cravensdmufan

Yes, to read the full article but the YT video is excellent. I kept pausing it on full screen and it's good and clear and the model looks very good indeed.

It appears to be very nice indeed. I kept pausing the video in full screen mode! Looks Heljan have got this spot on

Great progress there Mark. Your control panel looks excellent, a really professional job. Looking forward to the video. All the best. Vivian.

Yes, a shame there isn't a 3 car set. I thought I was being really smart and kept aside a couple of Hornby / Lima centre cars but then realised that both of the Bachmann cars would then need engines underneath. Might as well eBay them off now.

Meanwhile ..... I was lucky enough to win an NSE one off the 'bay auction site recently. The factory sound had been removed which was great for me as I wanted to fit it with one of my own choice. Most prototype NSE units were finished with black cab window surrounds so I carefully removed the glazing and painted mine with Humbrol satin black. I'm pleased with the look of it. But now I really must weather down those silver buffers!

Ah yes, that brings back a memory. The Anglia Ranger weekly tickets were brilliant. In my teens I was based in Norwich for a couple of weeks every summer staying with Granny. But there was another weekly ticket (not all of the Eastern Region) that covered all of East Anglia, including Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street lines. Was it called East Anglian Rover? I just can't remember. Anyway the beauty of that one was that it also allowed travel Peterborough - KX direct (no intermediate stations). It was on those tickets I sampled my first ever Deltic haulage with brand new Mk2d a/c stock. Those were the days! (Sorry for going OT)

110s occasionally ventured as far as Cambridge on passenger workings from Doncaster via Lincoln, Sleaford, Peterborough, as shown at 3:01 in this excellent video from Roy Harrison: (as an aside this is the first time I saw classes 110 and 105 working in multiple). I suspect the very unusual working of a 110 on Cambridge - Ipswich was an emergency replacement for the usual 101 or 105. The benefits of a proper integrated railway system where, RA and driver knowledge permitting, anything could be used anywhere.

That is such an interesting photo. I don't have an answer, but keefer's suggestion of the Sandite usage is possible. Could it be that the DMU had failed whilst on Sandite, hence Class 31 drag? Whatever, it is still well off territory. I was out and about most days on GE metals in the mid to late 1980's but I never remember seeing a 110; though having said that the excellent Railcar site has an image of a 110 in Stratford Thornton Fields CS https://railcar.co.uk/images/13408 but that is not the set in your photo as it depicts a 3 car set.

Lima actually produced 5518 back in the day. It was amazing how many different liveries they did on all their diesel classes.

Woody, that looks excellent. I really like the weathering on the sleepers and chairs. Thanks for posting.

Hi, I'm thinking of using the fine chinchilla sand instead of ballast for my 00 gauge depot. Would you be very kind and post a photo of your results please? Many thanks. Vivian.

Green or blue livery type? And what scale? If OO blue, I have some spare as I model the TOPS era. PM me and I'll pop them in the post to you FOC.

Having tried lots of different glues on lots of different plastics over the years, I still use my old favourite the original Evo Stik impact which I still find most reliable. OK it's not an instant glue, and of course it's still annoyingly "stringy" but it works every time for me, and seems to last. Best left to harden overnight.

Layouts4U were often to be found at model railway exhibitions around the East of England. Run by a very helpful couple, and I think the gentleman has his own layout and is a member of the March, Cambridgeshire MRC. I often brought stuff from them - prices were always reasonable, and tips and advice freely given. During the last year I have been rebuilding my layout and have ordered from Layouts4U to purchase wire, switches screws etc. online from their website. Very efficient service, goods always beautifully packed, and sent promptly by recorded delivery for a very reasonable postage charge. No connection with the firm, just a satisfied customer for a good few years. Hopefully exhibitions will return soon - I have missed browsing their stand and chatting!

Hi folks - well guess what I found at the bottom of one of my crates of "to do" projects?! Three unbuilt Superquick kits which I must have purchased ooh, only around 25 or even 30 years ago! Country station Building (£1.50 from the excellent Hadley Hobbies near London's Liverpool Street, long since gone ) plus a couple of Platforms. I shall never use these particular kits as they don't suit my modelling era. In the light of this thread it seems a shame they are just lying there never seeing the light of day. I will send them FOC to anyone interested (UK only please) - maybe these could be the start of a layout?! Just a couple of quid donation into a charity box (preferably for Motor Neurone Disease) would be nice. If interested then please PM me to arrange. Cheers. Vivian

I used this company for the first time last week. Ordered goods Thursday and a nicely packed parcel arrived by Royal Mail at 08.15 on Saturday. Competitive prices and free postage on orders over £20. Outstanding service. Will definitely use them again.

Hi Ian, I assume you've tried it in a loco and if so is it steam or diesel? If diesel, then I will check my version numbers as I have used most of them.

This is developing into a very nice thread. Sort of comforting going back to using older methods. Somehow therapeutic during these strange times. Thank you for starting it Mike.

Slightly off topic but in a similar vein to highlight the use of "traditional" products, I am currently rebuilding my layout and decided to use Townscenes sheets for a backdrop to my MPD. I know they are "old" drawings as opposed to modern photographic backscenes but there is a charm to them IMO. Patience and a sharp pair of scissors are certainly two key requirements. Here is a couple of photos of work in progress! Images not glued down yet, and the retaining wall temporarily posed to see the effect. Chimneys certainly need pasting! I'm very happy with it so far.

Beautiful looking buildings - very nicely finished. I haven't built a Superquick for years but your thread and images has tempted me to try a couple again, thanks.

We had a nice 3 bong chime at Peterborough 1989/90 as captured by Roy Harrison in one of his many excellent videos from days gone by; at 1:43 and 4:48 sounding particularly clear on this one: The more I see these YouTube videos, the more I miss good old British Rail. At least we can recreate those wonderful times on our layouts. There have been so many brilliant models released over the past few years we're spoilt for choice.

That sounds excellent.

Great video footage - loads of good station sounds! Ah, the good old days of BR! There's also a good three bong chime at 8:59

Seeing single colour moulded plastic carriage interiors has always bugged me! Even in the 70s I used to paint the seats in my Hornby Mk2s. TBH I don't go to too much trouble but just a bit of different colour makes all the difference. I don't bother with passengers as I like to park my carriages in the sidings as ECS. Here's a Bachmann Mk1 FK - a quick job. Seats matt dark blue, antimacassar's in white, a splash of orange for the curtains - plus strips of kitchen foil for the mirrors! All rather crude I know, compared with others' fine work above!

I think James. (Ryan is a bit fast and not so deep, and Brian sounds kinda sad!). Maybe try us with a few more just to be certain?