Vin

Hi, I think the Heljan class 47 looks better with weathering, as it lifts the features and can hide the discreptances. Does the DJH weigh more than the Heljan model? Regards Vin

Hi, That captures IKB to a tee. The more you do to it the better she gets. Have you got a set of nameplates? Regards Vin

Hi Jim, Both the frost grilles and the strapping on the cantrail grilles are in executive dark grey anyway. As for the logos which were on from its repaint, are probably on the wagon railfreight logo sheet from Fox. I did have a 4mm model of this before the logos were released and used some 2mm scale ones. Regards Vin

Hi Jim, Nice choice of prototype. 37162 was one of the odd departmental grey repaints as it had the same grey on the roof as the bodyside. Most of the others had executive dark grey roofs, like the bodyside grilles. Other odd features of 37162 was it had the extra strapping on the cantrail grilles (Brian mentioned this above), the original frost grilles still attached and the wagon size railfreight petroleum vinyls in the centre. Looking good, regards. Vin

Hi all, If a 60 slipped to a stand then a 59 would do the same? The tractive effort of a 60 is higher than a 59, as the electronics takes control to eliminate wheel slip. Regards Vin

Hi all, Does that mean that 37402 will become 'Oor Wullie' & 37403 'Isle of Mull'? It would make sense. Regards Vin

Hi Jim, The delrin gears are easy to cut to fit. Get a 4.8mm drill bit and push the tooth side onto it. Put the drill bit in a vice. Then with a slitting disc on a dremel take off the collar side. The properties of derlin plastic will make it grip the axle on the drive shaft. Slater's have designed their gearboxes with this in mind and JLTRT have made the housings in the bogie to take both. I've had to reduce the depth of the brass bushes to accommodate both. Hope this helps. Regards Vin

Hi Jim, A. Are engine control air pipes, which have white ends. On a 37 they are in pairs beneath each buffer. B. Are main reservoir pipes and have yellow ends and are on the inside edge of each buffer. C. Are Vacuum left and air right and have red ends. D. Are steam heating pipes and have silver ends. E. Are vacuum pipes red ends again with the pipe extensions on them. Hope this helps. Vin

Hi 60091, Nice set of photos. As for 47542's additional grilles in the door was probably a depot experiment. Gateshead would be my guess as it never had them whilst at Stratford. As it was the only one done like it the experiment must have not been very effective. Regards Vin

Hi all, By 1989 there was very few TBS for the class 101's. A couple in Scotland did gain Strathclyde PTE, orange and black livery. Whilst the rest where in east anglia in blue grey. 59049 Strathclyde PTE, ED 59050 B/G LE 59055 B/G NC 59073 B/G HA 59074 PTE ED 59077 B/G NC 59079 B/G NC 59080 B/G ED 59082 B/G CH 59084 B/G NC 59085 B/G NC 59092 B/G NC 59093 B/G CF 59095 B/G NC 59096 B/G NL 59097 B/G ED The above info came 1989 Platform 5 stock book. The single TBS at various depots were possibly spare cars when a brake part was required but was available within a set. Hope this helps. Vin

Hi all, The Peaks were phased out because of the BR traction policy in the late 1980's. They held their own on the Trans Pennine route. 90mph plus on the race track north of York. The class 47's they got to replace them (Crewe Diesel based locos) were past their prime. So class 31's stood in for them. In the early eighties class 40's, 45's and 46 were the main engines available so used. They were on load 8 or 9 so acceleration wasn't going to be the best anyway. When the class 47's took over in 1989 the brake block wear was really bad over the pennines. If you window hanged on a night time run the sparks had to be seen to be believed. Regards Vin

That looks spot on. Did you use loads of orange lining? It just shows how massive these locos are when you spend 2 hours just putting on the cantrail stripe! Regards Vin

As stated above that looks great. It looks like you are going to beat mine (60087) as its only in the primer stage but I have weathered the chassis already. Are you doing the later (Oscar) logo version? Regards Vin

No I won't. It was just that I couldn't find them before the sun went in.

Hi, The answer is yes. I just haven't had the time to photograph it yet. I've also done one in green but I'm still awaiting the etches for the nameplates, plaques and EWS beasties. Regards Vin

Hi, I don't have any either Fox or the Heljan metals logos left, but I'm sure that someone will be willing to give them up as there is a lot of construction and coal locos out there. I've just finished 60074 in the second version of this livery once my etches arrived earlier this week. After using about 16 differing shades of dirt and grime. With a selection of techniques for the application of the colours and dyes. I've just got the cabside handrails to put back on. I've shot the photos in low winter sun which makes the blue even brighter and totally confuses the camera. Regards Vin

Hi Alex, I'd noticed those class 60's on ebay. Considering it actually says on the Heljan number sheet which numbers go where. It does seem a bit strange to do that. On the ones that I've weathered I've been spraying the underside of the silencer and the well black before weathering as this would be a dirt trap. Which EW&S one are you doing? Regards Vin

Hi all, It looks like the first 16 didn't have them from new but were retrofitted from about December 1990 when called back to Brush at Loughborough. There is a photo on flickr in March 1991 with the scavenger ports fitted but I cannot find the photo now. Regards Vin

I used an industrial plastic paint stripper. I don't know the brand because the guy I got it off decanted it from a 5litre bottle into a 1 litre bottle. I left it overnight and then had to scrub the orange and yellow off as it is very tough. It did take the paint off the roof grilles, as if it wasn't there. Regards Vin

Hi, They look the dogs. I like the bracing. Regards Vin

It is a bit odd considering that the ETHEL'S didn't have yellow ends and they were used on the mainline within train. Regards Vin

Hi Shane, It looks like ADB968000 was repainted into that weird green in March 1979. There is the link to it photographed at Stratford in July 1979. https://flic.kr/p/qSSw6G Regards Vin

Hi, I flattened the original paintwork on the triple grey repaint as the paint work lines aren't that pronounced. On the Loadhaul repaint I stripped the orange and yellow paint off the cabs as it quite thick. Then rubbed the Loadhaul logo down. As I couldn't fit the whole loco in the stripping tub, it is just too long. Regards Vin

Hi all, After a long weekend. I can get to my notes. The closest Ral number for 60074 is 5012 which is pantone 307c. Halfords do an enamel rattle can called 'Gadget Blue' but as with everything blue it alters due to scale and varnishes applied. I had some paint mixed using 20 high res. colour photos of the original whilst at Peterborough on the Nene Valley railway and the Teenage Cancer Trust logo. This gave a value in RGB of 063-189-250 which comes out at Pantone 299C with a tint value of 70%. The yellow on the later respray (without the black window rims) is RAL 1023 which is lighter and brighter than the original. This colour is also used on the new freightliner livery. Hope this helps. Vin

Hi, I'm at gig at the moment. So I tell you the RAL number in the morning. Regards Vin