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Ollie K

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Everything posted by Ollie K

  1. Great finish on what was at source a rather flat interpretation of LNER apple green. Is that the ‘original’ Klear, or the new white bottle stuff? And do you recall how many coats? I’ve dabbled before but not achieved such a strong lustre as your fine efforts here. Cheers.
  2. Thanks Paul. Has your layout appeared in any exhibitions or magazines? Looks terrific.
  3. Can anyone point me towards a suitable match truck for an LNER example? (Ex-GN section, 1930s). Cheers.
  4. Seconded, I’d be fascinated to copy those formations see the roster.
  5. On the poignant subject of recording memories while one still has the chance, late last year I finally got round to sitting down with my grandfather and 'interviewing' him about life as a New England fireman in the early 1950s. The conversation was recorded into a dictaphone and filmed on a GoPro for posterity. I found it immensely rewarding, though I kick myself for missing my chance with other grandparents to record their experiences of the war and serving in the armed forces. I'd heartily encourage anyone who's also thought about recording a memoir to give it a go. I'll pop a link to the write-up here as it may be of interest to ECML folk. To think Grandad was bowling through the 1:1 Little Bytham all those years ago! https://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/patrick-kew-a-peterborough-fireman/
  6. According to Wikipedia [ducks]: ”Although BR demanded that it be moved by road because a steam ban was in place, it relented and allowed the engine to make a single run from Manchester via the ex L and Y Calder Valley line to Wakefield and on to New England shed (Peterborough) in steam on the night of 20 September 1968 (one full month after the end of steam on BR).” Though short on information, there are some interesting pictures of 73050 in the very early stages of preservation and the embryonic days of the NVR here (via the ‘History’ tab.) http://73050.co.uk/page21.html
  7. I’ve always found them very prompt and helpful on email: info@niumodels.co.uk
  8. Thanks for your hospitality the other week Tony. A busy Christmas holiday and then working overseas means today is the first chance I’ve had to sit down and do my homework! The C12 looks vastly better thanks to the much finer wheels, now painted and gauged. Flushed with success I’ve treated it to a crewman to disguise the bulky motor and removed the rear tension lock. The front one requires a bit more front bogie surgery but that could do with more detailing and guard irons anyway. Thanks also for those HMRS transfers - the horsebox looks more finished now (it looked even better before it snagged on a sleeve and took a dive to the floor…) and I’ve deployed a a few more on the rather sweet Niu models snowplough kit. Future of the hobby discussion has been interesting. In the spirit of pushing through ‘fear of failure’ and having a go as talked about earlier, the models pictured here represent my first rolling stock kit, first 3D printed ‘kit’, first attempt at airbrushing, and first use of Pressfix transfers! I imagine most readers here passed those milestones some years ago. That’s why I won’t be doing any more close up photography, but the learning curve even for some plastic kits is more rewarding than leaving it in the box and never discovering how much it’s possible to cock up glazing. And axleboxes. And roof alignment. And paint thinning. Etc.
  9. Thoughts with all Hattons' staff - only this weekend I rang up to change a delivery address on a pre-order and it was so refreshing to quickly get through to a real human being - and a really friendly, efficient one at that! Also, credit to them for taking such a painful decision if the sums weren't adding up, rather than carrying on and risking running up debts. Really puts into perspective the 'disappointment' that'll echo about tomorrow if Hornby's 2024 announcements aren't what people were hoping for.
  10. With lots of the usual 'Sale Now On!' emails landing from the big retailers and Hornby itself it's interesting to note that a plentiful supply of the Hornby four- and six-wheel coaches are being heavily discounted, while Hattons Genesis rolling stock is much more scarce and seems to be commanding a chunky premium on eBay.
  11. Thanks Jonathan, and Jamie. I don't own a DoC - either in the new Dublo guise or one of the previous releases. Tempting though it is to indulge in a new Coronation A4 to haul the forthcoming stock, budget-wise I think renumbering an eBay basket case might be the way forward for now.
  12. A question for A4 aficionados: Are there any significant differences between how 4489 Dominion of Canada was restored for the Great Gathering - and was depicted by Hornby - and how it would’ve looked in 1937? Same tender style / access hatches in casing etc? Wondering if there are any giveaways that the model is ‘as preserved’ rather than ‘as built’. Cheers!
  13. As an LNER modeller I feel we've had a lucky escape not to have the P2s sullied by this, and that the W1 didn't either - my hunch is the W1 was supposed to debut the new lamps (hence the fixed overscale, unlit lamps fitted to the unrebuilt Hush-Hush, some in royal train formation) but production delays / teething issues parked it until the next big ticket steam locos, ie the Turbomotive and Black 5.
  14. As someone born long after steam, ECML track simplification and even electrification, playing 'spot the old infrastructure' is one of my favourite side hobbies. I was oddly delighted to discover that at the north end of Grantham station live some railings dating from the first time it was served by the 'LNER'... Close up here (yes, I went for a look) Being an Essendine / Bytham local I find the most evocative non-station locations on the modern railway to be the surviving GNR occupation bridges over the ECML on Stoke Bank. Though some were lost to electrification there are still several three-arch brick structures dutifully doing what they were built to over 150 years ago, looming over (or carrying) Azumas where there were once HSTs, Deltics, Gresley Pacifics, Atlantics and Stirling Singles striding beneath them. I've enjoyed cycling over to them and watching trains go by for years, hence my username here. A few snaps, starting with the bridge at Westby just south of Stoke summit: Burton Coggles Bytham, looking south: And a few from Essendine. Cheers, Ollie
  15. Ooh, what’s that I spy on Hornby’s Warley stand? First time we’ve seen a full Coronation set formed up? As seen in Hornby’s latest Instagram story. Can’t get to Warley this weekend so if anyone can get some better pictures and details on the couplings, ping them on here! Looks like there’s an ideal 2nd radius test track local 😂
  16. The drip feed of info continues here: https://uk.Hornby.com/community/blog-and-news/engine-shed/coronation-coached-intricate-parts
  17. Ollie K

    Hornby Turbomotive

    I’m staggered the Turbomotive was so heavily discounted by Hattons. When they slashed prices of models like the Hornby A2/2, A2/3, Heljan O2 and their own O Gauge A3s and A4s it wasn’t a huge shock: large ranges of slow selling models with umpteen build quality woes. But the Turbomotive only exists in two variants, has only recently been released, and to rave reviews all round. Fair play to anyone who was quick enough to grab one!
  18. There’s a brief mention of the Coronation stock in Hornby’s latest livestream. Currently at the factory feedback stage. Next will be ‘running’ samples, then decorated samples. Interesting to hear about the chrome effect they’re going for and how much work has been going into the articulation mechanisms, inter-carriage screening and running characteristics. Sounded like it’s been trickier than was portrayed in the ‘Model World’ TV show. In shops by summer seems optimistic given no proper samples yet. Either way, if Hornby is taking its time to make sure these are done ‘right’ (correct pre-war doors, no visible capacitors, innovative couplings) it’s a positive. Wonder if the decorates samples will show printed or raised lettering? My money’s on the former, but we live in hope…
  19. Morning Tony, A while ago someone posted this image in the Turbomotive's thread. I was surprised it didn't generate more conversation as it appears to show exactly that: 6202 hauling a long train in reverse, with a Class D lamp code on the tender rear. It doesn't appear to be banking another loco. The crew member just visible in the cab appears to be facing towards the camera. Anyone the wiser what's going on here? ( Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmightycat/49596730417/ ) Completely agree with your sentiments on the otherwise fine-looking model being spoiled by a deliberately erroneous 'feature'. Even more curious when you note the model itself isn't marred with a front coupling pocket to allow it to tow RTR stock tender-first, and that Hornby's own marketing literature notes "the smaller reversed turbine did not have enough power and was not strong enough to reverse if the locomotive was connected to a heavy rake of coaches. Due to this, the ‘Turbomotive’ always had to be facing forward when hauling passenger trains." https://uk.Hornby.com/community/blog-and-news/engine-shed/turbomotive-stanier-success I reckon this has been in the offing for a while: the unrebuilt W1s were supplied with overscale lamps fixed into either express passenger or (also weirdly) royal train headcodes. The upcoming Black 5 is also causing consternation over the same feature, albeit with brightly lit lamps this time. Cheers, Ollie
  20. Your inconvenience notwithstanding, pleased to hear it. Since so many of the photos on this thread were lost when RMweb broke down, would be great if Railway Modeller could send you any unused ones from the photoshoot. I work for a car magazine and we always send owners who’ve lent us their pride and joy the professional shots of their cars as a memento. Cheers, Ollie
  21. Ollie K

    Hornby Turbomotive

    Between the front frame plates behind the mesh, the Turbomotive housed a radiator for cooling the turbine oil. Hinging the flap meant it could be positioned open when the locomotive was running to promote optimal airflow, while closing it when stationary allowed the smokebox door to be opened and provided a platform for the crew to stand on during servicing. Think of it as the opposite to a car's bonnet: left open when on the road, and closed during maintenance.
  22. Congratulations Phil. I don’t normally buy RM but picked up a copy today entirely on the strength of the cover image and throughly enjoyed the depiction of Potters Bar. Would’ve been happy to see it get twice the number of pages - truly inspirational.
  23. There's an interesting image here of the V-fronted cab mock-up. Here's it's captioned as a film prop, but I've also seen it described as a training aid / opinion canvasser for loco crews. https://www.a1steam.com/educational-resources/prince-of-wales/history-of-the-gresley-class-p2s
  24. Can someone put me out of my misery? I've searched for a 'looking upwards' black and white photo depicting a late-crest A4 heading southbound under the M&GN girder bridge at real-life Little Bytham, hauling a goods train. Would be a perfect photo to replicate on the model, but I've been through a load of books in my lunch hour and scoured the web but can't find it anywhere...
  25. Agreed - great that the detail pack is comprehensive, but a bit of an own goal that the couplings don’t fit. One of the supplies three-links was broken in mine so hopefully that’ll be replaced along with the missing guard irons - I’ve contacted Hornby and they should be posted soon. I got the intact couplings in eventually with some careful trial and error filing of the ‘stem’. A removable cab roof, or perhaps detachable cab seats, would make fitting the crew less of a pain.
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