jwealleans

Only the one up to now, but I do have the accompanying all third set in the pile somewhere (and if we decide we want an excursion train it would be quicker than a Tourist set to build...). Don't hold your breath though. I'll put that one in the boxes for the weekend if you like.

About eight or nine years ago and it was first in this thread in July last year.

It's in one of the LNER Albums, Gilbert.

Bit of a waste of mushy peas, if you don't mind me saying?

Looks good, that. I always test my stock on a layout with handbuilt track - generally, if it will run on there, it'll run on anything. Exhibition layouts need a lot more tolerance from stock than ones which are built and never moved. It's worth taking time to fettle and make it work (within reason - no point in fighting a ploughed field) as you'll end up with something which will run first time anywhere you choose to take it.

Stop it. There'll be strikes.

That dark brown colour is very hard to weather over, I find, because the more common weathering mixes tend to go beige, as the first photo shows. Can you elaborate on what you've done to the panelling? It looks like dark washes into the corners and a slightly glossy finishing coat? Ta.

To be fair, he seems as surprised as the rest of us that he's still here at all.

Not the greatest as I'm sure he'll admit, but LNER4479 was kind enough to film mine on its maiden voyage last night with the Leeds Quint dining set in tow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IegD9dCp7tU&feature=youtu.be

No, it shouldn't. But it does - Graeme King's RR model did the same thing when he tried it on Thurston at Grantham show. To be fair to Hornby, Graeme did confess that he'd had it to bits and not put it back together quite right rather than it having arrived that way.

Doesn't the forum software autocorrect this any more? It used to, quite emphatically.

I'm very happy to be associated, however peripherally, with something of the quality of 60012, although I'd quite forgotten about it. He's not known as 'ace modeller' for nothing. What is the alternative source for cab sightscreens? My last Hornby ones didn't survive being removed and for exhibition stock I'd have reservations about how long they'd last unless they were quite robust.

Has that shed to the right got bigger?

Where in the selection of donors you mention did you get the lav windows? I have looked at doing a similar set for Grantham but it won't be soon.

Bit of a diversion in the last few days as we've been out to the Grantham Model Rail show with Thurston. This is one of the last shows we'll do with the layout so if you want to see it again you're running out of chances. I took some pictures of newish stock and one or two locos we don't run very often also had a few hours in the sun. Thanks to LNER4479 (and Mrs 4479) for helping over lunchtime on the Saturday when we were a man short. Bury shed turned out their other D16 on the Sunday morning. We only usually see 62566 on the layout. This NER lav 3rd features on the bench a few pages back. It will be weathered when I've gathered up enough outstanding stock to do a batch. Cambrian kit C107 - SR D 1375 open as supplied to the LNER during the war (LNER D 178). Also to be weathered. Another in Cambrian's ever improving range. Finally, due to the presence of Mr. King of this parish, we had a guest loco on the Sunday morning for a few hours. I suspect the headroom on that bridge might have reduced somewhat had this been sent over it in reality. Nonetheless a beautiful runner which we never dared turn up past 40% on the controller without posting 3 slips and a gully on the bends. Edit - I must also thank Grantham Railway Society for looking after us so well, ROY@34F for taking the trouble to come and say hello and the good folk of Grantham for voting us their favourite layout in show. Look forward to seeing Roy again next year along with everyone else at the first outing of Grantham the Streamliner Years to a model railway show.

Precision Labels did a set to my commission. They were for the LNER period but the font is not a million miles away and at that scale not many people are going to read them. They are in white.

Oh, blimey. Have I time to grow a comedy beard and buy some unrecognisable sunglasses?

There doesn't seem to be a thread on the Grantham Model Railway Exhibition which is this weekend, but those lucky enough to attend will be able to see me (with Thurston, by Ely MRC), Mr Graeme King (with Waterloo Road) and a rumoured appearance by Robert the Devil himself. Details here.

Tony, an entirely academic question from my point of view and quite possibly a non-starter in practical terms (no commission required if it is and you make an article out of it) but what is required to convert a Hornby L1 to 9000? I gather there were quite a few differences between her and the rest of the production locomotives.

I think we're probably all waiting for you to clean it up before we use it again.

You could smell the 'Boro almost before you saw it in those days. Whoever thought we'd be nostalgic for them? Great stuff.

On that diagram it's labelled 'slotted link'. Edit - see Tony's correction lower down (to save you all telling me I'm wrong).

Other uses for a Merlin. I thought I'd read about a chap who killed himself in a Merlin engined car, or was it a Meteor?

Best I can suggest is to have a look on Larry Goddard (Coachmann)'s thread and see what he uses. I'd be more inclined to put red oxide under it, as I'd have thought the grey might give it a blue tinge. That said, I'm sure I've read that the Midland used at least one coat of blue undercoat on their coaches. Alternatively, try it with both undercoats on sample pieces and see which you prefer in daylight.

Rover Damask Red is also used. Bear in mind that the undercoat will have a significant effect on the final colour.