InterCitySpud

One thing I have noticed somebody may help clear up. On the Oxford RUB the red catering stripe stops in the centre of the coach, Im convinced it used to go over the last half window of the corridor?

Brilliant. Thank you for that clarification. I must admit I've seen the start of Michael Palins journey out of Euston many times as that was probably about the time of my heyday trainspotting! There's a clip of Wolverton where i used to visit just for the thrill of that curve, ACs at full pelt through the old station were great fun. Just a shame the old waiting rooms are lost forever, just like the refreshment breaks! So the consensus is I go with Oxford for all my MK3 stock, Hornby RBR and to complete the set I need to convert the Bachmann which I've seen done here and an RKB, I saw many at the time mostly with MK3 FO for full catering I guess. I think that's a Southern Pride kit? I may as well go Bachmann for my MK2s. Does anyone have some pictures or a link to some Oxford Mk3s close coupled to Bachmann Mk2s? Blue and grey preferably, that would be a great help!

Cheers for clearing that up, I am leaning towards the Oxford offerings despite the mixed reviews, they seem from all the pictures i have studied to have that edge on Hornbys offerings anyway despite the differences between them being HST or Loco hauled. For me, the profile is the most important factor as that cant be amended. I'm concentrating on early Eighties and certainly when only the RUBs were in service. Next question would be which MK2s sit best with the Oxford Mk3as?

Thats a lock down project if ever I saw one! Very nice indeed.

I am leaning this way, the Oxfords not only are correct MK3a but do look the part. My concern was in mixing rakes which I obviously want to do and do Hornbys Mk2s look better with their own MK3s mixed, for colour, height and in profile. I would hope to think mixing Oxford with Bachmann would look best but that's what I'm trying to find out by putting out to the great and good here! Current score Oxford 1 Hornby 0 !

Are there any kits? I remember quite clearly the Grey/ Blue livery, they seemed to have several differences from the MK2s especially the brakes.

I maybe that weirdo as I also remember the very same, full rake of MK3a and an RBR or RK, I actually liked having my tea being rattled and thrown around then back to the serenity and sliding doors of the MK3! Which ones do I buy? This is the question, Oxford or Hornby? The MK1buffet must be Hornby as its the only option, Mk3s?

Thanks, yes I can now remember Novelty also being painted out with yellow ends and logo, must've been 82ish from memory. The Pullman would definitely be something I would be keen to acquire at some point after buying the initial blue grey rakes. Looking at windows, the Oxford Rail seem to be better represent the frame than Hornby on the InterCity livery , although I still remember the older Mk2 grey/blue stock so that would date me up to 1983 so thanks for that, although that's definitely not off the shelf!

Thanks Pete, I'm a bit hazy on dates but I'm sure you've seen many of these formations before too! The first MK3 buffets at that time were all the three window variety with first class seating but no classification, yellow band etc, that came much later and always had the buffet counter to the north or to standard class end so I'm sort of guessing on the classification of TRUB, they weren't TRSBs or TRUKs. From photos I think the Oxford Rail version captures the prototype best, the Hornby kitchen windows are too white for me. It has to be Hornby though for the MK1 RBR. The only other buffet used then into Euston was the MK1 RK? with no seats but that's a Southern Pride project I think! I don't mind if they're MK2e/f just really want to know what to take the plunge with, buy 10 x Bachmann Mk2fs and 10 Oxford Mk3as and mix or just go all Hornby? Which looks the best in a mixed rake? Blue and grey of course, at least I don't have to worry about shades of red white and beige!

I'm hoping to start work on a large WCML layout later this year but living on a small island in SE Asia means I cant just pop to a shop or exhibition to make easy comparisons. I'm planning to buy in bulk, store and then collect personally, when travel is permitted again, for delicate or expensive items such as rolling stock, therefore I'm throwing it out to your good selves for some opinions regarding whose coaches sit best together. The area I want to model is around the Northamptonshire area and therefore only services into and out of Euston, no cross country traffic and the consists of the time were mixed Mk1,2 and 3a. I don't know the exact date 81/82ish? but I distinctly remember the first MK3as introduced were the MK3 TRUB's to upgrade the catering, running with Mk2e/f's. My last layouts and all rolling stock were packed and sold off in 1989 and at that time I would generally run a typical rake using Lima Mk3s, Airfix Mk2s, Mainline RBR/LimaTRUB and back then a Lima BG (flushglazed!) The period I model is BR blue/grey, although the new APT would be a welcome star turn of the time, I may allow for a little creep into the mid Eighties for an ex-works something to be around but I wont run a mixed rake of liveries, blue/grey all they way! This is where I need some help and opinions as I want to buy two full rakes so 10 Mk2s and 10 mk3s plus catering and brakes, which i can then all mix together as I wish, so what would you buy? Typical rakes of the time would be Euston end - Mk1 BG so Hornby/Bachmann. First Class - 2 to 5 Mk2/3a or mix so Hornby/Bachmann/Oxford Catering - TRUB/RBR Oxford/Hornby/Hornby. Sadly Bachmanns RB is not correct for the time without the buffet counter added and windows filled to make an RB(R) Second Class - 4 to 7 Mk2/3a or mix. Hornby/Bachmann (Mk2 BSO optional) Hornby/Bachmann I don't want to mix manufacturers for one coach ie Hornby /Bachmann Mk2e/f so the question is do you go with the Oxford Mk3as with Bachmann mk2s or Hornby Mk2sand 3s? What looks best in a full rake? I don't mind about the Hornby not being a Mk3a, the look of the full rake is most important for me, not the small detailing issues. This is not my picture so apologies to the owner but it does demonstrate well, the typical rake of the time.

Just amazing...Cant wait for the Accurascale Mk2ds

Yes is the short answer, from me at least. I would be quite happy to part with whats required £££ to buy a RTR 310, several of them. Your Southern Pride looks fantastic although its probably beyond me taking on this project due to my remote location and postal issues but I'm hoping Britannia Pacific will be releasing one at some point. I started modelling early in the 80s and have felt the southern WCML has always been under represented in RTR model form including the correct OHLE of the period. Any newly released BR blue AC I will snap up with glee Classes 81-87, but we need suburban services too!

Does the Replica interior fit into the Hornby? I think the Replica is similar to the Mainline interior which I always thought looked correct as the kitchen corridor wall was depicted in silver, and the table tops white. I once swapped a Lima MK2b FK interior with an Airfix MK2d FO to create a MK2d FK, looked great!

They look fantastic. These are all models I have owned in the past and similarly tinkered with and I miss them all. I remember drooling over the Hornby 25 when the pictures were first released in the Hornby magazine. The days before tinternet eh! If I hadn't been so stupid as to give them all away decades ago I also could've been using this time to get them up to scratch. Endless hours of fun lost, live and learn!

Not much social distancing here. Better paint some masks on quick!

Hello from Koh Phangan, you are not alone! Sorry for dropping by in this thread however my interest was caught with regards to using controllers and electrics here in Thailand as I'm now considering the best system/set up for modelling here myself. I'm assuming the mains power is ok here (when its on!) for UK controllers, although surge protection might be an idea, I've electrocuted myself on many occasions here and still breathing, which is handy as electrickery is my poorest subject. I can build an entire house and run all the necessary cables in but I've no idea what to do with them at spaghetti junction! Could be an issue as I'm going DCC! After experiences here on the island, I've decided not to trust any overseas mail for high cost purchases rather to buy in bulk and then collect myself every 6 months or so, however jumping on and off planes obviously 'aint happening for some time yet but we are lucky to be where we are and I can still buy/order in anticipation. I'm starting totally afresh after moving around constantly for 33 years but finally being settled here I have the time and space to take on the big project I always dreamed of. Ironically some of the items I desperately wished were around back in the Eighties are only just becoming available now so a good time to start! Good luck with that electrickery, I look forward to being suitably confused by it all!

Here's hoping to that. I feel an AL1 is coming...just a matter of time!

I've never stood a 1:87 next to standard OO loco, how bad is it? Oh well, not too fussed about having it as a runner or main loco, if it doesn't stand out too badly maybe she'll sit ok in a siding somewhere way in the background (or foreground!)

I stumbled across this today online and therefore found myself here! I've no idea what its like or any information at all other than the company name is Atlas? At about £17 quid I ordered it anyway! I'm planning a large WCML layout set in the early Eighties, so I thought I would have a play and try to bring it up to scratch as a shabby looking Class 81 lurking around would be perfect. If I can do it half the justice of the examples above I'll be very happy. Any advice on sourcing detailing parts for AL1s would be handy or a suggestion of a blue, close to the Bachmann 85 would be ideal. https://www.lazada.co.th/products/atlas-class-81-003-1960-187-diecast-i552144220.html

Totally agree! This fantastic looking stuff is exactly what we have been missing, at last some confidence to take on realistic WCML projects. The very best of luck with your layout.

Thank you Phil, this information is very handy to know. Hopefully I can do Northamptonshire circa 1980 justice!

In the 80s it was certainly a very rare event to see a 304 south of Rugby, they also often worked the stopping services up the Trent valley but yes you're right, they were mostly concentrated around the Birmingham area. I do remember however, back in 1986 close to midnight, running down the steps onto platform 1a at Birmingham New Street for the last service home, all stations to Northampton and being confronted not by my usual 310 but a 304. Knowing them a little from trips to Bescot, I decided on the old First Class compartments which by then were declassified although they still had the deep black horse hair seats. Totally knackered but still like an old sofa to lie on for the journey home. The train was empty of course and I couldn't sleep anyway for the novelty of that bumpy 304 ride home! That's the only ever time I saw one at Northampton. I digress again, but that's why I love this period of time and so much want to recreate it! With regards to OHLE what you see in the videos is what I wish to create. My layout plan is a large scale mile oval with a long section of double track for which single masts are fine but the station approach and area will need a variety of multi span portals. I will have around 25 feet of both station and open countryside to model so it will need some masts but as I mentioned (for my sanity) I've already decided to sacrifice including the wires. My plan is to open the often talked about and indeed campaigned for Northampton Parkway station on the main line. Sites suggested for this were the reopening of stations at Roade or Blisworth. I've plumped for the latter but moving it the other side of the A43 for traffic reasons! (You can see Station Road on the map) Having two bay platforms and hourly stopping services to Euston, I'm gonna need those 310s although that 304 looks very tempting for an occasional visitor!

Yes, I've had my eye on the Southern Pride option for some time now, but it does appear from all I have read that its not that easy to get hold of let alone get one running! The promising news is that Britannia Pacific are planning a 312 sometime in the future so if an RTR version does not appear within a year or two, I will have to look to any option I can, hopefully I can twist their arm to make a few 310s. I live on a small island in SE Asia so although serious detailing is possible I'm a little reluctant to go for the full scratch building of locos in case of missing parts! Personally, I can't see how its possible to accurately model a section of the WCML from Euston to Birmingham from 1965-1990 without one, that's one of the busiest lines in the UK for with no way of truly representing it for a quarter of a century! I lived in the Northampton area around this period and they were everywhere and for what I plan I would need at least three units probably a 4 car unit plus a 4+4 so I'm stuck. Well, I'm determined to make this project happen and so I really wish you all the luck with your Watford DC plan as it sounds even more challenging! Here's an example of Britannias rather good looking 304

Forgive me if this post fumbles across a few subjects and I'm sure the owner of the videos will excuse me sharing them but if you wish as I do, to model the southern part of the WCML from the 60s onward this thread is quite essential, no equipment, no trains! Obviously the main focus here is the OHLE to allow some of the great new ACs available to sit under, and from the videos I think it emphasises a couple of points. It shows just how long a period these locos and rolling stock were around, in a myriad of liveries but we are talking 20, 30, 40 years and more for some of the traction seen in these videos. This is a huge period of time for modellers of my age to gain interest and who want to focus on this part of the country but really until now we have been unable to properly represent it by only being served up the odd AC loco. Bachmanns Class 85 was the game changer for me. These films also show that if you are interested in running any early AC loco, 85,86,87 from the 60s until 2002 we really need an AM10 Class 310 which was ubiquitous in the area for nearly 30 years. The Catenary is catching up, and now nearly all the necessary locos and rolling stock are available to be prototypical of these videos, apart from our beloved 310 and I'm reluctant to start until I know for sure I can get a few. Maybe a long wait!

Another here, and as I'm now focused on the WCML maybe the 87 allowing for a little creep. Would have to be ex-works though! Coaching stock wise Hornby may win as the MK1 RBR is already a shoe in, but I'm also in the market for a full 10 coach MK1 mix of the time, and properly filthied up. As for locos, it seems the competition will be getting the bucks. It would be great if anyone has any pics of a recently compiled Hornby MK1 blue/grey rake and any tips on very close coupling.