No Decorum

They were built with Sulzer V 12 engines (12LVA24) but proved less reliable than the double 6LDA (12LDA28C) installed in the 47s. All were re-engined to become 47s before being painted in BR blue and before receiving TOPS numbers.

A tremendous announcement! Details have been emerging bit by bit, such as the two generics* not having works numbers quoted and two models being of the same locomotive at different stages in their lives†. It’s a shame that the two most attractive liveries are generic (personal opinion). What brought me up short was the decoder socket: E24. I’d never heard of it. So far as I can ascertain, it’s a standard mobile phone socket which, as the name implies, offers more connections and the decoders are more compact. So far, only ESU supply suitable decoders. *965002 and 965010. †965004 & 965007 and 965008 & 965009.

They couldn’t. Like me, the designers were unhinged. 🤣 I found pictures of the roof details hard to find too, despite having a book about the 47s with information about the 48s. You’re doing a grand job there. I see that one of the models originally proposed has been omitted. Now there are just four: small yellow panel and full yellow ends, each with a weathered version.

It would seem a good choice. We aren’t all Pete Watermans who can run sixteen or more MK. Vs and a 92. A 73/9 and a short train would do well. So I think anyway but manufacturers and commissioners know a heck of a lot more about the market than I do.

I think I see that the NRM exclusive is a skinhead. It is blue but at least it’s in the tooling suite, so I think eventually you’ll get your wish. Clang! Apologies for misinformation. The NRM exclusive is by Accurascale.

I don’t think this has been mentioned before. This is from the Collectors’ Club magazine. “The locomotive will ease back to slacken the coupling, the coupling hook will rise, and in doing so will lift a paddle that disconnects the opposing coupling hook.“ Therefore, it should work even if the adjacent vehicle’s hook isn’t metal. Whether or not it works with the droopy couplings beloved of some manufacturers remains to be seen.

Apologies but even enlarging that picture I can’t make it out one way or the other.

I got the latest maroon Fowler 4p tank about nine years ago. It derailed and ran badly. One of the brass bearings hadn’t been seated in the recess but was jammed between the chassis and the keeper plate. Once I’d fixed that, it ran beautifully.

Comments have been made to the effect that both the Hornby and Bachmann 08s need updating. Now that Heljan has produced a similar shunter with a speaker and external lights and done a good job on it, I wonder if Heljan might use the experience to produce an 08 and, I dare say, trigger another frenzy of duplication.

I’ve had mine for over a couple of weeks now. Bear in mind that I’ve never heard a real steam railmotor in action other than on video and that my hearing isn’t good but it sounds to me as a small steam engine should. It sounds as good as it looks.

We face delays to new projects for all sorts of reasons, many unforeseen. I would repectfully suggest that taking the time to add sound (and provide for remote control of the panto) is one of the best reasons.

That is true in RTR as well. Bachmann retained the Graham Farish name for N scale, which is very useful (as I model in 00, I know to ignore Farish). Other manufacturers don’t separate the different scales they operate in, which is sometimes puzzling.

I would guess that the Model Rail/Heljan 48 should be here at roughly the same time as the 47s. Does anyone (MR subscribers, for example) have any news?

Almost anything matt black would do; acrylic or enamel. I’d use a brush and paint from the centre to the edge. Two thin coats would be better than one thick one. I thought that I should have mentioned that if the discs are almost transparent, they would look better with a coat of white (or appropriate colour) paint on the front but if you’re nervous, perhaps not.

No, we don’t need them. However, bear in mind that on DCC it can be turned on and off with or without the coal shovelling sound synchronised to it. The light in the cab does strengthen the need for crew figures. Before you say it, try to arrange the loco so that it is viewed from the driver’s side. That way, it’s not so easy to see that the fireman isn’t actually shovelling. 😄 I can’t disagree about overly bright oil lamps or weak early electric bulbs.

It intrigues me that “most of the Sound Fitted Deluxe models are sold out already”. Bachmann commented that relatively few of that version of the 47 were produced because it was uncertain how many would be sold because of the high price. Bearing in mind the complaints about prices, that caution seemed reasonable at the time. Now it seems that more could have been produced and sold. Expensive or not, a lot of people seem to like the “spinners”.

Paint the back of the discs matt black?

Thank you. I haven’t a Facebook account but I could still watch the video. Marvellous machine!

Uncanny! There must be a job or at least a consultancy for you somewhere. Could I possibly ease a Gresley K1 into the list? I’d be astonished if someone hasn’t already realised the appeal of a K4 but then, I’m often astonished. 😢

If only Accurascale (or any manufacturer) had your insight into the market. Each one of those a gem!

It doesn’t surprise me that Microsoft is the underlying cause. 😁😁

I like electrics, I love diesels but I adore steam. That said, there is nothing quite like the excitement of something brand new on the network (such as 68s*, 88s and 93s). So the news about the 69s is plenty exciting for me. As for steam, I’m rather happy with the new chassis under the V3s and Ivatt tanks. As for the Ivatt tanks, I stared in disbelief at a picture of one in LMS livery which popped up. I try to keep up but that got in right under my radar! One by one, they’re having sound fitted. * Ten years on the network? Wow! I mention them because I recall the excitement about the real thing and the superb Dapol models.

Does the locomotive not have to be wired to accommodate the autocoupler? It has been stated that there are sockets so that the control wires can be detached if it isn’t wanted.

Perhaps. It’s the livery which attracts me for that reason but I’ve always fancied the “tunnel” livery, with the blue/red half- circles.

Likewise excited. I don’t think there will be a bog standard one – won’t they all have different liveries?