Floreat Industria

I see that Hattons are now quoting August/September for delivery.

I'm quite sure the dome would have been painted green by the period they seem to be aiming at. I did point it out to Oxford a long time ago but they replied that they had researched it and polished brass was correct. I would like to paint mine green but I find matching near impossible. The green handrail at the front will have to be painted black and the chimney cap painted copper/black, which will be easy. see http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrbsh55.htm

The 88 is 88003 "Genesis" seen here at Highley on the back of yesterday's return working:-

Joel at Dapol put this on the Digest on the 11th:- "Hi Alan, Due to livery corrections, I think this has slipped a touch and now production is scheduled for the end of this month and delivery in July. My apologies."

An 88 is down to work on the Severn Valley Railway this coming Thursday to Saturday, commencing with the 13.47 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth on Thursday. I'll be on it!

Here it is looking splendid, 5 minutes early at Alvecote.

88002 "Prometheus" came through Amington at 05.21 on the rear of the ECS hauled by a class 68.

Don't forget tomorrow's Class 88 special:- 09.32 Euston to Carlisle 16.40 Carlisle to Euston

I can't wait for mine. However, I don't like the dome in what looks like plated plastic, as it jars with all the other parts that are brass and draws the eye. I would rather they all matched. The forthcoming Oxford Dean Goods has an incorrect-for-the-period "brass" dome, which is overpowering and I think mine will have to be painted green (if it can possibly be matched) when it arrives. I told Oxford about it a long time ago but they said it was correct. I think manufacturers possibly see a big shiny brass dome as a selling point, and they may be right!

I have just got round to buying "Caerphilly Castle" and was annoyed by the silly angle of the fall plate, which has been mentioned in the past. I assumed it was plastic and would break if bent but I have discovered that it is made of brass. The two small tabs at the sides merely sit in their depressions but there are two tabs in the centre that are pushed into slots. On my loco they are not glued and the fall plate can be worked up and out carefully. The plate can be bent to the angle you prefer without causing any harm, although don't bend it often or the small tabs would no doubt snap off! My "Star" has the same fall plate but its tabs have been glued. Both locos had the steam lance valve (left hand side of the smokebox door)broken off and missing and rather than try to get plastic replacements I see that Alan Gibson does them (ref 4M764) so I am getting a couple. . .

What an excellent looking loco - and etched plates as well, which will save a bit of money. Mine was sent from Model Railways Direct yesterday and I can't wait to get it. I have just bought a copy of "Bashers, Gadgets and Mourners" (which is mentioned on the literature in the loco packaging) on eBay for £27.99 and there is one left if anyone is interested. It was originally £19 but Bookfinder (I would forget Blackwells, as they routinely list long out of print books) 123 Price Check and Amazon all show high prices. Cheers, Patrick (very close to the old LNWR)

I just remembered that I took a photograph before mending my broken buffer. Part is still in the sleeve which is a push fit - remember that it is narrower at the buffer head end. The other bit is in the centre of the picture and you can see the two little projections on the end which hold it in. Also attached is the real loco on 31.3.15. I wish the models were available in gloss! Cheers, Patrick.

Have a layout based around Tamworth! We've had all three liveries through on both lines - either light or on the ballast trains from Crewe to and from Mountsorrel and Crewe - Bescot - Toton - Crewe. They seem to do work on them at Crewe and then try them out before sending them back. Regards Patrick.

See my earlier post. Just like mine when it came but mine is all mended. It isn't the factory - the locos are too heavy for the plastic packing to withstand certain knocks/vibration. There is another bit of the buffer still inside. From underneath push with a tiny screwdriver and it will pop out. The difficult bit is gluing the two bits together with superglue as the bit that pops out has a projection at the bottom which keeps the buffer straight. You can't see it without a magnifying glass. Glue the two bits together with absolute accuracy or it won't work and remove any excess glue after it dries or it won't fit! The tube round the buffer is narrower at the buffer head end - don't put it the wrong way round! Regards Patrick.

I notice that the DRS shop picture shows the side with the misplaced "swoosh"!

It has really been DESIGNED, and that's why I like them. I lost interest in diesels with the likes of class 67. You wouldn't buy a car by the designer of that, surely, if indeed it was designed at all. A few strokes of a pen on a beer mat is all that was needed! I have followed them closely since they were introduced and have managed photos of all except 20 and 24 so far. On another track, my photos ("Derningtona" on Flickr) show the following handrail observations for the Chiltern liveried locos:- 68010 1.10.14 and 2.9.15 WITH 68011 26.8.14 (1st solo trip by a Chiltern livery loco) WITH 68012 2.9.15 WITH 68013 24.2.15 and 27.4.15 WITHOUT 68014 31.7.15 and 2.9.15 WITH 68015 22.1.15 WITHOUT and 18.11.15 WITH You have to choose a date and a photo to match your model. Dapol can't take all variations into account. My model of 68005 came on Saturday and I must say that it is a SUPERB model - grilles with something behind, small pipes underneath, fine windscreen wipers to mention just a few things that took my attention. My nameplates were straight and no sign of any glue, thank goodness. The tiniest bit of yellow warning panel was rubbed off at both ends but a tiny brush and Reeves lemon yellow acrylic from my set cured that. One buffer and two adjacent steps were broken. The steps were glued back with instant glue on the end of a pin and you can't see the joins. The buffer shank needed micro-surgery with the glue as alignment had to be precise as there is a projection at the bottom of the shank to stop the buffer turning and any dried glue had to be carefully removed with a scalpel but having done that I was more than satisfied. The problem is that the loco is too heavy for the plastic packaging. I can live with the wrong "swoosh". It is a shame, but people being what they are (myself included) will look at that and ignore the marvellous things about it.

Kernow have the LBSC Umber model today at 69.95! I think it's better than Birch Grove as it's a real livery rather than one (albeit very nice) made up in preservation.

There is a photo of the Edge Hill locos here where the lining can be just about made out:- http://www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/other-railways/edge-hill On another note, has anyone noticed that on the Southern green terrier 2644 the number on the buffer beam seems to read 2344?