Mad McCann

It looks like a very cautious approach this year on account of the increasingly dire economic situation tbh. Probably realistic in that light.

I suspect something akin to what happened with the 66 may transpire. Early days.

I very much like Hornby's A2 with a couple of reservations; the green and the boiler lining which let's be honest looks a bit sh***e. 😉 That said, I've managed to lift the rather lacklustre green with some effects and tonight I have used Fox Transfers lining on the boiler. Shown here halfway through the job. Phone cameras rarely do full justice but having finished the job since I took this, I can say categorically that this single act has reduced any hint of "meh" that had been hanging around this model and has truly lifted it from my personal perspective. Davy.

From my own perspective, we still have a complete absence of Scottish four coupled types, although the D11/2 fits nicely in an 'honourary' sort of way. At least we have a pair of 0-6-0s now although the big NBR 'S' Class/J37 would be nice along with the 'other' CR smaller 0-6-0 which I no longer name since it appears to be cursed every time I do... 😉 Davy.

Shhh. People aren't supposed to know about the Barclay six wheeler yet! 😉

As previously stated, there are plenty of simple wagon kits that would suit your needs. Well worth your dipping in to that world; I built my first one iny early mid teens in 1978; it something you can pick up quite quickly and learn to do well. Also, bear in mind that in those days, there were few, if any corporate block trains of wagons so your Midland loco will be just as happy pullin a train containing SECR, GW or NB wagons for example, to say nothing of private owner vehicles. Don't be afraid to mix and match as goods moved from one end of the island to another. Davy.

Mike never forgets a pre-order either, as I found out expensively this year! 😂 I think that's all of them now! 😉 Top man!

Meantime, other routes still exist to create your optimum Black Five. I have a tranche of three Perth girls on the go at the moment. Here you see 44797 (front) and 44997 taking shape. '997 has just had the tender axleboxes chewed off along with the odd coaming under the tender base. A Comet part welded tender to awaits. 44998 is hiding behind the pile of crap because she is a bit shy for now. I wanted to do Ferryhill's 44703 too but I need the long wheelbase chassis for that! Cut to the chase; if you don't mind the journey, the old Hornby version still rewards the work. Davy.

Yes. Yes and Yes. This is a "Biggie" for me being a huge postwar era ScR staple. A bold choice for E&C but a really solid one. South of the Solway, it's bound to be popular because of the Longmoor and preservation connections too so I definitely wish well for this product. Well worth the money for the spec although I did originally read part of it as 'manganese cylinder liners'! 🤣 Bravo, Ellis and Clark. Anybody with a likeable wee dug as part of their corporate image deserves success. 😉

Only if it takes you to "The True Line". 😉 Davy

Clive absolutely nails it here. This hobby is a broad church and people's interests are by definition of Human nature going to be entirely subjective. Myself for example. My core interest is ScR in the 1960s with excursions back to the mid '50s and forward to the blue era. That has not prevented me from gathering such models as the P2, CR828 and a NER-liveried 'G5'* this year. There are others too, chosen purely because I like the look or as in the case of a pair of DRS 37s and FNA-Ds, a memento of my days in the Border City. On the subject of the high levels of detailing, I welcome it with open arms as it sets the bar for my own efforts and pushes me to match it. A current manifestation of this is a trio of 1966 era Perth / Ferryhill Black Fives I'm working on using the 2002 Hornby model as a base with Brassmasters/Comet upgraded parts. I see no point in throwing myself into the fray to purchase that latest incarnation when I can still get a decent base model at a relatively cheap price and bring it up to the required standards myself, albeit the material costs probably balance out in the end if I include my own labour. That said, I have thoroughly enjoyed tweaking up the new 2MT in terms of finish. All the infrastructure and stock on the layout is also being done to a common standard but it is early days and my skills in some aspects are still in the formative stage. I'm enjoying the journey though. 🙂 Davy.

It's just such a shame that de-industrialisation struck just as BR was getting it's act together with freight services too. The 1980s really did see the new railway get into its stride and into making money again where IC was concerned. Sub-sectors were probably an ideologically-driven mistake but in hindsight it's obvious to see what was going on under the surface there. Back to 'blue' though and it's interesting to note that Rail Blue reached it's zenith in application and paint technology at that point with the development of the utter fine Large Logo version. I have long felt that it was that little splash of red on a nameplate that provided the final touch that finally gave the blue livery the soul and life that it needed. Fair to say that rail blue went out at the top of its game and is now fondly remembered as a result. Like a sort of Jimi Hendrix of liveries! Davy.

Can't imagine there would be less of a market for a more generally useful crane than for a great big railgun. That, considering it's a niche item to say the least in railway terms, seems to have been popular seller. Davy.

I note that (given her designer and his legacy at the G&SWR) that, tender frames and suspension aside, she bears a fair resemblance to a Manson 361 class of Sou'West origin. Davy.