Darius43

If you read what the seller says in the postage section he has stated a "dummy" overseas £100 postage value to satisfy eBay's requirement but will confirm the actual postage cost if you enquire. The UK postage is £3.20 not $200. Bidding started at 99p so the high bidders must be getting carried away as usual Darius

Weathering the new Bachmann SECR Birdcage coach - brave decision. Does this enhance or depreciate its value, I wonder? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-SE-CR-BIRDCAGE-COACH-1132-CUSTOM-WEATHERED-39-620/372221702361?hash=item56aa2470d9:g:8YEAAOSwLI1aUS8E Darius

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-gauge-Network-Rail-M-O-W-Maintenance-of-Way-test-Carriage-custom-made-weather-/253413708213 Oh dear... Darius

Received mine today from a well known model shop for the sum of £135.96. Will be adding the name plates tomorrow prior to running in. Cheers Darius

Seek the battle. Don’t complain about the wounds. Darius

Good runner - when you push the coaches with your finger they move. Simples. Darius

OK - but is it "pro-built"? Darius

It’s a Bachmann Class 200 (whatever that is) except the box in the illustration is by Heljan and the manufacturer is Hornby... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-Bachmann-CLASS-200-02-RARE-/112798075402 Finding out which will cost a mere £275. Darius

Imitation 4-CEP eh? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-00-GAUGE-BR-INTERCITY-BLUE-4CEP-EMU-IMITATION-PASSENGER-COACH-58-U-B-/282833251375 Darius

I spotted that as well, as I recall the listing stated that three examples were “available”... Oh really. Darius Edit - listing now says “pre-order” only if you scroll down. Still says “available” at the start though...

How do you think the passengers feel Cheers Darius

Had a similar issue with an item that arrived broken and with missing bits. Requested a return through the eBay process. Seller stated that Royal Mail tracking stated the item not yet delivered. I sent photos of the item as delivered and his packing slip that was in the box. He said that his staff were filmed packing the item and it was brand new when packed. I re-confirmed how it had arrived. He then said he had packed it himself and that he was going to report the matter to the police - this for a £15 item so the police would have dropped everything and rushed over... Raised it with eBay and they sent me a return label and the promise of a refund once it had been delivered back to the seller. I think it was the seller’s belligerence that encouraged me to push through the whole eBay return process. EBay will probably send you a label to print off and return the item. Cheers Darius

Sluggish decoder - perhaps it is embarrassed at what it has been fitted to... Darius

Nice pictures Phil. I saw this unit passing through West Worthing yesterday. Cheers Darius

Can’t speak about the chassis interchangeability but the bogies are secured with small Phillips head screws on the Oxford Mk3a. Cheers Darius

And in the process lost its Cartazzi truck and two of the four axles in its three axle tender...

I cant quite put my finger on it but something doesn't quite look right with that one...

I had a stint at Woomera in South Australia in 2002 and on a free day myself and a colleague took a Landcruiser and followed the remains of the old Ghan railway via Maree and William Creek. We got as far as Algebuckina Bridge before turning back to ensure that we got back to Woomera - or at least asphalt roads - by nightfall. We were helped by a 1st Generation GPS that had recorded the route, which came in handy as we had misjudged nightfall and the GPS gave prior warning of upcoming bends in the dirt road. I have some photos somewhere of that trip - I will see if I can dig them out. The clear starlit sky in the Outback is stunning - I can still recall the sight of the Southern Cross as we headed south. Cheers Darius

I have 23 years worth of pension in TPS (an engineering design consultancy owned by Carillion). I left to go freelance seven years ago so I am somewhat interested in the Company’s survival. Darius

Looking at the photos and the crazed paintwork on the metal casting are there signs of Mazak rot? That might explain why the “previous owner” cut the ends off... Darius

Thanks Mike Having used plasticard to make the corner body extensions it seemed natural to make the tie downs from plasticard as well. They are a bit fragile - had to re-make a couple that were broken during construction. Cheers Darius

And then there were two... Cheers Darius

I hear that Mrs Miggins has baked an enourmous pie in the shape of a pie!!!

This kit is older than I am but it went together nicely once the flash was cleaned off. I added tie downs from plasticard and wire handrails plus some home made decals. Paint is Halfords spray on white primer sealed with Johnson’s Klear prior to decal application. The decals were sealed in with another coat of Klear followed by a matt varnish coat to finish. Cheers Darius

To try and understand it better you will have to read through the many pages of the (now closed) Coopercraft thread. Having done so you may still be none the wiser and will most likely have a severe headache. I recommend instead some active railway modelling - a much better use of time. Cheers Darius