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Another picture. I like the centrally placed large logo. https://www.railwayherald.com/imagingcentre/view/383942/LC

I believe it was 56135 from brand new. Built in 1984. This is one I'd get if it was produced. Photo from Roddy McFee's Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/roddymacphee/

Don't you need to take it out of the box first before placing it on the track? 🤪

Agreed. Old skool locomotive lights were dim compared to most models.

The next project is to finish the re-cabbing of the 304 driving trailer so I can move onto the centre car. It's just about ready to paint.

You even get a free bridge with it!

Plus a little clumsy handling will replicate the effect below I stopped putting Shawplan fan grilles on my 37s and 40s as they're far too delicate for old Sausage Fingers here!

Some heavy freight power.

It's very asymmetrical, even down to the marker lights on the front. I prefer the red end (snigger!). It's a little strange that the radiator grilles are white, but the bodyside grilles are grey to hide the dirt.

And here's both new arrivals becoming acquainted with each other. I've toned down the weathering a touch on 81013 by wiping over the bodysides with a damp cotton wool pad. The enamel brake dust isn’t fully hardened yet so can be worn down a touch.

The pipework's a little fiddly due to the designers of the real 56 putting some of the pipes rather close together (how inconsiderate of them!) but the bits went on OK in the end.

Here's the other new arrival in the form of the Cavalex 56 in ex-works condition.

Deffo up for a Large Logo 56036 when its turn comes.

Haha, Will. I do think they look quite smart in clean Banger Blue. It’s the black windscreen grommets that really set it off. It will no doubt get the treatment soon!

It’s a lovely runner. I’ve just fitted a boggo decoder for now but I have the headlight, marker lights and one of the fans to play with. I will put an ESU decoder in, but I may just go for the sound upgrade. I have a DCC sound 56093 Tinsley large logo one on order too so looking forward to that. Anyhow, well done, fellas. A great model that will be adorning the little shelf by my desk all afternoon now.

Very nice. Do I win a prize? 😁

Class 81 rolls out looking far from ex-works.

56008 (DCC ready) has just been shipped from Rails if that’s of any assistance

Besides, it’s Class 56 time. It’ll be Class 25 time after next payday or the one after that.

Deffo want to see the 304 take shape. I did start one back in my youth, but that is long gone. I’m also building one from DC kits ends and Replica suburbans and I have recently turned my attention to redoing the cab end and roof on the ‘completed’ trailer. It will be fascinating to see the MTK one come to fruition. Here’s mine. I’ve cleaned off the dust since the second pic was taken:

He sounds like a right melt!

One of the earliest projects that I started when I rekindled the hobby during the pandemic was a Class 304 using DC Kits cab fronts on Replica Railways Mk1 suburban coach bodies. I wasn't happy with the cab windscreens on the completed driving trailer (I think it's the BDTSOL) and the headcode box was too small so i'm rectifying that whilst I'm awaiting the transfers for the 81. I've cast some new cab roof sections from a silicone mould taken off a Bachmann 108 in car body filler and I have fettled the spare cab front that I thought it prudent to get. Hopefully, I'll only need to repaint the cabs and cab roofs when it's all been assembled and filled. The DC Kits cab front's windscreens are different shapes, so they need filing out a touch but I went a little too far on my first attempt.

I love the picture at the end with them cleaning the rail! 🙂