BetweenTheTunnels

Oh thanks @66738 I'd missed that entire thread somehow! Richie

Does that suggest that the Class 144s in an early livery may be an option for the future too? I was out of the hobby when the first ones came out so missed out, then seem very rare on the second hand market. Richie

Quite impressed with how quick your getting track down! I am hoping when I come to start track laying on my P4 layout I can achieve something similar! Looking good Damian Richie

Thanks for that. Courtesy of the guys over at The Model Centre I managed to acquire the outers and inners that I need for two sets on the new layout. Don't think the old flexible friend will bend any more so the Class 37 order will definitely have to wait a few months now! Please guys, don't bring anything else out for a bit ... your bankrupting us!!!!! Richie

FYI Ive just checked on an iPhone too and all is working fine for me. As David said clear the cache and delete any cookies then try again. Richie

Simon, Many thanks for that, it really is a stunning kit isn't it. How did you find it went together? I am thinking an initial build of one will need to take place .. followed by another couple for internal steel movements on the big layout, when its built! Richie

Looking good Damian. Is the front Rose Street curve just to complete the scene, rather than being operational? EDIT: Sorry missed a page, hadn't seen there was a page 50 and 2ManySpams has answered my question!! Richie

Hi @Michael Edge, I note on your website listing you show the Normanby Park shunters (are these currently available in 4mm?) with a comment that they are actually half of the big Scunthorpe Bo-Bo design. Do you happen to produce a kit for the Scunthorpe version at all? Cheers Richie

Thanks for the responses Damian, much appreciated. I presume the fishplates are plastic ones, so if you have a rail break they don’t give electrical continuity? Richie

Hi Damian, Just spent an enjoyable couple of hours reading through the thread. Always enjoyed Inverness the four times I have been there, although all were AFTER Sprinterisation unfortunately. But your layout is really coming on well and the track work looks great. I am just starting out in P4 and have never built track before, so would you mind if I asked a couple of questions? Is that one of the Scalefour Society 'vee' rigs - I forget the actual name for them? I presume they allow you to simply place the rails in position and solder them? On this image (from Saturday afternoon) on the road to the right of the pit, the straight track has black chairs, where as the points, as well as the approach to the left hand pit road have brown chairs - is there a reason for the difference? I presume your plastic sleepers are the C&L thick variety? Also on your check rails that you've pictured this evening, how do you know where to put the bend at the ends? Does this come from the Templot plan - which thanks to a friend I am learning reasonably well - or is there another marker? Final question (sorry for it being like Mastermind!) I note reference to the fishplates, but I assume these are prototypical ones in brass or plastic that fit within the web of the rail, rather than the Peco style? I don't think you've actually added them yet, but if one section of track needs to be electrically isolated from its neighbour, how do you do that with the fishplates? I assume fishplates can be acquired from the Scalefour Society? Apologies for hijacking your thread, but the way you've photographed the stages and the work makes it really easy to follow for a newbie like me, so thank you! I have bookmarked it in my browser now to try keep track of this topic, a) so I don't lose it and b) so I keep up to date with what your achieving. Richie

If the feedback helps, I would be in the market for a couple of grey/orange end rakes (two inner sets and an outer each) on a re-run. Got into the hobby too late to place an order for these, but a re-run in 2021 would be good .. although for me, delivery later in the year or in early 2022 would help the wallet as a result of an investment in Cavalex HAAs! I think my bank manager may be trying to get hold of me with the phrase 'what the hell are you doing, your card won't bend any more!!' Richie

Thanks Cav, I am just starting out in P4, so had forgotten about the wheel profile, can you advise what size wheels the HAAs take them I can investigate some options - maybe a bulk buy!!! Richie

Will it be feasible to use a wheel puller or equivalent to pull the wheels on these out to P4, or will they need new axles/wheels? Also, can anyone tell me when the yellow cradle versions started to appear? Richie

Cheers Will, I presume it was the 47 thread you were reading? To be honest it’s sat in my small part completed pile, as I took the (brave/silly?) decision to go P4. I hadn’t laid any track at that time, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt it was the right decision. So the 47, first of an eventual fleet of about five if plans work out, will be the next to be done after these 37s. You can’t have a 1980s period layout without at least a couple of growlers can you! But given i’ve order some Accurascale ‘Norse Hydro’ cargowaggons today before the end of year deadline, I’d better get the 47 progressed before they arrive! Thanks for the shopping list, much appreciated. I’d got the Shawplan bits but missed the PHDesigns detailing kit. Might have a go at creating the CAD for some correct brake cylinders, as a winter project. Was there any reason you went for the black beetle wheel sets over Gibson or Ultrascale? Richie

Hi Will, Could I be cheeky and ask you where all the parts are from that you have used on your 37 please? I have spent some time searching round for detailing parts etc for 37275/37351 with the intention of making up one of the old Immingham iron ore pairings in P4 using Penbits bogies, then rediscovered what you had been doing. The final product looks superb. You mentioned something off Shapeways for the brake valves? Richie

@johndon & @PenrithBeacon. Thanks for the heads up, I'll watch out for the 'rocking' ... The Penbits bogie looks like it would probably solve that issue, and I like the springing idea. I had not come across those bogie modules before, so thanks. Something to think about there. It makes sense to do a proper job and get the running quality spot on, as well as the detailing. Thanks - I remember Replica Railways from being a kid, didn't realise they were still going! Cheers Roy, I never gave that one a thought. Oh dear, I can see me loosing a few hours now look back through video's of the time! Richie

Hello Peter, I am new to rmWeb but have been dipping in and out of the site for a fair while now. Fascinating to read what you have done with your Class 142. What do you think to the High Level Kits gearbox? I am thinking of going down the same road for a couple of units on my new EM Manchester-based layout. Also, can I ask how easy was it to fit the Kadee to the 142 and 150 set? Seems an obvious coupling to use given the real life things. Congratulations on a superb layout by the way. If I can get my build anywhere near half as good I will be very happy! Richie

Yes, they did. Some would have got swapped at Gloucester or Birmingham I suspect, but there is a shot on the Taunton Trains website - see https://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/photos/gallery/class47/8 showing 47344 working a Liverpool - Paignton service with a West Coast DVT set. A couple of shots further down shows 47307 (RfD) and 47226 (RfD European livery) working the Exeter - Dollands Moor China Clay service. Clicking on the number in the caption on that page takes you into the Taunton Trains Database Archive of workings, which shows 47226 worked in 1997 and 1998 down there - see https://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/workingslog/byloco/47226 So yes, a few workings to be on west on the Western Region, south of Bristol. Richie

Guys, You have been terrific, many thanks for all the pointers. I think I have a plan coming together in my head now. Cheers for that. The different struts on the grills was one that I had missed, despite looking at several images and trying to compare them! Ultrascale was my first thought, as I'd read good comments about them, but the website is saying five to six months at the moment, and I am looking to have this first one done well before Christmas! So, I'm back to an AGW option I think. Thanks Mike. I have been looking, but few photos of 47402 are taken above! I'll go for the Woven variety unless I can find any reference otherwise. Cheers @PMP Does anyone do an etch or 3D print for the high intensity sealed beam headlight do you know? This was fitted to 402 by 1987. So the plan so far is the etched Lazerglazing for the Bachmann 47, the Wovan grills (EEDP47-00A), the cab window surrounds (EEDP47-03 and EEDP47-18 - I presume both are needed for front and side?), plus DCC chip and cab/marker/tail lights option if the Bachmann ones cannot be converted, plus a couple of week warm LEDs for the cab lights. After that it will be a repaint in to BR blue, and Realtec Transfers (4mm-C4704 (basic) and 4mm-1292(Gateshead logo) and Shawplan nameplates. I think the head code panel on the Bachmann model is ok once its repainted yellow.

Thanks for all the input guys, that's much appreciated. I think my initial option at this point will be the Bachmann model. If the current Covid situation wasn't with us, I'd probably have a trawl round some Toy & Train Fair stands and see if I could find a second hand Heljan, but as that isn't likely to be an option for the next 6-12 months, Bachmann will win! I note looking at the Shawplan website there is a Lazercut flush glazing window option available for the Bachmann 47 - does anyone know if this is related to previous models or the current one? Do you the windows need upgrading or are they flush glazed from the factory. It looks quite good already on the Bachmann website but not sure what its like in reality. I think I may go down the Alan Gibson wheels for the first one, and I'll look at moving the wheel sets out on a subsequent model. The aim is to model 47402 it in this condition, but I am struggling to find any pictures that show whether 402 had the woven or welded mesh on its roof fans. Richie

Sorry, this might be me being a bit thick but I don't quiet understand your first paragraph? I am assuming you mean pulling the existing wheelsets out to EM gauge? But if that is done, would the axle move about sufficiently to need packing? I will admit I didn't know about the ability to lower the body. I've heard of this being done on N gauge locos, but not picked it up on OO. On the eventual big layout, that I will be accumulating stock for, I am aiming for 48-54 inch radius curves, as I'll have just over 10' width to play with so I don't think the radius will be a big issue for me. On the small 'works' layout the curves will be short and gradual. Richie

Thanks Roy, I didn't know about the Heljan one being 'wide' (I presume you mean its not scale width?) and had not realised that Hornby were using the old Lima tooling. Thats part of what I wanted to know, so thanks. Cheers Richie

Hello, My first post on rmWeb, although I have been reading the site for fair time and enjoy following a few layouts on here. I have decided to create a small 'works' style layout, based around 1988-1990, while I get to grips with building EM gauge track and converting locos. While coming to this with a reasonable background in model railways, I have no stock in hand, with the exception of an older Class 56 model that a friend gave me to practise weathering, but that looks like it needs additional work, including a motor change, to be operational. Therefore, I am looking at adapting and detailing a Class 47 model first off, to become one of the Generators - probably 47402 Gateshead. My intention is to convert it to EM, detail the buffer beams, change the couplings and deal with any bodyside detailing needed to make a reasonably accurate representation. As this is a new field, can anyone advise which is the best '47' model - Hornby, Bachmann or Heljan - I appreciate there is much personal opinion, but any thoughts would be welcome. Also, can anyone suggest which is the best way to change to EM gauge - I suspect Gibson wheels a good option? Any thoughts, comments, advice is appreciated. Richie EDIT: I should have perhaps added that my initial thought from looking around is to adapt the Bachmann 32-807 model of 47435.