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I'm enjoying this thread immensely and great work. I grew up about 1/2 a mile from Navigation Road station which is in a couple of the pics above. I was alive when these were running but I only remember the 304s. Would love to see how the 304 turns out.

The Class 81 is starting to take shape with the Bachmann centre body section replaced with the Trix one. Liquid poly was used to attach the parts together followed by running a bead of flexible cyanoacrylate around the inside of each join followed by a spray with activator. It was necessary to file and sand the Trix rear cab roof sections and the cantrails back to match the Bachmann cab profiles. The recessed gutters have been filled on with car body filler and new tail lamps will be made from styrene tube as the existing lenses refused to budge on 2 tail lamps and the surrounds were slightly damaged trying to remove them. I've also tweaked the holes for the handrails downward a touch on the cab fronts as they are slightly lower than the 85. I'll do the tail lamps and plated headcode panels next.

I use an NCE Powercab (forgot to put that in my earlier track cleaning/thrash post). Standard PSU to boot.

The sound equipped AS 37s get used on track cleaning duties on my layout which involves a lot of drag from the cleaning wagon, which is great for enjoying the thrash and all perform faultlessly whilst on duty.

Project 81 is go. Bachmann 85 cabs will be grafted onto the 81 mid section and mounted on a Bachmann 85 chassis. The Trix cabs look a good starting point for the Class 83 so will be kept for reuse.

There was a Voyager episode titled "The 37s".

It wouldn't be in OO...

If you read the Accurascale and Cavalex threads then they are experiencing similar delays but the models always turn up in the end.

Regarding the sockets on the nose end PCBs, on mine, the plugs get levered out gently using a pair of thin-nosed pliers rocked in the recess between the plug and socket, followed by a fillet of epoxy applied around the base of the socket and the PCB with a cocktail stick before the plug goes back in. I avoid putting any epoxy over the soldered connections between the socket and PCB just in case. Hope that makes sense.

I’d be keen to know of a source as the fitting looks similar to the jumpers on Class 40 bogies either side under the nose ends. I’ve tried making them and also filing the overscale Bachmann parts down but not achieved the level of perfection I would like. I haven’t yet explored getting them printed though. Hmmm….

What a smashing picture too!

Google found this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325891832419 Links to a built 40 and the 47s are available off the above page.

10 minute job to fix. A little carefully applied masking tape removed the old data panels leaving a rectangular glossy patch for the new one to go on. Slid the new one on to some acrylic varnish and it will have a couple of thin coats of matt brushed over it when dry. Thanks for the eyes, folks!

I thought it did but I may be mixing it up with 106 having taken a closer look at photos of D200. I may just have to tweak it! It’s getting sound fitted next month so will sort it then unless I find some pics with it definitely in blue.

D200 coming off duty.

They were great times, eh? I passed my driving test in ‘86 so this opened up a whole new dimension to chasing the departmentals at places like Allerton, Garston, Helsby and Warrington. Also got a good look at them at Kingmoor, Crewe Basford Hall and Tyseley when they were withdrawn with all bar 060 getting preserved. It was regrettable that 060 was cut up as it lasted almost as long as D200 in service.

D200 has just been outshopped making for a late 80s full house.

The Heljan one isn’t all that bad and but for the SLW one and the retooled Bachmann one under development, it would be the best 25 available. There are a couple of small errors around the cabs, but it is far better than the old Bachmann model. I’ll be keeping mine, though I won’t be getting any more as the SLW and new Bachmann 25s are the best yet with SLW in the lead of course.

Longsight Part 2. 2 units which would be great in RTR form, to current standards especially.

Longsight.

Great shots! I remember it without trains and before it became GMex. The blue DMUs make it seem quite ‘modern’!

Absolutely smashing! Here's my fleet covering different times in the 80s with a toe hold in the 90s. Very pleased with them all told.

It was the curve on the cabs being too shallow that put me off the old Bachmann 25. I did get one and after squinting at it for a while, gave it Hornby cabs. I painted it up in Ice Cream Van livery as Tamworth Castle, but it’s a bit rough close up so it will be stripped and resprayed Banger Blue when its replacement arrives from SLW.

I use gloss acrylic varnish diluted with water borne acrylic paint thinners and the tiniest tad of washing up liquid making quite a runny mix. Place the window in its aperture and apply the mixture round the edge with a fine pointy brush letting capilliary action attract the liquid along the join. Let it dry and repeat if required. When it's all done and dry remove any excess off the pane with a cotton bud with a little more thinners or IPA for the more stubborn marks.