matchmaker

On 06/05/2024 at 11:59, Colin_McLeod said:

 

Slightly OT but I'm curious as to why the concept of the generator  van was not common on BR as it has been in Ireland for decades, NIR, CIE and RPSI.

I'm not sure. ETHELs were the best known on BR. However, BRs fleet of ETS fitted locos was growing rapidly. The 50s were surplus, having been replaced on the WCML by electrics, had ETS (from new) and also had 100mph capability instead of the 90mph of the Westerns.

2 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

The previous Hornby model?

 

ISTR many were saying it was pointless Hornby making a new one as that was fine....

 

 

Jason

Having looked at photos of the new one I think I'll stick with my previous version. The new coupling looks awkward and the lamps are awful! My 2002 version was bought from Ebay for the princely sum of £79.99 and runs perfectly

12 hours ago, stovepipe said:

No, only the Westerns (and not all of them) were fitted with the necessary equipment to operate train air brakes.

 

The BR Coaching Stock group on groups.io has much information on formations used on all regions.

One of the reasons for the relatively early demise of the Westerns was their inability to power aircon stock as it proved impossible to fit them with ETS.

If you're doing a Scottish one, don't forget the Manson tablet catcher in the guards door. From Railcar.co.uk:

Tablet catcher

5 hours ago, Covkid said:

 

But would enough folk buy full rakes to justify them ? Personally doubt it, but welcome other thoughts.

I'm guilty here. I have 6 renumbered  and rebogied (Commonwealth) Hornby Mk1s, 3 Bachmann MK2As, 2 Accurascale Mk2Bs and am awaiting the arrival of 3 Bachmann Mk1s! Plus I have 3 Bachmann Mk2Fs on preorder...and I might have some Accurascale Mk2Cs on preorder as well!

On 18/04/2024 at 17:04, Markn said:

First of the mk1's due tomorrow according to Rails.

I've just received the invoice from Kernow for my three.

A small error in the Stirling station article - I haven't noticed many 387s being used on Edinburgh - Dunblane services! Apart from that, a great read.

On 29/03/2024 at 15:46, ATME said:

Yes it was new.

Exactly the same as mine - bought new about 2 years ago.

On 24/02/2024 at 18:43, nhdesigns said:

I’m in the same boat with the springs. The couplings on one of my intercity TSOs was wonky and trying to fix it resulted in the springs flying out. I found one but not the other. Can’t seem to find replacement parts for it. 

Only one? I've had to rebuild  all six of my Scotrail Mk 3s! They are now fitted (apart from one) with Hunt couplings, although I've retained the sprung coupling pocket. I can now run a full 4TSO-CO-Bachmann DBSO push pull rake at scale speeds on a fellow club members "Lockerbie" layout with a Bachmann 47 propelling. The only tension locks are between the 47 and the first TSO. I managed to track down spare springs just in case.

2 hours ago, andyman7 said:

As @AY Mod has pointed out, there is a search function and in my experience it works really well, it is always worth using that first when one has a question. At the very least it means you can reference it when seeking more information.

A search function that works! I'm not too used to that on forums. I'll try it out next time. Thanks.

One thing we noticed running the AS Mk2b, Hornby Mk1 and Bachmann Mk2a on our club layout on Sunday was how much smoother the AS is.  If you put a finger on the roof of each coach as they moved along the track, the AS felt almost isolated from the track.

There are, as well as the magnetic couplings, replacement kinematic couplings included for close coupling. Although it is stated that instructions are available on the AS website, they weren't there when I checked. However, when I contacted via chat I was told that these would soon be available.

Looking forward to the 2c!

1 minute ago, AY Mod said:

 

Frankly, he wasn't wrong. Too many topics get littered with people asking questions that have already been answered - simply because they don't want to spend their time reading what has already been discussed and illustrated.

Another poster very helpfully pointed me in the direction of the post where the discussion on the WCRC livery started. What's the point in littering up the topic with unhelpful responses?

5 hours ago, NBL said:

What's wrong with looking it for yourself?

 

People have taken the bother to post on the colour debate, the least you can do is go and find it yourself.

Thanks for your useful contribution - not! No need to be so damn rude.

12 hours ago, Dungrange said:

 

Try from page 35, when people started to receive the WCRC models.

 

Many thanks for your assistance! Unlike the poster who followed you, who was just plain rude.

2 hours ago, andyman7 said:

The WCRC colour issue has been debated to a considerable extent further up the thread

It's a 46 page thread - can someone please point me in the direction of the right page? Many thanks!

I've received my WCRC TSOs. They are terrific models - very detailed and free running. But, putting them on our clubs layout along with a maroon Hornby Mk1 and a maroon Bachmann Mk2, the Accurascale maroon is a lot lighter than both the Hornby and Bachmann maroons. I know that maroon is a very variable colour, but it stands out like a sore thumb! It is my understanding that LMS Crimson Lake, BR maroon and WCRC maroon are basically the same basic colour.

I fitted a sound decoder and speaker to mine. A bit fiddly, but dooable. It looks and sounds a bit mental on a main line layout at full speed!

10 hours ago, 97406 said:

 

I don’t know why they didn’t think it’s such a great idea for their locos. The new 47 has 2 screws under the cabs that are nigh impossible to get a screwdriver onto straight without removing the bogie frames and the 8 on the 37… Anyhow heading back on topic, Accurascale bodies come off nice and easily. 

A tip for replacing these hard to access screws on the Bachmann 47. Get a thin strip of thin card or heavy paper. Push the screw through it, locate the screw and screw it in almost fully. Pull on the card/paper to remove it then fully tighten the screw.

1 hour ago, Seaniom said:

Just wondering it anyone knows if rails have started to dispatch? 

 

I don't think so - they haven't even asked me for payment yet!

On 09/03/2024 at 10:59, SRman said:

 

Without wishing to start a long argument on here, I would dispute the statement about Bachmann's history of accurate colours, at least when referring to the various shades of Southern Region green they have tried over the years. Many of their other colour renditions seem good to me, but the greens were out by a long shot, especially on the first release BR mark 1 coaches. Then there was the over-dark shade on the next batch.

Maroon is, as you have said, a somewhat unstable and translucent colour. Way back in the 1970s, there were long discussions in the model railway press about whether the LMS maroon and BR maroon were the same. I think the upshot was it was the undercoat colours that most influenced the final colour (as it came fresh out of the paint shops - fading and weathering certainly add a whole heap of extra dimensions!).

BR Maroon was the same as LMS Maroon which was the same as LMS Crimson Lake, according to David Jenkinson and Bob Essery.

9 hours ago, franciswilliamwebb said:

 

Nope, nothing as yet.

I am in the same position. I asked Rails yesterday and they are still waiting for their delivery from AS.

49 minutes ago, Vecchio said:

My personal opinion is you can mix Bachmann and Accurascale coaches. The west coast railway logo may give it away, the differences in colour I do not see as a problem. Don't put your noses too close to your layouts and you may not notice... 😄

At a typical exhibition you're viewing from at least 3 feet away.

13 hours ago, LNERandBR said:

Personally, I think one can get a little too caught up on every coach must be the same colour. In reality they all weather differently and coaches get moved around. What I see in the pictures above are different shades of maroon within the sets as well as differences in the roofs. 

Red/Maroon is notorious for fading as it ages.

11 hours ago, Ray M said:

So will the MU covers on the front be able to be taken off

if you want to fit jumper cables.

I'd like to know that as well. I've ordered D423 as this is the livery and numbering  I remember on the 50s, but MU cables were fitted as they ran in multiple on the WCML.

13 hours ago, McC said:

Started yesterday. I saw a facebook post earlier on a layout. 

I assume that also applies to supplies to retailers? I preordered mine from Rails.