Godfrey Glyn

It would appear that the factory packed the two BR liveries in the wrong boxes. The one here is the late BR emblem, not the early one! Mine arrived at Alton this morning, luckily Paul had ordered one of each so I was able to pick up the early version. Very impressed with it and looking forward to the IoW version. All the best Godfrey

Picked up the early BR version at Alton yesterday afternoon, soon after they been delivered. Paul tested it - he always does this as a matter of course before a loco leaves the shop - and it ran sweetly straight from the box. IMHI it's a really beautiful model and Hornby deserve great credit for producing such a masterpiece. I only ever saw them in their 'weathered state' but I will have to summon up significant levels of bravery before attacking mine with the airbrush, it really is a most impressive model. Really looking forward to the Radial, the Merchant Navy and the ex-LSWR coaches now. Godfrey

It was good to meet and chat with Dave at Fareham today and I managed to get some photos with my iPhone. Very impressed with the bogies on the 71, a real work of art IMHI. It was fascinating listening to an ex-driver on the Southern who was saying that the 74s were so rough that you couldn't sit down when driving them, you had to stand up. A key factor to be taken into account when adding a driver to Dave's 74! A good exhibition and well worth making a visit if you are free tomorrow. Came away with some nice Howard Scenics Flemish Bond brick papers, an 0 gauge figure from the excellent Master Piece range and I gave into massive temptation and bought the new beautiful 02. An expensive but enjoyable day out! Godfrey

Happened to be mooching around the LT Museum yesterday and took some photos of John Hampden which certainly show the difference between the colours applied to the sides and the roof. all the best Godfrey

Now this really is a nitpicking issue but I hope it illustrates the very small differences in the way the the orange/blue boundary line is painted on the driving coach of the 450s. It has always surprised me that Bachmann didn't produce this before; it is, in my opinion a very attractive livery. I am sure Adrian would be proud of my attention to detail in the prototype, needless to say I didn't notice until it was pointed out on RMweb! All the best Godfrey

Hi 159220, Altogether I sent them 16 photos taken at Alton or Eastleigh to show the variations in roof colours and patterns. I hoped that they would show that: SWT have painted some of the coach roofs more recently in a darker matt paint, the air con units remain in their original style paint, the complex patterns on weathered roofs which presumably results from the washing plant and sunlight, the way the 'swoosh' runs on the roof of the driving coaches, the weathering in the empty 'pantograph well', I also sent two which showed the variation in how the 'swoosh' runs at the driving cabs in different units. Some of those I sent are below, rather too many to load them all on! I think the weathering patterns that Bachmann achieved on the test coach set is excellent but when I wrote I tried to suggest that to recreate the complex patterns on the roofs of the 450 might be too expensive and if so it would be better to produce both models in pristine condition. If anyone wants more photos in order to repaint the Bachmann 350, please PM me All the best Godfrey

Two months later and I still haven't had any acknowledgement from Bachmann, not even an email message - having sent it by recorded delivery and to be signed for I would have thought it should have arrived by now. I have given up awaiting the postman with interest regarding this particular issue! All the best Godfrey

Many thanks Graham and good for Dapol to reply promptly. I am still awaiting any form of acknowledgement from Bachmann having sent Dennis Lovett a portfolio of photographs to show the real life weathering on Southwest Trains Class 450s over two months ago, perhaps they didn't want to know how they really look! I sent the package by recorded post and to be signed for so it should have arrived by now! Godfrey

Picked up my Maroon version this afternoon from Paul at Alton Model Centre. He tested mine before I left the shop and the running straight out of the box was superb. I am now looking forward to fitting all the extra details, could take up a big chunk of the evening. Paul seemed to have a good supply of all three versions. All the best Godfrey

I know that many of us are rather fuzzy about the number of rivets or the shape of chimneys but may I humbly point out that the guy raising his hands is, by nationality at least, a German and not Italian! I am sure he would however agree with the sentiment of this suggestion. Godfrey

Hillux I appreciate that being in New Zealand makes this difficult but I sent back six Bulleid Pacifics with gear box problems to Horby via my local model shop and they were all repaired free of charge. They may have recently changed the way they want you to return items but it's worth contacting them. In my experience Hornby's repair service is excellent - all the locos were well out of guarantee. Hope that helps All the best Godfrey

For those of you thinking of building a Lyme branch, the station building was moved from Lyme to Alresford. Not sure how many external changes were made to it when it was rebuilt on the Mid-Hants. Hope thats useful for someone all the best Godfrey

I spoke to Dennis Lovett as well at DEMU and suggested to him that weathering the roof so as to reflect the reality might be quite difficult - and expensive! I offered to send him some photos of the variations in roof colours and patterns and he was interested enough to give me his card - he must get fed up with people like me pestering! Anyway I have sent him a letter of comments together with 16 A4 colour photographs ( a bit like that song 'Alice's Restaurant' ) with an offer of more if required in the hope that they will limit any weathering to the underframe and bogies. I will await the post-man with interest!! all the best Godfrey

I see that Hornby have now posted a paint scheme for the GWR versions on their Facebook page. Hope this is of help to those of you who are discussing the potential schemes. All the best Godfrey

devonseasider said - "So, who packed their stuff into a blue 63-reg Octavia and drove home via the Stockland straight & Seaton Junction? I know there's someone out there who fits the bill 'cos I followed you for 10 miles or more . . . ." I find this very worrying, just because I wore a t-shirt last year with " GCHQ - always listening to our customers" MI5 are obviously interested in me and a fellow RMWebber called Graham ( obviously a nom de tablet) follows me south all the way across the Blackdown Hills and only lost me at Seaton Junction. Luckily I had enjoyed two pasties and an excellent piece of pie so I could have driven on to Moscow Hampshire without further replenishment. May I add my thanks to Tim and Andy for organising such a special day, to the catering team for providing such excellent service and to my fellow moduleers for their support and companionship. Special thanks to Mike and his side car Stu for the brand new set of fiddle yards, and not a single grain of polystyrene to be seen! I agree it was great to have a new member, I was so impressed with Simon's 3-D printed line side items that I will be ordering some for myself. I was happy, and much relieved that the IMUs (or whatever Mike Stationmaster calls them) worked. Looking forward to next year already. In the meantime a set of photos to add to the collection, especially for those poor souls who missed it. Thanks to all of you who attended All the best Godfrey

Many thanks to Charlie and Arran, my two FGW 143s arrived safely this morning. Hope to run one of them on the Modular layout at Taunton this Sunday. They look the bees knees! Godfrey

Very many thanks Sandra and all the teams at NRM and at Bachmann who have worked to produce this little masterpiece. Mine arrived this afternoon, very well wrapped and it looks absolutely beautiful. very best wishes Godtrey

I have been taking an interest in the 450s over the last year having bought a cheap 350 and planned to do a paint job conversion a la Model Rail article. The roofs certainly do suffer from the cleaning ( and perhaps the effect of sunlight?). I get the impression that Siemens are now painting the roofs with a darker matt paint, seemingly coach by coach. Hopefully this can be seen in the photo I took at Alton. Perhaps someone on here will know whether the paint spec has indeed been changed. Godfrey

Captain Kernow, on 26 Mar 2015 - 11:43, said: Not sure of any astrological connection Captain, I rather see it as the Stationmaster's Round Table for use by us Moduleers. Sorry to get the initials mixed up Mike, you're quite right it is a circle of MLUs. Only found out I really was dyslexic near the end of my working career- up to then I just thought I couldn't spell to save my life! Must get back to the wiring! All the very best Godfrey

Pasties and IMUs All this talk of pasties, besides making me feel hungry, gave me an idea. I suggest that we start a tradition that all layouts coming to Taunton should have, somewhere, a scale version of a pastie. Not having much time at the moment I present my first attempt, a hand made pastie in the hand of a Bachmann fitter - Just incase its not clear, the 'pasties 'is in his right hand and no, its not a fat banana! And now for the Moduleers I offer you the IMUs - Stationmaster's name for the Inter Module Units that were discussed and agreed at Coventry. I have now produced 10. As long as the height of the top of your Code 100 track above the base is less than 4.12 inches - 105.5 mm, your module should fit. I will be bringing the packing units to bring modules up to the height of the track on the IMUs. If the height of the track on your module is over that we can turn the IMU through 180 deg but you will need to provide a couple of connecting tracks as before. The two tracks are set at 2" apart and the Evostick/foam layer allows about 2.5 mm sideways movement. I have built two IMUs with wider bases to accommodate Arthur's wonderful module. Hopefully it will all work. Only a month to go and I am madly busy trying to complete the rebuild of my two modules, I doubt if it will look any better than last year but it will be lighter and the connecting track part will certainly work OK. Looking forward to seeing all you moduleers! Please do PM me if I have confused you! all the very best Godfrey

My two arrived safely this morning, both in pristine condition and very well packed. Really beautiful little models, many many thanks to Chris and the team at Kernow and to Dave for checking them on arrival. I must admit I don't envy Dave having to get each one out of it's foam container to check it. You must love the yellow ribbon! Very best wishes Godfrey

For me the livery makes the loco look a bit like a grinning shark from the front. Perhaps it is supposed to look aggressive. Can't say its one of the best liveries to come out of privatisation. I have to agree that the original GNER livery was impressive, more so than this.

Robin, tell him to ring Alton Model Centre. Paul Treacher had a second hand one in the shop last week. i think it was £60. Hope that is of some use. Godfrey

For me this is great news and I for one am really looking forward to it arriving. I can just about remember them when I spotted at Yeovil Junction as a kid. Tomorrow's announcements will be interesting but even if Bachmann do not announce their version tomorrow it gives them the opportunity to upgrade and extend their range of Bulleid coaches and then sell them by the bucket load ( provided of course that they can get the colour right next time). Godfrey

There are very few model shops in the UK as good as Alton Model Centre - I was in there the other week and another customer, as he left, said to his wife, you don't see shops like this anymore. Bob built up something quite special so when he said he intended to retire I was dismayed as he, together with Caroline and more recently Richard, have provided a wonderful service to those of us who live within travelling distance. A round trip of 50 miles for me is always worthwhile and I have rarely returned home without something I needed or wanted - or sometimes I didn't realise I needed when I set off! I was therefore delighted when he told me that his son Paul was taking over the shop and I am sure Paul will build upon the firm foundations. I know that he is making use of the days when he is closed to upgrade the IT system and do all the things you need to do when taking over a business. After 25 years of outstanding service Bob certainly deserves his chance to relax and build another model railway of his own. I wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement! all the best Godfrey