Lodekka

Taking a number of well made points from our learned colleagues above posts, there is another factor that could affect us all going forward. Doom-mongers should look away now. One contributor mentioned event insurance, it is a possibility that show organisers may need to have health statement/ proof of vaccination etc for layouts / traders etc ( may not be able to force the public to prove immunity) but who knows what the shiny suits might dream up.. a bit like when you travel abroad and needing to prove what you have been inoculated against. Even a venue may insist upon such things, who knows. As a show organiser planning an event in April next year, I am somewhat sceptical it might proceed. Hey -ho at least I am getting some modelling done and started a garden railway, so it is not all bad news. Keep safe and well

Not if you leave the meter on the DCV RANGES!! or you CURRENTLY won’t have an OHM to go to. OK OK, I’ll get my coat. keep safe and well all.

Well done Andy, just added my donation. regards Nigel (LMRC)

Luton MRC are regrettably announcing that their bi-ennial multigauge exhibition on 18th April at Stopsley School is cancelled due to the current health risk situation. At present, the roving ‘7mm only’ show for April 2021 is still planned to go ahead. For more detail see our webpages www.lutonmodelrailwayclub.org.uk

Hi Rod, Was hoping to to get to MIGO last weekend, but unfortunately had other tasks in the way, heard it was very good. Also would have liked to have seen Apethorne jct again.... grrr. i am hoping to meet up with Dave H. at Letchworth with OKSP, will you be there? Good to hear you now have a 116 unit - look forward to seeing progress on that. Regards Nigel

Oi Craig!, Sorry mate, you dropped out of the queue for the 115 unit... i sharked in whilst you weren’t looking. <grin> Rod... i have a 506 unit (Manchester-Glossop) if you install some 1500v catenary... happy to bring that over for some gauging trials... equally i I have a CL77.... now that could be fun. ok, i’ll Get my coat... ‘Nigel

Hi Rod, Just seen the layout article in the Gazette, looks really good... Shows off all those lovely DMU’s. Look forward to seeing part 2 (you are going to do a part 2 aren’t you?) Nigel

Hi Rod, Been away from your excellent pages fro some time so it is indeed a revelation to come back and see more progress. Still think you need a bus somewhere on the road at the back... I do like the CL101 DMU, Dave Hampson has made a very nice job of it. Interior lighting helps set it off nicely - yes I concur with another poster who suggested it would be enhanced with people. If you do, take a look at Claudia Everett, she paints the most exquisite detail onto figures. One of the very best in the business. https://artcice.wixsite.com/cice I hadn't realised you were at GOG Telford, if had realised I would have invited you over for a chat and a play on my layout L13 Willowbrook Marsh. Another time maybe. Enjoy Apethorne this weekend at Daves' school. Sad I can't get along (decorating no:2 daughters bedroom ). We are showing our club layout 'Central Works' at Letchworth next month (30th) and David will be there with OKSP so we hope to get together. Keep up the good work with WKT. Nigel 4pp A5 Central Works Brochure v.02 lo-res.pdf

Hi Rod, looking good... Layout developing well! Btw, the bus is not a kit... it comes as you see it in the pictures. All you add are dog rails and mirrors plus number plates, fleet names and destinations to suit your taste. Regards Nigel

Hi Jon,Turns out it actually is. I got out my existing model of the UCOC one I have on my layout and compared them... The images above are the genuine article, even I was slightly taken aback. Must concentrate a bit more! ;-)

Hi Rod, agreed, I have the St.P one and it is a really nice model but expensive. These were imported by Watling St Models, Telford some while back but I haven’t seen them recently advertised, I guess the high price is a barrier. You’ll see below it is Scale Link, not Radley who does the more attractively priced version. I know the bridge over the Dee at Queensferry, always a bottleneck. I spent time at Sealand and along the coast with a friend at Llandudno so came across plenty of Crosville buses. Plus where they filmed one of the ‘On the buses’ films in Prestatyn. Later on, my 2nd daughter looked at Bangor Uni so we were up there again, although she ended up in Scarborough at an annexe of Hull Uni so it was then United buses... Same look - just change of livery. As I said, mine is a United Counties model, but the real one is a Thames Valley... How’s the modelling going? ‘Bout time for a bit more DMU action... Regards Nigel

Ah, thanks, you are right... it is Scale link, Radley do the LT ones. Regards Nigel.

Hi Rod, could quite easily have been but once we got talking I completely forgot his name!... As previous dsicussion, here are some 1:43 bus images I mentioned... So let me know what you think. Regards Nigel

Hi, thanks for this, yes, I know of JandM but personally they are not my ‘cup of tea’ for constructional methods. I too was at Bristol and spent a short time bending the ear of Shaun at Easybuild once more - he is definitely on the case, but has an issue with origination of the ends at present, but he is working on it... Bristol was a good show once again and well attended, our gang picked up a few bargains and I also got to meet a gentleman from Hayle in Cornwall ( contributor to this thread) so it was nice to put a name to a face... And of course DMU’s were a topic of conversation as was this excellent layout, Thanks for the contact. Nigel

Hi Rod, glad to hear you have a kickstart for your mojo - it often happens that we all phase in and out of ‘the mood’ to model. Usually not the best time to do detailed stuff if you are not ‘in the zone’. Besides, it’s a hobby, not a job for most and we do it ‘cos we like it. Just to add a bit about the buses... the Lodekka had traditional seating both upstairs and down (2 per side), it was its predecessor, the Bristol K type that had the 4 across and sunken gangway. Our group doesn’t have one of those but I have driven a friends one quite a lot. The LWL I have is its single deck version of the K, pure 1930’s styling inside, made up until 1952 the design stayed pretty much as prewar... My vehicles aren’t Crosville i’m afraid, United Counties instead, from my stamping ground as a youngster growing up. The RE is one of my favourites as it had a most wonderful exhaust note when accelerating hard in 2nd gear that sounded like a DMU rasp, it could rattle windows and set off car alarms in narrow streets - wonderful... I made sure I got the correct exhaust to make mine do it . Turning to DMU’s, the 127 is actually a Westdale kit, subtly different layout and underwear to the 115 with Rolls Royce engines and torque convertors it haven’t yet found a DCC soundfile that is suitable (no gear changes - at least until 45mph when the final drive lockup occurred) so if you come across anyone who does one i’d like to know. Also they were Red Triangle coupling codes so can’t run in multiple with anything else... ( you may know they were originally blue square like most others but after some spectacular gearbox destructions due to overrunning mechanical units they were coupled to in the early days, they were re-classified)... The 124 is a pipe dream at present, i’m Leaning on Shaun at Easybuild to do it along with a few other people and I hope he is weakening... really would like a full 6 car one - imagine the DCC sound from all the cars that carried an engine, awesome! I have to say that from personal experience (and others views) I would find it hard to take on a Steve Beattie kit of anything - they are a challenge to say the least - I hadn’t heard that he was planning a DMU and a lightweight has already been done by others so it’s an odd choice. My 103 is an early kit like David Hampson’s , it is already DCC but need fettling with an interior.. currently is it in BR blue but I am contemplating stripping it when I do the interior and add lights, smoke etc. And they will all be green with whiskers or small yellow ends. Thanks for the kind offer of a play/operate if I am around the area - much appreciated. Don’t know if you mak any of the shows but we/I will be at Bristol this weekend with a layout ‘Penpoll Quay’ and then Kettering in March with my layout ‘Willowbrook Marsh’, please come and say hello if you are there... Will follow your developments with much interest - keep going. BTW, was expecting a left side rugby tackle from Craig about the 115... Regards Nigel