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Hi Barclay, thanks for sharing the inspiring photo, yours looks excellent. Yes there is a fair amount of work needed for the 25/0, but worth it for the variety it brings. I agree they captured the overall shape very well for an early 80s model and they can indeed run quite sweetly. Thanks, Martyn.

Hi Gibbo, I've not given much thought to changing the wheels (partly as they are fairly well hidden, but mainly to keep the budget down), I remember you mentioning you had swapped them; were they a straight swap or does it require bogie mods? And do you have any side-on photos? Could be something to consider for the future! Martyn.

After a short break from modelling, I am returning to the various class 24/25 projects. I mentioned previously about the ride height of the Hornby body on the chassis, this is how I now go about lowering it. As I fit flush glazing I discard the clear plastic glazing unit during dismantling of the loco; it could probably be retained by trimming a couple of mm off the lower edge all round if the lighting is to be retained, otherwise the 2 metal plug units which sit in the glazing strips can be retained within the body (suitably insulated) if required. The chassis moulding then has the 4 cab door lugs sawn off immediately below the protruding lugs, and the solebar below the door area filed flush. (The bufferbeams were also carefully sawn away as these will also be refitted slightly lower relative to the chassis) as shown on the top chassis in this photo - bottom one is standard Hornby: At this point the chassis will fit snuggly within the body, and can be assessed for height thus: I used a couple of dummy bogies for comparitive height checks; as can be seen from the comparitive roof heights, things are looking good. I added new lugs using some 4mm lengths of 1mm plastic rod (1mm square section should work just as well) fitted level with the top of the cut down chassis lugs: Which sets the height nicely and holds the body in place: Next, sorting out the buffer beams (probably....).

Thanks John, I've ordered a couple too for replacements. Martyn.

Hi Clive, I've been in touch with the local garden centre, they have got almost all those Latin named plants in stock. Martyn.

The first basic 2 part hollow tank after a quick sand over the top mating surface. And the weighted one in class 24 guise, after sawing off the Hornby 25 version and fitted to an otherwise unmodified chassis: And less boiler water tank as a 25/0: Should look better after some solebar detail is added and given a coat of paint.

The ones shown above are for 24 & 25/0 sub classes which are not easily altered from the Hornby 25/1 chassis due to the different layout, (the boiler water tank would need removing and replacing with the fuel tank/battery box from a second chassis cut & shut to give the right appearance) hence building from scratch. For a 25/1 though, yes indeed you can chop out bits to give a more 3d appearance, which is what I did on the previous loco, and it does make a noticable difference: I did consider chopping up Hornby bits to make a master for the 25/1s, which would work for my own needs, but I think it is actually easier to start from scratch to get the best 3d appearance and I can also make some to sell if there was any call for them. The idea of doing resin versions is primarily to save doing the same work on 2 or 3 locos of each underframe type. The detail on the Hornby 25 chassis is fairly basic. Some fine wire detail (battery leads and conduits etc) will probably be added for extra detail though.

More progress.....further detail added and a quick check against a new Bachmann 24 for size: And so to making the mould: no it's not an 80s computer animation robot design.... The underframe has been removed from the mould and more silicone rubber added to the interior so it can be cast hollow; the white bar across the centre has wire running through the mould so that it can be pulled out. However I couldn't resist doing the first cast solid, but added a couple of Hornby weights into the resin, seen here waiting to be cleaned up of flash: The first "hollow" version in progress, not much to look at! Note the white bar holding the centre part of the mould in place as an aid to removal: And as removed from the mould, still soft and with the water tank added loosely, the whole still to be cleaned up after setting fully:

As hinted at earlier, a plasticard master for moulding class 24 & 25/0 underframe equipment in resin is now in progress. Brassmasters do a sublime one piece casting for this, although I require options to leave off the water tanks hence doing my own. The basic shape is getting there. The fuel tank is the reduced height version (the boxy bit at the left end) but the boiler water tank will be the shortened deeper version which suits most 24s. This is being made separately so it can be left off on the 25/0 (and any 24s which didn't have boilers) thus: I hope to leave the inside hollow to allow weight to be added. Although primarily aimed at replacing the rather plain structure on the Hornby 25 chassis (for 24 & 25/0 conversions) it should suit the older Bachmann 24 & 25 underframes too. Size comparison v Hornby 25: And Bachmann 25/1: Detailing to be added next. As always some compromises will be needed to enable casting, such as keeping undercuts as shallow as possible. I aim to do a 25/1/2/3 version too. Martyn.

Hi John, I bought them from a Toyfair trader, not sure if he is packing up or just using alternative means until they can start up again. But yes it would be a big investment to replace so many in one go! Cheers, Martyn.

Hi Davy, Yes I am thinking of a cameo scene for it, it did finally cure fully! Thanks, Martyn.

Whilst musing over the options for the various Hornby 25s, I compared the "one I did earlier", D5188 with a plain "out of the box" Hornby one. As discussed earlier (p.54 onwards) the Hornby model sits too high and looks a little ungainly as a result. I didn't have another to compare with then but now have several! The solution is to lower the chassis on the bogies as far as possible, as well as lowering the body on the chassis. Improving the battery box area also makes a big visual difference as the photos hopefully demonstrate, so further locos will have the same treatment. I feel resin battery boxes etc might be the way forward here to save time on 4/5+ locos, depending on what variations are decided on (and some will be BR blue this time, for those who expressed that preference with the first one!).

The project pile just recovered further......these were going on a FB sales group for a very reasonable price. Just need to decide what they will end up as! Probably at least 1 class 24 and 25/0 plus livery variations on 25/1s, some possibly ending up as pairs semi permanently, with small plugs and sockets for improved pickups. The 37 bodies might just donate their ends onto my Bachmann split box loco, or possibly a whole body with a fair amount of work. All very 1980s I know, but for me, much more excitement and anticipation than unboxing a new loco, and cheaper to boot!

Had something approaching a proper running session this evening after much cleaning of track and loco wheels. Some leisurely shunting followed! No.2 at rest with full sugarbeet wagons. No.1 arrives with grain empties as No.2 shunts full wagons ready to depart. Later, No.2 is seen collecting sundries traffic from the station platform, carried in the ex-LNER Pigeon Van. The YGD Fowler is away for attention so a temporary stand-in is on hire! Well, just because! Thanks for looking. Martyn.

I managed to take a few photos today at our first group meeting for almost 18 months, although it looks like the Museum won't reopen for public viewing until the August Bank Holiday Sunday. A combination of sunlight, shadow and spotlights didn't help so not the best photos I'm afraid, but some are from angles not normally visible to viewers. I'm pleased to say the layout functioned correctly after the track was cleaned. Martyn.

Thought I'd posted these before, but it was obviously elsewhere. Joem now has a loco crew, altered from Dapol Trackworkers figures.

Crikey, Lansing, yes I recall the name! Thanks, I did google "old forklift truck" for images, and one or two did pop up with LPG/propane tanks as you describe, but even they seemed to be 1980s types and very few images were of older types (most being from re-seller sites of 1990/2000s on models) but it did offer food for thought; I believe propane can be a by-product of grain storage (grain silos in the USA often seem to have propane tanks to collect this, if I read it right), so it is quite possible those at Yorkshire Grain Driers may have been powered thus?

Certainly a possibility!

Funny enough someone pointed out on my "Crinan" thread that they became a legal requirement around 1970 so I altered the one on the layout to be compliant.

Thanks Rich, most kind of you. The sack pallets are from a single mould so it seemed to take forever to make those on the layout! However I am thinking of making a few more from scratch (one being a taller stack possibly) so I should be able to make these available at cost price as I can cast several at once. I will post on here when I have something to show. Cheers, Martyn.

The flatbed lorry has had door mirrors added. I quite like it in this location, with the tarpaulin being fitted ready for departure. Shunting clearance is quite tight but not critical. I have sourced a secondhand but very nice Wiking fork lift truck from my local model shop, it's a bit modern for the 1970s but I will look at some photos to see if it can be backdated in some way or other.

That's useful to know thanks, as a parcels car it increases the running options rather conveniently! The photo caption in the book could possibly have been wrong saying 55013 was in use as a Driver Training unit. Will look out some more photos. Cheers, Martyn.

These might be pretty close for your needs: https://yorkmodelrail.com/shop/00-scale-ho-scale/windows-louvers-00-scale-ho-scale/00-103-square-window-frames-4-per-pack/ Although some trimming and joining might be necessary, but I suspect these are about as close as you will find without resorting to making them from scratch?

A visit to my local model shop this morning saw a couple more secondhand purchases with projects in mind. Given the silly prices online currently, they were "justifiable bargains" in my book. Both may sacrifice their chassis. Or not. The Hornby single unit could end up with cab roof work as SC55013, which was used as a Driving Trainer in Scotland in mid 1972 (with white passenger Saloon windows). The rat a simple renumber maybe. The other solution is the DMU chassis going into my original 126 for the improved running over the Lima power bogie, and the 25 chassis going into either my remaining unpowered class 29, or under the green Hornby 25 body. An early Fathers Day gift of a "Pub in a Box" from my thoughtful offspring may help me decide over the weekend....!

I have now finished detailing the Liliput/Bachmann BRT Grain Hoppers and also printed new "Jamie Stuart" advertising hoardings for one of the Lima wagons. The resin bagged Grain pallet loads have been fixed in place too. I need to find a forklift truck to go with them. I am also experimenting with where the lorry load of bagged grain looks best suited. Martyn.