johnlambert

Here's a 3CIG from the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells West. I didn't I'd ever think I'd get the chance to photograph a blue/grey EMU like the ones I remember seeing as a small child.

Sorry, just what you see there. I'm not that into Minis so I don't tend to take photos of them.

I ended up buying one, even though I told myself I wouldn't. I've already got several examples that were made by Bachmann in China so I don't need another (do I really need the ones I have). But it looks OK (the basic outline), with fine quality printing, and runs well. The lack of DCC capacity doesn't bother me and at a few pence over £80 it seemed like decent value. I've posted this elsewhere on the forum but someone who wanted to have a go at N gauge could do far worse than one of these, an Union Mills 22xx or Dean goods and some Peco wagons (either kit or RTR). It's probably as close to "Railroad" level N gauge as you're going to get.

Damnit! I even checked the badge at the time (should have photographed it) I'm always getting Buick and Oldsmobile confused.

Yes it's got a supercharger. Thanks for the info. Under bonnet picture, if that helps identification.

It's an interesting topic to ponder, and especially relevant to my latest RtR purchase. I model in N gauge and yesterday I bought the latest release of the Graham Farish ex-GWR AEC railcar. Since the latest production run was announced a couple of years ago I've bought a few examples of the railcar; even though it's a fairly crude model by today's standards as it dates back to the Ark (or so it seems). Mainly because I "need" some for the line on which my layout is based and there isn't much choice apart from Graham Farish, or a fairly ropey whitemetal body kit that's even older and designed for an obscure and probably no longer available mechanism. I was determined that I had enough AEC railcars (one each in GWR, Crimson/Cream and BR Green, plus one with vinyl sides as a parcels car and one as a donor for a two-car unit) that I wasn't going to buy another. The ones I own were nearly all cheap, having been sold as spares or repair due to the dreaded Farish split gears (easily replaced). So I was determined that I didn't want or need one of the latest production run. That lasted about five minutes once I saw the new model in my local model shop. It's still a very basic set of mouldings, at some point I need to add vacuum pipes and dummy coupling hooks to all mine, but it's the right shape, the decoration looks good (that's something that seems to have improved greatly over the years) and it runs beautifully. For a few pence over £80 it seemed like a bargain (used ones are about £40 for ones with split gears to £60 for running ones). The cost and fragility of RTR N gauge comes up quite frequently (and seems to be the same for OO) without consideration for ways that it can be done for less. Someone new to N gauge could do far worse that go for a Graham Farish Railcar (about £80), an Union Mills GWR 22xx 0-6-0 Collett goods loco (not sure but I think about £80 too), maybe a Dapol B-set (my latest ones cost £26 each) and some Peco wagon kits (under £5 a time) or even the RTR ones for a little more. Maybe look out for an older GWR Toad brake van or cough up for the fancy modern offering at about £10. You could probably get enough to populate a small layout for under £250 (which might otherwise buy two N-gauge Pacific locomotives that look impressive but will be much more fragile and really need a long rake of coaches at £25-30 each).

A few photos from old-car related events in the last seven days. From a local classic car meet on Thursday. Aston Martin DB5 Oldsmobile Buick Super Eight (I think) MG, possibly a TC TA or TB And an assortment of Fords Cortina GT Falcon with 289 V8 Ford Sierra XR4x4 twin turbo Finally, from today, some Jaguars. XK120 with Italian bodywork Lovely X300 XJ6 4 litre Sovereign and 240

Every piece of first aid training I've ever done (and I have to do it every year for work) has made this point.

A little piece of trivia that may amuse Jaguar fans and anyone with a fondness for the 1960s Thunderbirds series. When Gerry Anderson was designing FAB1, Lady Penelope's six-wheeled Rolls-Royce, he was inspired by 1960s exotics like the Facel Vega and, of course, Rolls-Royce; as well as the Jaguar MkX that Anderson owned. Once you look at the silhouette of the MkX and FAB1; the raked forward nose, curved belt line and bubble-style roofline; you wonder how you didn't spot the similarites before.

Having spoken to some friends in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, the Jaguar MkX/420G never achieved the sales volumes that Jaguar hoped for. As for the Austin 3 litre, they always seem a bit austere inside when compared with the Westminster, which probably didn't help sales. All the research I've done also suggests that the new, seven-bearing straight six used in the 3 litre and MGC offered no benefit over the older C-series six-cylinder engine used in the big 'farina saloons (and the Austin Healey 3000).

It was the BMC and British Leyland day at the British Motor Museum, I didn't get as much opportunity to photograph stuff as I would have liked. The show always brings out the largest collection of Austin 3 litres I've ever seen, must be a significant proportion of the remaining roadworthy examples. Although I suspect the 3 litre was never that good I've got a bit of a soft spot for them.

I've travelled on GWR and Stanier coaches on the SVR, the railway even has small plaques on some of the coaches to identify their type. I'm sure the GWR stock is marshalled into a dedicated train. The Dart Valley Railway in Devon also has some Collett coaches, I don't know if it was a whole train of them but I definitely travelled in a Collett coach (as confirmed by the guard).

On my way back from the local shops this morning I spotted a stunning Aston Martin DB6. Burgundy paint and chrome glinting in the morning sun; cream leather interior. The Aston also sounded as good as it looked. Oh and honorary mention has to go to the six-cylinder Honda CBX motorcycle that I also saw on my travels; it sounded marvelous as it went past.

Westerns made it as far east as Hoo Junction. See the second photo on the linked page. https://www.kentrail.org.uk/Hoo%20Junction%201.htm No indication of whether this was a regular turn or something out of the ordinary.

The Sierra had very little in common with the Cortina. Some engines were carried over but the suspension was completely different (Sierra had Macpherson struts at the front and independent, semi-trailing arms at the rear; Cortina had double wishbonnes at the front and a coil-sprung live axle with various radius arms to locate it plus the infamous voided bushes). I don't think there was a single panel shared between the two models. The Mk 3, 4 and 5 Cortinas were all very similar underneath even if they looked different. And (apologies if it's been mentioned before) the Ford Escort Mk2 Estate was just a Mk1 Escort estate with Mk2-style front wings and grille. One final piece of Ford trivia. The Ford Escort Mk3 cabriolets weren't converted from the hatchback, they were based on the 3-door Estate body.

It was there when I visited last year. Agreed, it was quite well done, with the building/street lights coming on as the ambient lighting gradually dimmed. I think one of the layouts in the exhibition behind the model shop in Bourton on the Water goes from day to night by dimming the room lighting. Possibly not as well done as the one at Pecorama but probably has more wow factor for the average punter, as the Bourton layout I think has a fairground and lots more trains running.

Having got my Class B tank wagons and a discount code for the Sturgeons, I'm now itching to place an order.

My Class B tanks arrived today from RevolutioN. Even though I've seen the samples at various exhibitions I'm still blown away by the quality of these wagons. Exquisite is the only word to do justice to the many fine mouldings and etched parts. I don't think I've seen a better detailed N gauge wagon. I'm also impressed that these turned up so soon after my Pendolino. Thank you Ben and Mike (and any others who helped) for getting these products out.

Final selection. Vast Ford Galaxie Country Squire Tiny NSU Prinz Unusual Morris MO van Supercharged MG There were lots of Triumph TR5s, this was one of the nicest. I don't know much about TVRs but this one was very tidy. It was nice to see some cars with evidence of use, this Bentley 3 litre sported impressive selection of squashed bugs.

A few more from Sunday - a selection of Italians and French. If memory serves me right, the Gordon Keeble in my last post had styling by Bertone. The same styling house did the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT series. There were several in attendance but this 1300 GT Junior was my favourite. I can't remember the last time I saw a Fiat 850 Coupé, in fact I'm not sure I've ever seen one before. If you fancy something a bit older there was this Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 An Italian with a French connection; Maserati Khamsin, V8 engine plus Citroen hydraulics to assist the clutch, steering and power the brakes. If you prefer your Citroen hydraulics in a more practical package there was this very tidy Citroen BX 4x4

Indeed it does, with Citroen building some Traction Avants, 2CVs and DS models there. I think Citroen's uk headquarters is still there (unless it's moved to Coventry as part of the Peugeot HQ).

Talking of Bristols here's a 400 that I snapped at a classic car show yesterday. There was also a (relatively) new Bristol Blenheim And, in the spirit of Anglo-American cars, there was this gorgeous Gordon Keeble GK1.

Yes, it's a 405. Although based on the 1930s BMW straight six Bristol's engine was different in detail (imperial rather than metric parts and much better alloys). The spare wheel lived behind the nearside front wing, the battery and fuses in the equivalent compartment on the offside. A layout first used on the Bristol 404 and retained on every subsequent model except for the Bristol Fighter. Technically only the Bristol 400, 401, 402, 403, 404 and 405 were made the aircraft company. Due to re-organisations within the British AIrcraft industry the car business became separate, owned jointly by Sir George White and Anthony Crook. The 406 (the last six-cylinder Bristol) and all the V8/V10 cars were produced by Bristol Cars rather than the Car Division of the Bristol Aircraft Company. It was indeed.

That Bristol 405 looked amazing, as did the Lancia (Fulvia saloon?) and Alfa Romeo Giulia GT.

Thanks for the reminder, I've just pre-ordered a couple of Sharks.