JackB95

Chorrr I say, those EPs look absolutely gorgeous. Really hard to believe that level of detail has been made into something so small. If that's N, then wow... can't wait for 00!

A couple of small projects worked on today. One of them is a project that I've been meaning to sort out - replacing the buffers on my Hornby Colas 56. In true Hornby fashion, 3 out of the 4 original sprung buffers decided to ping off and are lost to the void of humanity. As a result, the loco looked naff going around the layout! However, not any more. Some Rusty Rails' 3D printed oval buffers arrived this morning, gained some paint, varnish, and were glued in place of the originals. This is the result... Simple yet effective. My second project was to fit the new 3D printed vents for my TfW 158. The donor model, an EMT variant, had very different vents on the roof. These were removed, and I commissioned Track3D to make me some new ones. Low and behold, here they are against the Bachmann ATW model! Two small projects ✅

Having fixed up my 56, I decided to bring it out. After all, it's approaching RHTT season now 😉 The eagle-eyed of those will maybe notice a second TfW 153 has joined the fleet. My mate, who does the resprays for me, sold me his un-refurbished 153. As a result, I've now got two different TfW liveried dogboxes running around the layout. Oops 😉 As I type, I'm yet to receive dispatcher emails for my Bachmann D213 and Accurascale 37606 👀 both are due imminently...

There was a franchise commitment to get loco hauled stock I recall. That's why they ran a 68 and mk3 set on 30th December 2017. That said, the mk3s fell through because of complaints over lack of disability compliancy. It's been a complete farce, and they could've had a uniform fleet of 802s across the whole network. But as you said, I think it was down to delay times that they couldn't get enough in time. CAF are awful and shouldn't be allowed to build trains. They look smart, but are shocking in quality. Stadler, however... now you're talking 🤤

Thanks Ben! I'll get that glued back on. Tis but a mere bit of glue required. Cheers! I built it before Metcalfe announced their own. I needed a bigger arch anyway for authentic Conwy vibes.

I'm yet to see a DIY fix, but my DT was sent to Accurascale's warranty department and it eventually returned working absolutely fine. I've since fitted a stay alive too which vastly improves it.

Total withdrawal on their network (for now) to simplify things. New MD currently sorting the 💩show out.

With authentic NOT IN SERVICE and SORRY, THIS TRAIN TERMINATES HERE DUE TO A SHORT NOTICE CHANGE TO THE TIMETABLE destination boards? 😉

Cheers. Will investigate. Here's some pics of my model. Opted for one that has definitely been to Valley. With one of Bachmann's original FNAs too, 68003 was bolted on one end for a spin! Well done Revolution. It's a beautiful wagon, and is so well made and put together.

Check out my nu(clear) wagon! Revolution's new FNA-D wagon has landed at the Junction, and is a thing of beauty! For the price, you get a lot of intricate detail, crisp printing, and a very smart wagon overall! A perfect introduction for my Valley Crewe flask train 😉 Might have to play around with couplings to reduce the gap between the vehicles.

Finally got hold of mine after it's been sat with the neighbour for nearly 2 weeks. Absolute beautiful model. Can't fault it at all! Does anyone know where this should go? It's double sided, and was loose in the packaging. Can't find its home. Thanks!

The first shops have received their Andanias! 🤤 Can't wait for mine.

Popped in by my mate @CazRail's the other day. This came off his workbench back to York with me 😉 Bachmann's newer 158 tooling was dispatched to North Wales in EMT livery, and has returned as TfW 158830! The model has been beautifully painted by Caz, and was reunited with a chassis and glazing this afternoon by yours truly. A beautiful model that, typically, was commissioned before Bachmann announced one! But, that said, it now matches my 153 and 150 😉 A gorgeous line up that'll soon be complemented by Caz's TfW 153 that he doesn't want any more. Oops! 60026 GBRf Helvellyn is currently on his workbench for me also. The 158's original roof vents are the more common design, but TfW and ATW ones have a simpler design. I've commissioned Track3D to design me the right ones, and they'll be fitted once they arrive!

A classic. Search for locos or whatever, then BAM. Some interesting photos 😂

Thanks for that! I'll have a look next time I'm in the loft. Didn't think about them.

Just discovered this thread - awesome progress! Well done on the Pendolino. Not seen that modelled in 00 before.

Do I model O? No. Do I want one? Yes. Ffs 🤣 That looks bloody gorgeous Heljan. I think the TfW one will be a gorgeous display model if I can sneak it past the missus 👀

Errrr, yeah go on then

That's a smart bit of work! Awesome.

Whilst I wait for West Hill to come up with some couplings for my Pendolino drag, I've been working on turning a few of my Hornby 153s into dummy vehicles to give me more flexibility running them given every model runs slightly differently to eachother. I toyed about with the idea of putting dummy wheels in from another 153 model. They clip in perfectly fine, and are a simple fix! Lovely. Obviously, I'd pinched wheels off another model, so needed extras. The usual Hornby spare sites came up with nothing, but I'd read that the 156 wheels were identical... they were not. Flanges were too big, and it didn't work for me. I contacted Hornby directly and they had some X9888 wheels in stock. 5 packs ordered! They arrived swiftly and went straight into the empty bogies. The next task is to work out a roster and pair the models up. Bachmann's BSI couplings have been fitted to all 14x and 15x models. I've discovered the body-mounted ploughs I fitted to the 153s restricted the couplings somewhat, so I need to find another way of fitting them. However, a 153 150 combo is now possible with success! 153 153 combos are possible, but I had to add two 10g weights above the motor bogie on the powering 153 to give it enough traction. So far so good!

Decided to put together a short running session video yesterday afternoon. Something a bit different!

Did a bit more fettling with one point motor that wasn't properly working. I spent one evening adjusting it with no success. Decided to take a closer look and I noticed one of the wires wasn't properly soldered onto the terminal. A combination of resoldering, and upping the voltage from 16v to 18v, has sorted the problem. Result! I decided to clean the rails using Colas 37421, and as a first, put the RHTT set behind for the banter. Snapped this photo whilst it went around. The EWS 08 had not long shunted the Mk4 rake off the mainline to allow track cleaning.

They've now docked at Southampton Docks, and should be with the Revolution lads by end of next week. Exciting news! Most people are excited over their Carolines, but I'm sat here waiting for my flask 🤪

If it wasn't for the depth of field on the photos being there, I'd have genuinely said that was real. Yet again, another fantastic set of photos Tim.

Bit more progress! I'd forgotten about being short of two point motors. Other than that, after lots of upside-down soldering, testing, and getting confused, we now have this... This is the mess underneath that does the magic The common positive bus bar goes around with all the middle terminals of the switches going to that. Initially I used white and lilac wires for the point motor links, but I ran out, so went for green and yellow afterwards. When installing, I sometimes miscalculated the length needed, so extended the wires using whatever colour came to hand 😂 I'm screwed if I have to fault find... The power is provided by a universal variable-voltage laptop charger off eBay. The original mains cable to it was too short, and very non-compliant! So that was disposed in favour of a longer compliant cable. It then runs as DC into a Capacitor Discharge Unit from eBay that then feeds the control panel. The black return wire goes to a daisy chain of wires from the point motors. It was quite a faff getting it up and running, and despite my best efforts, some switches needed rotating 180 degrees to work as intended. That said, it works, and is very effective. The final two motors are due at some point soon, so will get them fitted asap. I think a running session will be required afterwards!