DJM Dave

Hi Alan, It’s a bold bold statement of intent by Durham Trains of Stanley, and I have to say Mick has his heart in the right place in all this. So far though, without press publishing etc, we both think the ‘take up’ has been fantastic. This I think, is ‘the’ opportunity to get this train as a great model on your layouts and I very much doubt a 14 car train of an iconic UK prototype set will be offered again any time soon. I for one, as a young lad spending time at Tring watching banger blue electrics trundle through, loved that era, place and the trains, and would have to do a layout based on a west coast theme. Cheers Dave

Tut tut tut ;-) lol

Hi mate, Durham Trains of Stanley have said if the APT is a success, then they will go ahead with plans to produce the 81-84 in OO gauge and 81-85 in N gauge over a period of time in what is being called their ‘west coast range’. This press release went out to the mags last Thursday by the way. The range will also include EMU’s ....classes 303, 304 and 312 at present. However, this is all a proposal, but they do have the best intentions, so we will have to see how the APT project gets along Cheers Dave

Hi mate, I'll be sending out invoices for the 2nd deposit at the end of January for the Tooling to start on both the N and OO versions. Cheers Dave

Big news today, as the totals are in for another week. OO still leads but N gauge is now up to 3/4 of the total of OO models If anyone is hedging due to the non tops, i will get Tops versions added this week. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, unfortunately the 3D printed N gauge class 92 wasnt delivered in time for Warley, but if you'll forgive me and only to illustrate how good this model will be, i attach the OO version 3D printed model to whet the appetite, as the N gauge production one is created from the OO Cad/Cam. Things to note....... the roof detail is exemplary, even in a printed model, including areas that will be etched steel (10 on the roof in total) 2 on the bodyside, 2 ectched windscreen wipers, and so on and forth. Anyway it gives you a great idea of how the N gauge model will turn out. Speaking of which, i also attach a pic of the 'N' gauge one next to an N loco and its OO gauge big brother. It seems the 3D peeps made a horlicks somehow as the 'T' gauge tiny model should have been the N gauge one, but if you look carefully, as some did at Warley, you can still see the detail of the OO one on that little thing. More when i have it, and don't forget this week you will be able to order the Stobart Rail model as well. Cheers Dave

Hi everyone, A cold but sunny day allowed me to get the Halfords primer out today and prime the 3D 92 in grey to show the detail better. Attached are the photographs i took of the bodyshell with the chassis moulded in place for your viewing pleasure, or not. worthy of note are the missing roof panels showing details that will, on the model be under etches, fine pipe, bolt and rivet details, bodyside holes for etched grilles, and the wealth of roof detail that is slightly wrong on the print but will give you an idea of what i'm looking to achieve. The shoulder valance panels by the cabs will be separate items, and have the tell tale gaps around them, and have more clearance under them so you can look at the detail hidden there. I've also included an N gauge comparison using a European loco and the N gauge version which is obviously wrong and looks more 'T' gauge, but still has the roof detail of the OO version. Anyway, here they are, Hope you like? Cheers Dave

Hi everyone, A cold day but blue skies allowed me to get the Halfords car primer out today and prime the HUO's in N gauge , and crack open the packaging on my new photo booth which will allow me to take better photographs of my models etc. So here are the pics, amazing how the 3D process can easily be seen once primed rather than the reflective seemingly smooth cream plastic they came in. cheers Dave

Good point about assembly, I have a few tricks that I hope will surprise and amaze you with it’s cunning, foxy, wise old owl, sage of yore..........oh who am I kidding. I’m trying for a very easy coupling system bespoke to the APT, there I’ve said it. I don’t want anything that takes the fun and enjoyment out of it, and long assembly processes will. Cheers Dave

Hi mate, Me too. I had a space laid on on my back panels for the 74 but China let me down. The annoying thing is they don’t want to supply it incomplete, but a complete one is no good as no doubt between us all we will need to debug it somewhat. The mail went in yesterday to the Far East, no reply yet, but i’ll Report back when I know something. Cheers Dave

N gauge devised model of the year in my opinion. Top notch, and captures the original pretty much perfectly. Can’t wait for my sound ones

Hi everyone, Wow, well it seems that sometimes fat gets pulled from the fire. I’m told the Mermaid rework will be finished and ready for collection by courier today. I’m surprised but very please, as you can imagine. So, I’ve made a few calls and it appears I can get them airfreight in for a Friday (yes this Friday) dispatch to stockists. Amazing if true, so i’m not promising until I update this later today or early tomorrow, but fingers crossed. Cheers Dave

Hi everyone, Can I just clarify things as I understand them please? Firstly payment. This will be done in stages as each milestone is reached, from initial design phase, to first tooling, to second tooling to production/shipping. Unit makeup. We know that each full train is made from half sets back to back but it was felt easier and less confusing to put a running number as a single number for now rather than put 2 half set numbers and confuse those that might not have known with 2 numbers per set at this stage. Unbalanced sets, even when using 007 were a common occurrence it seems and due to the unbalanced nature will look wrong but be authentic, if you get my drift, and the reason for doing smaller sets is purely for those that want an APT but cannot run a full length one. As for individual running numbers of each car, this will be very carefully looked at and announced as the project gains momentum. All sets announced are from pictorial evidence, even though a 5 seems ‘light’ it existed so rather than make it up just to sell, it gives the modeller a chance to have an authentic train if even only around 1/3 of the big beastie. Please note this is a DJM crowdfunding project and DJM will be invoicing, designing, and finally supplying the finished model and is therefore totally responsible for your investment. Also: Please Note: Any 'pure' crowdfunding venture is an investment with no guarantee of return, and your invested capital (deposit payments) are at risk. Please consider carefully whether you wish to partake in this venture before ordering. Hope this helps. Cheers Dave

Hi guys, Sorry but I’m out at the minute but I’ve just checked and the livery spec re. The front windows is on the flyer on the n gauge apt section. Can some kind soul copy and pasted it into here, and in the morning i’ll Put it in the header mail that started things off today to tidy it up a bit. Cheers Dave

Hi mate, good point. I’ll try and add links for each livery version from pics I find on the internet. I’ll do that tomorrow? Cheers Dave

Hi Mark, I’ll be putting a grey primer on it if it stops raining tomorrow and photograph it myself and put in here. Cheers Dave

Enjoy the nostalgia

No real reason, to be fair, but we couldn’t just swamp people with too many choices. If however there’s a deluge of peeps wanting the black windows either instead of or as well as, then I’m sure it will be considered as well Cheers Dave

What is it about the best laid plans of mice and men? Anyway, as a surprise at Warley you were meant to be able to see this......................... below. The package came today (Monday) at 5.20pm The first 3D print of the N guage version and all the brake bits and bobs, However something called a slicer had a problem and there was great fiddling with knobs and switches and how do you do's, and voilas......slightly over scale buffer, coupling, and footstep. Please excuse the i phone pictures, and i'll use the mini studio tomorrow and improve upon it. cheers Dave

Hi Matt, unfortunately i didn't get to announce all of them, but i'm trying to get them signed off soon so i can. Meanwhile the King i am predicting will go to tooling in Mid March, and let me explain why...... December is a month of joy and merriment, and spending time and money on yourselves and family. Quite a few get paid a week early too so money going into the 5 week January is tight. We all have these problems and what you don't need is some computer happy chap sitting here at my laptop asking you for money that's already tight (been there, got the t-shirt), so i will invoice for the king and the 92's starting the first week of Feb 2018 with a view to getting all tooling monies in for mid March so tooling can start on all 3 projects. hope that's alright everyone? cheers Dave

Fully understand Mike, I think it might be best to run a batch of Tops ones too in both gauges. what do others think?

Good to meet you John, Luckily there wasn't a mad demand for the dutch mermaid and we sold a total of 24 all weekend. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, just started this thread to keep specific chat between the gauges separate. I'll add details later for the OO version, but it mirrors the N gauge ones exactly apart from the price of course. Meanwhile you can order using this link..... http://durhamtrainsofstanley.co.uk/my_store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=371 Please note this is a DJM crowdfunding project and DJM will be invoicing, designing, and finally supplying the finished model and is therefore totally responsible for your investment. Also: Please Note: Any 'pure' crowdfunding venture is an investment with no guarantee of return, and your invested capital (deposit payments) are at risk. Please consider carefully whether you wish to partake in this venture before ordering. cheers Dave

Wow, is it just me or is that not a fantastic picture? Look at the stock, my word, of course i saw it all at the RTC around that time as a mere sprog but never appreciated the diversity, until this pic. Thanks for posting it!

I must admit I’m excited by an 84 and 81 to be honest. I have a particular affinity with those 2 classes, and loved the 304.