thegreenhowards

I’d seen your comments. It’s not too noticeable to me and I’m happy enough to live with it. Certainly less of a discrepancy than I normally make when I build a kit - as you often point out!

Well I was feeling pretty smug because I’d got a decent model of 60501. I ran it in and today fitted a DCC decoder. I immediately had a short and a hole on the decoder - serves me right for not trying it on the programming track first. That wiped the smug smile off my face! I’ve done some tests with a multimeter and I get a short across the motor terminals, even with the tender wiring disconnected at the 4 pin plug, which doesn’t seem right. On returning the blanking plug and running it on DC I notice that there are some blue sparks from a short on the valve gear. It still runs well on DC but there is obviously enough of a short there to upset DCC. I can probably fix it but don’t want to void my warranty, so will ring my supplier tomorrow. Has anyone else had problems with fitting DCC? If Tony Wright is reading this, please don't laugh too loud! Regards Andy

Tonight we have the 1830 Doncaster-KX relief headed by A2/3, Sun Castle (Graeme King/ Bachmann). This was a rake of Gresley stock mainly EV with a few all door coaches. My rake is more or less correct made up mainly of Kirk and Hornby coaches with the CK being MJT sides. I tried an unusual angle on this. It’s tight getting the camera in and I don’t think it worked very well but at least it makes a change. More uniform (less lumpy?!) custard on this rake but the blood is still very variable! Here’s the video.

In terms of a line I’d like to have travelled over then definitely the Callander &Oban. But the question said stupid and shortsighted. So on the basis it’s been partly reopened, I’ll go for the Waverley. Even then, I’m not convinced it was stupid at that time.

That's not likely any time soon but I'll bear it in mind! The transfers are another reason for lethargy as the original Anglo Scottish Car Carrier decals will need a specialist to produce. I see you've gone for the normal 'Sheffield Exchange Railway' white livery!

I love the CCT Steve. These have been on my to do list for a while but I had no idea on how to tackle them. Trouble is that I’d need six (for the Car Sleeper Limited) and that would be quite a lot of work! Andy

Good evening Tony, I like Nucast. Good solid lumps of white metal. May be not the most detailed but quick and easy to build. Being an impatient b....r, that suits me well. I’d really like to keep the D13 as it runs so well but I fear that won’t be possible. I may try to swap the chassis with 4830 and keep that for club non DCC use. Then I can repaint 4831. Regards, Andy

Lots of great candidates again. The B17, V3 and V4 seem like the most deserving causes. I have a prejudice against 4-6-0s and there are plenty of other prairie tanks preserved, so I’m going to go for the V4.

Now you mention it, yes there does seem to be a small gap. I’ve gone back to the model and checked and it’s not really noticeable from normal viewing angles and distances so I’m not too worried. It’s only on one side so I can turn it round if necessary!

It certainly does still run very well Tony. It's VERY heavy and will pull anything. It is however a bit slow so tends to get the fast goods turns. I also bought another NuCast V2 off you. This one is in a horrendous lime green livery and I think you couldn't wait to get rid of it - it was much cheaper than 60835! I don't think I normally procrastinate, but I have on this one as I can't work out how to convert it to DCC. It has a live frame motor as below. I could change this but it's very smooth and powerful. It pulls as well as 835 but at high speeds - up to a scale 200mph if one so desires. Does anyone know if I could get away with isolating the live brush with a disc of plasticard or similar? I also have three other Nucast V2s, all bought ready built off eBay for between £50 and £100. 4830 which I intend to keep in apple green for club big four theme nights. 60814 which is another lovely loco. Very powerful with a fairly quiet Portescap. All I did to this was renumber and add a few details. And finally 60869 which I had to get running as the valve gear and pick ups needed sorting out It has the white metal chassis and a 5 pole open frame motor but runs OK apart from an occasional tendency to re-jam its valve gear. I also have three other V2s: a Jamieson/ Comet, a Bachmann / Comet and a pure Bachmann but as you were asking about Nucast versions, I'll spare you those for this evening! Andy

Tonight its the turn of the slightly late running 1715 Hull-KX which was delayed by a carriage defect (a.k.a. I had to fit the Hunt couplings to my Kirk RF!) It’s headed by A3, 60110, Robert the Devil tonight. The whole train gives another interesting mix of interpretations of Blood and Custard with the RF being a distinctly ‘ full fat’ custard. This is the only appearance of this RF in my sequence - not the best used coach. Here is the video.

According to Yeadon vol 4 there were 11 which had the early emblem in green livery including 60884. This info is in a caption of a picture of said engine on p42.

This evening I feature the 2025 KX- Hull class C goods with K3, 61912. Another view on the down main coming through the station. Further to DSC’s comments about trains at Hatfield not often stopping on the down main, you will see that this can not happen at Gresley Jn as there is no platform. There’s a video of this one as it has a newly sound fitted chip.

Eric, I like that look, particularly the colour which is much improved. Is that just varnish/ T cut and weathering or did you respray it? also, how did you do the jiggle in the ejector pipe? Andy

I dithered over ordering one of these for ages, partly because I never like to pre order, then because the initial reviews were not good and when I decided to go for it anyway most places were sold out. But I tracked one down at Colletts Models and spoke to the proprietor who told me he was checking them all before despatch. I received mine today and I’m pretty pleased with it. The fit of the cab and footplate seems good and the only thing wrong that I can find is a missing top front lamp iron - easy to fix. The colour is horrible, but nothing that a coat of Klear won’t fix as has been proven. I shall run it in and then get the Klear out and report back. Colletts still have some if anyone else is searching (no connection etc.....). Andy

This evening it’s the 1733 Leeds-KX headed by 60146, Peregrine. This was a 12 coach train and I tried to represent the 1959 formation all in maroon. I almost managed but it needed three CKs and I had to resort to a blood and custard one at the rear. It was mainly Mk 1s but included a Gresley RTS and BG.

Fowler 2-6-4T for me. Two worked on the GN out of Hitchin so I even have an excuse to run one on my layout and they represent the only LMS power that I run.

Thanks John, It looks even better now with some Halfords gloss black on. It will get a coat of Dullcote tomorrow and then join the weathering queue. Andy

Many thanks for this DSC, I had worked out the terminating on down side and shunting across bits from track plans and photos, but I wasn’t aware of where the run round took place so that’s a fascinating extra insight. As I’ve explained before, I try to follow the timetable but have no claims to have a faithful representation of Hatfield. This is the only move which I’ve been unable to replicate. Many thanks for taking the time to post. Andy

John, Neither Fox nor Modelmaster (which are the two I mainly use ) have a visible film if applied on a gloss surface. Even if applied to a Matt surface some Liquid decal film largely hides the film. Andy

Let us know if and when you do. I’d be interested to see.

Was this one of the first coaches to have commonwealth bogies?

This evening I’m featuring the 2024 KX- Cambridge which was a semi fast service with non corridor stock. It was strengthened with a couple of CLs. I’m not sure whether the CLs would be on the front or the back and I only have one spare so you’ve got a CL and an S instead. All this rake did in a day was work Royston-KX in the morning peak. Then sit in the carriage sidings all day and work this train back to Cambridge. No wonder the railways lost money! I want an excuse to use my K1 and they did occasionally work Cambridge- KX trains in the early ‘50s, so here is 62059. I know this is probably verging towards the exceptional - if anyone can give me a better excuse to use it, I’m all ears! Now a couple of shots showing the full rake.

Thanks John, I'm amazed you can get it to sit on top of the beading. I was assuming I’d have to learn how to use a bow pen in order to do my O gauge teak coaches. It would be great if I can stay in my comfort zone with transfers. I'm surprised you’ve struggled with Fox transfers. I always find them excellent. Regards Andy

John, Lining is not something I've tried on the beading. I normally use transfers and add it just below. However I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet shortly on my O gauge Gresley 61'6" stock which I'm painting in 1930s livery. Can you say anything about how you do lining? Andy