YK 50A

I'm relying on your guidance with regard to a couple of Mk2D FK's and a Stone-Platt Mk2F FO come the day. Would I bite the hand?

Lol... Yes, that was part of the irony. Hornby don't have a blue/grey Mk2D BSO in the shops yet. It was due for release in 2012, but was then put back to later this year. I had one on pre-order until recently. So... Maybe Bachmann will beat Hornby to releasing a blue/grey InterCity air con Mk2 BSO, the latter a 35 year old tooling, incorrectly with a TSO/FO underframe, and 2 fans! Capisce?

Ice Cold in Alex? As you suggested above, I'm wondering about the feasibility of butchering some Airfix Mk2 underframes for the Stone-Platt fans and pv cabinets. It will most certainly wait, although there would be a certain irony if Bachmann managed to get their InterCity Mk2F's out before Hornby finally release a blue/grey (Airfix) Mk2D BSO, presumably with 2 fans.

That would be great, thanks! In addition to replacing my existing air con rake, I'm tempted to do a Deltic + 8 with a Mk2A BFK. A couple of Mk2D's in each rake would make all the difference, even if I am the only person that would notice. Shame you're not exhibiting at York.

Thanks for that. I preordered a rake from Hatton's a few days ago and even unmodified, I know they'll be closer to the real thing than the Hornby/Airfix Mk2D's. I've got a 1978 RCTS, 1979 Platform 5 and Michael Harris's book, and all have had a hammering since I got back from me hols - which is where I was when the announcement was made - a man on the moon moment. To a point, it must be "my mind playing tricks on me"! I'm not bothered for the DCC lights, but I am bothered about my ineptitude with a craft knife, spray gun and plastic cement! I'm hoping there will be more useful "chatter" about creating the odd "Bachmann Mk2D" in due course.

Just glad I hadn't got round to "installing" Keen Systems on my Hornby's. They'll be joining a no doubt saturated second hand market "as new" in due course. I remember Mk2D's much more than Mk2F's on the East Coast, but I'll tell myself that it's my mind playing tricks on me.

Hi Ray, I really think I should resort to PM or something, my comments have less and less to do with a 12 wheeled ex LMS Restaurant Car by the minute. Both the R8220 (as you know) and the 36-027 work brilliantly with the Bachmann Mk1's, better than the supplied dummy brake pipe close couplings. Those Mk1 coaches fitted with B4 and Commonwealth bogies don't require the R8220 to have a chamfer, until the incorrect riding heights are sorted out anyway. I struggle to understand why that varies so much with otherwise similar stock from the same manufacturer. However, more experimentation is required as neither work with the Bachmann Mk2's - the bogies and therefore the "NEM" pockets being too far inboard. What might work here is alternating the factory fitted tension/lock and the shorter 36-027. I need to come up with something for the "standard stock" before moving onto what are essentially 35+ year old Airfix and Hornby toolings, although I'm still thinking "Rays' Siphon's" and therefore tension/lock. Whatever, it will be a compromise of what a 10 year old wants and what a 43 year old likes! Thank you once again, your help and advice is proving invaluable. Alun

Quite! I should have seen it coming, as last year I replaced all my old Airfix Mk2D's with the far from inexpensive Hornby's, purely because of the improved finish. The tooling doesn't appear to have changed at all. I wonder if Bachmann will give different Temperature Ltd (one large fan) and Stone-Platt (two smaller fans) underframe fittings dependent on the running number, and provide B4 bogies with hydraulic dampers. I know a combination of Mk2D's and Mk2F's would be most appropriate for "somewhere near York in 1978", but I imagine the two tooling's will look like chalk and cheese on the same layout, let alone in the same rake. I had both Hornby and Bachmann Mk1's for a short while. It didn't look right to me at all. I can thoroughly recommend the BR Loco Hauled Coaching Stock Yahoo group, a goldmine of information and helpful contributors. Alun

Hi Ray, I cannot honestly say! Bearing in mind Bachmann have announced Mk2F coaches, I need to get some good use out of my newish Hornby Mk2D's, while making sure they can be resold, so they will be the first to be "played" with. With regard to the chamfer on the R8220, can I ask what tool you have used. Is it just a small(ish) file? I'm thinking accuracy and the smooth finish. It may not be relevant to the Mk2D/Mk1 (and occasional Mk2A) rake, depending on how I get on with what you did to the Siphons and Bachmann's short cranked coupling, but it will become relevant with some of the other rakes. I like what you've done, it makes much more sense then shaving a millimetre off the coach ends, which some propose. Alun

Hi Ray, Well... 2 days of rain, then an "arctic blast", then snow, and finally a 16 month old with a tummy bug! That said, we spent a very enjoyable Mothering Sunday at the East Lancs Railway: a Peppercorn K1 and a mixed rake of Mk1's and a Mk2Z. There was also a Jinty in steam on a dining train. The RailRoad Stanier coaches, they were part of a set I bought for my son more than 3 years ago, and they will probably have to stay for the time being. The underframes of the Dapol Stanier's don't look right at all on the manufacturers website, although my local model shop is ostensibly a Dapol stockist. I need to call in and see if they have a "prototype" to look at. Buying and selling indeed... I have come to the conclusion that buying for "future projects" is in my case at least, costly. I keep buying things for the future, in case they become unavailable, only to find that when the project is coming close to fruition, something more appropriate (or less inaccurate) has come onto the market and more often than not, the piece of rolling stock I bought in the first place is still available on a popular online auction site, and for less than I paid in the first place. I just do not seem to learn! Anyway, this close coupling business, I will be back in touch once I've had chance to have a "play around". Alun

Hi Ray, The RailRoad Stanier's (from memory) originated in the late 1970's/early 1980's and are nothing more than a likeness. They are symptomatic of Hornby at the time, are a bit short and poorly detailed, particularly the coach ends, underframes and bogies. I have thought about changing them to the Dapol (Airfix) equivalents and imagine they would near enough match the 12 wheeler, but I might wait until I can justify circa

Hi Ray, Thanks again. I've booked a last minute "long weekend" with my long suffering and our youngest so am away from the morning until next week, but I have the R8220's on the bench as it were. I'm going to start off by having a go at close coupling my 1978(ish) Hornby Mk2D's and Bachmann Mk1 catering cars and BG's using the Hornby/Roco's although I'm also tempted to try what you did with your Syphons for the Mk2D's along with Bachmann 36-027 short cranked couplings for the Mk1's - see which method works best. Then I will turn my attention to the 12 wheeler/RailRoad Stanier's/Bachmann Mk1's as I will need to take a craft knife to the Stanier's - not my favourite past time. Also, it's the lesser priority as it's my son's rake, he's less fussy and it's hidden in the fiddle yard when it's just the big kid playing. I'll let you know how I get on. Best wishes, Alun

Thanks very much Ray, it helps on two fronts, the 12 wheeler and also my more usual 1978 time frame - again former Airfix tooling's (but Mk2 this time), also along with Bachmann Mk1's. I need to have a closer look at the respective "Hornby" and Bachmann bogies as I cannot see how the heights can be easily made to match, but they clearly do on your photographs! Other than that, it makes perfect sense. I'll sit down and have a proper play around later in the week.

Hi, Were you able to slot the R8220 into the Airfix(ish) coupling holder and did the height of the coupling match the Bachmann's? The only reliable "off the shelf" solution I can find is to use old Airfix tension lock coupling couplings, but they do not self centre. The narrower Hornby tension lock couplings are unreliable coupled to the Bachmann equivalents (something to do with the close coupling mechanism I think). Alun