trw1089

If you are looking for some install tips, I recently did up a video showing installation of a Locoman D&H decoder into a Bachmann loco here:

Cheers

Tony

1 hour ago, jwealleans said:

I built a lot of these for Grantham (many with Bill Bedford sides) and I'd heartily recommend them.  I think there are only two things you need to be careful of; the join between the roof extrusion and the cast domed end, which Mark has already alluded to (and made a better job than most of mine) and the way the body itself is assembled.   Mike has designed these kits to be built as an integral body and underframe which is then closed up by the roof (which you can make removable or not).  I find it much easier for both finishing and then any subsequent maintenance to have the body and roof as one piece and the vehicle split at the underframe.  This isn't hard to do as long as you plan for it from the start.  Either way you get what you need to make a fine model.

Thanks Mark and Jonathan - they are very useful tips.

Lovely work.  How did you find the MJT kit in putting together?  I've been looking at one myself just to get familiar with all the techniques I might need for building coaches.

Cheers

Tony

Really impressed by the video John, you’ve really transformed that loco.

Also impressed by the van shunting accuracy, shows the potential of RR&Co.

cheers

Tony

Congratulations on 10 great years of modelling Gilbert, and so nice to mention Dave too.  Your layout, the rollingstock, the way you operate it and the wonderful pictures that you continue to so regularly share with us remain one of my greatest modelling inspirations. Here’s to the next 10 and next 10 after that!.

As for seaside termini, it has to be Scarborough for me.

cheers

Tony

29 minutes ago, Kaput said:

Trying to decide what speaker to order with the Black 5 decoder, don't suppose anyone has any nice pictures of the tender with the decoder and the double sugarcube (40x22x09) speaker squeezed in?

Hi Kaput

I’ve been using these speakers https://www.parts-express.com/tang-band-w1-1925sb-1-poly-cone-full-range-driver--264-922 which have worked extremely well with the D&H Black 5.  No matter what speaker you use, I’ve found that mounting it high up in the tender pointing downwards gives the best sounds.  With most sound installs, I will usually remove the tender weight to give more room with no bad consequences.  
 

I can take some pics of my Black 5 install if you need it.  The D&H decodes are a fair bit smaller than the Loksound.

Cheers

Tony

Bradford Exchange for me, closely followed by Leeds Central.

Cheers

Tony

33 minutes ago, FarrMan said:

I know that londoners seem to think that that is all that there is, and it keeps on growing, but that is rather stretching it a bit. Also since when did York become a terminus? Is it north or York or south of York that has closed?

 

For my choice it would have to be Paddington. The wonderful sight of all that chocolate and cream until you reached the highly polished Brunswick green and copper. If it is the station structure itself, then either St Pancras with the hotel, or Euston with the arch.

 

Lloyd

Sorry, missed reading London Termini.  All fixed now.

Ok, got it wrong first time, teach me to read further in the thread.  I do like all of the London Termini, but St Pancras is my all time favourite.  I couldn’t believe it when a mate suggested visiting the Betjeman Arms pub that you could have a pint of ale and watch the Eurostars, always try to visit there when in London.

Peppercorn A1 would be the biggest omission for me.

All good here John, very few cases in our state but a big outbreak down south has us a bit concerned.  The work from home thing has been a boon for my modelling though, no travel and knocking off around 5ish means lots of time for the layouts you’ve seen on my thread.

Re the weathering, to be honest I really prefer 1401 to 5801 because it really highlights the detail well and has enough variety to keep the eye interested.  Factory weathering is just too uniform usually.  One of the things I try to do is make every “panel” slightly different as it was a trick I learnt from a 3D artist who worked for a software company as it keeps the eye “busy”.  That might mean differences in sheen, marks on the boiler or tanks, fire irons etc.  For 5801 I think the flat look all over is what still makes it not quite as good as 1401.  Maybe a coat of floor polish on the tanks, cab sides and bunker might help, but as always, if you have a pic of a similar tank engine, that is the best guide.  
 

In the end though, the result you have got from resurrection of the Dapol version is one you should be very satisfied with!

Cheers

Tony

Hi Mike

Thanks for that.  I might leave it then if that’s ok as it seems a bit of a waste to put such a great body on the older Bachmann chassis which wouldn’t even be worth the 25 quid.  I’ll have to stick with the Finney one I haven’t yet put together.

thanks very much for investigating though and sorry for wasting your time.

Cheers

Tony

Silk purse and all that John, well done!  The weathering you’ve done on the recent ones certainly looks the part.

Cheers

Tony

Hi Mike

If it is still possible, and you are willing to post to Australia, could I order a Bachmann chassis one.  No problems if not.

kind regards

Tony 

1 hour ago, ianathompson said:

Back in the day I played rugby league for the University on a pitch near that viaduct.

Its wall to wall urban badlands nowadays.

 

Ian T

Against Wakefield Trinity?  Someone I work with has a partner who used to play there, but I think this prose by a young Wakefield lad says it all

1 hour ago, simontaylor484 said:

I have never set out to count the arches but it certainly is an impressive structure. At least you are looking at the city side of the viaduct the other side you would get a lovely view of the prison. 

 

 

From what I understand it is either 95 or 114 arches depending on whether you count the ones that go under the station.  It certainly is better looking towards the city, but it would’ve been nice to have a view of the cooling towers in the background somehow.

cheers

Tony

Thanks Simon

I’m glad that you can recognise the building in the pic, as it means that it is at least recognisable as Westgate.  I need to tidy up the image more in Photoshop and backdate it now to get rid of the modern buildings and widen Westgate itself, otherwise I’m really happy with how it looks, not precise, but able to indicate that it is Wakefield.

Meanwhile, I have been working to create the famous viaduct coming into Westgate.  Not all 99 arches though, but as a nod to Dave Shakespeare, just 3.  When he asked me once via PM if I was going to recreate the 99 arches, I said I could only fit 3 or 4 arches, he replied:

Only four arches! Hell mate you live in Australia, I visited Peaks Crossing out near Ipswich so I know you can travel for a week and still be in the same scenery so you've got plenty of space to model the whole viaduct. But take heart, I've got an article somewhere that counts the arches and over bridges and I think there are actually only about 95 or so.

Get building you ######!

Regards

Whinging Pom.

So here’s a few arches for you Dave!

I do love the stretched streak.  I was looking to build one but with a number of loco kits accrued now, I think it might be a Hornby job.

Still need to figure out which Thompson pacific I’m allowed too given the upcoming releases, or should I just get another Peppercorn A1, they’re a safe bet.  Decisions, decisions...

And a very nice plonk it is!

Thanks John

Im not exactly sure what it was, I think offices but haven’t been able to find out.  I have sort of assumed that it might have been linked to the building behind it and may have also had some sort of manufacturing but more research is needed.

Until a few weeks ago I had no photos to speak of to work from, but some gold dust popped up on a Wakefield historical group on Facebook and I snared these two B&W pics.

Cheers

Tony

Also, a couple of fill in buildings to finish off the built up area.  Hopefully these are the last of the kitbashes for now, as I’m itching to get back to railway stuff.

Building progress has been continuing of late with this representation of Milne House as per the B&W pics.  This was directly across Westgate from the station so have been adding details to make it a bit of a “hero” building that helps to match up to the detail of the station building.

Glad everything is ok with your eyes Gilbert.  Lovely photos of late, both historical and model.  Plenty of B17s too which always makes life better I find.

Such exotic locos up north Eric, and all look superb too.

While I applaud St Enodoc’s nomination of Tornado and wholeheartedly agree with his sentiment, sticking with historical accuracy I have to vote for the V2, such a superb, hardworking, elegant machine.