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Well I emailed them and got a response back very quickly. It seems there are a fair number of fellow early risers / insomniacs in the hobby. 🙂 I do some of my best modelling in the wee small hours!

I’m looking forward to getting 714 delivered soon. One question - is the second run of the production 37s still coming at the same time? Just want to get my budgeting sorted for next month. Thanks.

I’ve a feeling they may be inundated with emails from people who don’t know their order number. I don’t know why I can’t find the email, have tried searching for 37714, HTG, various combinations of heavy, tractor and group….

According to the mail I received it needs a bank transfer. Please pay the balance to the following account: Account Name: Heavy Tractor Group Bank: Co-Op Sort Code:……. Account:….. The only sticking point is I can't find my order number in my emails so will have to email them on admin@heavytractorgroup.org

I’ve got 9 Class 40s and a backdated Accurascale 37 with Shawplan screens and many of these have been patch painted. The key to doing this was to solder the screens and backplates, then nibble away the lower edge with a Dremel, cooling the assembly in a water bath to help prevent melting the solder. The advantage is you don’t need the cut on the bonnet tops for the screen assembly to fit into. I documented what I did, and the learning process on my thread starting from around here: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/174625-nifkins-bridge-part-deux-the-lengthening/?do=findComment&comment=5262137 Note that I found a better Dremel implement for removing the bottom of the screens later on in the process. It adds a little air cooling to the job of grinding away the bases. I was so pleased with the process and the results that I redid all my existing 40 screens and a number of new ones. I also have 3 old Bachmann 37s that will get done at some point. Anyhow, I’m enjoying browsing through your thread.

Chopper Squad! One other class that wasn't well represented was Class 20 where I had 2 knackered old Bachmann examples. I have recently acquired 3 of the latest models with sound and apart from a frustrating problem getting them to run together in a consist, they're smashing models and having a pair whistling in full chat sounds great (both assigned the same DCC address to get around the consist problem for now). The older 20s will remain as unpowered ones which will be used as the second loco when the layout allows for decent trains to be hauled.

With the second 56 weathered, here's some more pics.

A little weathering has been applied to 093 based on pictures from t'internet.

I wonder how they manage when a particular item of rolling stock is of all-welded construction?

If you do the it’s definitely worth going for one with sound, even if you get a DCC ready one and fit it yourself.

That’s like mine after the initial brush work before using the airbrush to finish things off. I never quite got the hang of powders.

On the body, I always start by giving it a wipe with some acrylic water borne paint thinners to remove any grease and let it dry. I follow on by brushing some roof dirt, matt black, frame dirt enable in varying combinations into the grilles, roof and other nooks and crannies on the body. Ideally I should let it set for a couple of hours before removing the excess with thinners, but impatience means I wipe the excess away much quicker with cotton buds, blue roll and a small amount of white spirit (which makes for a very good way to strip off the printed details so take care). I also apply a very thin wash of the above on the yellow ends and work it so there’s no brush strokes visible, but it is just visible and brings out the detail. I then masked around the top of the yellow on the cab front and sides and sprayed thinned roof dirt and black gradually on the roof. I actually went a bit heavy on the sides so rubbed off the weathering with a wet finger and blue roll until it was right. The chassis was brushed with sleeper grime, then sprayed over with a little roof dirt in places, then some brake dust. I used this approach on the 56 and a 20 before work today, it’s quick and good for light to moderate weathering.

The lighting at the diesel depot end of the layout was a little dingy and I spotted these lighting towers at the Donny show so I replaced one of the lamp posts with one from Layouts4U. I have to be careful installing things like this as I don't want them getting too much in the way of the locos when taking pictures.

A little weathering has been applied to 008. It really brings it to life.

The prototype HST power cars had 41xxx numbers and have been classed as Class 41. Whether they were known as Class 41 in the early 70s is another matter.

At the weekend I treated myself to 20072 and 20010, sound versions and they are great models, but they will not move together in a consist. The sound and lights both work when in consist mode, other locos with ESU Loksound installed will run together in consist mode, and both 20s run OK if I assign the same number to each and reverse the direction on one. I’ve done a factory reset on my NCE Powercab and factory resets on both locos. I understand the decoders are Zimo ones. Has anybody else had the problem and if so, what did you do you fix?

Another great layout. It was lovely and quiet in the upstairs bit too, at least when I was up there it was (goes and checks deodorant).

A very good show. Having bought a ticket for Sunday I found myself in the vicinity on Saturday afternoon so paid on the door, had a good look round and snapped up a couple of 20s. I then went back on Sunday morning first thing and had a proper look at the layouts while it was less busy. Alexandra sidings, Euston Junction, Splott, and Hills of the North were my faves. It was so good I went twice! 🙂

“I don’t need any more 31s!” say he. Then an AS IC Mainline one gets snapped up and I’m eyeing up the Bachy sector-liveried one! Confessions of a locoholic, part 134.

For those who can’t wait… http://silverfoxmodels.co.uk/class-89-co-co-british-rail-crewe/

The panoramic view from the passenger seat of my Dad’s car on the M6. The 20s looked really alien when I first saw them as a kid. Especially the ones with headcode boxes.

By sight, Navigation Road Station in Timperley and the Black Bridge over Skelton Junction. By the sound, from my house not far away. 25s and 40 s mainly which then gave way to 20s and 37s. Class 304s on the former MSJ&A to Town. AC locos and AC and DC multiple units at Piccadilly. caught the end of the green/blue changeover period, but only really got into knowing them properly in the mid eighties.

As an aside, I think the cabs on Falcon may have been based on Class 31. Imagine one without the connecting doors and with 2 cab windscreens. I remember an article back in the 80s where somebody kitbashed it from a class 31. It looked good too.

I’d say that both models are produced during the same factory production slot and it would be uneconomical to split the run into two.