andyman7

There was a period from about 1978 to 1990 when the Roy Cross artwork wasn't used or was in some cases amended but Cross's artwork has featured on the classic kits now in original form for around 30 years (obviously there are many kits issued since which have never had a Cross painting to use). What was also happened in some cases was to overpaint the original artwork to reflect changes to the kit markings - this was quite usual with the airliners

The Driving Trailer does not use either X9636M or X9637M. Hornby have never retooled the trailer car bogie design.

The Airfix tools would have been machined for producing a hundred thousand or more models - standard production numbers then. For most of their life they will have been worked at a fraction of the capacity they were designed for. Modern tools are used across much smaller production runs.

In virtually every case it is certain liveries that don't sell out rather than the models as a whole. In the case of AC electrics, TOPS and later era models don't generally end up in the bargain bins, it's the late 60s and steam crossover variants that stick a bit. the CEPS/BEPS were stock disposals by Bachmann. In Hattons style TMC took them on at what was no doubt an advantageous price.

The silver is not meant to cover the whole frame. On the original there is a raised bead around the window; to the inside of this is a polished/bare metal frame in which the window sits. By any measure, at less than £20 each these coaches are a bargain

I've rather gone the other way, with a very strong bias to Bachmann in the past few years as they have covered a lot of D&E models in liveries I like (as opposed to kettles...). Even where they go head to head I like their offerings and their shade of BR Blue really works for me

I don't think that's necessarily true but the focus on the researched project inevitably moves forward in time. I (and a whole cohort of fellow enthusiasts) am fascinated by the 70s railway and spend a lot of time researching the locos and stock of this period. Hornby, though, caters quite significantly for 'trophy' models - A4s, Coronation, LMS Black 5 in blinged-up colours - these have a market that sits alongside the researched hobby. There will be a core in a generations time who look to model with accuracy but I suspect that what will be niche will be modelling the 50s and 60s

The Eastbourne Models and Collector's Centre applied very distinctive white labels to their stock, and these still turn up in seemingly enormous numbers - a lot of stuff must have gone through there! I did visit a couple of times in the 80s, an Aladdin's Cave indeed

They sold through the entire first batch and the second batch have now passed the period where discounting is limited so a few places have them at around 25% off - hardly a fire sale. Looks-wise the Heljan 25 is great - a convincing leap ahead of anything previous, and it made it to market years ahead of revised Bachmann and SLW. So as far as I can see it's been well worth doing, and at £150 it's going to remain a contender. I'm certainly planning to keep the Heljan ones alongside my awaited SLW and Bachmann purchases. As far as the original Bachmann version goes, I did obtain this 25/0 that had been made out of the first release Bachmann 24, and refinished it in BR Blue as one of the few to gain the livery whilst retaining full skirts and original exhaust - the beauty of this being that the skirt hides that hideous false underframe

I think 3D prints might be the way to go as there still seems to be a complete absence of a range of UK streetlamps, the Bachmann Scenecraft ones being the only ones I know of that look British rather than international. There were a number of distinctive designs, especially the CU or Stanton concrete posts which were everywhere at some time but have almost completely disappeared in the last 20 years.

Just like 47s back in the day. We'll miss 'em when they're gone....

When setting a back to back for Triang wheels if refitting them to the axles I always aim for 14.1-14.2 mm for running on modern Code 100 set track

Time to add all the other fittings back - I'm missing one windscreen wiper which the donor model had lost, so I'll have to tackle that at some point. I will add a little light weathering to the roof and exhaust port but I'm really pleased to have a model of this variant.

Although I have a large boxfile of decals acquired over the years I didn't have any Rail Alphabet 'D's so took the opportunity to order a complete set of loco decals for D5165 from Railtec. The only shortcoming on the sheet was that it included 7 electrification flashes but D5165 needs eight as it had three on each end, so I had to borrow an additional one from another sheet. Then the process of adding in other details including the 'translucent' section of roof

The boiler grille needs plating over to reflect D5165 which is the chosen subject; Railmatch Rail Blue and Yellow were the colours used. Nite the way that the yellow extends down the edges of the skirts on this body variant