TT100 Diesels

Thing is though Phil, it is not a rattle can fault as such, its foreign bodies coming into contact with wet surface coatings, which also happens when I paint on the work bench. Thing is, I can use fine finishing grit afterwards on the ordinary paint and simply touch up again afterwards. Rattle can spray varnish dries very quickly so I think I was just unlucky. The only sure fire way to avoid the risk of inclusions is to have a proper filtered air paint booth at a very slightly higher pressure to keep dirty air out, but I don't have access to such very specialist paint facilities! And the rattle can varnish works well most if the time, the only real disaster were the class 20's but that was more of a me rushing and not allowing sufficient time for the enamel washes to fully harden before spraying. Cheers D.

Went on the Saturday, first time to the York show. Everything about the event can be summed up in one word QUALITY So everyone involved, take a bow. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Now got a Peak headache! It was warm and dry this afternoon so outside to spray the obligatory two coats of rattle can matt varnish. Did first coat, when ready for second found a few inclusions to remove including a very tiny bug. Cocktail stick point did not work, so hmm a bit of blue tack should do the trick. Errmmmm no, just stuck blue tack to the body side so now having to put it to one side, let the varnish harden and hopefully remove the errant blue tack, otherwise it will need a proper local paint repair and weathering reblend...... One step forward and two back...... Pah !

Still staying in the mid 1980's, blown the dust off a few more pictures. this time, its a peek inside the Engineering Development Unit (EDU) at the RTC, Derby. BRE/Leyland railbus unit, 141001 is prepared for its next test run. This unit remained as the official Type Test unit for an extended period of time and ended up being the last of the fleet to carry the original Blue / Grey livery, while its Neville Hill allocated class mates had gone over to the Green and Cream livery. An unusual visitor, 31431 was in for investigations to resolve rough riding. Both of the prototype sprinter units ran Type Tests configured as 3 car and 2 car formations. The middle car of 150001, MS, 55400 is stored in the EDU during a period of 2 car unit running for 150001. All photos dated 18/09/1985. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Hi, This thread is intended as a casual look back over the years at what at the time was the brave new world of traction and rolling stock. A few of the pics should have some minor railway history significance, so hopefully will be of interest and perhaps even inspire folk to model them? Who knows..... Anyway, just to start the ball rolling, we start with the Sprinterisation revolution. The vanguard of Sprinterisation, 150001, the first prototype fitted with the Cummins / Voith engine and power train, which was adopted for series production units. On 17/08/1984, 150001 finds itself inside the train shed at London St Pancras station, for the first time ever, having worked a VIP special in from Derby. Of course, today, this area of the station is the domain of Eurostar trains. Meanwhile, over at the Mickleover test track (now a rather pleasant cycle trail), sister prototype, 150002 with the Rolls Royce / SCG engine and powertrain is being tweaked between development runs on the test track. The date is 07/09/1984 and its the first day of test running for this unit. 150002 eventualy became the test bed for the class 158 engine / power train, becoming another class of prototype, 154001. I will leave it there for the moment, but there is more to come, and hopefully of some interest. Cheers TT100 Diesels Please note that all photos on this thread posted by me are my own.

Hmmmmm, I do seem to remember, last summer, you just "dipped in" to just "do a class 24 loco", as a "bit of a small sideline project", nothing much you know......... And yet all I see is a radio control takeover bid for the scale. I think the gravitational pull has caught you by surprise and the event horizon looms inexorably....... The 1/100 black hole claims another victim. 😁 Cheers D. PS - I am sure you are enjoying this journey 👍

Absolutely love the house, shed and old doors, superb observational modelling. And you can't go wrong plonking a 24 on the front of the train, as far as I am concerned......👍 Cheers TT100 Diesels

The weathering on the Mainline 58 is ace. Its also a great livery on the 58, it "carries" well. Probably one of the best liveries carried by the class, although that's my take. I appreciate liveries are a subjective thing. Cheers TT100 Diesels

It is a great concept to showcase traction and rolling stock, and I like it a lot. It's perhaps not a million miles away from Phil Mason's "Bluish", a small 3mm scale cameo of Reddish with a side portion of Guide Bridge thrown in. That also sees plenty of 'exotic' traction at exhibitions, simply as a means of showcasing what can be achieved in the scale - including some of my roster ! Cheers TT100 Diesels PS - Apologies for the slight thread hijack.

Hi MJI, I am no HST expert, so I would have to hazard a guess at genuine 140 and 140 + power cars and say:- The record holding power cars, 43102, and was it 2 other involved ? 43149 and another? Doubtless other record attempts over the years, but have no available source. Possibly also power cars borrowed to power test trains associated with other high speed requirements, certainly the class 41 power cars were used to wizz APT vehicles about on "high speed tests", but I myself don't know if they reached 140. Power cars on the MKIV SIG bogie testing, another possibility. I have no doubt there are folk on here who may well know all the painted numbers and achieved speeds so hopefully someone can fill the gaps? Then there are the two "DVT" power cars 43014 and 43123, 14 on the type test for 91001, but later both were used extensively on the 91 endurance 140 mph running trials, 5 x KX to Retford returns every weekday for many months, early in the project, (91+MKIII Sleeper x5 + 43 dvt). But obviously these are effectively trailers with the 91 doing the work. As for the GWR 130+, Not surprising, if they have new wheelsets and gun it, I would suspect mid 130s might be achievable, based on the record holding set had new wheelsets and what it achieved, but any unofficial having a go must have been before widespread use of OTMR, surely ? Cheers TT100 Diesels

Having dug out the above photos of buffered MA set 43 "DVT's", unfortunately the few pics I have of other unusual / test workings are from the 91 end, with the 43 at the opposite end, so not really much use. However, I will just include one of them like that at its a bit of real history. On 29/06/88, 91001, its test train and "DVT" 43014 were engaged in the very first runs above 125mph on the Peterborough to Grantham 5 aspect signalling stretch. With Test car 10 recording a myriad of data from hardwired instrument connections into 91001, a number of round trips were made from Grantham West Yard to Peterborough and back. First at 130, then 135, and finally at 140. So it was the first 91 to 140 and the first time 43014 reached that speed, and unpowered at that! So apologies, its not much of a 43 pic, but 43014 can just be seen at the far end of the formation, having just gained its 140mph club honours ! But another tiny little crumb of railway history. Hope it is of interest. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Hi Jim, Yes, 43014 and 43123 were genuine "DVTs" with the electrical supply sourced off the loco ETS. Yes, a bit of a risk in pass service, but the EBW sets were more of a "ghost running" of what was by then the actual production Plessey TDM kit. However, it does underline why money was spent to add conventional buffers and drawgear to the two 43s, and ETS connections at the pointy end, the risk of TDM crash outs that were unrecoverable (both from a Plessey kit dying and crappy RCH jumpers on the MKIIs wiring connections falling to bits / shorted out with water ingress) was clearly high, so its enough disruption running the loco round without faffing about with the emergency drawbar kit. It has to be remembered that the risk of pointy end assistance was measurably higher on the TDM running than a normal IC125 set falling dead completely and requiring a loco tying on. The data logging gave credible operating info back into the project / Plessey, so it did feed into the squadron implementation of TDM. However, in my own personal opinion, the RCH jumpers method of data transmission was a sows purse and was and is the fundamental weakness of the system. Spending extra ££££ on a decent comms jumper system would have been transformational, but at the time, the BRB were looking at not having to modify the WCML hauled coaching fleet in this way. Glad you like the pics, but apologies they are photos of photos! Cheers TT100 Diesels

Superb, absolutely brilliant photo opportunities. Love both pic of the leccis, but the 90 and 91 resonate with me. Great stuff and well worth the effort Cheers D.

All I can say chaps is unfortunately the planets failed to align for an all out meet up at York. Still it gives Phil and co new faces to chat to on each day. RC 24 running on Coniston Lakebank...... Absolutely monster, that, bet that raised a few eyebrows, but honestly, fantastic. And as you all say, brill show all round, and certainly getting 3mm noticed. Cheers D.

Picking up from page 332 of the Prototype for everything corner, which has a lot of ECML 43 / 91 passenger service posts, probably more unusual was the use of the original pair of buffered 43's, 43014 and 43123. But I figured that perhaps it better to add them here on the class 43 thread as it is a small side chapter in the 43 history. These power cars were modified with hauled stock MA sets installed in the ex guards van area together with the TDM mu control system cabinet. The MA set powered the cab air cond plus the 110v DC battery charging / driving controls / TDM and was supplied via the normal single phase loco ETS system, with additional jumper fitted to the power cars for thus purpose. The Valenta power units were isolated (from memory they were probably requiring some repairs as well). These 43's were configured with buffers at the front and loco ETS at both ends to facilitate the 86 running round and attaching to the 43 to self rescue in the event of the TDM going down and staying failed. 43014 and 43123 worked with the two pioneer TDM fitted 86's, 86228 and 86240, on the Euston Birmingham Wolverhampton circuits to in service evaluate the TDM mu system. Data loggers were plugged into the system to gather real time data. Oxley CS, 43014 heads 5A14 ECS to Wolverhampton to form 1A14 to Euston. 04/02/88. The single phase loco ETS jumper and socket visible on the buffer beam. My photo. Down the back end was 86228 "Vulcan Heritage" one of the two pioneer TDM fitted 86's. Funny looking power car ! My photo. And later in the day, after arrival on 1A14, 43014 seen on the blocks at Euston, waiting to work back on 1G29. 86430 looks on and wonders what on earth is THAT ! My photo. After this spell on the WCML of highly unusual 43 operations, these two power cars went on to the 91 project, both used as MA set operated "DVT's" on the 91 type testing jobs and other early evaluation work such as endurance running and evaluation with MKIII sleepers and a 91. On this work the two MA set 43's did a lot of 140 mph running on the 5 aspect signalling between Peterborough and Grantham. As the other buffered 43's were drafted in onto the "surrogate (IC225) sets" i.e. 91 / modified hst trailer rake / TDM fitted buffer 43, 43014 and 43123 eventually got reconfigured back to match the other pool of buffer 43's to run on power in multi with the 91's on the surrogate by sets. 18/04/88 Bounds Green. 43014 on class 91 type test duty. My photo. And at the other end of the test train rake of MKIII sleepers and DM&EE test cars wired up into 91001. My photo. And down in Palace Gates sidings, the other MA set buffer 43, 43123 sits alongside brand new 91002 which was the initial driver training loco. My photo. There are a lot more technical details and nuances but the above is a from memory zoomed out summary, so happy to be corrected. But I hope this provides a small peek into an interesting and perhaps less well known sub set of the history of use of the buffered 43's. Cheers TT100 Diesels

A great set of photos of a great layout. I agree, the 222 is absolutely stunning, and I was lucky enough to get a back of house close up of it courtesy of Bradfordbuffer of this parish, and a chat with the chap who built it on the how it was done which was very interesting. Also it was great to meet Bradfordbuffer for the first time in the flesh after a lot of interacting through RMweb on matters 3mm scale. And talking of bespoke EMT Intercity units, there is an 80% complete EMT liveried 4mm scale class 180 in existence as well, being built by Robin Idle (DEMU and 3mm society), be immense if the 180 and 222 got together on Deadmans Lane, hmmm, DEMU showcase later in the year? I will mention it to Robin.... He had better get it finished now !!! Brilliant show btw. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Nice work Richie, lots of nice kits coming together...... I understand your reasons for moving the thread to a more general area, Phil and I have our layout threads in the general area as well for the same reason. But of late, the 3mm workbench thread had kind of gained a "critical mass" and is buzzing with interest and updates compared with previous times, so I would appeal to you to also post here, perhaps, some of your work bench highlights from time to time in addition to your main thread if that might be ok with you? Cheers D.

I can say York went very well today Robert. I went as a punter, a quality show. Bluish was in the capable hands of Phil and TT Pete, who had a massive stock box of lovely diesels and an electro diesel to supplement Phil's roster. Running alternated between sessions of authentic late 70's rosters and "open day" rosters, to show case Pete's locos and showcase what is possible in D&E outline in 3mm scale. I even got to run Bluish while Phil & Pete went for lunch. I took a few pic from today: Authentic running period. Phil's 76's supported by Pete's 24 and 40. Great to see a 40 on Bluish. Remaining pics are in open day / showcasing 3mm mode. Pete's 73 joins Phil and my 08's. Pete's 17 and 33 join the 76's Pete takeover bid, 73, 24, 40, 50 and 33. Not sure what's most "rare" traction on Bluish, the 73 or a 26 which appeared during a rail ex last year ! Close up of the two generations of EE type 4 traction. It was a blast today, very enjoyable, 3mm was not only represented by Bluish, but also the exquisite LMS steam outline period Coniston Lakebank layout in 14.2 finescale, not forgetting the 3mm society stand. It was nice to meet fellow 3mm RMwebbers, TT Pete and Bradfordbuffer (on the Deadmans Lane team) for the first time in person. All in all a great day out and a great show overall. Hope the 3 day show is a success for everyone involved. Cheers D.

Whoa, steady on Bradford, the Peak ain't finished yet, got that lovely hand cut flush glazing to content with! Railway wise, in the works que are a couple of rakes of wagons and another five locos, so plenty for me to dip into as and when I am in the mood. But following the Peak final completion. I might go off piste for a while and do some wargaming terrain pieces / buildings. That will stop me posting on here for a while, and be nice to watch other folks progress. Cheers Dave

Hi Phil, Thanks for the kind comments, I don't think the roof weathering shows up that well in the photos. Yesterday, one of the things I did was to add more weathering to the roof and when it dried I was happy with the look. The side grilles were fun to do, initially a couple of frame dirt washes, then weathered black wash was applied into the deep grilles and dry brushed frame dirt onto the shallow grilles where the body framing is close behind and I am pleased to replicate what they looked like in my photo of 45127. Cheers D.

More Peak progress to report. 45127 has now had the weathering completed. Still a few actions to complete, such as rattle can matt varnish ( to make the decal fix / gloss varnish "disappear" and to tone it all down and key it all together) hand cut flush glazing and a toy coupler / wire loop affair at the No. 2 end. The No. 1 end will remain as purely cosmetic with its fully populated buffer beam. No 2 end view. No1 end No1 end No 1 end No 1 end view No 1 end 3/4 view. Cheers D.

Wow, just seen, this thread has the "hot" thread marker, that is the first time ever that this thread has become "hot" , it has certainly moved away from the tumbleweed somewhat ! So keep it coming folks...

Thanks for the link, Everyday is a school day!

Yeah, that would be nice, anyone doing Pancras in 3mm! Seriously though, High Peak Jn layout is set 75 to 80, and at that time all 50 of the 45/1's were Toton engines and solid on MML and NE-SW passenger, but did do some occasional freight in the area. So, while a 45/0 would have been a better choice overall, for some unfathomable reason I simply HAD to do a /1 ETH example. And it will turn up at HPJ as booked for type 4 jobs turn about with 47205. I suppose it was also about the opportunity of breaking new ground in 3mm as well, I will wager that it is the only 45/1 in existence in 3mm land, happy to be proved wrong though. Oh and a tasty piece of NPCCS, was that one of the later conversions with the roller shutter doors for the Parcels Sector ? Cheers Dave

Good luck with that Ian. I particularly like the trees in the first photo, very nice indeed. The swappy outy end boards on Hemyock look to be a great idea, an MPD for your Sulzer locos you mentioned up thread! 😉. You know it makes sense..... Anyway, been progressing the Peak, weathering tasks, its probably 80% done. Need to let it properly harden then look again with a critical eye, then further adjust the tones and do the finishing bits like silvering off the footstep treads etc. Quick tablet cam pic, looks a lot better in the flesh, honest....... Cheers D.