Sam*45110*SVR

Just received my 7812 this morning, sadly despite the hefty packaging, the chimney has broken off at the glue line, several drain cocks have broken off and vanished and the rear tender footsteps are bent back.  😥

But apart from that it's fantastic!

Edit: I submitted an exchange request and it was approved and a return label sent in just 3 minutes!

I thought I hadn't either, but I'd somehow missed it. The email is titled "Bradley Manor Models Have Arrived!" I received it from info at keypublishing dot com on 28th July at 12:45

Hope that helps.

I could not believe my eyes when I read that Hornby are re-releasing the 8F for £249.99! The tooling for it dates back to 2002 and yet it's being sold for £40 more than the far more detailed new 2023 tool B17/5, 2010 castle or the 2017 streamlined merchant navy! You'd expect a new tool to go with the Black 5 for that kind of money.

I've also just got a Britomart. Runs very badly with a tight spot up to about half speed but above that smooths itself out. No improvement after running in. I'd like to return it to Bachmann for repair, but I've lost the receipt! Will they still take it?

Surprised this hadn't already been posted, but Hornby had a prototype with a 3D printed body of the Caprotti valve gear fitted model on display. I've attached a picture I took of it.

Here's my MG ZS 180, I bought it just before lockdown as my first car and I'm very glad I did! Looking a bit mucky here after a drive into the peak district.

Tonight a pair of 323s became the first EMUs to reach Bromsgrove and climb the Lickey Incline. Pictures on Facebook.

Also, the new timetable gives details of cross-city services to Bromsgrove, along with a note saying the start date is still unconfirmed and until then Bromsgrove trains terminate at Longbridge. 3tph Monday to Saturday, 2tph Sundays. Only 1tph stops at Barnt Green though, the others go fast to Longbridge.

Sam

Route learning trips between Barnt Green and Bromsgrove for cross city drivers are scheduled to start on Monday 16th. There are quite a few trips up and down per day according to realtimetrains.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BMV/2018/04/16/0000-2359?stp=S&show=non-passenger&order=wtt&toc=LM

Sam

I've caught a 172 into New St. I think it was last summer, before the new Bromsgrove station opened. Only seen it that one time but the 172 was noticeably quicker up the Lickey incline than the usual 170. I assume it was due to a failure of the booked unit and the driver luckily had both route and traction knowledge to allow a 172 to be used.

Thanks Gilbert, a lovely pair of pics !

Amazing to think that when 41157 was built by the LMS in 1925 as one of their main express passenger locos, the LNER had a fleet of A1 pacifics and the GWR had a growing fleet of castles !

Thanks, Sam

 

I have partly fulfilled the rest of the request too, and that will follow shortly. If there are any other requests, please let me know, as the end of the sequence, when I have to shuffle things about any way, is a very good time to deal with them without causing disruption and headaches later.

Hi Gilbert

If I'm not too late, my request (if it isn't blasphemy  ) is for a midland interloper (that isn't an Ivatt class 4), hauling more of your wonderful "everyday" stock through PN.

I went through Peterborough on a HST just before Christmas having never visited or seen a picture of the new station before. I was quite shocked at how much had changed because I've seen so many pictures of your model of PN in 1958 ! 

Thanks, Sam

Found this in Peterborough this morning:

 

 

 

What is that post in front of the 37 for ? It's got a signalling ID plate on the front but what is that square head for ?

Thanks, Sam

You'd be surprised Jock at just how much leaf residue is left behind on the rail head even straight after the RHTT has passed through with the jet blasting the rail.

After the leaves have been 'run over' by a few dozen wheels, it looks and feels like the black Teflon coating you see in a frying pan, it also sticks to the rail like it too.

Add in some damp weather and you can imagine the coefficient of friction figure between wheel and rail- zero!

Its certainly a big problem and contrary to popular belief, certainly not unique to GB.

So how do other countires cope with it, do they run equivalent RHTT trains, or do they have other methods ?

Wow that looks superb, keep us updated please ! These kits do have a bit of a reputation apparently....

Sam

So, we come to the end of the first week of the new image posting policy. It has been a resounding success from my point of view, far less time consuming and irritating. It may feel like you have been constantly deluged with photos, but actually there have been about the same number as normal, but not in such concentrated form. Anyway, no-one has yet complained that there are too many, so I'll carry on in the same way.

I don't think anyone could possibly complain of too many photos of your wonderful, inspiring layout !

P.S. The strategic reserve has been hidden in plain sight for years. NRM, Locomotion, SVR, NYMR, WSR, East lancs, Bluebell, GCR.......

Sam

I'm a bit disappointed actually. There was me thinking, JO short for Jorvic, someone has showed some imagination. Sadly not it seems.

Seems odd that JO is Sheffield, does anyone know the reason for this ?

Thanks, Sam

Snipped from Jim's "down by the tracks with colas" thread, this shot really does shout (very realistic) model to me !   

I doubt anyone would notice if I posted this in the "how realistic are your models" thread !

Sam

Happened across this video from the cab of the prototype deltic today, briefly showing peterborough north and other parts of the ECML from KX to Doncaster in the brief 4 mins, definitely worth a watch !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9JLTFVgC6s

Sam

Hi again All,

 

Well everyone here are the photos as promised.

I hope I've covered the King in enough detail to show the model well.

 

With regret I will have to delay posting the review until the morning as to be honest I don't think I can manage the extra rewrite tonight - its the usual problem of health overtaking me I'm afraid.

Rest assured though that i'll get on straight away in the morning - all I can do is to apologise to you all and ask you to bear with me.

 

Thanks to those who have given me their best wishes.

 

Regards.

Hi TheWeatheringMan

Sorry to take this off topic but it looks like you're doing a caprotti std 5 conversion in the backround of the pics of the GBL king, would you mind telling us a bit about it please ?

Thanks, Sam

The latest Hornby Gresley conversion has now rolled off the "Wright with a bit of Barnatt" production line, this one using Comet sides to create a Dia 114 Brake Second. I really do like these coaches, always have, so this one is particularly welcome.

brake 1.jpg

brake 2.jpg

I've been entrusted again with the painting of the roofs and ends, despite the deficiencies of my last effort. I do hope these meet with Sir's approval, as I don't want to get the ruler when I next visit deepest darkest Lincolnshire.

Hi Gilbert

The Gresley brake looks great, was it painted with an airbrush or spray can? What shades were used as it seems to me that BR maroon could vary from being really brown and dull when worn to being really bright almost like BR crimson !

Thanks, Sam

The other four will be lettered and weathered to be SKs as they come, I think, unless I can get away with making one an SO, with a different interior.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

Hi Al

I've also got a few hachette mk1s and decided to hack one into an SO for variety from all of the SKs, turns out it was easier than I thought, exteriors of SOs and SKs are identical except for roof vents I think and the interior was very compliant when I attacked it with a craft knife and glue, just don't look too close at the interior ! Alternatively you can buy parts to make a better one from various suppliers (southern pride, coopercraft, comet maybe ?) All done now, it looks the part and does make a change from the SKs. 

Sam

I was on holiday at Dawlish warren during the week and had a great veiw of passing trains from the apartment !  I even managed to take a few pics !

First on Saturday 19/4 we saw 60007 on the Dartmouth express from Guildford to Kingswear return.

Went to the South Devon Railway on easter monday but I forgot my camera ! 

Over the week saw a lot of HSTs.....

....Voyagers, 143s, 150s and a few 153s as well as the NMT, a DRS charter with top and tailed 47s ("solent" and "Rail Express Magazine" IIRC) and.....

On Friday 25/4 Colas 70801 came through Dawlish warren with a rake of 25 NR ballast wagons.

With the footpath closed to sea wall and langstone rock I had to stand on the sea wall just in front of the fence to get a half decent shot !

Later the same day the VSOE Pullman train hauled by 67024 and 67006 went through.

Came home this morning so missed 5029 and 34046 Great weather and great Holiday though !

Sam

I thought maybe you'd over done the weathering a little.

 

Then I saw these...

 

fish_vans_01_welcome.jpg

 

Steam powered railways really were filthy weren't they?

Quite why BR decided to paint these vans white when steam locomotives were being used is beyond me !

Sam

A belated thank you to Gilbert for Friday; I've just been reviewing some of the imagery and found one that didn't make the cut which looks nice as a B&W with fake sky.

 

AP9BWs.jpg

Hang on, that photo didn't make the cut, it's stunning!!! 

If that wasn't good enough for BRM I've got some high expectations now 

Thanks to Gilbert and everyone who posts for such a great layout and thread 

Sam