DapolDave

Hi Paul, It would be logical to go with what we have first so I will 'tentatively' say the 21 first, then while tooling build slides into the tool to allow variants further (excuse the pun) down the line :-) Cheers Dave

Sometimes things like these happen and make your day. Paul has certainly made mine, that's for sure. PM sent and dialogue started :-) Cheers Dave

I believe steam have kept back 'some' of the batch for such an eventuality. Cheers Dave

If its got hewed screws I doubt DCC supplies can do much to be honest. I'd think Steam is your best port of call. Cheers Dave

Only 400 of these supplied I'm afraid, as under the 'W' warranty scheme replacement parts and chassis for repair etc are/will be available through our spares / repairs / warranty agent DCC supplies. Cheers Dave

Hi, we didn't announce before we ascertained the feasibility. Indeed our announcement was based on what we thought was a reliable source claiming to have ALL the NBL plans we required for both this loco and he D600. In reality he only had 'some' D600 plans. My next move is to complete the 121 & 122 models satisfactorily while trying (still) to source NBL plans for the 21/29, so I resent your 'no next move' comments, as this business is all about having a 'next move' or plan B. It just so happens that out 'next move' / plan B is to move up the 121 & 122 while we continue to try to source the relevant drawings. My own thoughts are that with the Mitchell doesn't have the relevant NBL plans ( and recently someone has tried in person on our behalf with no joy) or they aren't catalogued. Indeed the NRM insist they have relevant drawings but they definitely aren't catalogued yet. Now in either case, we cannot make either body prioritise the cataloging of these drawings so we can use them for a model. But if you feel you can use leverage to get them, then please do, and I look forward to receiving copies. Dave

Which lights? Directional or cab, analogue or DCC? Cheers Dave

Yes, but I am an N gauge modeller (the gauge of kings ;-))

I'm sorry Jon020, This affects the Blue ones as they are currently 'in country'. i can only suggest if its such a deal breaker you cancel your order and wait for the next run sometime in the autumn if they prove popular. this will have the added bonus of freeing up a model for someone else. Cheers Dave

Hi guys, And thanks John. As you can imagine i have had no cause to actually open up a Western production model yet and i dont have any to hand either which is a pain. The Western was specified as clip in cab fittings, not (and i mean NOT (are you listening in china)) clip then glue into place. The first and second EP models had this clip in feature and so did the approval decorated models i received originally. you can imagine after actually specifying the clip in cab etc, and seeing it on the cad/cam and on the model, my frustration with then now gluing the successful clip in methon into place as well!! Grrrrrrrrrr Anyway, i've fired off a mail to China in the last 30 minutes (Friday 11.50am here now), and will get answers and an assurance it wont happen on future models, either for clients or stockists. cheers Dave

Nope, its a separate plastic part. None of the cab is glued (unlike the 22's) so removal is easier. cheers Dave

Morning everyone, China have informed me that they can leave the black rubber seal painting off the headcode glazing, but cannot due to the fineness and difficulty paint the black around the aperture of the opening on future models. whats do you all think? Should it be removed or not. Your choice. cheers Dave

Hi S.A.C Martin, I have deleted my petulant posts of yesterday, mainly because i feel they have no place on this forum as they were plain wrong. cheers Dave

New Baby Syndrome Hi guys, please indulge me in this missive. Having spent a sleepless night last night worrying and wondering and resenting etc after the comments back and forth of the last 24 hours i had, in the small hours of this morning, an epiphany. Basically i realised rather late in the day that i was being a parent regarding a new baby, where anyone who says "oooo he's nice 'but'" gets short shrift. And this cannot be the case because its not my 'baby' its our 'baby, and you are entitled to your opinion and reflecting on various comments the opinions and comments (even the ones i didnt like), thanks to Michael's pictures of D1000 headcode boxes, have proved correct. I was too close to the problem to not only see it but to accept it. For that i apologise, and i also humbly beg forgivness for my shortness and bordering on rudeness to Geoff et al. Please continue to comment and suggest areas of improvement as this is what this wonderful forum is for. Moving forward, i'm going to suggest to China they leave the black line off the headcode boxes on the maroon ones and instead print a very thin one around the aperture opening of the plastic front. Does this cound like it might work? I'll also ask for a reprint of the headcode letters to a larger size from the next production run if someone can give me the definitive size. I have and continue to appreciate all your help guys, even if i didnt like the comments at the time, you were are are entitled to comment without my childishness. Sorry Cheers Dave

Blinking I-pad predictive texts. Mind you perhaps 'Western Ruhr' would be a nice name

Hi Geoff, slight confusion on my behalf here. If you are referring to battery box clips we are doing both types. BR blue at launch should have the later ones, but revisiting for earlier ones on re-runs WWII happen sooner or later. Cheers Dave

Ah but the fact that the model comes with no name or number plates fitted means if D1005 is not your bag because of the clips then you can choose your own individual preference or the livery. Cheers Dave

University archive department were contacted personally by me, but I got a negative reply.

Hi Andy, Your reading is incorrect. The NRM have been contacted and are searching for us, and we have tried the Mitchell library a few times but with little joy. As for the basic work, this started some time ago and ran, for a while, concurrently with the 22 project. At the moment the 21/29 model development is on hold until more details come to light. Cheers Dave

The 21/29 has been widely advertised as being put back further due to lack of workd plans to follow (we'd rather wait and get it right than not and muck it up), so a couple of months ago we made the decision to hold back further and bring another model scheduled for later, forward (class 121 + 122). Cheers Dave

There's 3 impressions with Cheddar Gorge nameplates, 1 in sand, 1 in green and 1 in maroon. The sand one is in a cabinet on the mezzanine leading to the NRM search engine. Each one incidentally had cast cycling lion emblems in different places, and 1 had 2 on1 side. Cheers Dave

Mmmmmm I was born just too late only definitely seeing Westerns outside Swindon in April 77 :-( However better to see some than none at all, like the 22's, 42+43's and 35, and 600's (apart from Ark at Barry). I hope some really great layouts come from the Westerns and 22's in both gauges. I fancy a shed someplace fictitious with sound fitted hydraulics burbling away. Yummy Dave

Well they will look different, but to be honest I would say that. Lol

Not sure that's a waste of time to be honest!

Ah, good old "Cheddar Gorge" :-)