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Just wait until you see the contents of my sweet trolley. Especially after the cancelled preorder for 47435.

Working fans, louvres, sweet trollies, holographic drivers, are right at the bottom of my list of ‘must haves’. All I want is something that looks accurate when put on the layout, or on the mantlepiece by my favorite armchair. Even when viewed from close quarters, which the new 37 looks to do with considerable finesse. The new Bachmann 47 looks great, but the cost is too high, and I ended up getting 2 Vitrains ones with a hundred quid to spare. I’ll spend a little more on detailing, Lazerglaze and paint and there’s 2 locos that look very close to the real thing.

I think it’s a case of wait and see. Other than the moulded cables and the cab gutters on the sample, it will be a great model, and the 2 small issues can be rectified in a relatively short time if I feel they need to when I have two of them sat in front of me.

No, to clarify, I meant across the front end, with a vertical line of symmetry up the centre of the front of the unit. The windows look like squares tilted up at a slight angle, but the eyes play tricks.

I have a long term project for a 304 using Replica suburbans. I've managed to get the DC kits front end's windscreens symmetrical, but they're a little too big now. I'll have a rethink for the other end, and retrofit this one at some point. Still, it looks like a 304. An RTR version would be great.

The problem with working on other people’s models like that is that I wouldn’t want to give them back! Some great work there.

Ebay’s a good place. I don’t have any, but the Lima 47 looks a good one to fettle your skills on. The noses and cab windows need a little work, but a good cheap model can result.

I used to detail and repaint models as a kid, and came back into the fold last year in my early fifties. So in a way I picked up where I left off. I really fancied the new Bachmann 47, but it’s expensive and even I feel a bit loathed to even just weather it. I ended up getting both of the 2 ViTrains 47s off Ebay, total cost £140. They will look just as good as the Bachmann one, just without all the bells, whistles and gimmicks. You get a lot of old blokes in sheds fettling lawnmower engines, or whatever. A lot of us are just the same but with model locos. But one should do what one’s happy with. The great thing about the hobby these days is you can get top quality models straight out of the box without all the effort. And I do have a fair few of those as well.

Well, I’ve just snapped up the £75 Vitrains 47 off Ebay and it will end up as this (after it had been repaired of course). https://www.railexpress.co.uk/1986/fate-or-coincidence/ The loco, 47299 has an interesting story, and I will be attempting the orange lines. Typically a detail/respray happens over 4-6 weeks in spare time when I’m working, though the Railfreight class 20 that I recently posted on my thread was done over 2 weeks’ leave.

Echoed. My first forays back into the hobby last year were a couple of 86s, one executive, one blue. The former took a couple of attempts, but is passable. The second one got better. Now I do a fresh loco every couple of months, and they get better each time. I do buy the modern RTR locos, but most of my fleet has been modified and resprayed in some way. Gradually I switched to enamel paints from acrylics as confidence grew. Narrow orange stripes are still a challenge. I have been pondering the new Bachmann class 47, but then there are currently 2 ViTrains 47s on ebay, both needing work. One £65 and one £75. The potential for 2 high spec models with money to spare. But, there has been a decline in the number of people working on locos as the fancier models are made available. When I was a kid, there were many detailing packs and accessories available from the likes of Craftsman, A1 and the like. Now you have the excellent Shawplan, but not many other suppliers. Things like RCH jumpers are a rare beast to get hold of for instance, But there are ways around that with a little patience and a few cock ups along the way.

If that’s the case the I can save a few quid and go for the cheaper one. There’s no real need for me to go full DCC at this stage.

Delivery window looking like November - December so I think I can treat myself to the sound fitted blue’un for my 53rd birthday and Christmas combined, and I have started saving. An important question - Will the DCC sound fitted one have problems with a high frequency track cleaner on my DC setup? Will it go ‘bang’? I don’t want to ruin a new and expensive loco.

The old Heljan one looks fine in certain liveries. I picked up a mint Large Logo one for £70 on Ebay, and it looks great. The banger blue ones not so much, but then the cabs on the Lima ones also don’t look quite right either though they can be brought up to scratch if need be.

I got some etched letters from here .... https://www.cctrans.org.uk/ame.htm Not stuck them on yet

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The ViTrains 47 spruces up well, especially when you replace the factory glazing...

Given the price of the (admittedly excellent) new Bachmann 47, I think there's a niche for the new Heljan one in the 'normal' price range. I await the decorated samples with interest.

I noticed the last few PHVs went when I got my 3. I don't have the layout space for any more at the moment, but one day....

I am reaching the late afternoon, or maybe early evening of my career, and whilst the day job has been good to me, I do often wonder about work in a field that I enjoy.

Plus there will be others released in the future, and plenty of time to save up. I quite fancy a GWR 150 green one if/when one is produced, but I’m sure others will tempt me in the meantime. Out of the current batch, the banger blue one is the most likely purchase for me, but I have a few pre-orders that are consuming the budget at the moment.

A little above budget at the moment. See what the retailers come up with.

Plus the old Vitrains offering is a very good candidate if you’re up for a bit of detailing and a respray.

Who said romance is dead? I think there's always room for another duff. I am very tempted, but see how much it is. I have 'Experiment' due to land at some point and 'Ballymoss' hopefully soon after that. It will be a longer term aim, definitely.

Would is suit an IT analyst with his own model railway, who’s a bit of a crank?

Why not let each family member have a go at driving your new 47. Or maybe even treat each of them to their own 47 if funds allow!

All this came about in my years away from the hobby. No more Percy Edwards/human beatbox-style sound effects from me!