grahame

This is a slightly unfair comment to Roy - especially when it's well known in these circles that you yourself are heavily pro-Dapol biased, down on Bachmann and a personal friend of George Smith.

Incorrect comments like that shows you just how wrong you can be ....... and about most things.

I know Colin at Bachmann better than George at Dapol.

G.

is neater and less obtrusive than the cheap looking screws Dapol have employed on the Brit,

Whether it is neater and less obtrusive is basically subjective and a personal opinion as I can accept that you think that (although I think both are just as bad and both could be improved) but what makes you think the screw is particularly "cheap" (presumable for screws in general as well as an alternative to a bolt). Do you have information about the costs? IMO it just makes you sound excessively and unnecessarilly negative about Dapol.

G.

I agree with the point about the screws on the coupling rods. This seems to spoil what looks to be an otherwise nice model.

Yep, beit screws on Dapol or hex nuts on Farish, the coupling rod joints/fasteners on N gauge steam stock is very poor and could do with a significant step improvement in that area.

G.

There's nothing much between them now - there are still some bad diesel runners too (Dapol class 73,

I've never had a bad Dapol class 73 runner and I've got dozens of them. They all run superbly well; certainly a lot better than all the kettles I have.

G.

Could do with a range of modern stuff and a few old Jaguars. Any clues?

Oford DieCast and R Parker have probably got the old Jags covered but more modern cars is more problematic in N gauge. See this thread;

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/19070-the-need-for-modern-road-vehicles-in-n-gauge/

G.

That said the latest incarnations of steam from all manufacturers are now very good too and the performance "gap" is closer (Thinking latest Farish models, Dapol B17 and Ixion Manor).

I don't think the performance 'gap' is particularly closing, although kettle performance has improved, N gauge in general has been significantly "on the up" over the recent years. It's just that as kettles get better so too do D&E locos. They've also been getting better with developments like flywheels and axle bearing cup pick ups. The running out of the box of models like the Dapol class 58 and Farish class 24 is superb.

However, I'm hoping that the performance of the Dapol Brit will be another step improvement; it appears to have been designed and engineered with that in mind - there, that's got this thread back on track.

G.

Interesting though that such a committed Sarf London d&e modeller owns a 3MT and don't be giving me that steam excursion nonsense.

It's the SR allocated one with white headcode discs.

I've got quite a collection of kettles (although none run as well as a modern two bogie D&E loco), some overseas diesels (mainly American and Austrian) and plenty of non-South London BR stock. I'm an N gauge enthusiast and modeller first and foremost so owning decent models is a pleasure. I don't use and offer any of those daft and restricting not my era, region, or favourite colour excuses. If I like it, I buy it, although I'd still like to see more suitable BR/SR stock particularly NSE units become available. B)

G.

That is a shame, reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and I cannot praise the running of mine highly enough. I think you must have a "lemon" why not send it back and get a replacement?

I've read quite a few other reports of poor running with this loco. Some have required the pick-ups to be corrected so it appears to be, at least partially, an assembly issue. I don't think mine is a 'lemon'; it runs better now having fiddled with it, bent things, oiled it and run it in. But it's not perfect and certainly doesn't have peerless performance, as you suggest your one does. It's not as good out the box, or once run-in, as a modern diesel loco - I've learnt to accept that N gauge kettles do not run as well as N gauge D&E locos.

G.

And in that lovely 3MT Tank at last we have a larger tank loco mechanism where running qualities match the looks.

I can't agree with that. Although it is a nice model that captures the look well the performance of my 3MT Tank is poor.

G.

I see on the Dapol website they have just despatched the latest new releases, but no sign of the Brit's on that list, any idea when we will see them in the shops?

I understand that the specially commissioned 'Golden Arrow' version ones from Osborns will be the first. Probably best to keep your eye on them.

G.

Great stuff. It's really quite inventive modelling. I'm thouroughly enjoying this thread - and it's regularity. Keep it up.

G.

It will be interesting to compare to the peco track; not sure about the sleeper spacing on the atlas track as it seems alot closer than that on the UK prototype,

Yep, Atlas is based on American prototype track with their very closely spaced sleepers and to 1:160 scale - and it looks it.

Peco track is more generic with regards to sleeper spacing and as a sop to the Continental and American markets consequently is also closer to 1:160 scale making the sleepers shorter and closer spaced than British prototype track and British N gauge 1:148 scale - but not as close together as scale American practice.

EasiTrac is probably the closest you'll get to N gauge scale British track sleeper spacing and size, but Peco can, with proper deep balasting and careful weathering, look like and represent British track quite well.

G.

So, we have the TARDIS... has anyone come across 'OO' scale (or close to it) Daleks?

I have some small plastic kit build Daleks that measure 25mm high which is around 1:60 scale - which makes them a little larger than OO/4mm but fairly close. I got them on ebay a few years ago - you may be able to find some more for sale;

G.

The dummy point motors are just the Peco SL-347 dummy point motors - I'd had a few suggestions of which to get and then saw these on the wall in Total N gauge in Hucknall.

Cheers, they certainly look better than the cast white metal ones I used.

G.

Whose are the dummy point motors - they look good?

A word of advise about the AWS ramps; ensure they are fittted as low as possible as the dropper on rapido couplers can catch on them if they droop just a little.

G.

I'm very impressed with the speed of your modelling.

With regards to centre white lines I think you'll find that the length of the dashes vary depending on road circumstance. They seem to increase in length with increasing danger/hazards such as at bends and where drivers should take more care. Check out a copy of the highway code - rule 127 in particular.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070306

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_070563.pdf

G.

This thread continues to inspire. Superb attention to detail and great modelling - it's already looking atmospheric and is N gauge to boot. Great stuff.

G.

SSE, I asked Dave that question in a previous thread (called Dapol Britannia). Reply was:

 

Please note that the 2 main ones from us are produced to stockists order only and while i cannot tell you how many are made, i can tell you that it is not nearly enough

Presumably though, the mitigating factors regarding that comment are;

(a) that it only applies to the initial batch (and for two of the models) and that there will be further batches produced,

and

(b ) the quantity that the retailers/traders have ordered isn't just limited to those pre-ordered by customers and that they will have ordered sufficient to stock their shelves and meet expected through the door demand.

G.

It looks very nice indeed - just like a real steam loco unlike most of the old Farish range. One thing is that it doesn't appear to have the spring electrical connections between loco and tender as with the Ixion manor and that I understood was part of the spec, not thats bad as I thought they looked a bit incongruous.

The big issue is will it be available for purchase at TINGS - or at least the specially commissioned version from Osborns?

G.

I wonder how long it will be before your all weathering them ?

Just like the real thing then - as they get older they lose their shine and get grubbier. B)

G.

Interesting thread, great layout, and super modelling. I like the art deco style look and atmosphere.

Keep up the good work and keep on regularly updating this forum.

G.

Shame they aren't doing one in N... I'd probably have their hand off, as I'm about to start the engine sheds on my layout...

They probably will, but if not you can always make one - I'm making one out of cardboard. See my blog; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/94/entry-4225-progress-on-the-coaling-tower/

G.

I've just found this thread - and I'm glad I did; it looks great. I like how it's developing and look forward to seeing more. What brick plasticard are you using?

G.

Are the horizontal window bars on the main body-side windows a tad low? The proportion of main glazing to vent top-light doesn't look quite right to me.

G.

Yep, they're very very shiny - sunglasses advised But very very nice. Mine also arrived in todays post;

G