Norm81

Then I totally disagree with that approach from instructors as I feel it is misleading to other drivers. If you are sat waiting to join the roundabout in the left lane but indicating right, it looks to me as if you have got yourself in the wrong lane and intend on going right and need to change lanes. Likewise if you join the roundabout in the left then start indicating right, it looks as if you need to change lanes. I will come across this if I ever persuade "The Boss" to let me get the motorbike I hanker after if they teach it on CBT. I was taught that unless the left indicator was on the vehicle was not leaving the roundabout, also that indicating to leave the roundabout was mandatory but to join wasn't. No indicators meant assume nothing and wait for the vehicle to pass. To be honest I don't believe any indicators I see these days anyway.

Almost as bad as those misusing indicators. I have in recent months for some reason started to come across people entering roundabouts in the left hand lane whilst indicating right. Then as they reach the exit to go straight on they flip the indicator from the right one to the left and leave the roundabout. I'd far rather these people didn't use them at all! I cannot grasp why anyone would indicate right when they have no intention of going right. Then there's those who enter the roundabout in the left hand lane with no indicators and proceed to drive all the way round the outside to take the right hand exit, or those who enter the roundabout in the right hand lane then do a full 360 to cut the queue in the left hand lane and go straight on. Maybe we should remove all roundabouts!

Smiths (Smiths Electric Vehicles) are still there, now called Sevcon. Try as I might on flickr I am struggling to put the right search terms to find north east based railway motors in the early 80's.

Ah, so I should've bought D5098 or D5107, except they were sold out before I decided what I was doing with my blue 24 - which I would always need for the "non-valanced" chassis which also has correct SKF axleboxes. I wrongly thought all the green bodyshells with the end doors were the same. We live and learn, at least I bought D5000 as DC so not as much wasted cash as it could've been. I now think I should've just bought a 32-430B... I don't know the intricate detail differences of this class anywhere near well enough despite trawling flickr for reference photos.

I went back through this topic looking for any pictures of a green one someone may have taken apart so I could take a look at how the valances came off, then discovered D5000 has the wrong number of radiator grilles to convert to D5061. I don't think slw have done a green bodyshell with the correct number of grilles so it's bite the bullet and fill them in, or just renumber D5000 and decide not to care about the wrong grilles. This drive for accuracy is a complete minefield to me.

It might, does this mean it will look the same as the blue one below the bodyside i.e. just three brackets above the tanks and one above the centre of each bogie? (bad description but I don't know the technical terms!) Or do you mean I can swap mouldings between the blue and green loco? Thanks.

Forgive my ignorance here, but are the newer 2+2 seats not the same as those in the 143, so the mouldings etc for this arrangement already exist for that model? I'd have thought the two seat mouldings would be interchangeable but I'm far from an expert... As recent as a few years ago the 3+2 seating was still on northern 142's on the route between York and Harrogate. It only seems to be those local to me running Morpeth - Metrocentre and the units used on the tyne valley to Carlisle that have 2+2 seats.

I enquired about a spare green (wih nose doors) bodyshell and full tanks for my blue 24 but unfortunately SLW were unable to oblige. The end result being I bought a second 24, D5000. So, I now have the following combination I need to do something with: Bodyshell from 24063. Chassis with valances from D5000. Tanks from 24063 (no water boiler tank... I think) Essentially 24063 but with valances above the tanks. I searched Flickr but unfortunately the only blue valanced 24's I could find still had their nose doors and full tanks. I don't suppose anyone more knowledgeable can give me any ideas or do I need to find someone who doesn't mind doing a bit of modelling to take it on? The other parts I am keeping (chassis without valances, D5000 bodyshell and full tanks) are destined to become D5061.

If you're short of storage space for a couple of them....

Ordered a couple of items last weekend the same time as a couple from Liverpool, the Kernow parcel turned up Tues and the other one only came today so impressed with delivery turnaround.

Brilliant, thanks. How could I not think of the nose end doors being different. Looks like my 081 has to go the journey, wonder if slw will do me a swap for a green one (doubt it!). Leaves me a choice between D5000 and D5016 - though 016 has an extra grille and different axleboxes.

Which is closest to D5061 - 081, 063 or one of the other models still available?

I might be able to save you a job as I have 24081 and decided I actually want D5061. So depending on which is the best base model with the correct detail (axleboxes etc) I might be getting a respray done or selling and getting the correct base model. Either way we could do a body swap if you wanted. I'm not up on bodyside detail and the different axleboxes etc, so if someone could point me towards the right model to turn into D5061 it would be a big help.

Will the model be fitted with sprung wheelsets to enable it to prototypically bounce down the track?

When the skipper units were transferred up to Heaton they were still in chocolate and cream and had received the yellow single leaf doors. Found a picture or two on flickr of provincial with yellow single leaf doors too, around 1995 - 1996.

Now is the time to get requests in that will have an effect on the tooling, so those of us wanting the early doors/no radio roof pod etc need to speak up sooner rather than after the tooling is designed and cut. The only way they are going to know which are the most popular versions is if people speak up.

Will it also have the original 3+2 seating? You could probably use the same moulding for the early style 143 interior too... Any chance of a Tyne & Wear liveried 142?

I'm also interested to know whether the Brown and Cream will be the earlier or later type doors and seating arrangements. +1 for a 142020 in Tyne and Wear livery!

Rather you than me wiring that lot up!

Well, it's a bit unlikely with limited appeal but it could be a flying one...

No it's not, it's a, it's a..... small off duty czechoslovakian traffic warden (Red Dwarf XI out soon...)

See you tomorrow, probably around lunchtime by the time I get there.

I think I just about recognise a pasty white leg in the second shot of the 56 lol

I thnk the "if anyone is interested..." will quite possibly turn into "sorry I've had to limit the number of visitors and will try and find time to plan another date(s)".

I was interested, started a topic looking for others in near vicinity but then I found out the nearest other interested party was over 100 miles away so abandoned any thoughts.