MarshLane

Hi Paul, Looking great fella. Superb talent for weathering you have! Can see 08128 and 08210 getting very dirty when they're in Liverpool! Oh .. and your second leap arrives here on Tuesday . Something else to weather and chip! Sorry ... whats that ... Paul's Mrs saying something about a bad influence?? Not me guv Rich

Hi Mike, No rush at all, just wondered if you'd managed to find out whether you still had a copy or not? Rich

Cheers guys, Must say, I'm really pleased with them! Id forgotten that I had some commitments today and tomorrow, so unlikely to get the other side numbered/lettered til mid-week! Have progressed some other 'control' items thanks to a good mate of mine, more anon Rich

Thanks for the comments guys. Just need to do the other side, tomorrow hopefully, and then let one of our weathering masters at it Rich

Definitely Paul - id got with NSE ... far better than that mediocre green livery . Course then you'd have to move it to Liverpool Street Stabling Point, but hey its only half a mile away Whats half a mile between friends! Rich

Well day off today, and finally managed to do a bit of modelling for the first time in ages. I acquired some modern tail lamps from ModelU at Bristol, which arrive in a rather snazzy red plastic colour! So two coats of white paint later, along with gluing the small jewel into place, and tail lamps are fitted to the first of the Dapol 08s. Now Steve at Railtec kindly sorted me out the transfers for Tinsley's 'unofficially' named 08210 Tuxford, and they've been sat here for a couple of weeks, so next job was to renumber the 08. Now that isn't as easy said as done! A discussion with Rod (dmudriver) of West Kirkby Town fame, and Jinty was had as the numbers and decals have apparently been paint stamped on, rather than transfers. Personally I think the paint had some superglue mixed in with it ... as all three of us have had several goes at trying to get the numbers off. In the end, we've all resorted to a similar method which involves a sharp blade! In my case I have a little clay trowel (purchased from the Range for a couple of quid) that I got for doing various things with DAS clay, but the side angle proved sharp enough to remove the number paintwork without really damaging the blue paint underneath, so in my case, I finally got there! New numbers applied - if your not already aware the actual scale size ones are TOO BIG for the model, as Dapol's cab side is a few millimetres short. Steve has kindly resized them slightly to make them fit, so if your ordering anytime, make sure you mention they are for a Dapol 08. Then came the next problem (why is nothing ever simple?) ... I decided against taking the double arrow off, given the problems of having to scratch them away. But the 'Tuxford' painted name, TI logo and shed plate, are all lined up with the double arrow, and positioned directly under the long bracket on the bodyside door. Now positioning it in the right place on the door made it look to low, positioning correctly against the double arrow on the right and handrail on the left, meant that the 41A shed plate had to straddle the door bracket. Neither was ideal, but I went for the latter in the end. I think it looks ok, and although it is annoying me slightly, I'll live with it! Still have the other side to do, but thought I'd let these transfers dry. As a side note, this coming from an idiot whose never used waterslide transfers (or any transfers come to that) in his life before ... can I just say that the Railtec ones were a doddle, a quick soak in water, and they slid off the backing sheet dead easy and I cannot see anything of the carrier film. The number is one transfer, the data panel and shed code another, and the whole of the 41A, Tuxford and TI logo is another single transfer. No connection other than a very satisfied customer but very pleased with the end result. Now just needs weathering ... well one of the tail lamps has been made a little oily, because the white just looked too bright! Need to do the others too.... Rich

Cheers Craig, That would be great. First DCC loco my mate has had, so he's approaching it with interest/in trepidation! I'll put him in touch with Jinty for speakers. Andy - yes it is a blue one!! Rich

Thanks Jinty I'll pass the recommendation on! Rich

Jinty, A mate of mine is going to put a Zimo chip in a Heljan 33 - any recommendations for speakers? Also, I may have missed it earlier, so apologies for asking if its already been answered, but my 25 is next to have the 'Paul' effect done to it ... which speakers did you use - yours or commercial ones? Rich

Digitally created candle ... translates as a flickering flame on a windows desktop Rich

Hi Mark, Just seen your layout - looks superb. Nice photographs too. They trackwork is exemplary, love that scissor crossover and the single slip, full of admiration! Yet to attempt anything that complex! Nice job Rich

Hi Brian,Thanks! Nice to have you along. Rich

Well I'd mentioned before Christmas about having come up with some MDF mounts for servos. Primarily for my own layout, but I'm going to make them available to anyone who would like to use them - just drop me a note if there's any interest .. should be valid for all scales, not just O gauge. There's nothing special about them - I've just worked around the dimensions of a servo, and put a suitable mount together, that can also hold microswitches on either/both sides, and has the various mounting holes for screwing to the underside of the baseboard. Phil at Intentio has cut them, the final prototype arrived back this morning, and despite a long 11-hour day at work, I've had a quick play and put one together. This is all loose at the moment, no glue on it at all, but it gives an idea of what you can do. Will pop a servo in one tomorrow. Rich

Ah! Yes, that was what he said You have a better memory than me Brian . Thanks for that. Rich

Hi Brian, I'll bow to your better knowledge of these things. I get the feeling that they were rushing to get this one put together to be on show (in fairness, Pete also commented they'd got the Dukedog all done and ready to bring to Bristol ... then forgot to put it on the van!) so could it be that in rush to get it ready some things were left off? Im not arguing, because I don't know! Just going off what Pete said about it being finished when I asked about progress with his Derby Lightweight. Either way, doesn't look like it should be far away now for those wanting to buy?? Rich PS Love the German archive photos on your Flickr site, brings back many memories of a couple of family holidays on the Rhine when I was little!

Hi Dave, Sorry, I should have updated this - yes I did have a chat with Skytrex. They were quite surprised by the renewed interest in PCA tanks, apparently five other people had spoken to them about that this morning! The good news is that they are going to re-release it, however ... there is a but! I cannot totally remember the conversation now, but the chap at Skytrex is going to change the chassis a little bit, presumably to make the process easier, but needs to find out first how that changes the centre of gravity for the wagon - previously the chassis was quite heavy so the centre of gravity was low. However, that will happen over the next couple of weeks, and then the wagon will be released but as a KIT, not ready-to-run. I get the feeling it will be a fairly easy kit, the barrel will be moulded so doubtful there'll be any bending, the chassis will be whitemetal/resin I gather. But the outcome was it will be out in about 6-8 weeks. Skytrex are also doing a TTA tank (I presume as a kit again, although I forgot to ask so could be RTR) that will be out first, probably about 4-6 weeks, so in essence watch the website! Rich

Hi Tony, Im not an N gauge person at all, but do like to take an interest into anything in the Humberside/Linconshire area, plus I am just starting to look at copper clad track work - yours looks lovely! Shall be following along! Rich

Pics of the finished kit... Rich

Hi guys, Sorry I meant to add a note. The kit is complete and ready for purchase I understand. I was talking to Pete at Bristol about the forthcoming Derby Lightweight and his words were "Now the 47 is finished...." The kit looks superb : I'll add a couple of pics shortly. Rich

Hmm ... there's always a snag! That one might have to be en route to the wagon repair depot Rich

Just in case anyone else is after a VEA, I've just realised its on Dapol's hit list for 2017 (or maybe 2018!!) of the wagon types to be produced! Rich

If I remember rightly, the locos worked through to Blaenau Ffestiniog, whether it was nuclear for the power station or explosives to Maentwrog Road, then ran round and propelled down the branch. I think the siding at Trawsfynydd could only hold two wagons, although I could be wrong about that bit. The loco was then on the right end for the return to 'the Junction'. Rich EDIT: This answers the question! http://www.2d53.co.uk/blaenauffestiniog/Trawsfynydd%20Branch%201.htm

Well at least if I can't get the chassis sorted out for some reason, then the body can now realistically go in a field next to the main line on the model! haha! Rich

Thanks guys, All the layouts were very good - but I have to say, that station model that was on the Lee Marsh Loco stand (I appreciate its a sales diorama not a layout as such) with a Patriot and Evening Star really is just awe inspiring. Amazing detail, and Im quite pleased with how I almost managed to keep that plastic 'early sample' sign out of the pictures thats just in front of the 9F! Thanks Marcus, It really was - there were two, but the chassis on the second had lots of detail missing (admittedly contained within the body) and the chassis itself resembled a banana more than an under frame! Almost bought the second body as a grounded example, but couldn't recall seeing any VEAs grounded. Still happy with that one, and its another wagon for one of the Speedlink trains! Hopefully somebody will bring a RTR or Kit version out at some point. This one is an Appleby Model Company apparently, but Im sure there's a kit out now, although its brass lol! As you say thought, plenty of inspiration ... and light on the wallet Rich

Oops sorry - missed that somebody. That is ******y big speaker! You do know that when you run that 37 through Talyllyn Junction, they're really not suppose to hear it starting off in Aberystwyth don't you! . Looking forward to hearing the outcome! You see, its things like this that make me think kit building is worth it ... by the time we've finished modifying everything and cutting bits away .... there'll not be all that much left of the original! Rich