SteamingWales

Hi @johnofwessex The main girder part of the bridge is made using Scale Model Scenery lattice bridge sections, gussets and 8mm rivet strips. Each side is built using 4 of the lattice sections with each separated a 2mm channel plastic strips. The photos probably explain this a bit better

Having finished an inglenook shed scene/layout in 2020 I had a modelling itch to scratch and decided to do my first ever scratch build and construct a lattice river bridge. At the time this was just something to do during the dark lockdown winter nights (and boy has it taken up some) and I had no real intention or ideas for what I was actually going to do with the finished product. Then Accurascale decided to announce their Manor and everything changed. I absolutely love Manors and wanted somewhere proper to run the models, not just a back and forth into a shed so thoughts turned to building an actual layout. I also Iive in Aberystwyth so modelling the Cambrian seemed a logical idea, or maybe somewhere on the Aber to Carmarthen line??? However I didn't want to pin myself to a specific location/line so have settled on a non descript Welsh Cross Country route in the 1960s which can be on the Cambrian, Shrewsbury to Aber line, Aber to Carmarthen or even Ruabon to Barmouth. This decision means I recreate various working such as the Cambrian Coast Express, Dolgellau autotrains and short freight trains to Aberaeron to name just a few. Thats the background of the whole thing now onto actually building it! Space constraints mean the layout will have to be modular and easily transported so don't expect anything massive (yet) so I'm just starting with one module and will slowly expand outwards. The feature of the first module will be the aforementioned river bridge, and baseboard construction was completed last weekend. Admittedly it's not much at the moment but it's better than nothing!

These look absolutely amazing! Reading the blog its nice to see hear that the cylinder cut out is being done away with. The front end bogie detail looks great too. No tender first running for my order me thinks

Completely agree there should be more preserved locos produced. I'd be all over a model of 61264, even though it doesn't remotely fit modelling location/era, I'm just completely in love with it!!!! It's not Hornby, but of the 2 rival Manors being produced I'm getting 7812 as of all the Late Crest offerings between Accura and Dapol it's the one I know best from multiple SVR visits

But you can make plenty of U turns on a road map

But both do have diecast boilers though

These look great. Can't wait to see the departmental versions

I specifically avoided Hattons for that very reason (I have lost my trust in them now) TMC have all still available to pre order, which is where mine is coming from, if anyone is still after it

They will arrive when they arrive. Get your pre-orders in though as they seem mega popular. I'm getting 78006 from the 2nd batch and had a job to fit a stockist with one still available on to order

"Lion" In all seriousness a GWR 2251 would seem kind of logical to me given their recent GWR trend and success with Mogul and upcoming Prairie and Manor

That makes sense now. I guess building wind farms is a bit different to producing model trains!

This might be a stupid question but how does a company acquire the rights to a film to produce related items? Is it done through a tendering process i.e. manufactures bid for the rights by saying what they will offer to the customer? (I work in renewable energy development and this is how our work is won) With Hornby announcing Lion and then RT announcing Titfield product within 24 hrs says to me Hornby were going to produce Lion anyway but thought they could also tag it onto a TT product line, but upon finding out they had lost the contract announced it early as another manufacturer (RT) had won the contract for Titfield products

Not wanting to sound like a broken record (I'm sure this topic has been and will be discussed many more times) BUT I made my decision on which locos have been offered rather than price or who announced first etc.

Just had an email from Hattons showing off GWR Painted Samples and they look amazing!!!!!!!

Same here. Already got 7812 on order with sound. I never buy multiples of the same class but I think I can make an exception for another Manor. Just waiting to see what the Erlestoke Manor Fund are going to announce.

Had my Clan cancelled too. Will probably buy another Manor instead now rather than get a Clan

So it seems the race is neck and neck between Accura and Dapol, with quoted dates for deco samples and delivery about the same (Dapol maybe a nose in front with a working EP)

Just read my newsletter. The cab and bunker will be one piece

Let the rumours and speculation commence!

These look decent and nice to see Dapol have learnt quickly from the Mogul. Especially like the removable cab so you can actually see the cab details. Kudos to Dapol on that one. Will certainly buy one of funds allow

This might be a stupid question but what does this mean? (pulled from AccuraScale's page) Optional overhead warning plate bracket on late-BR examples Is it that this is a feature fitting as standard to the late BR versions i.e. part of the tooling, or an after market option i.e. a piece in a bits bag with couplings etc.?

It appears 7802 is being produced based on what was accidentally listed by Rails and indications for Erlestoke Manor Trust

Hmm. Just went back to the Rails website to check the shed allocation, if it was Machynlleth I would probably get this model and 7812, but it's now disappear!!!!!!

Have I also missed something here???? Rails have 'Bradley Manor' as an 11th model. Is it exclusive?

I remember voting for this in the initial poll! This model certainly will be amazing and will happily be ordering one. One minor problem. All I want is 7822 "Foxcote Manor" and between 2 manufacturers it's not being produced