peak experience

How many class 58s are there remaining in the UK?

Keith, it's the 21st century. No one cares about things like this anymore 😉

Thanks Ian. it was the fourth photo i was referring to. Im not so good with freight wagons. I'm guessing it's two SPAs, an OBA, the OCA, a Rudd? and a grampus.

Hi Ian. In the last photo, i don't recognise the wagon type behind the OBA. Is this the 'starch' wagon you refer to? If so, do you have any more info on it please?

The roofing materials from York models look good but it seems I might have to look to N gauge for walling materials and see if anything is overscale in that scale.

Hi all, I model in OO and N scales and now I'm branching out into TT120. I tend to model prototype locations so most things have to be built from scratch. I'm looking for suppliers who make embossed plastic sheet featuring brick work/roof tiles/paving etc. I understand that architectural models are often built to 1/100 scale and perhaps there might be something of interest to me there. Also, I'd be interested if any one knows of a place to source window frames/doors - I've never been much of a fan of making these from scratch. Any help gratefully received.

At this stage with the lack of variety TT, I'd suggest you do both. A small/micro in OO, to run the stock that you want, to keep your interest, and then plan and build your main layout in TT, that you can add to, as stock becomes available. Your OO will hold most of its value if you want to sell it on.

I would've thought that 3mm 1/100 modellers would be quite amenable to Hornby's entry into the TT120 market. If Hornby's venture is successful, the secondary manufacturers that'll spring up in Hornby's wake, providing building materials such as etched doors and windows, embossed plasticard etc, will provide 3mm modellers with further sources for materials for kit bashing/scratch building. Stonework and roof tiles, gates and fences, in particular, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. ------------------------------------- Also to add to the list of UK prototypes that ran on European rails, we can add the EM2/class 77 and the original Tommy. I for one would be very interested in a TT120 Woodhead based layout.

I'm too led to believe that '80 was the first appearance of red stripe on freight stock. it followed on locos a few years later.

Yesterday I bought some TT120 points, flexitrack, spare sleepers and rail joiners from my local model shop. Out of interest, I asked the chaps how sales were, and both were upbeat and sounded enthused by the popularity.

which in turn was inspired by black sabbath, who wanted a stonehenge stage set, got the units mixed up, and ended up with something twice the size of the original stonehenge. tony iommi, in his autobiograhy, tells how they got so sick of hauling it around the USA, often to venues that couldn't accommodate it, that they ending up dumping it in some desert in the middle of nowhere.

there is a fledgling thread on TT couplings in the dedicated TT section on the forum.

I'm interested in a TT, hands off, coupler/uncoupler for small shunting layouts, something akin to Kadees. I'm hoping that there is some capacity to attain this. I'm not content with the Dapol 'easi-shunt' 'N' gauge couplers I've been using on my 'N' gauge stock. They're not 100% reliable, despite my best efforts.

Much obliged Nick. I'll go with that.

Hi all I'm building a couple of Cambrian kits. They're going to be finished in engineers grey with yellow stripe livery. When new in this colour, what colour were the sole-bars and the durbar plate painted? I'm colour-blind, so references to photos isn't an option.

As more TT models are added to the range, I'll be gradually reducing my N and OO models too. I'm going to start off with a small TT120 shunting layout but design it to be modular, so that over time I can add to it.

i see my light hearted comment missed the spot. ho hum. ne'er mind 😁

May as well start my wish list. Dear Hornby, I'd very much an EM2/77/NS1500 class loco for Christmas. With a UK and Dutch market, you know it makes sense.

It amazes me that one of the larger diecast vehicle manufacturers haven't produced a model of this design. it's one of the ubiquitous BR crew carriers of the 70s/80s/90s and turns up in so many photos and videos from the era.

Other than the long handrails below the roof bonnet, it certainly looks that way to me, Andy.

I only have recourse to a small tablet so can't quite tell; from the photo on the KeyModelWorld website, does the TT class 08 have all moulded handrails, (the long bonnet rail excepted), and if so, is this perhaps indicative of the customer base that the range is aimed at?

Rather than 'my' personal wish list, I would think that classes 08, 25, 37/0, 37/4 and 47 would be the obvious choices for diesel locomotives as these were found on all regions to a greater or lesser extent. The 08, 37 and 47 are long lived classes, therefore manufacturers would have a plethora of liveries to go at. Perhaps a class 20 and a class 45 or 46 could be a winner too. The 20s were a standard ER/ScR/LMR loco for years , enjoying a long life. The class 46 peaks were often found on cross country services from the ER, via the LMR onto the WR and the class 45s were staples on the Midland mainline and Trans-Pennine services. DMUs - a class 101,108 and a suburban unit; maybe a 117. HSTs always seem to sell well. For passenger rolling stock; MK1 and MK 2 coaches plus a BG and/or GUV. For vacuum braked freight stock: a 12T standard BR vent van, a 16 Ton mineral and a standard brake. For air braked stock: an OBA, a VAA and a VGA. I can see a class 56 and 58 and 66 being a sensible choice too as these classes have had use in Europe and would be great for 1:120 European modellers. I've no experience of steam days nor really much regarding post BR days so I can't really offer much comment.

I've always been envious of non-UK modellers with their correct gauge to scale models and trackwork. As a modeller with little time to do much actually modelling, if I see that Peco and others are really making an effort and will cater to BR Blue era modellers, (a type 2, a rake of MK1's, a standard brake van and some 16 tonners would be great for starters and cover every region), I'd have no hesitation selling most of my OO and N scale stock and starting in TT 1:120. It's a no brainer for me. It's the perfect size.

scots pine, rowan, oak, birch, juniper, gorse, willow and hawthorn are all good bets. https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/

Obliged Josh