97406

The ironic thing is that the era I model now, was modern image when I used to model the same era. in my teens.

Perhaps a sample of Zontar shouting ‘Sing, me beauties’ when the engines are at high revs. Link included just in case you’re wondering what the heck I’m going on about!

Another post from me in defence of Heljan. I have a number of diesels and the 86s, and manufacturing/quality-wise they are great. The are right up there with other modern locos. Sounds like you’ve picked up the odd dud one, but as Ben’s said on here, just return them and get a replacement sorted.

In addition I treated myself to a Bachmann 4MT for my birthday. It needed the uniform factory weathering cutting back with some IPA and a few cotton buds. It's a nice model and in demand for open days!

A little more free time and work has started on my remaining two departmental 40s, 97405 and 97408, based on the retooled Bachmann model. I have lowered them, detailed the chassis and they will get the Shawplan windscreens in due course as they just have the edge on the Bachmann screens shape-wise. I have also added the missing lifting points to 97407 and my other retool which is 40143 (not pictured here)

I’m tempted by the IC Mainline one. Will see how flush my wallet is when they hit the shops.

Another thing I was conscious of was not filling the entire space with as much track as possible. Leave a little space to help set the scene. A good backscene helps too. Mine's a panorama that I took off the top of a hill (Alport Height in Derbyshire). I just printed it onto A4 sheets and stuck them in place. Some of the poplar trees are there to hide the joins I cocked up!

This may be of interest... https://www.babydeltic.co.uk/news

Retaining walls, embankments, the bridge and the shed are all made from card, including downloaded kits from the likes of Scale Model Scenery. It's great what you can get online these days compared to when I were a lad!

I converted the 2 chests of drawers and added the baseboard and then used the Peco printable templates that you can download from the Peco website to work out a track plan. I tried to avoid laying all of the sidings parallel to the baseboard edges. Sadly, I didn't take many pics or join RMWeb during the early stages of the build last year. However, here's an aerial photo of the result. I forgot to mention before that there's a small fiddle yard to the right of the picture that joins with the lowest track under the bridge. It detaches from the main layout. The 61" length dimension I mentioned before is for the scenic bit, not the fiddle yard to the right which is about 30" additional length.

Glad you like it, squire! It’s definitely a good way to start, and the eventual aim is to incorporate it into a bigger layout. However this is likely to be a project for retirement in a few years’ time. I have plans for a shed/garden room for then, big enough for some larger radius curves with superelevation, which looks pretty cool. A tail chaser with fiddle yard.

I need a little friend to go with Teesside Steelmaster as it was normally coupled to 37502 back in the day, and I’ve just done the former via Bachmann and Shawplan.

I’ve gone for a punt on 37027, too. I am quite fond of split headcodes, one of the most bizarre concepts/designs out there. I used to think they were little televisions when I were a kid!

61” x 14”

I have a small collection of ‘preserved’ steam locos for my 80’s layout (I probably shouldn’t call it “modern image” any more). I quite fancy a standard class 4 tank and a black 5 at some point. It all goes back to the nostalgia of visiting Dinting and Steamtown with my Dad. I also have a small heritage diesel and electric fleet to go with the steam when I‘m feeling all retro.

The HMRS pressfix lining is a game changer. Here’s my 37 with orange and white lining all done with it. The only exception is the orange line on the front of the bonnet which is waterslide.

It’d be an easy respray job to do yourself.

Thank you. The 40s and 86s are my 2 favourite classes, closely followed by the rest. I have bought the remaining 2 departmental 40s, both Bachmann retools but they are awaiting the Shawplan windscreens, which look to be on back order with Brian at the moment as he’s had a rush on sales. That’s quite a worthwhile job to do, but the Bachmann retooled screens are already very close in their dimensions, compared to earlier 37s and 40s of any manufacturer. My method is slightly different to the way in which the etches were intended to be used, but it avoids having to make a cut across the bonnet of the loco, and allows the screens to be fitted and blended in with fresh paint easier. The downside is you lose a little of the flushness of the glazing due to the thickness of the etch. I also have a couple of Heljan 86/4s on pre order.

Lovely stuff, gives them a much better stance on the track. I think the extra height is manufactured into them to allow the wheels to clear the body on tight curves, but the lowered examples work fine on the smallest radius Peco streamline points, which I think are 2 foot radius. Had some fun with the chassis details (lifting points and the like) on the early Bachmann 40s, but a block a thick plasticard on the end of the water tanks restricted the bogie swing to stop them from being knocked off.

When I got my retooled examples, I displayed them on the mantlepiece, and it was really noticeable at eye level from my favorite armchair. My early Bachmann 40s ended up with Lima central body sections and didn’t need lowering. I’m also looking to lower my 37s, though I think it’s the bogie sideframes that are slightly too low, judging by the buffer height. Look forward to how your layout develops.

It's worth looking into lowering the Bachmann 40s a touch. Mine are lowered by about 0.8mm and it's easy to do by removing the plastic piece at the top of the bogie towers and sanding it down by about 0.8mm (measured with verniers). I still have to add the lifting points on mine, and I really should put smaller orange jumper plug/sockets on as well.

It's been a quite few weeks due to work and family commitments, but I have just outshopped Teesside Steelmaster

Yellow is more. tricky to match, but it can be done. Just playing with HMRS pressfix orange lining on a 37 and it is looking very promising at the moment.

I used this stuff https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193473002318?chn=ps&var=493681787875&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=493681787875_193473002318&targetid=1278608950936&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006965&poi=&campaignid=14727757850&mkgroupid=127133791123&rlsatarget=pla-1278608950936&abcId=9300671&merchantid=110620939&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlb3Bm7TW8wIVkoBQBh2l1gYvEAQYBiABEgINB_D_BwE