Roy L S

That is the Dapol model! "Wild Swan" Cheers Roy

Maybe someting like this? Roy

Hi Max I am in awe of some of the lovely 00 models I see in the thread and your B1 is a case in point, it looks spot on. Is the basis of the B1 is the excellent new Hornby model? I fancy getting one of those for it's sheer quality even though I do not model 00! The photo of the real 61347 certainly answers the question of electrification flashes for that loco, and possibly other St Margarets B1s too if their positioning was a depot related matter? Back to N (Sorry!). My lastest potterings in the modelling room also raised the question of electrifiction flashes in this case Canal's J39 64877 which pics show definitely had two flashes on the rear of the tender rather than one. My model is a renumbered and tweaked Union Mills offering, which I have seen a photo of on the Langholm Branch train. Mine, however is found a little further North on a Southbound local (Not sure at all about that Springside Headlamp though ). Roy

I have to say that when I flagged a problem with my N Gauge Class 26's lights Dave was very quick to offer to replace it even though technically my contract was with the retailer and not Dapol. I can only echo what others have said about Dave's commitment to sorting peope's issues out, it is a breath of fresh air and over and above the call of duty. Dont forget Dave's day job is product development not Customer Service and what he does on here for me is well beyond that, and I suspect much of it in his own time. I also find his candour refreshing when things don't go right with a product. Roy

A lovely looking model, delightfully dirty. I have a couple of de-named and renumbered "Green Arrows" and althought one is lightly weathered I am too chicken to really "go for it"! Ditto my "Strang Steel" really should NOT be that clean.. Regards Roy

Hi MHB There was a time when I got well stuck in to some kits and scratchbuilding and I keep telling myself I wil again some day, but with RTR so good now it is so difficult to achieve comparable standards of finish and detail. For now, here's the last of my display case locos out for a run. This time N2 69510 which was shedded at Hawick in BR days, we find it rumbling south past Whitrope Signal Bos with a short train of Dogfish ballast wagons, bound for Riccarton Junction Yard... And as you asked for a pic, here's my 61244 "Strang Steel" looking indecently clean running North on a Passenger turn bound for Edinburgh Waverley.I cannot find any pics of her with electrification flashes clearly showing, so I have decided to leave them off. This may be wrong of course, they may be well there buried under a layer of grime Roy

I agree, the locos look fantastic for the treatment they have been given (And they are excellent models to start with!) As for the layout the attention to detail is stunning, eveything so neatly and crisply modelled, and the track weathering is absolutely spot on. For me, modelling to this standard is something to aspire to. Roy

Another one i got out for a rare run was my D49 62746 "The Middleton". Here we see the loco, relegated to an engineering train running south. The loco body is again Plasticard and miscellaneous fittings from all sorts of places including some made from bits of sprue! Chassis is a de-motored Farish Compound of ancient provenance. This loco used Lenz Rotary valve-gear which made my life very easy, there is a representation of the cam drive on the other side of the loco. This side there should be a lubricator-drive - I bottled it! Power is provided by a bog-standard (Repaint only) Union Mills Group Standard tender-drive. I think it was in the end a little over weathered, and again it is best viewed without getting too close! I have never run it on my Whitrope layout before, and the old big flanges made a very interesting rumbling sound on the code 55 track - I think they were bottoming on the ballast . Oh well, back int the cabinet you go... Ah, and that's a rather out of focus "Strang Steel" in the background. I'll get the hang of this darned camera one day! Roy

Hi MHB Thank you. I actually knocked together a chassis unit ready for the Atso-Cad version, consisting of a Farish V2 chassis (De-motored - it burnt out - and gear-train removed) powered by a UM Tender-Drive which all works a treat. However from what I understand Steve has put the K3 on the back-burner for now, as he is unhappy with the overall height of the loco using the standard Farish V2 chassis sans rear truck. I still hope he does it, I will certainly have one it will mean that my own effort will hide deeper amongst the other stuff in the display cabinet, but until then... And yes, I too have my eye on a couple of those pigeon vans. Progeress to date looks extremely promising. Cheers Roy

Certainly as far as the tender rear is concerned, from what I have gleaned there is usually just one electrification flash towards the left as you look at the rear of the tender coinciding with the positioning of the steps on the body of the tender itself. As far as the locos are concerned I have to agree it is something of a minefield. I would be interested to know when they first started being used. I am thinking around 1960 probably, coinciding with the modernisation plan gaining momentum and electrification becoming more prevalent. However it seems very hit and miss, some seemingly pictured well into the 1960s without them, I seem to recall 61306 didn't have any? Was their use possibly therefore more of a regional isue rather than any firm rule? Also intersting if slightly less scientific, neither Late Crest Farish B1s has electrification flashes and Bachmann are generally very good on livery details such as this. Roy

Hi Lee The blurb underneath the pic on the Bachmann Website does say that this represents the BR green variant. Sounds like the other two initial releases will represent earlier BR models too but in blue.. Regards Roy

On the subject of locos, Here's something a bit different (for N Gauge at least) a couple of pics of my K3 61879, which I got out for a run. it usually resides in my display cabinet.. Loco and tender bodies are scratchbuilt (largely from platicard) it sits on a a modified "Crab" chassis. The loco is weighted with fine fishing shot in the boiler (!). Very crude (especially by modern standards) the loco is too long by about 5mm and I got the "sweep" of the footplate under the cab far too shallow, But Hey, it's a K3 in N Gauge, and probably the only way I will ever get one given the non-appearance of the Foxhunter kit! Roy

Hi MHB Still waiting for Blue Peter's plates sadly, but to be fair the gent at Modelmaster did say it could be a few weeks. In the meantime, having acquired a second Farish "Oliver Bury" from "The Signal Box" in a sale for £69.99 plus postage, after an afternoon's work in my modelling room,today there is now (at least) a second convert to 61244 "Strang Steel". Looking back at your lovely model earlier in the thread I noticed you have included electrification "flashes". Have you any info as to when these were added? Looking at the pic below: - http://www.railbrit....c=St%20Boswells There do not appear to be any on the front of the loco as far as I can see, so it looks like must be post 1962? I need to decide wheter to add them and also how much I weather the loco (if I do). Cheers Roy

Hi MHB A really lovely job you've done there! Regards Roy

HI MHB Just checked, The transfer set containing the Route Availabilities (And Power Classifications) is NGS 2004 (IMMT04) - description - 30 Prs of Cabside numbers for ex-LNER 4-6-2's, V2's W1's and B1's. Cheers Roy

Hi MHB Thank you. I was a bit disappointed with the photo to be honest, I think it looks somewhat better "In the flesh". Luckily the resin castings I had were reasonable and not too much work to make acceptable apart from the chimney which was only fit for the bin - I made a replacement out of laminated plastikard, a drill and a lot of filing! The decals are all NGS "Modelmaster". Four individual elements make up the cabside lining, each applied seperately, The tender is similar but eight elements each side - the test is to get them all straight and true! The "60532" is a complete decal cut from a sheet Modelmaster (Again NGS) do for ex-LNER large locos. The "RA9" is an individual trasfer (miniscule!) provided with another NGS pack - I cant remember which one now, I will have a look when I am in my modelling room later. !t took a lot of cursing and teasing with a scalpel to get into position! Cheers Roy

And another slightly better one...

Well here it is, Finished but for now minus nameplates which are on order from Modelmaster which may be a few weeks as apparently he is re-doing the artwork for the etch to make it finer.. Substituting for a failed Peak on the Up "Waverley" 60532 "Blue Peter" approaches Whitrope Cabin.. Roy

Hi Ph Those are two fantastic pictures - thank you.. However I have just come to realise that my options are even more limited than I thought. My A2 has a double-chimney :-( Roy

The mention of Peppercorn A2's a while back caused me to finally dig out a part finished N Gauge resin kit (Make I cannot recall) I had put to one side last weekend. The basic painting had been done, and the reason I left it was that I was not totally happy with the finish of the resin body. However as I had a chassis for it kicking around I thought I may as well finish it. Thus far the loco is lined, but that got me to pondering on a suitable prototype. It was to have been 60532 "Blue Peter" but as I cannot find the nameplates I bought for it a few years ago anywhere the canvas is now blank. So, to those more knowledgeable than I a few questions if I may: - 1) What would be a suitable prototype for Late Crest (say 1957-63) regularly seen on the line. 2) I planned to give it Express Passenger Headcode and apply a rather nice etched "The Waverley" headboard I have - it there a realistic prospect that an A2 would have hauled the train during that period? 3) Longest train my little layout could realistically take would be 7 coaches - would it be possible to repersent "The Waverley" within that and what would a likely train consist of coaches wise? Any thoughts/opinions most gratefully received. Roy

Yep, just like that! Nice one

That's a great picture! Looks like 3 Mk1's, 4 assorted short wheelbase vans and is that a 4 wheel CCT at the rear? Got to be worth trying to replicate:)

I hope people will indulge me, a pic of miy new 26 below on a Northbound passenger turn, passing Whitrope Siding. What can be spotted if you look carefully is the inevitable "tail-traffic", a single van at the rear. Roy

Well my new 26 arrived today (with many thanks to Dave Jones of Dapol). It looks and runs just as sweetly as the first, and the lights work perfectly:-) Attached is a pic of it on a northbound passenger turn, passing Whitrope Siding signal box. Roy

Hi Dave Fantastic! Many thanks for your personal involvement in getting the matter sorted out for me, . Reading the rave reviews here and elsewhere from those who have them (and already knowing just how good it is) I am jealously and impatiently waiting for it to arrive;) Cheers Roy