cravensdmufan

Interesting bit about the ECML (as well as other franchises) in this article from Railnews, the industry's newspaper. https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2017/07/03-franchising-timetable-slips-again.html What an absolute mess!

I wouldn't think Virgin are too worried financially, with just a 10% stake in the venture. But as far as their public image is concerned, it could be a different matter. They love to have their branding splashed all over the place on a lot of things these days - so it could be embarrasing if "Virgin Trains East Coast" suddenly goes down the pan. After all the tumpet blowing and photo calls and razzmatazz when it was launched! And they led the public to believe they were the ones to thank for introducing new IEP trains! When all is said and done, passengers think the whole East Coast service is Virgin - full stop!

No, certainly not just you! Photos and print are often shadowy. Also, Model Rail has the worst quality print on the poorest quality paper of any of model railway publication. Just compare the finished product with the excellent Hornby Magazine! I have mentioned it a few times to previous editors and they roll out the same excuse that it is because of Bauer's bulk paper purchasing. Well, if Bauer is so huge that it can buy so much paper, they should be getting far better quality for quantity. Especially for a magazine which folk usually like to keep for reference. MR is printed on the same type of paper as my wife's weekly Bella magazine which comes out of the same stable (and get's thrown out the day after she's read it)! I have purchased every Model Rail since issue 1 and it's definitely got worse over the years. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - the lads at Model Rail do a brilliant job with their great articles and photos - they deserve to have their efforts printed on better paper. Must be a bit disheartening. (Edit: Having said all that, I noticed my copy of No.236 was in fact better than normal!)

That's fantastic! Thanks for posting update. I can't wait for this - Class 50's were my favourite locos when I worked for WR at Paddington back in the 1980's.

That sounds brilliant. Really looking forward to the new release. Would it be possible to have separate single high and low playable horn tones on separate keys please? Cheeky request, I know but I reckon single are better. Anyone else agree with that?

I had a problem some few months ago with some, but not all, DCC fitted locos running away. Especially Hornby diesels fitted with ESU v4 Loksound. Found the cause was not enough power feeds to the track. And using too thin wire. Since completely solved by renewing bus cable and more droppers with wider gauge wire. The way I tested that decoders were OK was to set up a seperate circle of set track and put the loco on that. The difference in decoder response was unbelievable!

Indeed, Lima even sold a separate Class 156 trailer car so a 3 car train could be formed. How enterprising was that?

Thanks very much for that advice NickL. I have a rattle can of Halfords grey primer, do you reckon that would be suitable? CDF

I am about to start repainting some Dapol and Hornby Mk2d's and i'd like to match the Executive Light Grey to my Lima Mk3's as I reckon Lima got the shade pretty much spot on. Dapol's was too brown and Hornby is too cream - well to my eyes anyway! I guess everyone sees shades differently but I'd like to match them closer to have mixed rakes of Mk2's and Mk3's as per WCML 1985-95. I purchased Railmatch today, and I already have unused Precision in stock. But which one? Get stuck in and see I suppose! Also, I am about to use an airbrush for the very first time! I'm guessing to use white primer? Any advice before I start would be most welcome! Thanks!

Sierra hatchback - 80's and 90's rep mobiles, so numerous over about 20 years! I know Oxford do the Sapphire with the boot but I think there were many more hatchbacks around. Plus I'd like lorries from the 80's and 90's. Most commercials that are available are either much older or very modern.

Great news about the Class 50 as there's not a really great one available elsewhere to date. Please post a video as soon as available, thanks!

And I can confirm it is excellent. Really does the job. See my post #101 here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/117226-seen-at-warley/page-5

This looks as if it's going to be an interesting issue. Particularly looking forward to reading about how to make a lift-out section. I made one a few years ago and it's not great - trains often derail at the joints. So I hope to build another one, this time properly! I'll be collecting my saved copy from my local newsagents on Thursday

I emailed Hattons back in March asking which CV to dim lighting. They replied with the following link for CV listing: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YqZyPr01udcJHhxFi4t1eh3qezPkTHTUxm55aQcvAt0/edit#gid=228350369 But I'm still none the wiser! Still very pleased with the decoders - it's just the lighting which I can't adjust. Anyone else managed to figure it out please?

Just found this thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38628-gluing-oily-plastic/ which gives quite a lot of information about certain types of glues for different plastics.

Have tried using various different plastic glues and superglues in the past - none of them seem much good on hard plastic. I still use good old EvoStik - but not waiting for it to part dry for impact which I find doesn't work! So I use it wet, but have to support the coupling overnight while the glue dries to keep the correct position. EvoStik is stringy and can be messy but used carefully it has never let me down!

Also done. Thanks for asking us what we think of Traction and similar publications. It's good to be able to give feedback.

A few snaps from the Ely show taken with the phone. When I go to exhibitions I like to observe scenics and buildings on layouts; all those at Ely were excellent.

Attended this exhiibition today - really enjoyed it. Selection of layouts was great - hard to pick out a favourite to vote for. Catering was excellent, and reasonably priced. Good selection of traders - my only critisism was one seller that occupied the whole width of the main hall selling what I can only describe as very poor quality secondhand stuff at sky high prices! e.g.tatty Lima locos and Hornby Pacers just under £40! Unboxed! What?! But I guess one persons idea of junk is anothers treasure! Luckily Great Eastern Models were there, and I bought a loco and a few other bits at excellent prices that were well below RRP. We go to this exhibition every year and it makes for a very nice day out. Well done organisers and exhibitors (and traders, except one!). .

I have used a dry lubricant (Labelle micro fine powder with PTFE) on the metal plate above the cam mechanism. The V piece then moves freely. Never had any problems since. And never had to reapply. Don't be tempted to use oil or grease or WD40 - it will eventually make matters worse.

Most of the front winscreens on my Lima 101's were fixed with just a little glue and were easy to push out with light finger pressure. However my favourite one, a NSE liveried unit, had lots of glue. Managed to crack both windscreen pillars and part of the body. And the glazing still split! Very much a case of being lucky - not your lack of skill!

I think Benjy may be getting a bit bored with the layout. Maybe time to think about creating a new one?

I received my Class 20 transfers and applied them last night. The transfers are very good quality - well printed and nice and crisp. The numbers and BR double arrows are spot on. Very white and dense in colour. Ex works locos will look brilliant! I used a small touch of weathering powder over the top to give an "in service" look. The transfers stuck on well and i doubt they will need varnish to secure. I did find the double arrows slightly difficult to apply at first but that was because of my choice of loco (trust me to pick an awkward one for a first attempt!). The space between the radiator grill and cab is quite narrow and i found it difficult to position the arrows, and the first one went on wonky because it moved when I started rubbing. But then I hit on the idea of usung a couple of tiny bits of Bluetac over the top edge of the transfer surround and onto the body. This held it in place while I did the rubbing. Perfect! Also I prepared my surfaces using a very soft fibre brush. Stupidly I didn't wipe down properly before applying the first set of numbers and ended up with a small bit of fibre under the number. Lessons learnt! I am delighted with the results. Next I will do a few 47's. Thanks, and well done Alex.

86 would be a far better seller for them given their wider operational areas, many liveries for future releases and of course class longevity - 50+ years and a few still going strong!

Shame about the rest of the loco! I'm really hoping Hornby will follow their 87 with an 86. I keep asking Paul at the Hornby stand at exhibitions - he is obviously non committal but he does give a wry smile.! And he hasn't said no!