ColinK

Has the 8f got a function key which sets off the sounds of bagpipes playing?

I've got one ordered with sound fitted. Will you be able to reblow it if Biffs sound is much better?

Interesting layout and full of good ideas. I have plenty of 0-16.5 stock and am currently building a 0 gauge shunter, so thanks for the idea of a dual gauge layout.

Had an email from Tim at Arcadia Models earlier in the week to say the 05s were in stock. Then a stroke of good luck, I work as a part time coach driver and todays job was taking a group of students into Manchester. So while they enjoyed the city centre, I jumped on Metrolink to Shaw, then a 5 minute walk to Arcadia Models. Welcomed with a mug of tea, then invited to run the 05 on his test track. Yes, very nice model, runs well. Then back on Metrolink to Manchester. So I actually got paid to go shopping for my 05! As always, excellent service from Arcadia and competitive price too. There is quite a howler in the instruction leaflet 'thank you for purchasing this retooled class 33! Made me smile. For DCC it says it needs a 6 pin chip, while there is space on the cab floor for a micro speaker. Two cab windows are modelled open to let the sould out. But who is going to produce a sound chip for it?

Arcadia Models in Shaw have them too. Hoping to pick mine up later this week.

Just being curious. There are all these different track machines, presumably with many different cab layouts. So who drives them? They will need both route knowledge and know how to drive the particular machine.

Looks terriffic, a great piece of modelling. I do wonder why the prototype had such a large cab? Perhaps to carry a team of fitters?

It may have been a joke, but a model Parry People Mover would be great. It would make a great independent branch feeding a mainline station, or the ultimate micro layout.

Sitting in the car waiting to pick my wife up at Bare Lane station tonight when the station tannoy bursts in life. Not the usual 'sorry the train is delayed' announcement, but one of the security announcements usually heard at big stations 'please keep you bags with you at all times as unattended luggage may be removed and destroyed'. Odd as the station was deserted and it's unstaffed too.

Are the sound fitted ones on the boat too?

I've no idea of headcodes, but on a Saturday, the sets should be in Carlisle... 0515 departure to Barrow. 0833 arrival from Barrow, departs back to Barrow at 0842 1137 arrival from Barrow, departs 1156 to Lancaster 1426 arrival from Barrow, departs 1433 to Barrow 2029 arrival from Barrow

I was at the South Lakes Safari Zoo today. One primary school group was walking around in hi-vis jackets. I can't really see the point as it is a traffic free environment, unless the teachers thought it would make it easier for the hungry lions and tigers to spot them.

Yesterday morning only one set appeared to be in use, operating the 1004 Preston to Barrow, then continuing on to Carlisle. I think he second set ran ecs from Kingmoor to Barrow (via Shap) later in the day. I had a very enjoyable ride right round the coast, excellent views, really comfortable and clean coaches, with a 37 thrashing at the front. Since my last trip the stock now has central locking, so the extra staff are no longer present. I don't know if that puts the 5 minute connection at Barrow at risk as these staff used to swap trains at Barrow. There is a Cumbrian Coast Round Robin ticket which lets you travel round the coast and back via Shap, but apparently it can also be used as a rover ticket too, so you can go both ways round the coast behind the 37s. Enjoy.

My only experience with TrainController was a brief visit to a friends layout. He has programmed it so the trains run automatically - you can just sit there and watch the trains running by themselves. Furthermore its not just a case of trains going round and round in sequence, but includes complex moves such as dmu's reversing. Just to see that was awesome, but I was even able to drive extra trains manually while the automatic sequence ran, with TrainController preventing conflicting movements and stopping trains at signals to prevent accidents. From that I can see the benefits of such a system. If I build my planned complex OO layout which would need four people to run it, I could run it by myself with train controller covering the roles of the other three operators. Similarly, many continous run exhibition layouts are simply a procession of trains running round in turn from a large fiddle yard. I would find operating that very tedious, especially for a 2 or 3 day show. Letting TrainController run the layout would enable the operators to interact with the public more.

While I'm not modelling in 3mm, I've just looked on the 3MSR website out of interest, wow, there is loads of stuff available!

I thought pukka made pies, not sandwiches.

As an alternative to scanning slides, I got myself an old style slide copier. Basically you attach it to your camera, stick a slide in the carrier, then take a photo of the slide. It was designed for film cameras, but can equally be attached to a DSLR. I found a box of slides, and took photos of a couple of them using the slide copier. This one may be of interest. I think it was taken at Bristol Temple Meads.

There could be scope for a micro layout based on the workshops.

Being banned from B&Q would be bliss. No more diy, so more modelling time!

Looking through the limited editions on the Hattons website, I see that they are all available with DCC sound fitted. Does anyone know any more about this? It looks like it will be a Locosound v4, but doesn't say who has provided the sound for it. I'm trying to decide whether to pre-order one fitted with sound, or get one without sound and retrofit sound later. Any info or advice appreciated.

So my 07 is finally finished. The rattle can of Humbrol Matt varnish worked fine. Here it is on my layout. I do have a DCC decoder for it, but I will not be fitting it until I've sorted how it runs; it still locks up too often to be of any use. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to that discussion on another thread. So, what have I learnt from building my 07. First - I did it, I have loco which looks like an 07 and I am very pleased that I actually managed to build and paint it. Second - I made a big mistake by painting it, then deciding to replace the mounded handrails with wire ones. The new handrails are an improvement, but in fitting them I messed up the paint finish. Third - my project showed the real benefits of RMweb, whenever I hit problems, someone came along with solutions, advice and encouragement - so thanks to you all, and especially Andy 71Y who has provided me with so much assistance. Fourth - I know I could make a better job of the Silver Fox 07 kit, I'm actually tempted to get another!

Last year the East Lancs Railway had the 50 years of the Teddy Bear event - the class 14 diesel, with all 10 remaining locos at the railway. Even a train hauled by 9 of them (the other one had failed). To launch the DJM J94, perhaps we should have a similar event somewhere? I wonder if there are 94 J94s still in existance?

Thanks to everyone for the lists of J94 versions. Its going to be hard to choose which one to have...or will it be two or three.

A J94 has no place on my 'blue diesel' layout. But I do like them and (just) remember them at Bickershaw Colliery, plus it looks like its going to be superb model at a sensible price. So is there a complete list of what versions are being produced so I can make my choice?

Awesome, that's real modelling.