ColinK

Many thanks for posting the coach photos. I hadn't realised that there was a 'Inter City Scotrail' logo.

Bump, wondering if there will be any open days at the Littledale Railway this year?

What's all that stuff hanging off the front of the loco on the top picture?

The reason I use Kadees is not for close coupling, but for hands off uncoupling.

I've finally fitted Kadees to my old Bachmann class 24 and Vitrains 37. Many thanks to everyone who has helped with advice on how to achieve this. For the Vitrains 37, I pulled out the tension lock from the unusual mounting. A Kadee number 20 had its 'legs' cut off, being careful to make the cut at 90 degrees. A file was then used to make a small fishtail in the Kadee, similar to that on the tension lock previously removed. It took me three attempts to get two couplers that fitted. Fit the modified Kadee into the coupler mounting, checking with a height gauge that it is at the right height, superglue in position. Once sure it was OK, I strengthened the joint by adding some more superglue and sprinkled on some 'Rocket Powder' which makes a sort of superglue filler. PS I've lost two of the class 37 buffer heads, any idea where I can get replacements? For the class 24, I removed the long coupling plate by undoing the crosshead screw. I then pulled off the tension lock hook and cut off the tension lock loop. A Kadee number 19 coupling was simply superglued on top of the coupling plate. By pure luck, the coupling is the right height without any adjustment needed. I did remove a mm or two from the underside of the buffer beam to allow for gradient changes. Again I strengthened the join with 'Rocket Powder'. When dry I refitted the coupling plate, That's my two 'difficult loco' coupling conversions done.

My challenge was to build a O gauge class 02 diesel shunter kit. It was to be the first thing I had built in O gauge, and hopefully the first chassis I had built which actually worked. Link http://www.rmweb.co....lass-02-diesel/ I started with this... and made it into this... Much to my relief it does work, although the kit pick ups are not very good and I plan to change them for plunger pick ups sometime soon. It may even appear on 'Gillan & Brown', the Romiley Club layout. The challenge has increased my modelling skills, including chassis building and airbrushing. Plus I've learnt lots of small things e.g. how to get the wheels revolving freely, how to glue a white metal body using superglue and 'Rocket Powder' to fill gaps and strengthen joints. Thanks to RMweb for setting out the challenge, Phil Parker for his encouragement, everyone at RMweb and my model railway clubs for their advice and help. While my loco is not perfect, I've learnt a lot and I'm happy with it.

Be carefull pulling by the bogies. There is a cross member which holds the bogies into the chassis which you don't want to break. It can be replaced, but its a pain to do. One broke on my class 26. I've a couple of new 27s arriving soon, presumably they open the same way?

I'm hoping everything has been replaced, so its really a new loco that will be reliable and bring much pleasure to many for years to come.

I agree 4472 looks great with German smoke deflectors. But isn't it time it was updated and painted in BR blue with full yellow ends and a large double arrow on the tender?

Many lorries have cabs with a bed, cooker and heater. With all the odd hours and travelling you do Jim, make me wonder if the next batch of 70's should have sleeper cabs?

Will the cheese sandwich be edible?

Thanks for all the useful info folks. I have been through the previous thread but it didn't give all the info I need to make my model.

Many thanks 65288_62C, especially for the branding info. I haven't got my sldes back from storage at a friends house (after moving), so I wasn't sure whether the coaches were Scotrail or InterCity. My new layout is more generic than Scotrail, but I'm aiming to model reasonably accuratly trains I particularly accuratly. Couldn't resist the thought of a push pull set storming up the gradient with a DCC sound fitted 27 at each end. Hopefully my mate will let me run it on his garden railway too.

Looking forward to recieving my special super deltic. It will make my New Year very happy. Cheers.

I studied for my Institute of Transport qualification at St John's College in Manchester. One of the lecture rooms had a view of the line leaving Mnchester for Liverpool. Many on the course and one of the lecturers were railway enthusiasts. Lectures always stopped when a Deltic was due. Happy days. If any railtour organisers are reading this, how about a Liverpool - Manchester - York - Newcastle railtour behind a Deltic?

Well done Jon. Looks good.

Many thanks Flood. So its not quite so easy to make an accurate rake, But I should be able to make a reasonable job of it. Cheers.

I'm thinking of putting together a Glasgow - Edinburgh push pull class 27 hauled set for my 00 layout. I'm seeking assistance over the best coaches to use. As I understand it, the sets comprised four Mk2A TSO's, one Mk2A FK and one Mk2A BSO. So could I form a set using the following RTR coaches, TSO - Bachmann TSO ref 39-360C FK - Bachmann FK ref 39-340A BSO - Bachmann BSO ref 39-380A Many thanks.

Five Bridges, the Nice.

I like the suggestion of a Parkside or Cambrian kit. Hope they are reading this.

I've used it brushed on and from a spray can (not airbrushed it). It did dry OK, but I didn't think it worked well as a primer.

But what about one pf the Woodhead co-co electrics?

I remember making one of these years ago. I would be interested in one or two.

Two intriguing photos in the book. On p85 there is 37264 hauling the 1220 Mallaig - Fort William on 14th June 1984. The consist is three Mk 1 coaches, plus what looks like the Bachman Inspection saloon. Why the inspection saloon? While on P91 we see Loadhaul liveried 37698, but the door in the centre of the bodyside appears to be in EWS red and gold. Presumably a replacement door has been fitted?

Home now and had a look at the book. It is superb, a varied collection of interesting photos, all well presented. If you've not ordered a copy, I recommend you order one now before they run out. Fittingly, as I was opening it, the 37 hauled (actually pushed) Cumbrian Coast service went past. I hope other preservation groups produce similar books of their loco class.