SteveyDee68

There is a real danger that I might just succumb to one of these in BR black early crest, as I always wanted one of the Hornby versions of this loco as a kid. Don’t really know why - it was something about the shape that I found aesthetically attractive! Did these ever get into Norfolk/Suffolk? Steve S

No…….! I missed that one! Something to go with my Light Railway Works ‘Victory” 0-6-0 tank loco! Turdycurses!

Am starting to suspect that Rapido have installed spy software on my system, as this announcement falls slap bang into my second big addiction of acquiring Southern region locos! As much as I appreciate the wonderful pre-grouping liveries, I’m only interested in locos that were still around in 1962… “The last of the class was sadly withdrawn from service in 1962.” Bufferstops!* Guess the wallet is going to be bashed yet again. Must resist buying more than one - just one late crest version suitably weathered up, forget the one with the tapered buffers with the early crest and still lovingly kept clean by its loyal crew … resist … resist … Steve S * Other exclamations are available

Same here (particularly with the Port of Par announcement, too), although I won’t have your problem of desiring them in gorgeous SECR liveries and BR black! Steve S

Well, you have announced your intention to buy TWO yellow Port of Par locos, so I reckon resistance is futile @60800 don’t you?! 🤣

As a self-confessed addict to collecting small industrial locos or anything associated with docks, this announcement is not good. Not good at all. I’m a shunting locomotive addict, and I have been sober haven’t bought a loco for 122 days… That might change very shortly… Must resist… MUST resist… PS My ❤️ reaction to the original post is not “supportive” … it’s LOVE!

It’s very interesting to read that these exquisite models have errors; it will be even more interesting to see who will be the first to take a scalpel to their model in order to correct them! Personally, I’ve purchased the ‘fake’ BR maroon versions (a) because I really liked the livery on them (b) because I am not modelling an accurate representation of the W&U (despite having a couple of the Model Rail tram locos) but simply love the look of the trains on that railway (c) because these are beautifully manufactured and far beyond anything I could attempt to make myself (d) because Rule #1 I think it made commercial sense for Rapido to make use of the mouldings created for the Titfield model to produce various other liveries, but a round of applause to them bothering to model the other tramcar! Personally, in my miniature world, I can ignore the bar being at the wrong end of the coach etc, and simply enjoy them for the gems they are* Steve S * Not being critical of those pointing out the inaccuracies, simply suggesting let’s not forget how good these are!

Well, I’ve just unboxed one of the two “fictitious” BR livery tramcars that I pre-ordered way back when… First impressions are that the box has been designed and built by the same team that does Apple product boxes - in other words, quality card and a near vacuum-inducing tightness of fit! Once inside, however, the plastic interior cradling the model coach is an even tighter fit into the box! In fact, I struggled to be able to pull it free from the box it was inside, the fit was so tight. Sliding the plastic sleeve off, you can then - carefully - open the “clam shell” packaging and remove the coach, still carefully wrapped in another protective sheath of plastic. Remove that, and finally you get to admire Rapido’s exquisite W&U bogie coach. That is when I saw the instruction booklet at the bottom of the box underneath the clamshell packaging for the coach. Reading it, it warns you to be very careful removing the coach from its box, as that is when it is most likely to be damaged. Thank God that I was super careful removing the coach - reading a warning about being careful after the fact is too much like bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted! Thankfully, I didn’t damage my coach but if something needs a warning surely that warning should be accessible before you’ve done what it was warning you about?! Maybe it was just this one example with the booklet at the bottom - I haven’t opened my second coach yet, so cannot say! On to admiring it … these really are little jewels of rolling stock and Rapido must be commended both for the model design and the execution in production of such iconic coaches. Reading the little booklet drew my attention to the balcony ends and the folding walkways linking the coaches - imagine my delight when I spotted that Rapido had actually replicated that, too! A round of applause from here, then, for these superb models! These might be iconic W&U rolling stock, but are perfect for any freelance Col Stephens type layouts, and I’m sure we shall see them deployed in such a way in due course. Roll on Rapido’s next engine project - that’ll provide perfect motive power for suchlike! Steve S

Nah - that guy with the ridiculous price is a chiseller on an industrial scale … having looked at other items he has for sale in his shop, I see “Limited Edition Zoflora Disinfectant” at £39.95, “Super Nintendo Official Rubber Keychains Very Rare!” at £49.95 or “Marks And Spencer Midnight Blossom Fragrance 5ml And Lip Balm Gift Set 5ml Rare!” for £49.95 or even “Marks And Spencer Luxury Hanging Nutcracker Xmas Tree Decoration Very Rare!” for £59.95 … all with additional £11 postage! I mean, his second cheapest item is “Ghana Traditional Wristband Bracelets (PRICE IS FOR ONE ONLY)!!!!” [emphasis added on the PLURAL] for £24.99 which he will sell you WITH FREE POSTAGE (gasp!) which is good of him considering they look like cost approx 50p each… His shop goes through trainers and all sorts of other guff, all (I am guessing) vastly overpriced, all the way up to his most expensive item, “Eminem Signed Authentic Brick, Dog Tag, MMLP Cassette Size M T-Shirt Very Rare!” - an absolute snip for £14,979.95 … and he still charges you postage at £9.50! WOAH!! Hang on a minute there, partner! He is charging less for postage for a £15k brick* than he is for a 5ml bath bomb?!!! It goes to show that when it comes to eBay madness there are chisellers out there who actually make Go$turd himself look like a rank amateur! HOURS OF DISBELIEF FUN! * Yes, I had to read that again, too. A brick. As in one of those things you build houses with. An actual brick. Begs the question - WTF is Eminem doing signing bricks?!!

You could get the same thing a little cheaper* here, or a bargain price one here at nearly eight times cheaper**! (Not to mention that Monica’s Attic is willing to accept offers!) I wonder if these are actually the same item set up across three sellers, the two frankly ridiculous prices intended to make the third still expensive price seem reasonable? 🤔 HOURS OF FUN! * Well, when I say “a bit”, I actually mean £1579.95 cheaper!! ** And saving you £3,479.95 in the process if you paid the BIN price!!

There’s something a bit off about the description of this Hornby 2-BIL Oh yeah, that was it… “In excellent as new condition.” “Comes in original good tray and box, minimal light damage to one end.” [emphasis added] Surely those two statements are mutually exclusive? Even separated by another sentence telling you how it runs well in both directions, anyone with a short term memory longer than a goldfish will realise that the seller said “excellent” and “as new condition” to describe an item with a complete buffer beam detached from one end?! I mean, I have heard tales told of buying Hornby locos with bits broken off or even falling off shortly after unboxing, but at least those are under warranty. This isn’t. It’s second hand (not pre-loved) and looks like maybe it took a nose dive (hence the broken off buffer beam). Caveat emptor and all that jazz, and it’s pretty clear that it is damaged from the photos, but I simply cannot understand how anyone has the brass neck to describe something as “as new” and in the next breath say it has “damage”! Mind you, the seller does have an appropriate name … Frajile* collectables Steve S * Yes, even that is broken!

Any chance of a track plan for your Minories+ design? Just that it is sparking some ideas for my own Minories-style adaption, where your goods head shunt would actually be my link to a train ferry! (I am imagining semi parallel moves using the crossing!) Out of interest, are those all standard PECO Streamline points? Steve S

If those are the units I think they are, they have little two-drawer inserts for them, too. Very handy to put tools away neatly inside, especially if dividers are fashioned out of foamboard (so that there is a place for everything, and everything in its place). Don’t for one moment think this is my own idea - I have an extremely organised friend who has stored various items in those type of drawers and very cleverly created different sized (and labelled) receptacles so that everything is easily stored and retrieved. I can but dream of being so organised myself! Steve S

Like a lunatic I have been sketching out some ideas based upon Wells Next The Sea amalgamated with The Hole In The Wall at Great Yarmouth … it will probably end up looking like an unholy union of disparate parts, but I have lots of Fair Price Models laser cut kits itching to be used, and a 4’ x 2’ (exactly!) baseboard going spare! What I don’t have is time … and I really need to focus upon Blackford Wharf or even DRS Engineering and get one of those “finished” before starting yet more projects! Steve S

Oh my - they’ve arrived! I have a sh**-load of school work to do tonight. I shouldn’t unbox them until the weekend. Except I am visiting a friend in Barnsley at the weekend, and we are going to attend the Barnsley MRC exhibition together. Which means it might be the weekend after. So… Maybe later … 🤔 HOURS OF FUN!

Hi Justin ~ just re-reading through your Dapol J94 improvements and am intrigued what you did regarding the above, as you don’t mention anything in your write up? Steve S

Just had an invoice through from Rails of Sheffield informing me that the two W&U bogie coaches I had put on pre-order have now been sent… I’d forgotten about ordering them! Bit of a dent in the finances the same month road tax and car insurance* are due, but it does mean that Woodhey Quay needs to be progressed to make use of them with the W&U tramcars tram locos! Also an opportunity to get on with the skirted O4s and the railbus kit. Did I mention I also acquired a kit for the Class 05 diesel suitable for Ipswich etc? Guess I should be busy over the winter, then! Yes, I know, I know … Blackford Wharf, Ugly Duckling Vans etc Steve S * Don’t get me up on that particular soapbox!!

I like them for the same reason, too, and they are definitely an upgrade to the plastic wheels on older wagons picked up secondhand via the local model shop, eBay or toy-fairs. However, I read elsewhere on RMWeb someone (can’t remember who*) saying how they didn’t think Bachmann or Dapol wheels had particularly good profiles and that they were the first things in the bin** after the tension lock couplings! Steve S * Can’t remember who, but they definitely owned their own lathe! ** I had to resist sending them a message saying please send me any of their Bachmann or Dapol wheels otherwise destined for landfill!

Having seen an article about Dapol’s recent investment in some serious looking lathe type machines, I’m hoping that their wheels will be even better than “okay” in future. Whether they can continue producing them at the current price is another matter entirely!* Steve S * There’s this fancy lathe that needs paying for, for example!

I’ll second Fair Price Models (based in Stockport) for their laser cut building kits - an ever expanding range at a keen price! Steve S

Peckett W4 Well… I watched. I dithered. I almost succumbed… Then an email headed “Car Insurance Renewal” arrived in my in box, and whilst still reeling from the shock of the new yearly figure* somebody else purchased the gorgeously liveried loco and I had missed my opportunity. For it was not an auction - it was a BUY IT NOW sale with an extremely reasonable asking price! Ah well, probably for the best in the circumstances! Steve S * Previously, my annual premium has been demanded just after doing extra hours at work, and the overtime has paid it in one go. This year, however, no residential trip so my plan was to use my credit card. However, the renewal price has almost doubled my annual premium (despite a year of not having to make a claim) and so no longer fits my credit card! Doing some research/quotes using comparison websites means I have limited the increase to just over £200 instead of the £380 proposed by my current insurers. It appears that all insurers premiums have sky rocketed, blamed (by them) upon increased costs for repairs due to (a) wage inflation (b) higher energy costs (of repairers) (c) higher parts costs (production and transportation). Anyway, long and short of it is that I shall probably have to pay monthly instead by direct debit, paying the equivalent of another month for the privilege to do so, which means, ultimately, less disposable income for trains… 😔

I’m in awe of the expertise on show!

Watching with interest! Steve S

And chimberley? 😉 Steve S

What is it about Hornby and The Flying Moneypit Scotsman? I mean, okay, it’s an example of an O gauge tinplate clockwork model, but it takes some brass on the part of Hornby to pass of an Atlantic as being the same as a Pacific! Or perhaps trainspotters couldn’t count back in the day?* HOURS OF FUN!! * Tongue firmly planted in cheek, I hasten to add!