southernelectric

So did Bachmann sort out the problems that a lot of the blue models had, with the model for the green non-sound (D369) version? Sorry if it's already covered in the thread somewhere...

Fantastic news indeed! The KMRC newsletter has a mistake in it though, it has the Blue FYE 71 013 model showing as E5004 (the same as the green model). Order going in for a blue FYE and a green SYP imminently...

According to Hattons website they are 21-pin DCC ready...

I believe your thinking is correct. The D1015 model does not have the Talisman clips so represents the loco in the 1960s when it carried the Golden Ochre first time round. The MSYP D1023 model has them fitted so that would represent it in current, preserved form.

When I spoke to Dapol at Ally Pally a few months back, they told me that they were no longer going to fit the brake rodding to any of the Western models as it was too prone to coming off in transit.

Nice! I'll be up for a green one with SYP and blue with FYE.

Great! Very useful to know. D1005 shall become D1011. And I'll sell the D1005 plates on eBay...

What's the significance (if any) of the red spots?

Thanks, I took a look. Interesting that D1002 Western Explorer's withdrawal is stated on that thread as 29-01-74, Wikipedia shows October 1976:: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Rail_Class_52_locomotives If the 1974 date Rugd1022's thread is the correct one, then the Dapol blue D1005 Western Venturer will not work for renaming to D1002 Western Explorer as surely the Talisman clips would not have been fitted to D1002 before wihdrawal? In which case renaming the Dapol maroon D1012 Western Firebrand (which doesn't have the clips) to D1002 Western Explorer would work. That being the case I'll probably rename the Dapol BR blue D1005 Western Venturer to D1011 Western Thunderer, the latter not being withdrawn until October 1975 - so I would image the Talisman clips would have been fitted to that loco? [Edited to reflect correct number for D1012 Western Firebrand - originally stated D1023]

Thanks Southernman! I found the accident report online and looking at pictures of the various Dapol models I can now see the difference between clips and non-clips versions.

One other question about these models... The black surround on the headcode box, present on the Western Venturer model from the first run that Dapol did last year, is not present on Western Glory from the second run of earlier this year. On pictures of the prototype I've looked at online, I cannot see any examples with a black headcode box surround. Which begs the question, why did Dapol do this if it's not prototypical?

Thanks for the tip! So...what about D1072 Western Glory (Blue with FYE)? I was thinking of renaming to D1011 Western Thunderer, with my D1005 Western Venturer from the first run will most likely become D1002 Western Explorer. I might just keep it as D1072 though, quite like the name. Also, I recently acquired D1012 Western Firebrand (Maroon with FYE). Thinking of renaming this as well....but not sure what to....or is renaming that a no-go? I was thinking of Western Thunderer if I keep Glory as is. Talisman clips....can you please explain what they are and where they are on the loco? Sorry if it's been explained somewhere else already in this 127 page thread!

You are not alone in your madness. I have developed a great fondness for the West Country Class in both unrebuilt and rebuilt form. As well as admiring the look of these locomotives, it's probably no coincidence that I also have a great fondness of, and connections with, the area of north Devon and north Cornwall which features many towns and villages that had WC Class locos named after them - in particular Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Bude, Clovelly, Padstow, Torrington, Westward Ho. Still find it amazing that the Southern Region used to extend as far west as it did before the Western Region took over these lines in the early 1960s. The ACE is something I have a particular fascination with and would love to see the line between Barsntaple and Torrington reinstated as a heritage railway. But I digress... My vote would go to the Hornby R3081 NRM Flying Scotsman as the finest model Hornby has ever produced. This is the A3 class with smoke deflectors in LNER Apple Green, representing circa 2011 preservation and released as an exclusive limited edition of 1000 via the NRM shop. I own no less than 3 of these! It was, aside from the Clan Line model that came with my VSOE DCC set, the first Hornby steam loco I had purchased for about 30 years having been away from the hobby for a very long time. I couldn't believe how wonderful this model is. Truly stunning super-detailed model and light years ahead of the Hornby model I owned in the late 1970s/early 1980s. It is, IMO, a truly outstanding model. I know its NRM predecessor model (R2441) is very highly regarded too. I think that NRM model came out circa 2005. Having said that, I recently bought a Hornby Beverston Castle (which I intend to have renumbered and renamed Corfe Castle) and that is no slouch either.

Sorry, slightly O/T but would renumbering and renaming the forthcoming Hornby Okehampton to Padstow be a viable option?

Thanks again....I didn't realise what a minefield all of this is!

Thank you kindly sir! Thank you! The only other consideration now is the colour of the nameplates and crests for the un-rebuilt Braunton (and Bideford for that matter, as discussed over on the other thread), red or black?

Right...so if I have understood correctly, the yet to be released Hornby Exeter in brunswick green with the early BR crest markings would be suitable for conversion to Braunton, but not the earlier Torrington model in Malachite Green. Have I got that right?

It occurred to me that perhaps an un-rebuilt version of Braunton could be created from the forthcoming Hornby Exeter model. Would this model make for a suitable representation of Braunton in the early 1950s, without modification to the model? I have a spare Hornby Torrington I could also use for the purpose, in the early Malachite green livery, late 1940s/very early 1950s I would guess, with no markings on the tender. Anyone care to comment on which of these, Exeter or Torrington, would be suitable, or both if that's the case?

Ultimately Ray, I want to run them! But that won't be on a regular basis until I have a permanent layout built. EPIC permanent layout it will have to be too, given how much stuff I've acquired in anticipation :-)

What is it with the QC on these models? I would really like another maroon with SYP, having got the WLA Western Courier Limited Edition model. Tested it out on a rolling road for a few hours, seemed OK but I'm dreading testing all three of mine over pointwork, which is a trad tricky for me as I don't have a permanent layout. The first blue one I got (Venturer) wouldn't even stay on a short section of straight test track. In the end I got a new loco from Dapol via DCC Supplies but not after it had been sent back, 'repaired' and then sent back to me still not right. Going to have to get the Hornby VSOE set out, set up the trackmat on top of my Scalextric layout in the garage, then test all three of mine out over points. I have a Western Champion limited edition on pre-order with Cheltenham Model Centre. Seriously thinking of cancelling. My confidence in these models, reading the problems on here, is somewhat diminished. And then there's Heiter's comments about fixing the derailment problems. Unbelievable!!! Come on Dapol, sort this out!!! The consumer should NOT have to fix problems with the locos that should not have come out of the factory like this. Sort out the flipping QC and this kind of s*** won't be necessary. Rant over. Anyone from Dapol on here like to comment now that Dapol Dave is not Dapol Dave these days?

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. The jury's still out on this one for me. Maybe Hornby will produce an as preserved model of it? In the meantime another conversion I'm contemplating is an un-rebuilt West Country class loco this time - Exeter - and converting it to Bideford. New thread started here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83443-converting-Hornby-r3115-west-country-class-34001-exeter-into-34019-bideford/

How is it behaving over pointwork? I can't test my 40 141 on anything other than a rolling road at present...so any problems like others have had probably won't show up...

So what's happening with the non-DCC green model 32-481 (D369)? Are Bachmann testing those at Barwell or they not even in the country yet, anyone know?

That was my experience too, of trying to run a DCC sound-fitted Bachmann Deltic 'St Paddy' on a rolling road with DC control.