RBAGE

Strange that. I don't even have a class 37 ordered. Might be nice though. Pre-TOPS, split headcode, blue, RHS, if anyone is listening. 6772 if you can manage it.

Has the therapy session started?

Well, drastic and immediate action was not what I expected. Just clarification from the manufacturer. Just as well I made my apologies first, I suppose.

The noticeably underscale wheels supplied with Accurascale's 'Deltic' – only 3ft diameter compared to the altogether heftier-looking 3ft 7ins of the real thing – are one of its least attractive features. The way the loco has been designed, it is difficult if not impossible to replace them with wheels of the correct diameter and still negotiate tighter-than-scale curves. As both Bachmann and ViTrains recognise, the wheels of a class 37 are also 3ft 7ins diameter. Would Fran like to confirm what diameter of wheels his model will use and if the same unfortunate compromise has once again been deemed necessary? I apologise if this issue has been clarified elsewhere in the topic but I have been unable to find a reference. Thanks, Bob

Hello Paul, Thanks for the offer. Would you mind explaining what your plans are? Regards, Bob PS My intention is to change the headcode but using the glazing from the model, as I have done on countless other models.

I can't quite put my finger on it. Contacted Heljan and had no response. Contacted retailer who initially responded within 90 minutes to look for a spare part. After a week I enquired about replacement or refund and had no response.

Green handles on yellow and yellow handles on green looks very wrong to me. Bob

Looks like the Sporting Life to me. You don't get rule books with pages that big. Unless he's looking at the rule book centre fold. I poster size photograph of the controls of Kestrel, with a red hot cuppa, waiting to be supped. Eee! I'd want for nowt else.

And Sid is pawing through the Sporting Life for the runners and riders at the Gold Cup.

The plot thickens. Thanks

Well I never. Question answered and confusion gone. Thanks chaps. Bob Edit: Mind you, the hole in the model is on the other side to these examples but I'm satisfied.

Thanks. IT's in the right sort of place. Bob

Confusion. I have just received and unboxed Coldstream Guardsman and a quick inspection revealed what I thought was an unpainted spot on the nose, just to the right of the left hand lower grab handle. Identical at both ends, so obviously intentional. Looking at the engineering sample, the first photograph, above, shows that there is a hole in that position. I can't find any evidence of it from a very brief review of photographs of class 45s. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, Bob

He got an award you know. For his fjords. Hurry up or you'll be late.

Like that very much As I recall, the dullest sounding named peak but always nice to see it after all these years. Mind you, D60 would have brought even fonder memories. Bob

Phil, I had better start planning a week away with the wife to coincide, then we can stumble across a model railway exhibition we could go to. "Do you fancy a couple of hours looking a trains, pet?". While you're there, it's our 40th anniversary tomorrow. We'll be having breakfast at the Kettle Sings. Long way from Durham for a full English but I'm sure it's worth it. The evening will be spent AT the Moody Cow, hopefully not with one. Bob

While everyone is rightly agonising over the missing cab-end handrails on the latest batch of Dapol class 68s, I'm surprised no one appears to have noticed that on 68026-34 the prominent roof-mounted air-conditioning units at each end should be black and not grey as supplied.

One positive thing here, it'll put a stop to those opportunists buying large numbers of Accurascale models and hawking them on internet auction sites at ridiculously inflated prices, only days after their release. As is happening with the Deltic. I wouldn't be surprised if orders are cancelled by such individuals, thinking that the loss of deposit is preferable to having a cupboard full of models they can't ship for any more than the RRP.

My approach has been, buy far more than any railway is ever likely to need. Then build the railway. Establish how many you actually need once the railway is operating. Then struggle to try and convince yourself that 90% of everything you love needs to go. An alternative would be to build the railway first then buy what is needed to provide a convincing and entertaining service. It also eliminates the emotional turmoil associated with the first method. Having said that, a famous sage of this manor described layouts into two categories: 1. A model railway where it is designed to reflect the operations of a railway. Having a purpose. 2. An opportunity to run trains. Nothing wrong with either but ultimately number 1 will provide greater satisfaction. However, the approach will have some influence over how many locos/trains you'll want. For approach 1, you'll need to have enough to fulfil the service to be provided on the railway. For approach 2, you'll need considerably more so that you don't become bored of the same trains going past. My railway, once finished, will fall into approach 2 and will involve some emotional turmoil when it come to the cull. I am determined that my next railway will be approach 1, but I don't think I'm clever enough to do it convincingly. Bob

Put me down as the Bobby.

Phil, What are the plans for operating the railway? Will you have drivers and signalmen (people) or will you have Jacks (and Jills) of all trades. I won't complete the saying. Bob

Crack on, bonny lad. Crack on.

Less is more: Ooops! Forgot to change the shed code, and I've lost the top lamp iron. The camera can be cruel.

Quietly Confident.

Is there a need for this topic to spawn another? Railway modellers favourite???? Lemon Drizzle.