies to those I didn't.

There are no capacitors fitted, simply very good engineering. The decoder was supplied by Paul Chetter and is a ZIMO 645 series with Paul's own sound profile. The motor has been specified for this particular loco, so you won't find exactly the same one fitted anywhere else. It also has two large flywheels fitted to each end and all four axles are used for pick-up. The gearbox went through two versions before being chosen so is silky smooth.

Fantastic! Thank you. It looks much better on a layout than on my sideboard. And thank you for your kind words, much appreciated. It makes those 2000+ hours getting this far worth it.

As soon as I get a definite date I'll post it. Looks to be beginning of October at the moment, but as I've become acutely aware recently, given dates mean nothing until you have something in your hands. I think I saw you while I was chatting to John Birch? Sorry not to say hello!

What a hectic day! So much interest and support, thank you to all those I managed to bump into. In all the haste I didn't even get to see it run so I'll be interested to see your report Rich. Part two tomorrow.

The end of a busy afternoon testing DCC functions and sound on the semi-decorated sample, which arrived yesterday. It sounds fantastic! If you're going to Telford you may spot it pottering around on the 82G layout.

Hello Paul, the only date I can give is September, as that's all I've been given. I'm hoping it will be released in time to make the donation to the C15PS have a significant contribution towards their restoration before winter. It's almost certain not to make Telford, except as decorated samples.

You're correct, currency rates fluctuate regularly to small degrees, but this is quite a large swing downwards. Until trade deals are firmed up and the state of our economy is clearer based upon those deals the exchange rates will fluctuate further, and I feel there is room for the rate to drop further still. The tooling for the UK model will be produced in this country. In fact, the only components originating offshore are the motor and some PCB components. I'll check where the raw materials for the ABS plastic and zinc alloy originate from - most likely offshore too.