Mick Boyd

'Excuse me - the end of the queue is over here' Whoops! Didn't see you standing there Ozzie, I'll fall in behind you.... Brian, Thanks for the info on the marker lights, I'm using a MX644D, I'll check later today to see if it's F9 too, I'm more of a Plug 'n Play sort of bloke so things like this tend to escape me. Out of interest for anyone who is unsure, the plug required for the speaker is : Micro JST SH 1.0mm 2 Pin Connector F/Wire M/Plug 100mm. I got mine from Dalewood Models of Blackpool, about £3.50 for ten inc. P & P. Cheers, Mick.

Brian, I quite agree with your comments about the 05, I purchased the maroon version and it's quickly become a firm favourite-well made, excellent detail and runs like a dream. I fitted sound with the speaker in the housing provided and I'm very happy with the result. I love the little marker lights, I just need someone to tell me how I can have them lit at both ends together at all times. I hope traders have overstocked and at sometime in the future offer them at bargain prices, I'll be in there straight away! Cheers, Mick.

Hello Matt, I had the same problem as you a few weeks ago, my problem was that I was reading the instructions for Ver 3.0 and not Ver 3.6. All is now fine. Cheers, Mick.

Dave, I wont be having an A4, as it's too big for my short layout, nevertheless, I applaud you and your team for listening to fellow modelers and making amendments to make the loco look right. I wish others producers would take a leaf out of your book and do the same. I wish you every success with the A4 etc. and future productions. Regards, Mick. PS. Looking forward to receiving my 7mm Warwells in the New Year.

Hello Richard, Like gordon s I had downlighters installed in my railway room above my layout and came to the same conclusion as gordon, if I was to do it again I would use spotlights to throw light over my shoulder towards the layout. What I like about spotlights is that you can direct light exactly where you need it, something you cant do with non-adjustable downlighters. Regards, Mick.

John, Love the mix of locos, looking forward to seeing the 3f join the roster. Cheers, Mick.

Hi Bernie, It's the regulator rod from the cab connecting to the valve in the dome. Cheers, Mick.

The only noticeable cab difference was that the 1 to 10's had the older style vac. brake valve and the controller had a slightly different shape to the 11 to 137's, it was the similar to the one found on class 26's. I was the secondman on 44004 when it was used to rescue the failed DMU at Sleaford, we were returning LE to Toton over the 'joint' from Whitemore when the bobby stopped us at Sleaford and asked if we would assist the failed DMU to Lincoln. Of course we agreed, it made us a bit more overtime and also increased our mileage payment, the driver was non other than Bing Crosby, yes, you read that correctly but not the more well known one. The DMU driver conducted us to Lincoln and once we'd backed the DMU into the depot and uncoupled a Lincoln man appeared and conducted us back to Sleaford-happy days! Mick.

Richie, You are not alone in the wilderness, I quite agree with your comments. What is wrong with the LLC website that it isn't deemed suitable for advertising new projects, surely it would reach a larger audience, perhaps I'm a bit too old to understand. Regards, Mick.

Re: Windscreen wipers, as usual check prototype photos before fitting them, early examples weren't fitted with them, there's even a photo of a blue example at http://www.rail-online.co.uk/ without them. A good clue to the lack of windscreen wipers is the omission of a bulge ahead of the cab droplight, the bulge was to allow the small forward facing cab window to hinge fully backwards for cleaning, the bulge acted as a recess for the ww motor which was mounted on the window frame. Regards, Mick.

Mine has just arrived, flat fronted or not it's superb, I could never get anywhere near using a kit built loco. In my view the the flattish front doesn't detract one bit-well done Heljan! Cheers, Mick.

Peter, From my experience at Toton they were single manned when engaged in shunting duties in the various yards but double manned on trip work outside the yard confines and for light engine moves on the main line. Regards, Mick.

Just when your slaves were getting used to the existing control panel you go and change it, I hope an instruction manual will be produced to guide us. Cheers, Mick.

A few years after I started my footplate career at Toton several of the Scottish class 20's headed south to the LMR & ER, one of them, D8030, was allocated to the Nottm. Division between 08-06-68 and 14-09-68 from where it was reallocated to Stratford. During it's short stay in the Nottm. Division I was booked on a Toton-Chaddesden tripper with the loco. At Chaddesden, waiting to leave on the return trip to Toton I took a picture of the loco in the Stowage Sidings, (better known to the locals as S**g 'em). I have the picture in front of me, D8030 is in plain green with no warning panel and part of the tablet catcher remaining in the recess. The photo is undated but but it would have been taken between June and September of that year. Regards, Mick.

Andrew, the coaches are perfecto! Mick.

Many thanks to Steve for producing transfers for numbering the Heljan 0 scale Class B tankers so quickly. The transfers, sheet no. 6621 are excellent and have saved myself (and members of Luton MRC) a lot of time and effort in numbering our tankers, well done. Regards, Mick.

Andrew, Ah! Looks like you were inspired by Bob Dylan-Blood on the tracks... Cheers, Mick.

Why not one of the manufacturers producing an 'O' scale version, I'm sure it would be well received. Cheers, Mick.

Andrew, Isn't it time you took the dog for a walk, it hasn't moved in over a month! Cheers, Mick.

..... and another showing the sun hat in all it's glory, what about the wing mirrors too. Regards, Mick.

Lamco 101, Nimba, Liberia West Africa in 1983. I cant trace it's BR no. at the moment but it was one of the following: 3047, 3092, 3094, 3098 or 3100. Regards, Mick.

Andrew, I hope that isn't a double slip in the middle, you know how easily I'm confused....... Mick.