justin1985

The TMC large logo blue 37/0 limited edition has sat around for a long time without selling out ... Perhaps people aren't so well aware of it, or assume TMC only sell it weathered at a premium? Currently 89.99 directly from them on eBay in basic condition. OR perhaps large logo blue isn't as popular as people think?

I'm glad to hear you're making good progress! Personally I haven't pledged (yet?) - mainly because I hate the real units with a passion for their absolutely terrible passenger environment (in contrast to "Pendolini" in Italy, Portugal and Finland) - and as none of my modelling interests overlap with the LNWR lines.

However, I might be tempted to help tip the balance and help the project happen if it's looking a bit "borderline" at the end of the pledge period, with a view to reselling the model at some point afterward. Obviously it would be best if you could fulfil the pledge requirements from people who actually want one - but I wonder how many people share my willingness to step in ?

There are\were two types of the Polybulk, both built for service on the air brake network\Speedlink. Bachmann have depicted the smaller one, which was apparently mostly used for China Clay traffic and miscellaneous powders etc. The (I think more common) larger type was used for (less dense) grain traffic and were quickly branded "GRAINFLOW" - they are depicted by the N Gauge Society plastic\card\brass kit.

Still, the Bach\Far wagon is so good, I couldn't resist buying one of each livery with the intention of running as a "grain" wagon!

The Polybulks (in green\grey livery), refurbished 37/4s and CCTs are all reviewed in the new Rail Express - which I had hoped would have meant they'd be on sale by now! No sign in Liverpool, at least .. 

Hi Simon, 

As Stephen and Jim have said it was a very common problem with these Dapol wagons. I solved it on mine by judiciously playing with the combination of containers - different combinations of 20' and 40' etc - to get them to brace against each other and push the wagon deck downward, and fixed them with a few blobs of evostick. I think I used Farish containers, rather than the Dapol ones, which I somehow just don't find as convincing! Perhaps the Farish ones are slightly longer, which makes this easier?

Justin

How is the motor retained Jerry? I can't seem to see any bracket or fixings. 

In the rather optimistic depths of my gloat box I have a spare Terrier body I picked up from, I think, a 009 modeller who had used the chassis. There are many more locos I need to finish before getting around to it. Your one is inspiring though!

Very tempting! Just a shame that the import VAT and Parcel force admin charge will bump up the cost a lot

I've just caught up on this thread, and, as always, the quality of your modelling had bowled me over.

The thing that really caught my eye was actually the grounded Farish VBA\VCA vans outside of the shed. The weathering on the roofs looks amazing - I'd always been daunted by the prospect of weathering the large expanse of a air brake van roof. Did you use gouache?

I've finally got around to finishing off some David Eveleigh kits over the weekend. I had finished the main bodies ages ago, but it ended up taking me far longer than I expected to fabricate the detailing parts not included on the etches and the handrails. 

First up is a Great Eastern Diagram 17M horsebox, built in 1908. This needed various extras, including the end piping\wiring which I bodged from brass section and nickel silver wire, door bumper strips which I made from 0.75mm plastic rod filed down to half round, window ventilators which I made from evergreen plastic strip and scribed with lines while secured on double sided tape. The Association 10' wheelbase 8 shoe chassis recommended needed considerable hacking down in length to fit, and a longer brake lever scrounged from etch leftovers to make up the long lever single sided layout. The footsteps weren't too difficult to make with etch offcuts and 0.5mm nickel silver wire, but they were a nightmare to attach in more or less the right alignment!

I am having real trouble trying to work out the right livery colour for this in original condition. All of the photos I can find in the GERS Journal show this (and the passenger train cattle box which is also available from David) with shaded lettering and numerals, implying coaching stock livery BUT with a very dark and uniform body colour, rather than a finish implying the pre-WW1 GER teak coaching stock livery. Given that GER crimson lake (which it does look like) was a post-WW1 change, I'm wondering if it was "teak colour" or just plain brown? Any other suggestions gratefully received!  

The other kit is a Midland diagram 390 10 ton brake van, available from the Association shop. This one had a chassis included, which actually turned out a little short (might need some packing?). The handrails were very tricky to fit - the locating pips for the body side rails hadn't come out that well, and with the top horizontal and the verticals so close, it ended up with the drill wandering and a big misshapen hole where the two met - think I've salvaged it OK though. The vertical handrails on the outside end were a nightmare, as there was no locating notch, and I had to either make the handrail "legs" very short (and vulnerable) or drill through about 4 layers of etch with a 0.3mm drill! I'm glad I made the effort though!

I was planning to paint this into Mid Suffolk livery, but on second thoughts, I might go with Midland as one: there are decals, and two: a Midland van was actually probably more likely to wander than the Mid Suffolk example, which I don't imagine ever left the line! It could also run on the dock layout that the London 2mm AG is currently proposing ... 

Justin

I think the whitemetal kit is one of those (like the PD Marsh sentiel etc) that has been stretched to fit whatever archaic chassis it was designed for, so it might well be possible to fit various small 0-6-0 chassis in it - prime candidate being the Farish 03/04 diesel shunter, as I think the wheelbase is still quite short for the J70 0-6-0? Alternatively the Farish 08 might also work - both can be had for around £50 for a complete model, if you shop around. Any continental models would be a very expensive way of going about it. If you don't have one at hand, I'm sure if you posted the internal dimensions someone would be able to check the chassis to see if it would fit.

There is\was a small Japanese 0-4-0 chassis\power bogie that appeared regularly on eBay, although there don't seem to be any available at the moment. I think Alan of Etched Pixels has used this for a few projects, and he might be able to comment. 

Justin

edit:

These are the Japanese chassis I mentioned:

Long Wheelbase -Power Unit TU-TMC100

Short Wheelbase -Power Unit TU-7T

Not yet! Executive version Intercity was one of the liveries that really sat around for ages unsold with the last generation of Chinese made Poole designed Mk1s, but did include the BG on B4 bogies. I imagine at least part of the reason they sat around was the fact they were amongst the last releases of the old moulding, and many people knew the replacements were coming. Nonetheless, I suspect Bachmann's inherently conservative attitude to passenger liveries will mean that IC Executive, along with Regional Railways blue\grey and Network Southeast  are parked on the "not again" list. At least not any time soon. 

Annoying! I remember reaching a similar impasse when trying to remove the glazing from a Dapol c.153 to try and remove the aluminium strip that is incorrectly printed on the glazing rather than on the moulding. I gave up for the same reason. It doesn't seem like there is any glue used in these designs, so if it went in, there must be a way for it to come out - right? 

What is the I/D of the Farish bearing ?    It might be possible to produce wheels with a stepped axle, fat enough near the ends for the Farish bearing, and thinner in the middle for a normal muff.     (Just kicking ideas around rather than jumping down the "make a new bearing part" route ).

 

-  Nigel

Presuming its the same as the J39, its 2.9mm, or rather the axle is, so probably fractionally more (I don't have it to hand right now). 

I'd be very surprised if this would work, as the Farish frames and therefore bearing locations are so narrow. The bearings are certainly much closer together than a conventional 2mm chassis side frames are, so the wheels would need a good few mm of shoulder to work - surely making them not compatible with normal chassis construction. 

I think actually having a shouldered bearing fitted from the outside, that also that adds about 0.5mm on each side to the outside of the bearing would be desirable to cut down the excessive sideplay that results on the J39 with wheels to 2mm standard back to back.

Justin

I love the solution of the Association bearing inside the GF bearing. They do look like standard parts on recent models - the J39 has very similar (presumably identical) ones, which cause the problem of being too short when used with turned down original wheelsets at 2mm b2b. I'm trying a washer arrangement with that at the moment, but if that doesn't work out this looks the perfect solution using association wheels but not needing too much chassis hacking!

I've seen Tamiya X19 smoke recommended for tinting windows like this - is that what you've used? I did try it once with a Poole Farish mk2 but it was difficult to get the right opacity without leaving brush marks - I'll try with an airbrush in future. (Tamiya paints always seem to brush appallingly -  I think the solvent base dries too quickly compared to water based acrylics like Vallejo) 

I recently did some "restoration" work on the scenics on Copenhagen Fields, and while the majority of the original grass was dyed surgical lint (apparently Dylon olive, as suggested in Barry Norman's book) it was actually stuck down backing side down, and left as-is, rather than having been stuck down and the backing ripped off. After 20 odd years on the exhibition circuit this had essentially worn down to bare backing strip in many places. Tim seemed to be pretty certain that lint, in the form used by Barry Norman etc, no longer exists as a standard medical product. Even if you can still find some now, I suspect it will get increasingly difficult as time goes on.

While I agree with Jerry that static grass doesn't always look the best in 2mm, I'm pretty happy with the effect I achieved on Copenhagen Fields by laying static grass (a careful mix of Heki winter grass mix 3mm, some older (I think Noch) 2mm autumn green mix, and unidentified 1mm brighter olive green, which I varied as I went along) over the top of the remaining lint. The effect was very much like Gordon Gravett's recommended static grass over woodland scenics foam scatter approach, but, I would say, even more subtle. The layout has been packed away now, but everyone will get to judge at Preston in a month or two.

Either way, the important things are variation and texture. While lint is the closest to scale texture, I think on its own it is too uniform in texture and length to represent natural grass, even if it is relatively easy to vary the colour naturally. By the same token, Silfor mat, which had also been used on Copenhagen Fields on more recent extensions, is just too uniform as well. TomE's Ropley experiments with teddy bear fur seem to be the best grass I've yet seen in 2mm - even though the fibres are probably vastly over scale, because of the variation he has been able to work in by working down from a long fabric. 

Such a depressing thread, especially the pre-grouping coaching stock. These vehicles are almost all unique, and so incredibly full of character.

I obviously understand that it's far more economic for preserved railways to run Mk1 stock, but surely the travelling public appreciate the chance to ride in something genuinely atmospheric "railway children" style. It's a sickening shame that railways are letting these relics crumble away (both ones they own and ones they aren't retrieving) while boring us rigid with melamine faced Mk1s.

Should really put my money (or time) where my mouth is, rather than rant, I guess!

More signs of post-Dave malaise! This seems like yet another card tumbling from the tower they'd built themselves by announcing so many new models. Seems very foolish of Dapol to have evidently relied so heavily on one member of staff.

Predictably lots of pipe dreams here, but I would imagine you want to carve yourself out a bit of a niche in the market. E.g. Heljan with prototypes, Hornsby with SR etc.

The obvious gaps in the market, which several people have hit upon, and which present a progression from your J94 are industrials and small LNER locos.

To make a realistic suggestion: the Gresley J50 0-6-0 tank. Originated as a GNR design and survived for ages having been adopted as an LNER standard. So you get liveries from pre-grouping through to BR, AND wider geographical scope than any of the other pre-grouping designs people have suggested. Additionally its a charismatic looking loco, and the only previous RTR model I'm aware of was the ancient Lima effort.

I'd love a J15 and other small LNER types but I think the J50 would be most viable commercially.

I don't know much about industrial types, but the breadth of operation (or at least plausibility) should guarantee good sales!

There is a difference between a compromise (e.g. Mk3/Mk3a roof) and an avoidable error, and this is definitely the latter. I know in the past with e.g. cl. 73s they've produced new body shells to correct livery errors (InterCity with light grey roof I think) and then sold the bodies as spares. Can't imagine it would be worth it with coaches (the assembly\disassembly being labour intensive relative to value). I would sincerely hope these get recalled from the general range, and sold at exhibitions etc as NQP, or retailers are offered a credit to sell them at a discount. Its fine to say its little work to correct them, but that should be reflected in the price! 

But, how easy would it be for the manufacturer to change the plastic they use for the glazing from clear to a slight tint? 

i can perhaps predict problems in that the door droplights werent not from memory tinted and i dont think the glazing would be in say 3 parts ie; two ends in clear and the main central section in tint so as a compromise i could live with the whole coach being tinted given that the tinted windows are in the majority.

 

I wonder if anyone has tried removing the window moulding on a Dapol Mk.3 and airbrushing it with Tamiya "smoke" paint, which is designed for the tint on aircraft glazing? Don't know if this would work better on the inside face (safer) or the outside (more realistic)? I tried this on the inside of an old Poole Farish clear Mk.2 to get it to match the later BachFar Mk2s that were made from tinted plastic - the result was OK

The answer strictly speaking should be yes, but it will be hardly discernible in 'N'

These look really good, and despite being a million miles (well, several hundred) from my main modelling interests, I'm very tempted to get some - I've always had a soft spot for this livery! 

However, I really would say you do need to insist on the cantrail lining on this. The lining features on all the other Dapol mk.3 releases I've seen so far, so not only would I say it is not "hardly discernible", it is in fact conspicuous by its absence! 

I am intrigued by the mention of some German stuff being left, so tried to go and have a look on Saturday. Despite arriving just before 5, when they advertise closing at 5.30 on Saturday, the shop was closed and dark. Still displaying "Last two weeks" signs, and visibly intact though, rather than looking like they've started to pack up. 

Does anyone know if they are still opening, and if so, what the hours are? They advertise being open until 6pm weekdays, but I don't want to waste my time after work if they will have closed already!

Some pictures from 2004, on or about the date that Anglia and fGE were merged to become "one", and I took my camera out to get some shots of the old liveries before they were gone!

150 217 at Marks Tey, March 2004

360 121 at Colchester, freshly de-branded of fGE livery elements, March 2004

360 105 at Colchester, still with first Group branding, March 2004

86 215 "The Round Tabler" at Colchester, same date in March 2004

86 260 at Colchester, with a Mk2 still in Intercity livery, just as Anglia becomes "one", March 2004

170 203 and 360 177 (de-branded) pass at Colchester, March 2004

If you release lots of models at once you have to have the capital up front to pay for all the tooling.

Very true, but I'm sure Bachmann realise more income from their approach of drip feeding liveries on new models, usually coordinated between locos and coaches, for example, than Dapol do by releasing a new tooling in umpteen different liveries at the same time, which are then either remaindered (as many people who might want several cl.86s can't afford to buy them all at once), OR they are impossible to find when the matching coaches appear. 

Hence my comments on Bachmann's financial position giving them the flexibility to take this approach. I suspect Dapol could probably actually make more profit, and enjoy better relationships with more retailers, with fewer new toolings, but more intelligent release schedules and supply chain management. (i.e. more of their models could be sold at closer to RRP). Of course, this requires them to be able to amortize the cost of the toolings over much longer periods - not easy for a small business - but perhaps healthier in the long term.