Farang

I went on the Sunday, my first visit to this exhibition. The layouts did not disappoint. Main traders were Kernow, Aspire, Footplate, Roxley Models, Model Railway Solutions, all with good displays of products but the impression I got was that not much was being sold. A result of the high prices for the latest models? Driving home I found the road layout with all those roundabouts a bit confusing.

No, I don't know about the yellow star. On what type of freight car was it? I don't know about night time as I don't go to the station at night! I'll look through my photos.

On locos a red circle is air brake and yellow is vacuum. Loco 4301 has red/yellow so is dual braked. You can see the hoses for both. The end of train indication is a disc , red circle edged in white.

Sri Racha depot - where nearly all the earlier Chinese "Class 51s" are laid up awaiting spares! Yes. 18 at Si Racha the other two are in Makassan. It will be a year or two before all are operational again.

When I saw this I thought it was one of mine!

In 2022 the SRT took delivery of fifty new locos from China numbered 5201-50, so I think of them as Class 52.

Interesting news especially as Ellis Clark seems to have bought up the remaining stock of DJH's 00 loco kits. It's a lot to take on, especially after buying SEF, so good luck to Squires.

I went on Saturday. Arriving about 10.45 the car park was already full and was directed to the additional parking just down the road. The parking area was right at the back of that site, not a five minute walk to the exhibition, I thought. But there was a footpath that led into the school grounds so it was only a few minutes! Good exhibition but they need to add a good bookseller to the traders.

I remember Loco Modeller. It was published and edited by John Paige. Forty years ago, I sure by now he must be dead. It was of its time. Back then you had to build a kit of some sort to get a decent model.

I am not at home so cannot look at my books but I think the first volume was published by Wild Swan. They declined the second volume which was, I think, published by OPC. The third and final volume were published by, I think, Kevin Robertson. The first volume was a smaller page size, (quarto?). the following three volumes were A4 so not uniform on the bookshelf, if you worry about such things!

Thank you but X5899 does not appear to be available from the usual sources.

I bought this but it is missing the parts bag. I cannot find a number for it - can anyone help?

I bought this today for 140.. The smoke deflectors will not stay on the loco and when attached are not parallel with the running plate but are angled inwards towards the front. Any ideas?

Re Detling I think the organiser reaslised he'd bitten off far more than he could chew. Also, it was literally out in the country, no passing trade like in a town centre and a long way from public transport. I think I was invited but declined as I thought because of those reasons it would be a non-starter. Traders who paid deposits had them returned.

I have just bought Hornby R3382TTS for £129.00. Was ordered Thursday and delivered this morning. The tender top and boiler top were dusty so may have been on display. Fitted a blanking plug as I don't do DCC and it ran, a bit hesitant and growly but give it some volts and off it goes. I suspect it's never been run. To remove the tender body the instructions indicate two screws at the front. They are at the rear. Refitting was difficult as the hand brake rod has to locate in a hole in the platform. This proved impossible as I don't have four hands so I just cut it off above the hole. You'd never notice this. I think the hand brake must have been fitted after the body was attached to the chassis. The model was missing the parts bag as advertised. Not a problem as X8003 is available. From Peters Spares (website) £13.28 including £5.00 postage. Frome Peters Spares on eBay £10.78 including £2.50 postage. So I bought it from Lendons for £7.98 including £2.00 postage. I note the tender is missing its "coal".