How about a Dictator Loco Class?

Why did rmweb remove all previous images? )-: Check out my latest work here instead https://www.instagram.com/bobsbitsnbobs/

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/470009-fastest-railway-model The above is the actual Guinness world record for the fastest model train. 44.82kph 27.84mph it's a working model maglev in Japan. I'd mistakenly thought it had done 44mph so I went out to try get near 40mph tonight. But before I talk of tonight; Two weeks ago I'd at long last run my train 'Thunder Rocket' twice. Once in the sunny evening and again after sunset. I was amazed that my efforts to get an absolutely smooth, dead straight track had paid off and it made it along the entire track. Hitting 21mph with maximum downforce on it's first ever run but crashed and lost a wheel bearing. Then after light repairs it ran with no front wheel bearings and near minimum downforce and maximum thrust, down a 16 meter (50 foot fish) long track and hit 20 mph (the exact speeds to a few decimal places is written down in my phone somewhere). In run 2, 'Thunder Rocket' completely lost it's front wheels after overshooting the end of the 16m track at full speed and exploding. So both runs had their true top speed compromised, though they had both been comfortably the fastest ever runs of an OO gauge train. (From all I've ever found out) Also I'd deliberately run without an aerodynamic front cab end for fear of going too fast and also of damaging it. The goal was to start backed off and then start getting faster. But a 3rd run wasn't possible due to forgetting spare bearings and wheels. A picture of 'Thunder Rocket' leaving the starting blocks to streak off down the straight. I'll start updating my youtube channel with more detailed videos of my runs in the near future. The footage I'm getting atm is very interesting to see. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3SR-WcdQPxf4IYP2msKEpQ Only two very short videos of old records are on atm from years ago. But worth a look still. Rob

That's a brilliant idea! Please do it! If you need help with what motors to use please ask me. But for starters NSR make some cheap but very powerful long can slot car motors. King and the shark are my favourites. I've run them over 54 volts. I can get around 100,000 rpm out of them. They would go great in a 395.

Wow you are a genius. Thank you so much. I'd like to know more about that interesting end! And how you search an image? I didn't know it was possible.

I've hunted online for years and looked through books to find a picture of this train or any information on it but have failed. Does anyone know about it? May be in Waterloo station Toby from steam railway suggested. I kind of recognise the livery and coach type but I can't remember what the livery is either or the donor coach. Thank you. Rob

Tax return Jan 2020.xlsx I've converted the Tax return earnings spreadsheet that I made from a 'Numbers' spreadsheet format, to an XL format so others can hopefully use it. It automatically totals each months takings. It may be of use to the odd few people out there and save you a bit of time. It doesn't hurt to share it (-: (click the link above)

I was wondering what an accountant costs. That gives me an idea. Thank you. Time is also valuable so that makes it tempting. I think I was misunderstanding the bill. It's a little ambiguous. My dad said it makes so much sense to the people who make the wording for the online system that maybe they can't see it from a normal member of publics eyes. I can make it more clear without any more words and they will be smarter than me. If I get time I'll come back and write down a few helpful points I've gleaned. Thank you all (-:

My problem each year is understanding Payment on Account. Balancing Payments can also be a source of confusion and annoyance. I'll put a better explanation below but basically; If you pay your previous tax bill in full each January 31st + half of what they predict you will earn next year. And then each July 31st you pay the other half of what they predict you will owe next year, then you are paying 2 years tax each year surely? My bill always seems more than double what it should be every year. If this happened just once you would be a year ahead. But I pay two years worth every year? Can anyone explain why this happens every year and if this right please? Is anyone else having a similar problem? Thank you. Rob Payment on account HMRC runs a system called “payment on account” for those who pay most of their tax through Self Assessment. If more than 80% of your income gets taxed through PAYE, then this won’t apply to you. Otherwise, if your Self Assessment bill is more than £1,000, you’ll need to make a payment on account. This means that, in addition to the 2018/19 bill that you need to settle by midnight on 31st January 2019, you also need to pay half of your total expected 2019/20 tax by the same deadline. The other half of the 2019/20 bill is then due on 31st July 2020. This way, HMRC ensures that self-employed workers aren’t benefiting by being able to pay considerable amounts of tax many months in arrears. The result for many, newly self-employed people is that they typically face a tax bill which is roughly 50% higher than they had been expecting. Once you are over the initial hurdle, payments on account simply spread your tax bill across the year and can make it easier to budget.

I update my instagram with new weathering pictures more often than I post here.

Sorry I've only just seen your question Michael! I found using just slightly thinner paints at higher pressures stopped my airbrush blocking as often, it also allows me to cover bigger areas easier, from further away and a tad faster. Yet very small amounts of paint can still be applied for difficult, tiny close up detail if I'm careful with the airbrush. Also it allows me to blow things dry much easier so that I don't tough wet bits and spoil them.

Here is a video of one of the test runs 858mph scale speed. This model was made over 12 years ago and this run was about a year ago. I've been practicing building miniature jet engines since this video was made. I'll post some much faster wheel driven models later on. I now have motors that go over 5 times faster and can be geared much higher. The next issue is space. I'll have to switch to a flat outdoor sports facility as this indoor track will now be of zero use.

I love the sentence at the bottom of your posts. Those are my thoughts exactly. I think it looks amazing to have them! Has anyone got any good pictures of the yellow hazard signs on modern pylons btw please?

Please let me know if you have any tips for my project. I've learned much from the suggestions of others.

Out of interest, how many people work at Rails? I'm just wondering how many they have compared to Hatton's. Does anybody know please? I had an idea that Hatton's had say 54ish, which is impressive. It might be different now. I've forgotten what their turnovers are from that James May program, but Rails seem quite an efficient company. Probably less staff per million £££ turned over I'm guessing. Hatton's turn over is something similar to Bachmann's I think, but Hornby is ahead of them both still.

https://www.themodelcentre.com/Bachmann-oo-gauge-class-66-66051-maritime-intermodal-four-db-maritime-blue-re-sprayed-renamed-renumbered NEW FROM TMC The DB YIWU is also the perfect donor to make the new loco number series; MARITIME INTERMODAL ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR and so on. Treble cab windows, correct lights, fuel tank length, grills, roof, and side doors. This new number series differ from the loco MARITIME ONE. MARITIME INTERMODAL ONE and onwards are a different 66. The original less fuel efficient therefore longer fuel tank version. This new number series also differ as they have the DB logo on. TMC is now offering numbers 1 to 4. And they dare use close up pictures. Normally resprays don't look this good this close! What to look out for; on class 66 models the decals often don't sit neatly into the corrugated sides. This often looks terrible close up! The orange cant line (or catenary warning lines) are badly masked or painted so wobble and change thickness. And often nameplates are printed which although kind of 3d are no match for a perfect pair of nicely etched nameplates and can look trash on close inspection. So I'm quite stunned with these lovely new bright blue Maritime locos! The best 66 resprays I've seen so far. Look out for those checks if you are ever buying a resprayed 66. Only buy ones with close up ultra clear images. This is also a fast response as this livery has only just been applied to the real things. Some are still being painted to my knowledge. I think circa 10 or more my end up like this. Rob

What do you want to know please? They're more basic weatherings but include buffer grease, fuel runs, exhaust, varnish sealed. Usually a two colour weathering. Light to medium and you leave it to them to know how to pull it off. For those not mad on high detail it makes the models look more realistic for less money. Its like TMC's entry level weathering.

This is one of my 3d printed pylons. It comes pre built as one piece. This is a more basic version. I'll post more detailed versions and larger pylons later on.

Oh my goodness me those pylons are amazing Paul! Well done. Nice clear shots. How did you cut your foam so perfectly?

Wow!!! I love your amazing models Pylon King. Very impressive work. And very accurate! I have designed a taller, extended version of the tower now and both versions now have all the Inner strengthening detail. I'll soon sell fully assembled models via my shapeways account in N and OO in plastic or stainless steel + for those who ask; pylon accessories, spare parts and cheeper rates for multiples. And maybe a weathered, painted version with signage via TMC. The original pylons were certainly designed by a genius! I've learned so much about the wisdom behind the design by building these. They use the minimum material calculated to give the required strength. So the L2d appears to be the cheapest of the L2's to build' requiring less parts (insulators, steel etc) helped by a less wide stance due to it's shallower angle of diversion. There are rules behind where triangles are to be put and what angles they should be at. So you get a formula that shows you exactly the size and angle every triangle will be. The design is full of genius order and mathematics like we see in all nature. But obviously not to de degree seen in nature.

My L2D's are gradually nearing completion. Just a few odd details to add and glitches to sort out. What a nightmare time waste this has been! I'm too silly and stubborn to give in. They're circa £100 cost price to me in OO and can be 3d printed in stainless steel or a strong flexible plastic for a similar price. Steel is about £10 more. In N gauge they only print in the plastic due to finer parts and come out at about £25 each cost price to me. I'd say this design took at leat 40 or 50 hours minimum, including traveling to photo them up close and personal and many nights working till between 3 and 5am! I don't even want a set of pylons though. Just a design addict and pylons look so cool. I'm on with some even more difficult designs atm lol! I did a design that took 3 years and was made up of over 66,000 lines! It's such a stressful use of time. I'll post pictures of them when I get around to printing some. I won't be surprised if I never sell a single one lol! Thank you so much Paul and Pylon King for all your help! Rob https://www.instagram.com/bobsbitsnbobs/

So what about those bellow the £85,000+ earnings mark. Will normal self employed people need this new software? And what does that actually cost? £££ (For software that's for 1 person rather than a bigger company)

Wow. Amazing information Paul! Thank you so much. You should compile a definitive, ilustrated guide! I had a strong desire to but no knowledge lol I have looked at your pictures. They are a great help thank you. And as Pylon King pointed out, the sides are actually slightly different to the fronts and backs. My L2d needs changing again! It's so hard to draw.