rob D2

I don't use FB, I just go on modelling sites and use my time better writing: " +10" Seriously, it's rather useful for distant friends via the messenger, stalking ex girlfriends , and generally seeing if you did better than school friends...

I'm interested in getting one - they are pretty common round the Swindon area where I now live. I'm slightly concerned I won't have much to run behind it though - are there any RTR mendip hoppers planned anywhere ?

Er, yeah, that's pretty much what happened here as well. Let's not revisit it.

Welcome back ! I'd ditch the old diesels - even with chips their performance will be worlds away from today's stuff.keep them as sentimental value - they won't be worth much else. Have a list of things - you must have on the layout - things you'd like to have. You say 2000 to present day. There was a massive amount of change in this period. Right at the start you still had 50/50 old diesels and the 66s and 67s coming on line.still had loco hauled cross country and vacuum braked old wagons for the engineers. Then it changed ! Nowadays the old stuff is mainly gone, there's a handful of older diesels on test trains and charters. Of course we know have the 68, 70, 88...... Personally I feel the earlier part of that period was way more interesting - are you going for nostalgia or does it have to be what you see on the tracks today ? There's a lot of questions I'd ask yourself before committing to using any of your cash. Getting the baseboards built is a good idea - or there are several companies that will sell you a flat pack version such as model railway solutions, white rose modelworks , tim horn baseboards. Have fun !

I tell you what save up £5 a month till September, then your dreams can come true

RE the 56, I had one that refused to move entirely. It took total strip and relube, through the top black bit of the bogie tower but it sounds like you did that

Hi, I notice on RTT a lot of paths for a 6M21 grain to brierly hill ( cancelled today ), Does anyone have any detail on the operator or product ?

I had a cab ride early 80s from twyford to Henley - but that could have been a 117. Fond memories of the smelly shaky vibrating things on my home branch at marlow which we often went to Maidenhead on to see the big trains ! I bet you can't wait for the Bachmann one dibber

Always wondered who Eddie was around didcot. Lots of " ah, Eddie " written int he dirt on various locos.

Is the body quite securely screwed on ? Always have issues with the light contacts if not quite tight enough

Bit more progress. Starting to add concrete surround, using three pieces between tracks to give that oil drain off cut out type thing. Have extended onto second board to use this inspection pit I've had for years. Looks a bit messy, the grey filler iswhere point pushrods go, so that I can put a back scene behind depot and still work them. This meant I had to reduce the pit length a tad. I'm probably goi g to extend it through the shed as well so I have space for another loco. Not quite like didcot ! That's it till at least Monday as works calls !

What's the only cake that makes you cry ? Wedding cake..... Nice work on the 37, there's something very satisfying about those sort of details and mods.

Well, after months and months of just playing trains and staring into space I'm starting to actually build again. The siding will become a fuel point, it's set up so I can extend it onto the fiddle yard side if the mojo stays and I decide to build a shed. It's all fairly logical as I like messing around with RTR diesels so this gives somewhere for them to sit and look nice. I've laid the siding to the board edge and wired it up. The border apron was sprayed in Halfords primer and then that suede plasticoat - I've gotta say the fans are right it is quite a good new concrete colour. I will then build up between the rails with thinner card to get an area where fuel can be spilled. Not very exciting but here it is

God , here we go again . Now what do I think that Bachman can make that'll actually sell ? Well Scotland is popular - more 37s/47s . People lap up this stuff . Joining in with the fantasists - personally I don't want every DRS engine . I'll have everything based at old oak from 1980 - 1985 , and everything that was ever owned by EWS . I'll have to delay getting the Porsche

Never knew BM had long range stuff before the A330.

Great work. I'm looking for a good ews colour match for Bachmann maroon so I may give those a go if they do Class 37 stuff. Funny what you say about things coming around.....in 2001 I brought railmatch loadhaul paints to respray a Lima 60. Never happened.....and the paint went off....and now again I'm looking at buying loadhaul colours to do a 37. 16 years ! Maybe I need a break from modelling this period !

Looking good ! Used to drive through there in my way from my parents back home to where I lived in daventry Always amazed me there was such a big railway network around there

Ah , ok , thanks simon . I guess nothing a bit of plastic won't fix but I'd probably just overlook it as I'm not too fussy

Ok confused now. I know the nose is too late for early split boxes on mine - it's Dutch with transrail. But that was an example, I was thinking roof as you mentioned roof... Cos I looked at a photo of 37012 and the nose was split box with doors like 114, so what stops you doing 012 , say, from the limited edition ?

I've got a 37043 from a 37035 in Dutch , what's the issue ?

Well after a 47 fell off my A4 workbench I got really annoyed and built this shelf onto the layout front . Finally have a workbench ! Overjoyed

I found a picture in the tech log recently and it said " god made engineers so pilots could have heroes too..." Rather liked that !

Wow, that's probably the best ballast and track combo I've ever seen on a model ! Superb .

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist it for the airbus boys.....

Moscow , 2013, engineer has his work cut out here I think