Brocp

Isn't Tony making his next layout DCC (besides points etc) DCC?

Who exactly said it was a "dismal" model? I know for one i certainly haven't read anyone call it that, nor did i for example say it was. If you have not noticed some of its short comings as a model and are happy to overlook them then fine, but just because people here are discussing faults with a model doesn't mean anyone finds it so bad we'd get depressed over it. Or aren't we allowed to discuss issues we personally perceive with models now?

Don't know what Hornby Mag is on about, Hornby have had the sloping smokebox for years on the 2003 onwards livery, hell they released City of Liverpool with one either last year or the year before.

I've been "tinkering" around with my one for a little while now and i have to say while it is a fairly good model overall some design choices have keft me scratching my head. The steam pipes look ridiculous, the fact they are "solid" for want of a better term against the smokebox with no daylight underneath where the join on to it changes the face of the locomotive a lot. Also the prominent rivets on the steam pipes arent there either. Bachmann never seem to drill out the lifting rings, yes it's a minor grip and easily fixed but Hornby have been doing this a while. Bachmann also as sper usual on LMS locos do none of the pipework under the cab, which Hornby do on all bar the Black 5, the mechanical lubricators are pretty bare bones compared to the latest offerings from Hornby, again like most things easily fixed but it does beg the question for me if this loco is worth the price they are asking, yes it is a good loco, runs well etc but it feels of like sonething that either company would have released 15 years ago in terms of finesse compared to some recent releases.

Just to change the topic slightly from 46256 but in the same ball park, did ypu finish the Royal Scot with the comet chassis yet Iain and if so, how does that run/pull?

Sir Willaim not getting preserved was certainly a travesty, same as 10000. I never understood the thinking back then, No A3 or A1 offically listed, no Patriot preserved, the fact any Princesses got preserved was a miracle as well (Thank god for Mr Butlin) I always personally thought 46245 should have been preserved as well, it seemed, at least from what i have read, to have been the best in the class easily. I know funds and storage have to be considered when it comes to preservation but the fact the first main line diesel locomotive in Britian wasn't included in any official list goes to show what the authorities actually thought of preservation.

New tooling for the tenders, they are tooling 6 versions, bascially all variants. That was confirmed for me by emails with the Hornby development team. In regards to the old tooling, the bodies, loco and tender, have been the same since 2003, in 2008 or so, Hornby made the trailing truck "fixed" like the A4. I have no idea when they put the decoder in the tender, but they changed the tender to loco drawbar when that happened as well, that must have been after 2010. But the body toolings for the loco drive models are all the same and were basically all new from 2003 onwards.

As Jol states, there usually wasn't many drawings from notifications later on in a locomotives life, unless something like a rebuild happened. With regards to the Ivatt pair, there were no drawings available for the modified truck, in the LMS Locomotive Profiles for the Duchesses, it states they got a drawing drawn up especially for the book to show the difference from the original truck.

The original cast ones were replaced by fabricated ones in 1950, due to the cast ones cracking after a few weeks in service and needing constant repairs.

Hi Iain, Top work as usual mate, you're actually making pretty quick progress i think mate! So glad to see you have used Comet deflectors on 46256, the DJH models I've seen of Duchesses really look horrible around the face, it really takes away from the model as a whole. After this experience do you think you'll build more DJH ones or just keep Comet "chassising" Hornby ones? Hope the back is feeling better, Broc

Just a quick question in regards to livery, has any one seen or know where i can find a picture of a Stanier Mogul in plain black after the war but before nationalisation? Cheers

Was sad to read that, modelmaster are my go to for all my nameplates, hopefully this won't be a range that falls by the wayside like so.many others

Was that Hobbyco? It's in the Queen Vic building now, probably been there 8 years or so? It's not too bad, though the prices can be a bit frightening.

Great photo! Thanks for sharing it here with us

Most of Turbomotive's failures were related to the reversing turbine and it's clutch. It ground to a halt at least six times because of it. In July 1942 when she left Crewe Works there was an additional steam operated pump that supplied oil soley to the reverse gear. It was mounted on the right hand side platform, thus it was enlarged. I recommend LMS journal's 10 and 11 as they give quite a detailed account on the construction, operation and modifications to 6202 throughout it's life as a turbine locomotive.

Hi Steve, Tell John thanks for the Turbomotive info, honestly i don't think it looks too out of place, no matter how modern the other locos are. One thing about the one on your layout that is 100% correct is having the front flap open when running, just as the real thing did. Most models I've seen of it have the flap closed, which of course would be fine for parked up some where (which sadly she did have long stretches of) in speaking of a modern kit, i seem to remember Turbomotive and Princess Anne mentioned on PDK's website some time ago as a possible future kit, though i don't know what happened with it. Also Princess Anne still had the same 9 ton tender with roller bearing axle boxes all the way up to that fateful day at Harrow, there are pictures of the net of her "remains" with the tender in pretty good shape all things considered.

Hi Steve, First off, thank you for the offer, that is most kind. That will be something I couldn't resist, seeing it that close up. Thanks for the information in regards to the running of the layout. I would admit the illusion of seeing different locomotives pulling the same trains is an effective one, as you say it makes things seem less repetitive. Really looking forward to the posts John is writing up about the stock, Turbomotive will be a great starting point. I've always liked the one on Lime Street, as a lot models of her in 1946 Black I've seen seem to either not have the conduit down the fireman's side of the boiler, or the grill at the front is closed off, or both. She's certainly a head turner on any layout and i do wonder if we'll ever see it made rtr? Again I'd like to thank you and Les for your very kind offers and also thank you both for posting updates here on RMWEB. It's arguably the best layout in England and the fact we get to see its development here is brilliant, as there are many other wonderful layouts around who we might see once every five or so years in a magazine. Keep up the brilliant work gents!

G'day Les, Pm sent thanks mate

Great video Steve. Would love to know what the loco fleet consists of now. In terms of session running, do you work to a realistic time table in terms of trains, or more of a limited/made up time table? In regards to the layout as a whole, how close to being properly complete is it? Or will it be a never ending project for John? I'm a huge fan of the work you all have done, one of the things i will do when i come over to England (I'm in Australia) is come see the layout. It's a work of art really and everyone involved should be very proud.

I agree, I'd love to see some more of the building/detailing etc of the locomotives and trains too, especially as I also model 1947 LMS. Not that I am knocking what we see here at all, but I'd personally love to see more of the railway side of things as well.

Such a shame they have closed down, they were my only way of getting Alan Gibson wheels online pain free.

I spoke with a member of the design team regarding the fact that the Ivatt pair had different drain cocks and he said that all the models they'd make wpuld have the standard drain cocks from the 6225-6255, just as it was more cost effective to tool up just the one type on such a small detail part.

That's true, 6232 and 6252 being the first. There is a great shot in the lms profile book of 6252 with deflectors with a still streamlined tender, though i don't think she ever ran like that.

They look naked really.... i can only imagine what people thought when they were de streamlined with the sloping smoke box and deflectors for the first time

Without checking my books etc, off the top of my head, it's a straight identity swap to get Alexandra from City of Birmingham