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S.A.C Martin

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Blog Entries posted by S.A.C Martin

  1. S.A.C Martin
    I have a friend who is very much a Southern Region fan, so hopefully this blog post will go someway to redressing the "Eastern Bias" somewhat!!!
     
    I've had a Hornby Watersmeet West Country model for some time. The reason behind buying it was originally for use in a friend's university project. I did a mockup of his project using a Dapol kit instead, in the event, and this loco has sat around doing nothing for a number of years.
     
    Then I had a brainwave - I wanted to model real life, preserved (barely!) 249 Squadron as I think it should be rebuilt - caprotti valve gear, giesl ejector and various other additions. So the nameplates and number came off Watersmeet, and I bought the nameplates and numbers accordingly.
     
    Unfortunately...not being aux fait with the Bulleid Pacifics as much as I'd like, I had neglected to check which cab/tender combination 249 Squadron had. as it happens, Watersmeet is only suitable for certain light pacifics, and not 34073. D'oh!
     

     
    However, a change of heart with the name and the numbers led me to recreate Brighton favourite 34055, Fighter Pilot (a malachite green model of which was my father's third ever model, and resides in the cabinet above the desk).
     
    The headcode is specific to our home town and railway line - the "Dartford Loop" as it is called, and hopefully is not too unrealistic to be noticed at a rivet counter's level!
     

     
    I removed the nameplates using a scalpel, and remove the Hornby printed West Country plates at the bottom using careful rubbing with some varnish remover and a cotton bud.
     
    I then weathered the body and tender using Tamiya weathering powders - combinations of mud, gunmetal and rust to keep the green apparent but create a working engine thereafter. I then sealed the weathering using Gamesworkshops' extremely useful "Purity Seal", with careful and light coats of the latter sealing the weathering and making the overall appearance darker.
     
    Fox Transfers nameplates were applied prior to weathering, the number plate and cabside numbers applied prior to weathering.
     

     
    The result is as seen above. Mind, I removed the body from the chassis to do the weathering - I am going to weather the chassis of both loco and tender separately, as I want to make this a fairly decent representation of a working locomotive.
     
    Until next time.
  2. S.A.C Martin
    I can't believe it's been yet another year on RMweb. Unfortunately, modelling wise, I've been unable to do much since late September since I managed to procure my first full time job! Which has allowed me some money to budget on certain portions of my hobby.
     
    The one thing which has stood out for me this year is how many of the projects from last year I have failed to update on - but have in fact finished, physically if not in livery.
     
    The Stirling Single needs to be removed from storage to be photographed - I finished that (minus painting it) in August but forgot to photograph it! I finished Connaught, my old Bachmann Jubilee, and once again failed to photograph that too. The Class 29 is another model I have finished, but not photographed, and there have been a few others, here and there, in the same boat.
     
    One I did photograph, but fail to properly review (I will get round to it, honest) was the Hornby Railroad Tornado. Both my grey version, and the limited edition apple green versions have been terrific models. I am in no doubt that Hornby and the A1 Trust got the balance just right with this model. The chassis is exceptional, in particular.
     
    All of the coaches which I have finished - LMS Suburbans in BR Carmine (which aggravatingly, Dapol have just announced as both kits and finished models - typical!), GCR a like Clerestories in BR Carmine, and - the ones I totally forgot to put up on the blog - a whole set of Hornby Railroad Gresley teaks I have been playing around with, painting and detailing. Don't get me wrong, I love the newer Hornby Gresley Teaks, but funds are tight and I'd like a "full" rake of Gresleys just to send the trains round with.
     
    The main reason for missing out the "ends of these projects" (which I will address in the new year) has been the job, but secondly has been my camera, which has been playing up something awful and will be replaced as a priority early next year. It's done me good over the last three years with filming the video reviews for YouTube, and photography for my modelling here, and on the main Copley Hill blog, but it has arrived at the bufferstops: end of the line.
     
    2011 has actually been a terrific year for me, despite what I would call a fairly grueling last three months slaving away on the 4VEP model. That particular model is currently on the shelf and will be finished early in the year, all being well. Its running qualities have been improved enormously through the use of pin-point bearings and very careful cuts in the Hornby bogies, so hopefully I can finish the aesthetics to match its improved performance.
     
    My favourite models of the year are all Thompson designed machines. I managed, over the year, to build up a small fleet of Thompson L1s - two apple green ones and a mixed traffic black one, which will get appropriate renumbers and branding when time allows for both the research and the actual renumbering!
     
    Then of course, the great debate - Hornby VS Bachmann - for the Thompson B1s. Having inspected both models, you have to hand it to Hornby - their model is superior, well detailed, very fine and a decent runner to boot. You won't be disappointed to buy one of those, in stark comparison to my thoughts on the 4VEP, but I won't go into that yet again...!
     
    However it was the Bachmann B1 which has got the nod from me, on the basis of accounting (damn penny pinching!), but I'm pleased to see the new chassis is every bit as impressive as the new Hornby one, especially in terms of running quality, and the driving wheels...absolutely brilliant.
     
    All of this pales into significance with my favourite model this year - a model I suspect will become a firm favourite for years to come. Graeme's King's conversion of a Bachmann A2 - the Thompson A2/3, number 60500 Edward Thompson. Just stunning, and once the lining out is complete, and then weathered, it will be - nay, it is - the pride of the fleet.
     
    Have a very Merry Christmas everyone, and I'll be back up and running in the new year!
     
    Until next time!
  3. S.A.C Martin
    A few more modifications!
     
    Firstly, both ends of the 4VEP have had yellow warning panel paint applied to remove the peak, and the cantrails - which were orange - painted to their correct red shade:
     



     
    The cantrails are now correct on every single coach in the train.
     
    Sadly, I managed to break the fine handrails on the trailing coach, so I have replaced it with wire. Overhead warning flashes were removed, as were the numbers for renumbering, and the cab ends weathered further:
     



     
     
    Sadly, I feel the remotoring plan will be going ahead:
     



     
     
    Duff traction tyres, to add to my problems of power and relability.
     
    Still, at least the unit is starting to look the part, weathering wise. Next time I'll have the roof vents, pipes and various other pieces to fit to this Hornby 4VEP.
     
    I will not be beaten by it - all other NSE projects on hold until it runs properly....!
  4. S.A.C Martin

    "The Hornby VEP"

    By S.A.C Martin,

    I finally bit the bullet and ordered a 4VEP - and on arrival, it started off probably the most bizarre morning in railway modelling I have had for a long time. For the full story click here... and here... and here...!
     
    But all in all, I'm happy enough now that I've sorted the coach body problem without (thankfully!) breaking anything. It'll remain a sole 4VEP as the diagrammed working I'm planning was a very rare occurrence - it may have been only on Thursdays at peak time, if memory serves...
     
    So the next step is to start building the baseboards, of which I have the wood (mostly offcuts from my attic conversion), and start chopping up foamboard to stick down to the wood (again, mostly offcuts from the attic conversion), and then lay some temporary track for a first run with the 4VEP...as well as building a few sets of 4EPBs.
     
    This I am investigating doing with the Replica Railways spares, accessories, and terrific diecast chassis. It's going to be a fun year as this develops!
     
    Sidcup is getting closer!



  5. S.A.C Martin
    I don't know much, if anything, about EMUs (Electric Multiple Units). I have only just started to understand the codes such as 4VEP, EPB, the number system, and similar, and why it is 2x2EPB and not simply 4EPB (which is entirely different!). So you could say I am having a baptism of fire in trying to research and develop a standalone layout based on Sidcup in the early 1990s!
     
    However, the latest discussion on the Hornby 4VEPs have unnerved me somewhat. I've planned "Sidcup" around the Hornby 4VEP to some extent, even going so far as to try and design its traverser system specifically around the four car units. I do like the look of the 4VEPs - the corridor ends, the buffers and the general MK1 style of the design, specifically in the NSE livery I intend on having as the 'set period' for the layout.
     
    But the general dissatisfaction with Hornby's model has made me think again on buying up the model. The presence of traction tyres - something I have a great aversion to - is particularly preying on my mind. Do I really want to run three or more sets of four car units with traction tyres? The cleaning of rails is made much more difficult with the leftover rubber of this aggravating, 20th century "innovation".
     
    There's one thing I know I will do - whether I buy the Hornby model, or the Southern Pride kit, is to find a way of making the destination blind change from the two vertical stripes to the number code, and back again, in sync with the directional lights.
     
    The Hornby 4VEP, according to the reviews (and clearly seen in their promotional photographs) uses stickers to show either the two numbers indicating the route, or a pair of line markers to show the tail end of the train.
     
    The problem with this is that, short of turning the whole train around, there's no way of changing the stickers to alternate between the rear red markers and the front destination code. If you run it back along the line, you get white markers at the front, and a red destination panel at the rear, something that would not have happened in service.
     
    The question is how - I think I have a workable solution, but am keeping my cards to my chest until I see a Hornby 4VEP in the flesh. Overall, I'm still leaning towards buying the Hornby set over making a kit; I really just wanted to concentrate on the scenic and operational aspects of building a new layout from scratch...!
     
    In the meantime, I managed to pick up a Network Southeast liveried "Networker" cheaply on ebay. I intend to use it as a prototype for making some much needed centre coaches for my 4-car 365 rakes. Further, I've worked a little more on my plan and will scan in the drawings later next month after some more practical sessions with the flexitrack and four coach MK1 rake...!
     
    Until next time!
  6. S.A.C Martin
    Whilst working on my pseudo-GCR Clerestories, I've finally got around to finishing the updates to the overall look and style of this blog, by adding the profile pictures for each section in the column to the right of this blog entry (the Copley Hill Index).
     
    All critiques welcomed - I'm leaning on the side of the pictures actually doing a good job of showing the stage each project is at. It certainly makes reading through the realms of writing easier!
     
    Until next time.
  7. S.A.C Martin
    It has been a while since I've refreshed the look of this blog. Originally it used icons and subtitles such as this:
     



     
    However the look of it is a bit off. So I decided to go for a more uniform, smarter look, and that involved using what must rank as one of the all time best looking liveries in British History: mixed traffic black:
     



     
    Gill Sans type font, size 24, bold, was used for the lettering. Both the subtitles and the main header of my Copley Hill Blog Index - seen to the right of this blog entry - have been replaced now with the new, smarter style.
     
    The next job is making small profile pictures for each of the projects, to help going through the vast amounts of text in the index!
     
    Until next time.
  8. S.A.C Martin

    "Reinvigoration"

    By S.A.C Martin,

    This particular blog of mine doesn't get updated as much as the rest of mine, it being more a record of development than a working blog. As a result, it's been neglected a little bit. However, I have worked on bringing this blog back up to standard, at the same time as my main "Copley Hill Works" blog. The two blogs now share the style of headers.
     
    The difference is that here, I have trialled a small picture above each section of the blog, to show the contents of each episode. I plan on doing this with the Copley Hill Works blog too, as I think it's more effective and colourful than the plain writing.
     
    Until next time, when I will hopefully have a new film to show!
  9. S.A.C Martin
    The next stage in the Clerestory build was trialing various shades of British Railways Carmine paint. I've settled on this shade, which is my own mix, making it up as I go along with various acrylics. I did try Railmatch's enamel paint, but didn't like the finish particularly.
     
    I have, under advice from a few chaps at the Gamesworkshop in Bluewater (where I get all my acrylic paints for mixing up), undercoated the coach in Scorched Brown, on top of a base coat of Chaos Black. The result is that seen below.
     



     
    My shade has been made up from a roughly 4:1:1 mix of Red Gore, Chaos Black, and Scorched Brown in that order. I'm in two minds on the shade - on the one hand, I think the evenness of this paintwork is debatable (having an off day with the airbrush), on the other hand I'm rather pleased with the shade, though I'm not sure it's quite there for a perfect shade of carmine.
     
    The lighting hasn't helped in my overall opinion of it, though I feel this photograph best represents the shade I've created.
     
    Until next time, when I will hopefully be tackling the roofs with some torpedo vents, and finishing the rake off with transfers and weathering.
  10. S.A.C Martin
    The first of two packages I was waiting for, arrived today. They contained a few packs of Bachmann's standard round headed sprung buffers, and a pack of Hornby's standard disc wheels for coaches. Both were extremely cheap (a pound a pack!!!), and as this is being done on a budget, gratefully received.
     



     
    The buffers are not correct by any means. The reason for my thinking here is thus. These coaches are going to be used as background coaches in my films, and will be bashed around a bit. I therefore went for a set of buffers I knew were durable enough to survive a few rounds of filming with me! They don't look too bad actually, and when compared to the original style Hornby buffers They look magnificent by comparison! They work very well too, nicely sprung and simply fitted into the existing holes without massive amounts of filing and drilling.
     



     
    So this is the state of play with the first coach as it stands. I'm waiting on my second package, from Dart Castings, containing the necessary torpedo vents to fit to the roofs. Still in two minds on the roofs, am thinking it through and working out the cost of making new ones, if that's the route I feel I need to go down to make them look better.
     
    Until next time, thanks for reading.
  11. S.A.C Martin

    "45742, Connaught"

    By S.A.C Martin,

    Was experimenting with some weathering techniques on my repainted Jubilee, 45742 Connaught (nameplates ordered and to be fitted when they arrive).
     
    Overall I wanted the weathering to look darker and grimier than I've done previously, but my experiment hasn't really worked. However, the real coal in the tender does look the part better than the moulded coal, even if it's a little higher than it should be.




     
    See what you think - it needs nameplates and front piping to finish, and maybe a going over with the airbrush again!
     
    Until next time.
  12. S.A.C Martin

    "Class 29"

    By S.A.C Martin,

    I was extremely fortuitous to stumble across a "for sale" thread on RMweb recently. I had been collecting parts and various items to make a British Railways Class 29 diesel/electric, using the Hornby model as a base, and a Bachmann class 24 or 25 chassis to power it.
     
    When one came up, partly finished, I took a chance, and I am glad I did as the model is stunning in the flesh. Yes, there's more to do, but the level of modelling is excellent and has produced something very special.
     



     
    I was well aware of the Dapol Class 29 announcement, but chose to ignore it. Cost was the major factor in my decision to try and make my own, and the purchase of this model, with its sundries (two spare bodies and etched grills and windows) has made my project an awful lot easier!
     
    So with thanks to Joe, I leave you with one last photo of the class 29 on Copley Hill - I will be researching which specific member of the class I will recreate in due course.
     
    Until next time!
     



  13. S.A.C Martin
    For the moment, that's it for the J11. I am working on finding a new GCR tender to partner it, and it will require a new smokebox door dart and a chimney when I find the money to do so.
     
    It's got a little bit closer to completion, and I'm genuinely happier with its current state than when I bought it over a year and a half ago.
     

     
    Of course, with the J11 in a reasonable condition, attention can turn to the D11...
     
    Until next time!
  14. S.A.C Martin
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F40C2mQcM8Q 
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSsF0CvGu3E



    Air Date:
     
    27th December, 2008
     
    These are the stories they tell...
     
     
    Nigel is feeling ill when Hawk the Western Pannier Tank leaves the yard for the last time. Falling asleep, the sleeping Nigel is moved to the section of the yard where no engine dare venture! When Nigel disappears, Herbert fights back the tears as Christmas Eve approaches...
     
    ...but on Christmas morning, he gets a present...nay, a miracle, of biblical proportions!!!


     
    Episode 14 marked a real change in the direction of the series: darker, moodier and most definitely a forewarning of that to come. The lighting of the episode, the snow falling and the general layout of the set marked a real departure in the series' design, the sheds lit up at night, and properly, for the first time.
     
    The minor event of the episode comes with Hawk's departure. The plucky pannier tank engine has proved a most popular character, and was rewarded for his entertaining stay at Copley Hill with a dedication in the end credits - "Hawk lives on" refers to his real life counterpart: Hawksworth Pannier Tank number 9400, which is preserved at the STEAM museum in Swindon.
     
    Meanwhile, the main plot of the story concerns Nigel the V3 tank engine. Tired, grumpy, he is taken to the out of use siding by a naive and unsuspecting Gronk. This plot is not dissimilar in how it is played to Episode 6, but with a fundamental difference: Nigel gets a reprieve, only because there is a spare cylinder and boiler available. In future, none of the engines will be quite so lucky...
     
    Episode 14 was the last of the three Christmas 2008 episodes, which in essence, formed a quartet which started in Episode 11. Firstly, the yard gains its first real diesel character: "Gronk", which is the first indication of life on the railway starting to change. Secondly, it becomes clear that the characters are not going to be immune from the scrap man for much longer.
  16. S.A.C Martin
    A few changes - not happy with the chimney so had another go - looks much better after re-profiling and adding the lip. Whistle added, along with (not in this view) the window frames on the rear cab sheet.
     
    Next step is a 3D print to check dimensions and fitting to a chosen chassis. Next stage after that is reworking to come up with the final model.
     
    Until next time!
  17. S.A.C Martin
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0dGzzIKWD0

     
    My latest episode, finally complete. In the rush to get it out and onto the blog/website/facebook/twitter/etc...! I forgot the RMweb blog My apologies!
     
    Anyway, see what you think. I've started editing the videos in iMovie, much easier than Movie Maker by far.
     
    Until next time!
  18. S.A.C Martin
    I'm working on bringing up to date all of my three blogs. There's this one here, with the current standard of black/red/white, then the external Copley Hill blog, and The British Railway Series blog, all of which have different designs while conveying similar information.
     
    I'm working on the external Copley Hill blog first, working on a new template to try and freshen everything up:
     
    Copley Hill Blog
     
    See what you think - as always, feedback greatly appreciated.
  19. S.A.C Martin
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8unNDFvBx8
     
    Here's an update I forgot to put up earlier!
     
    I have spent some time over the last few months trying to find the original cuts for Episode 1 - sadly the original episode as scripted by myself could not be restored, but I have made for your viewing pleasure, the original Youtube episode as it was intended to be seen - an 11 minute video with no gap in between.
     
    Consider this a bit of nostalgia for me and you - the series turns 3 years old on Youtube this year, but in fact, to date of creation, turns 6 years old in September.
     
    The difference between the quality of A Great Problem Goes West! and Fowler's Ghost is startling!
  20. S.A.C Martin
    It had to happen eventually!

     
    The British Railway Series: Episode 1 has just registered 100,000 views. It is the first of my videos to hit the six figure numbers, and after three long years, I'm delighted it's got there eventually.
     
    Here's to the next 100,000 on Youtube!
     
    Thanks to everyone on RMweb and elsewhere for their continued support and encouragement.
     
    Simon
  21. S.A.C Martin
    I've been mulling over the idea of a different kitbash to replace the L1 kitbash (should Hornby announce it!) but utilising the same N class chassis I had planned on using for the L1.
     
    Utilising the spare N class tender I have decided to make a Q class from a GA kit I will be ordering in the new year - the intention is for that model to take up permanent residence on a friends layout, Coldhorten, in 2010.
     
    Having looked through sean's K1 thread on the old RMweb, seen here, that I had a thought about using the N class chassis for a K1 build. The valve gear is correct, but the overall chassis spacing is incorrect (although in 4mm scale it comes out to roughly a few mm in either direction at the rear end). What else would need changing? The motion bracket and the cylinders, slightly different to Sean's in that respect.
     
    Then I remembered Thompson made a K1/1, and - well...
     
    I'm thinking it over and checking the measurements before making a final decision. I'd still have to find a Thompson B1 body and a tender from somewhere...
  22. S.A.C Martin

    Updates - 06/12/09

    By S.A.C Martin,

    From Tuesday I will be adding photographs to each of the Episode Synopsis pages - the photographs being a mixture of stills, works in progress and behind the scenes action.
     
    I'll also be adding a full index page for the episodes (including the shorts), and an index page for the planned Character Profiles - which will be going up in due course over the Christmas period.
     
    I am also working on the BRWS fansite, and hoping to get an update done over Christmas, with Episodes 16 and 17 being added to the site as well as a few more character profiles.
     
    I'd like to make a small announcement - Episode 18 will be going into production next week, aiming for a relaxed story-boarding, screen testing and final filming/editing schedule to be completed in late April 2010. August 2010 should see the first 20 episodes of the BRWS complete.
     
    There have been some significant changes to some episodes over the last few weeks, and the front page of this thread will reflect this when its overhaul is complete.
     
    And lastly...many thanks to everyone for their support regarding Episode 17 - that episode now has 13,000 views over four weeks! Making it the most popular BRWS episode over the first four week Youtube period.
     
    Many, many thanks everyone.
  23. S.A.C Martin

    Inspiration on Ebay

    By S.A.C Martin,

    Interesting 0-16.5 Engine
     
    I've been looking at this engine with some interest. It has what I believe is a rivarossi chassis, and bits of a Hornby "Bill" or "Ben" saddletank coupled with some parts from a Dapol Pug kit, and a cab which looks scratchbuilt.
     
    I'm interested. My finger was hovering over the "bid" button.
     
    If I did end up buying it, I'd make some changes to the model - removing the weathering being the first job, maybe adding a few details - and definitely making it an 0-4-2 as opposed 0-4-0.
     
    I had told myself I'd build all the rolling stock for my layout myself, but I'm looking at this little engine and wondering if I have a little corner for it somewhere.
     
    I've a few days to think about it - but if the price goes up any higher, I'm afraid as a poor student, I won't be bidding.
     
    The look of it has inspired me though - surely I could make something that good?
  24. S.A.C Martin
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7LOypF6CiY 



    Air Date:
     
    31st July 2009
     
    These are the stories they tell...
     
     
    It is the parting of ways...Stephen saves Hawk from the scrapman, and helps Gronk in his rehabilitation at Leeds Central...


     
    I had shot a lot of unseen footage for "Day of the Deltic" and had cut the story back a lot to make it a full half hour special. In many respects, what you see here is very much the "real" ending of that episode, split into three chapters. Why were they split? In the "Making of" video, I used the three bits of extra footage as "shorts" to break up the monologue explaining how I made the scenery, faces, did shots and lighting and so on. This is a good technique for Youtube, it keeps the audience attention up and also makes for a more fulfilling and interesting video overall.
     
    The reason it wasn't numbered 16 in the series of episodes was my general feeling that this video was simply allowing the youtubers the opportunity to see each "short" one after the other, allowing the full story to be exposed. It was not an episodes as such in its own right, but it was an interesting diversion after "Day of the Deltic" that gave a little more insight into the long running plots in the series.
     
    Touching on the story briefly, we finally say goodbye - for the last time - to Hawk, whose identity as 9400 was confirmed by Stephen at the end of the episode. Gronk comes to terms with his leaving Copley Hill, and Stephen converses with a friend (the standard 4MT, Jerry, who is named after my father). The conversation at the end of the part, "Jerry's Ghost" is in many respects setting up the next batch of episodes. The ghost referred to by both Stephen and Jerry, is going to be the main focus of the forthcoming Episode 17...
  25. S.A.C Martin
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLBDO-aZyHs 



    Air Date:
     
    24th April, 2009
     
    These are the stories they tell...
     
    It is a few weeks after the silent night when Nigel disappeared, and all the engines are wondering about how and why it happened. Gronk, the diesel shunter, is feeling guilty for his part in the affair, when a magnificent blue diesel arrives and starts causing trouble.
     
    It is after a heated argument with the steam engines, that the Deltic reveals Gronk's infamy...and the engines are shocked to the core. Pulling an express, the Deltic fails, leaving Allen to take the train. Gronk removes the diesel and is interrogated by the engines. It is only with Stephen's timely intervention that Gronk is allowed to leave for the safety of Leeds Central... ...And Stephen issues a blunt warning to the other engines: "Our time has come"


     
    This half hour special had been in development for well over a year. It was always intended to introduce a truly villainous character at some point, and it came in the shape of English Electric's finest: the prototype DELTIC diesel. I had bought one as a birthday present for my father that year, and there were no objections to using it in the series as a villainous engine of sorts.
     
    Day of the Deltic was originally intended to be the seventeenth episode of the series, behind two titles named Fowler's Ghost and Great Scott!. It was only when the scripts were analysed that it was seen that the Deltic episode would fit better into the series line up as the next episode after the fourteenth episode, Silent Night.
     
    Development of the set continued from Episode 14 straight onto Episode 15. A new siding was added, the length of the yard enlarged (the carriage works being the main beneficiary), and lots of set work to make it look like a steam era yard were added: disused spoked wheels, two coal heaps, ash and clinker between the shed's running lines; even a scrappy traction engine were added to complete the effect of the yard.
     
    There have been questions as to the year of the episode: it is in fact 1959. The reason for this date is simple. Stephen the Holden B12 states that he is "the last of his kind" - number 61572 was indeed the last Holden B12 left by 1959. This means that there is roughly four years between Gronk's first appearance at Copley Hill in episode eleven, and this episode, number fifteen. Therefore it is say to assume that the liveries carried by Allen and Sir Ralph are both livery errors (that is to say, they should be painted in Brunswick green and not Express Passenger blue by the time of the episode).
     
    It was too costly at the time to buy and convert two new models for Allen and Sir Ralph, and it was also too time consuming to repaint the two (near-expired mechanically) current models. There was a suggestion made to replace their parts in the script with Arthur and Scott (by this time repainted into Brunswick, although the blue model was eventually used instead of the new green one), however neither of the arguments involving the A1 and A4 pacific would have had a much resonance had it come from Arthur and Scott instead.
     
    The one notable addition to the models was the use of a Seuthe smoke generator in the Stephen model, which led to some memorable night time shots. Further, a new smoke generating machine was used for the shed scenes, and finally, for the wind shots, a special aerosol was bought to mimic these effects. It was due to the small amount of smoke seen in the series so far, that prompted me to start buying up seuthe generators and fixing them into the engines. At this time, Stephen was the only one fitted. At the current time of writing, the only models which have not been fitted are those models with split chassis mechanisms (Herbert, Nigel and Tavish) as there is little space in the model to fit no.22s which I use as a standard.
     
    There is one final factor to consider, plotwise, in this episode. If the year is 1959, then this failure by DELTIC on the mainline is NOT the catastrophic engine event which ended the real engine's working life in 1961. This means that while the Day of the Deltic might be over, the presence of DELTIC himself is not fully realised. It shall return in a future episode...
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