97406

I went to primary school in from 1974 and we were taught metric. However my parents used imperial, so I was well versed in both sets of units. I now cherrypick the measurement system for different things, so I visualise distance in miles, but elevation better in metres. Cyclists and runners that measure distances in km are just cheating and making it seem like they’ve gone further (). I’ve made stuff using a combination of mm and inches before, as it’s easier to measure a whole number of inches for some dimensions. 

ETA the point I was going to make…. As far as I remember bridge height road signs were alway in ft and inches, and gradient signs were ratios when I were a lad.

13 minutes ago, MikeParkin65 said:

Remembering this is a hobby I think Charlie is right that a 37 generates more enthusiasm  than a 47. As a supplier of DCC sound I am sure he is also thinking 37's sound a lot more dramatic

For me, the general guide when it used to come to thrash involved larger English Electrics and smaller Sulzers. I was lucky to witness plenty of 40s and 25s when I was a kid, so that may have influenced that view.

Not that I dislike 47s. A nice piece of design, even though the banger blue ones used to make me groan when they turned up at the time!

5 hours ago, Porcy Mane said:

 

Not too sure about that. I'll let others decide.

Vi at left, Shawplan centre and latest Bachmann body at right.

 

 

A better pic of the buckets. Shawplan in the middle. What I think looks better with your work in progress is the backing plate. Also Bachmann provided an indication of the rubber grommets on the glazing itself, which makes the windows a touch too small. I have since acquired a set of Shawplan screens with backing plates, along with bits of Lima 40 and a spare Bachmann 37 body (better cab and nose shape than the Lima 40), so they will all get assembled at some point. The other 40s and 37s look close enough to me for now at least! 

57 minutes ago, Porcy Mane said:

 

Not too sure about that. I'll let others decide.

Vi at left, Shawplan centre and latest Bachmann body at right.

 

I was going to do all my 37s and 40s, but just stuck to doing the older 40s after overlaying a set of Shawplan etches on my Bachmann 40143 (was 40142). The match was very close shape wise, and the glazing arguably more flush on the Bachmann windscreens than was practical with the Shawplan etch. The earlier Bachmann 40s are out by some degree so got Shawplan etches, and Lima bodies (D200, the centre headcode 40160 in this pic). 

Here’s a Vitrains 37 with Shawplan windscreens, though I was unaware of the backing plates at the time I did this (and my 40s). I got some better horns and weathered it after this pic was taken.

Look forward to seeing how your 37 turns out. Excuse the edits, I was having fun trying to post off my iPad, so went up and finished things off on the big computer upstairs.

14 minutes ago, dj_crisp said:

I'm looking forward to seeing your 37s face in the flesh to assess whether you'll be the first to get the front glazing right. I'd happily pay more for etched frames and laserglaze fitted here.

To be fair, the latest Bachmann 37 and 40’s front windscreen compares very well to the Shawplan etch. However the Accurascale 37 has the grommets and the subtle recess around the windscreens, so it is the next level and I have one on order (and paid for), so it will be a nice treat when it comes. I went for the Large Logo splitbox one.

5 minutes ago, No Decorum said:

I have a soft spot for my Vitrains 37s and 47s. That is, once I got over trying to fit all the accessories, many of which didn’t fit. I think it’s a shame that they pulled out of the UK market.

They’re great. The 37 benefits from the Shawplan windscreens and the 47 for its time was brilliant, though the glazing is very prismatic. All great fun to rectify if you have the time and inclination, though.

43 minutes ago, 'CHARD said:

 

Something that a week ago, we didn't know existed, has - judging by your claim above - effectively forced you to acquire a pair of 47s from another source. 

 

This is an incredible piece of sales psychology that's left me shaking my head. 

 

Perhaps if I salivate over an advert  for a £3,900.00 bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne for a couple of hours, I'll 'end up' popping to Londis for two bottles of Schloer.

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. 

2 hours ago, GordonC said:

 

2D perhaps, but not all in uniform positions

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. 

24 minutes ago, charliepetty said:

The windows of a 304/305/308 are not symmetrical, they are angled upwards in the middle.

 

Charlie (DCKits)

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.

14 hours ago, wombatofludham said:

I hope one of the MUs is Irish, and Mk2 based...

...and another, British with a coathanger on the roof.  Probably a AM4 seeing as my winter modelling project is to try and build a banger blue one.

And please, not an 89, a vile, ugly freak loco that seemingly spent more time in sheds than Lady Chatterley.

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.

12 hours ago, PaulRhB said:

I seem to do more repainting and remembering for mates than myself!

I reckon half my modelling mates do a fair bit of repainting and numbering and the other half won’t touch it as they are too scared to damage a model they’ve had to save up for. Fortunately one mate who is scared stiff of renumbering locos is more than willing to rebuild a pc for me so we just share skills on what we feel confident doing  

 

 

Ok simplified as it was for his lad but it started out in IC livery

 

Even taken on some fairly extensive repaints for others  

 

These actually were for me and started as plain grey vans and I had to make the lettering transfers up too 

 

One advantage of locos with plates is they are much easier to renumber

I just find I need to be in the mood to take it on and I’ve renumbered some locos for others that cost quite a bit more than I can justify on one loco!

 

 

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.

20 minutes ago, Reorte said:

Being worried about messing up an expensive model is understandable, but there's often a heap of broken locos and bodies and so on for sale at exhibitions (hope they're back some day!) for next to nothing. You might not have a use for them on your layout, but they're ideal for practice - renumbering, weathering, you name it, doesn't matter if you completely trash them.

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.

16 hours ago, RichardT said:

As well as instant gratification there’s also the situation of more modellers coming into the hobby later in life, rather than as impecunious school children.  They may have a consequent reluctance to spend what precious time is left on developing skills, instead preferring to accept what the trade supplies in the interests of getting a layout completed (especially if later-life entrants are cash-rich as well as time-poor.)

 

Richard

 

 

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.

36 minutes ago, YesTor said:

Right, but even though the result may not be as great as you might wish for, you will undoubtedly have learned something toward acquiring and perfecting the relevant techniques along the way.  And you may very likely gain more pleasure over time from observing your perhaps less-than-perfect repaint than from simply plonking that flawless RTR example out-of-the-box on the track.  There's a lot of satisfaction to be gained from learning along the way.  All of which may inspire you to work on a second model later on, and so forth... 

 

All part of the fun/learning curve... 

 

Al

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.

Just now, Dunsignalling said:

In a word, yes., though perhaps with more of a fizz than a bang....  

 

John

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.

45 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Even though the older Heljan 47 was “a bit tubby” I always had this in preference to the Bachmann one.

Looking forward to the new one and sure it will be very competitive with the Bachmann one

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.

17 minutes ago, pharrc20 said:

Yes the version 6 models without letters took quite a while to shift, perhaps not as popular as the others.

Cheers Paul 

I got some etched letters from here .... https://www.cctrans.org.uk/ame.htm

Not stuck them on yet

8 minutes ago, lyneux said:

Why not just get yourself a few Lima ones then if you’re not too bothered about looking at them closely?

 

Save yourself a few quid and spare the trip to Caernarfon?

 

Guy

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.

7 minutes ago, pharrc20 said:

I was told some time ago by someone at the Hatton's shop that they own and have all the tooling for the ICI hoppers...

 

Often wondered what happened between H and OR for two very similar models of the Warwell to be produced within a few months of the other model.

 

I for one would love to see some more hoppers made given some of the prices they go for online (£83.06 for 2 the other day on hebay).

 

Cheers Paul

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....

5 minutes ago, mdvle said:

 

Which may not matter if you are at a point where you aren't enjoying it anymore and are looking for a change.

 

One of Rapido's Canadian employees went from earning good money as a transit bus driver to working for Rapido because it was far more enjoyable despite the pay cut.

 

 

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.

6 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

It may be disappointing for you but the reverse would be true for others, including me. I'm very happy to see a late 70s Bescot loco.

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.