35 Ark Royal

After my very brief flitation with N gauge that was quite frankly a disaster i went back to 00 and Vacs were top of the list however as i have gone down the sound route my fleet is all preserved as i run present day but maintain hereitage locos(mainly 50's of course. My Current small fleet is as follows, but i will upload pics of ones i am getting rid off and were in my fleet. Current Fleet 50017 Royal Oak RNSE with sound 50035 Ark Royal Large Logo with sound weathered, radio roof pods, NSE flashes in the headcode box Planned 50007 Sir Edward Elgar GW green preserved but plans to add black plates.Sound 50015 Valiant Dutch 50033 Glorious Large Logo 50008 Thunderer Laira Blue Possible 50050 Fearless BR blue unrefurbished/ D400 Refurbished/50050 Fearless Large Logo have not decided. Waiting disposal 50018 Resolution RNSE 50046 Ajax L Logo Some pics

The cabshore radio was fitted i believe so drivers could contact the singnalman without getting out of the cab.Locos which had it fitted include 50001/002/003/004/005/007/008/009/015/016/017/018/019/020/021/022/023/024/025/026/027/028/029/030/031/032/033/034/035/036/037/038/039/040/041/042/043/044/045/046/048/049/149/050/D400

I agree if somebody did do a RR Vac in O gauge id have to get one but no prizes for guessing what number it would be

So i think we all agree the Hornby model has a lot of faults with wrong front windows,adding windows when they shouldn,t etc.However in my view with all it,s faults you lucky 4mm modellers still have a half decent loco.If you think the windows are wrong on the Hornby model,just look at the Farish model in 2mm the front looks flat, the model looks like a toy and add to that no lighting. I think the worse model they did was Dauntless you only have to look at ebay to find loads in the bargain basket.Where as Lion with the incorrect window and to light light blue RNSE livery seems to fetch a high price.So i obviously think people other than diehard vac fans like ourselves buy them regargdless or ingnorant of thier faults.I would be interested to know out of thier high spec models classes 31/50/56 and 60 which is the bigger seller?

Correct 17 and 48.Hellfire cant wait to see the pics of Victorious as she was my 7th favourite R.I.P

i'd sell my Hornby ones and buy 50 of them (honestly). even at say £150 a piece. Bloodey hell you must be a millionare!!

Also add that Glorious had painted axleboxes and bulled up bogie springs similar to Ark Royal It was repainted and had a major exam to replace the ill fated Invincible.Also at one stage Implacable was considered as a replacement for Invincible but in the end the decision for reinstating it was against.

Yes indeed you are right 50033 did have snowploughs along with Vanguard,and Victorious were the only Old Oak Common Vacs allocated to the NWRA t and c pool to have them fitted.Rodney although fitted with ploughs at one stage was only ever allocated to NXXA and i think if memory serves ended its days wih ploughs as one of Laira's DCWA Locos.Sorry thats posting late at night.However in my defence by May 1990 i think they had been removed.Ok question for you what were the only 2 vacs to carry all 3 variants of NSE? I am sure i have already answered this in a previous post.

Thanks Guys and i never knew about Royal Oak even though all the miles i travelled behind as she was my second machine.Just shows when your bashing you don't notice anything.I am presuming Flood that 50017 only had this as an ONSE Loco? To Mark as regards D400/50050 I did not mention this as i thought most knew but thanks anyway.As regards 33 youre favourite i did not notice this so well pointed out.She was my sixth machine.Sadly the fate of this fine loco is far from secure.After all Laira's hardwork when they presented Glorious to the NRM who in turn let it go to rack and ruin .As for STEAM the less said the better.

I bet you any money that they will release Illustrious with the Orange cantrail stripe which of course it never carried while in Large Logo livery as it was released from Donney in ONSE in October 86.Of course if Hornby realy cared not only could they issue it without the cantrail stripe but they could add snowploughs as it carried theese for a short period in late 85 and early 86 and if memory serves was the first vac to do so. As i have already stated why do Illustrious again anyway?tThey should instead do 50039 Implacable from 1988 so the orange cantrail stripe is correct but add roof pods and NSE flashes in headcode box (as NWRA loco. I rated both when following the class but say if i had a choice of theese 2 out of Padd i would do 39 everytime as Implacable IMHO was the better loco.I have always had a soft spot for the loco as the first time i saw it August 1980 was at reading on FIRE !!! and had to be put out by the local fire brigade and also was the first one i had on the down beds and finally a very fast run Plymouth -Bristol August 86 ensured that 39 was my fourth favourite.R.I.P

Hi here is a list of class 50,s which have been allocated to NSE including detail differences could be useful if you model in 4mm or mad enough to do 2mm!! 50001 Std Large Logo/ RNSE Light , NSE flashes on headcode boxes roof pods 50002 Onse (Doncaster)roof pods,NSE flashes on headcode box crests/RNSE Dark,roof pods, NSE flashes on headcode box, West of England badge (no crests) 50003 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods 50005 RNSE Light with crests roof pods,RNSE dark Unbranded (ran for a few weeks RNSE dark West of England badge roof pods crest on one side 50007 GW Green roof pods Painted axleboxes/white wheel rims. 50008 L Logo Roof pods large crests (very shortlived with NSE) 50009 L Logo roof pods.Dcwa flashes under cabside/RNSE dark roof pods, NSE flashes on headcode box, West of England badge. 50010 L Logo D410 on headcode box one end only(Again shortlived) 50013 L Logo (Shortlived as withdrawn with fire damage April 88) 50015 L Logo (shortlived) 50016 L Logo black roof roof pods/RNSE dark NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods,West of England badge 50017 ONSE NSE flashes on headcode box roof pods/RNSE light same as ONSE/RNSE dark roof pods NSE flashes on headcode box/West of England badge 50018 ONSE Snowploughs/roof pods NSE flashes on headcode box/RNSE Light All same as ONSE 50019 ONSE roof pods,NSE flashes on headcode box. 50021 L Logo roof pods(Shortlived) 50022 SAME AS 50021 50023 ONSE roof pods,NSE flashes on headcode box/RNSE dark same as ONSE 50024 L Logo Black roof/RNSE Light Snowploughs,roof pods, NSE flashes on headcode box/RNSE dark roof pods, Oversized NSE flashes on headcode box/West of England Badge 50025 ONSE roof pods/NSE flashes on headcode box 50026 ONSE roof pods/NSE flashes on headcode box,26 in black or white one end only? /Black window surrounds. 50027 RNSE Light roof pods/NSE flashes on headcode box/427 in white lower bodyside (One end only)RNSE dark no br logo/no NSE flashes on headcode box (one end only/roof pods 50028 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods 428 in white lower bodyside one end only 50029 ONSE NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods/RNSE dark same as ONSE/West of England badge 50030 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box ,roof pods.Late 91 had cab door and part of cab painted into RNSE dark (one end only) 50031 L Logo Nse flashes on headcode box,roof pods retained crests/May 1991 recieved full repaint including white wheel rims 50032 ONSE Nse flashes on headcode box,roof pods/black window surrounds/432 on lower bodyside(cab) Blue plates Crests(lost Jan 89) 50033 L Logo NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods/RNSE dark nameplates in incorrect position,NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods/May 92 West of England badge added. 50034 ONSE NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods 034 in white lower bodyside (cab) one end only/RNSE dark roof pods NO NSE flashes in headcode box.Also 1990 lost BR EMBLEM) 434 in white lower bodyside cab one end only 50035 ONSE NSE flashes inheadcode box , radio roof pods,painted axleboxes with red stripe through middle,35 in black above the headlight both ends(Lost large pattern crests Jan 89)RNSE dark NO Nse flashes on both headcode boxes, Painted axleboxes same as ONSE but also bogie springs as well,roof pods 50036 L Logo red buffer beams,NSE flashes on both headcode boxes,roof pods,painted axleboxes/silver buffers (shortlived) 50037 ONSE (Doncaster) NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods(Lost both crests Jan 89) RNSE Nse flashes on headcode box,roof pods/West of England badge 50038 L Logo NSE ,roof pods (Shortlived) 50039 same as 50038 but painted axleboxes 50040 L Logo NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods 50040 in black above NSE flashes on headcode box one end only)Shortlived) Crests lost Jan 89) 50041 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods 50043 RNSE light, roof pods NSE flashes on headcode box/RNSE dark same as RNSE light but West of England badges) 50044 ONSE (Doncaster variation) NSE flashes on both headcode boxes/RNSE light NSE flashes on both headcode boxes,roof pods, retained both or at least i crest up until withdrawl 50045 L Logo roof pods,DCWA stripes below cab window/RNSE dark NSE flashes on both headcode boxes,roof pods (Ran without Achilles plates during Sept/Oct 89) 50046 L Logo Black roof,roof pods 46 in headcode box one end only(During 1991 both cab ends repainted in yellow) 50048 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods/RNSE dark same as RNSE light but West of England badges 50049 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box, roof pods 149 14 been in black and the 9 been in blue on front of loco one end 50050 RNSE Light NSE flashes on headcode box,roof pods/large pattern crests (Lost 1 in Jan 89) BR blue as D400 roof pods,no plates/Painted axleboxes and white wheel rims April 91 Interesting to note that in the case of 50048 which Hornby choose to model as thier first ONSE model was actually while in that livery allocated to Parcels and DCWA not coming onto NSE books until Aug 1988 by which time it was already in RNSE light livery so along with Exeter theese were the first two to lose the ONSE livery.

Yes you are right about 35,but i think they modelled it as in preserved condition and hoped that people would not notice.Regarding the orange stripe the first loco to recieve this was Rodney ex Donny Jan 86.I will bet all my money now that the fortcoming model of Sound Fitted Illustrious in Large Logo will have the orange stripe.Which yet again will be WRONG as the loco like 35 never carried the orange stripe in service in this livery.It will be a carbon copy of 35 just a different running number.Like you i was surprised about St Vincent not having DCWA stripes which i think on Hornby's part was very lazy as the loco carried theese while having the ships crests.If you look back to the early days of the later Lima models (i know very poor models) but Ramillies LE had the DCWA stripe and Furious had 434 on lower bodyside.So if the Italians can do all theese extra things that are very modeable why cant Hornby.Going back to the abysmal 048 if you look at Lima,s Exeter paintwise is a lot more accurate and standard Onse Invincible paintwise again correct.I am not saying that Lima is a better model than Hornby but what i am saying is that i think Lima did more reserch and some of the paint jobs have been more accurate than Hornby. Phrehaps Vi trains or Bachmann may come to the rescue and release a more accurate model with more of the other liveries and give Hornby a run for thier money?

I would disagree others they have got right include 50002/004/007/020/031/035/037 and 149.As regards 35 i would have prefered it in either Original NSE OR Revised NSE dark blue with painted axleboxes bogie springs etc.Old Oak Common kew how to look after thier vacs(Especially the flagship of the fleet However after the total mess they made of Dauntless phrehaps this was a good thing.In the case of Superb you would of course have to remove the awful factory weatering.As 48 is such a poor seller i think Hornby will probably stick to a safe livery like L Logo.However i am still amazed that they have not done L Logo with a Black roof one of the 50's most popular liveries.Instead of Illustrious as a sound loco which Hornby have already done as an unrefurbished loco i would have done Warspite or Ajax r.i.p in the L Logo livery but with the black roof.If it has to be L Logo with a grey roof i think Implacable would have been a better choice as it has not been done by Lima or Hornby.

While sadly i no longer have any 50's as a house move forced me to downsize i thought i would respond to Darren's plans for 50048,if you are painting the loco dark blue you would have to remove the upswept stripes both ends and replace the br emblem with the West of England badge as Dauntless carried this while painted in dark blue.No ONSE Class 50 carried te dark blue livey. I also think that another reason the model of Dauntless is so unpoplar is that Hornby chose to model one of the obscure Doncaster variation with the high orange cantrail stripe and the blue painted cab doors namely 50002/037/044 and 048 instead of standard version with white cab doors as carried by 50017/018/019/023/025/026/029/032/034 and 035.This meant renubering to one of the standard locos is made a lot more difficult as a lot of work involved. I suspect most people have either modelled Superb, Illustrious and Exeter or done a complete respray to get a decent model. I think Hornby missed a trick here as they should have modelled either 50032 Courageous with the blue plates or 50026 Indomitable as theese both lasted till October and November 1990. I suspect Hornby's research very poor as 048 a very strange choice as it lasted less than a year in this livery!!! and was the second to be repainted in to the revised NSE lighter blue after Exeter. For the record Dauntless and Royal Ok were the only 2 class 50's to be painted in the 3 variants of NSE livery.

Hi All just a quick update regarding Implacable i am still awaiting the plates so currently still 41 without the Bulwark plates. I am looking forward to Implacable joining my small stud of Old Oak Common machines.Surely along with Furious in my opinion one of the most underated of the entire class.I can honestly say i never had a bad run with 39 and it was always fast.Also possibly again in my opinion one of the best names.It was also withdrawn with a relatively minor problem a coolant leak, and with the demise of Invincible was considered by NSE as possible replacement.However sadly decision was against; this was probably as the writing was firmly on the wall for the class.So Implacable remained at it's home Depot until in July 91 when it was put to the torch still with it,s Power Unit still in situ. I am of course modelling the Loco during it,s twighlight years from February 1988 as an NWRA TandC machine. Anyway will add pictues of the loco to my website when it is finished.

Whoops a typing error should have read September Anyway as anyone seen on ebay TMC Weathered 50's 50042 Triumph in BR Blue and 50027 Lion in RNSE both AT ??140.00.How can they justify the price especially with Lion as no reumbering involved just weathering and a cast plate!!! Can't see anyone buying theese and then there is postage on top.

My Ark Royal certainly looks the part resplendent in Original Network South East Livery with painted axleboxes with the red stripe in the middle This is what Old Oak Common used to turn out thier 50's particuarly in Later Years. To Scott if you choose to model 50043 Eagle in Large Logo livery towards end of it's life ,you will need some modellers licence as last livery it carried was Revised Network South East Dark Blue.Last large Logo Livery it carried was with Black Roof back in Septemner 1987.By the 11th Novemer it was in RNSE in the Lighter Blue Scheme.Anyway good luck with Eagle whatever Livery you choose.

Ahh Snotvac it is about time it was returned to Hercules.Anybody going to model this Loco either in BR Banger Blue or Large Logo Livery as Hercules? I suspect most people who have 7 in thier fleet will have in the Green Livery either weathered or not as Sir Edward Elgar as most people remember it in this guise and the Livery different from the rest.

For pictures of Courageous, Furious and Ark Royal please go to http://westsidestation.webs.com/ Mark i like your 50 fleet , particuarly jealous of 50017 Very nice looking fleet.

God i wish i had that many, due to a house move i was forced to downsize and sell some of my stock.While i would love 15 50's i feel my layout only big enough for 10 and i need other loco's as well at least 2 of Lougboroughs finest sulzer traction most 50 fan's pet hate.Whilist i hate spoons i feel layout not realistic with just 50's as how many times did the wretched 47's bowl you out while bashing the class. To Temeraire i am glad it does not bother you with your favourite loco. Modelling is about compromise and i have to for the time been live with the stripes on 32 and 34. Love the weathering on Temeraire it's just how i remember it during the twighlight days of the class on the Mule.

To Temeraire yes i know what you mean about renumbering been a slow process as i am planning on extending my layout which takes time. However you are up on me as you have the loco's ready for renumbering where as i still have to buy for renumbering to 50014/017/019/033 and 050.As i plan on using Lion as base model for Royal Oak and Fearless theese will be more difficult as i have to replace an extra window added by Hornby with a grill.Also on fearless the handrails will need removing which means repainting the yellow. How did you overcome the extra window problem on Temeraire? I could use a Superb for base model for Royal Oak but would then need modellers licence as 34 and 35 both in RNSE Dark Blue at that time.Does the factory weathering easily come of and is it easy to renumber? As for Ramillies i have no choice but to do a respray so unless Hornby releases it in the Laira Blue Livery i shall probably leave to last. At the works Bulwark plates have come of, now if only they were of the real thing i could sell them for ?????? on ebay and add loads more vacs to my fleet .

Yes once i had chosen those 2 32 and 34 nameplates already fitted so the white cab door had to be done.I think Hornby missed the boat here by releasing one of the obscure Doncaster ones as more peolple would have bought the the ONSE model if it had been one of the standard ones ie 50017/018/023/025/026/029/032/034/035/.I think Courageous would have been a much better choice than Dauntless as in the standard livery and benifit of been unique with the blue nameplates. As i said i won't be buying any more of 048 to re number as just too much work.I was going to use 48 as base model for Royal Oak but have now decided to either purchase a Lion or a Superb, either causes more work as 27 would need a grill as it has an extra window and 2 would need the awful weathering removed. Dauntless you can now pick up for as cheap as ??50 which shows model is unpopular and not a good seller.

I will try and add some photos of my existing fleet over the next few days. To Rich did you renumber 37 Illustrious from 50048? I rather foolishley renumbered 50032 Courageous and 50034 Furious from 50048 and realised i had to paint the cab doors white.I won't be buying any more of 048 to renumber as it is just too much work!!! 50035 Ark Royal on the other hand the pride of my fleet is a complete respray. 50041 Bulwark was an impulse buy of ebay which did not fit in with my time period or now as one of my top 10 locos so renumbering to 50039 Implacable is the best decision. I intend to just have my 10 favourite vacs.However if Hornby were to release any of the following in the appropiate liveries i would be tempted. 50001 RNSE light/blue 50009 Large Logo RNSE Dark Blue 50024 RNSE Light Blue 50025 ONSE 50028 RNSE Light Blue 50029 ONSE/RNSE Dark Blue 50030 RNSE Light Blue 50044 RNSE Light Blue or Un refurbished preserved condition 50046 Large Logo with black roof and 46 on headcode box. I Also may buy 50004.

Hi Rich Interesting that 2 of the locos in your fleet Victorious and Implacable are also hopefuly to be in my fleet.On what basis did you decide to model theese?Mine are runs behind and mileage with Victorious been one of the first one i had direct via the old High Wycombe route Padd to Brum and Implacable the first one i had on the down midnight Reading to Penzance.Also a storming run Plymouth to Bristol in August 1986. Also interesting to note you also plan to model Warspite with black roof.My admiration for this fine loco goes back to the days it was unrefurbished with most mileage achieved from unmodified vac.In 1987 i chased it and managed to get it to Portsmouth Harbour and Newquay before withdrawl.I also think it had one of the best names if you compare it to Benbow or Barham both of which in the bottom pile but not just for the names Also as regards 39 when i was a kid one afternnon at Reading 30/08/1980 this loco came into the station on fire!!, the train crew were unable to put out the fire so the fire brigade attended.This was the first time i saw the loco!! All three now sady a memory r.i.p

Hi don't know what happened to the old site but Here is my small fleet of Hornby Class 50's I model the 87 - 89 period 50032 Courageous ONSE Weathered with blue nameplates and painted axleboxes 50034 Furious ONSE Weathered with painted axleboxes and 034 on cabsides 50035 Ark Royal ONSE lightley Weathered with 35 above healight both ends and driver in cab To Arrive 50036 Victorious Large Logo with red bufferbeams and NSE flashes on headcode box.Lightley Weathered and painted axleboxes In Works 50039 Implacable Large Logo Weathered complete with radio roof pods NSE flashes on headcode boxes and painted axleboxes (loco currently 50041 Bulwark) The plan is to eventually model my top 10 locos in my chosen livery which are 1. 50035 Ark Royal ONSE YES 2. 50017 Royal Oak RNSE Light Blue NO 3. 50034 Furious ONSE YES 4. 50039 Implacable Large Logo with radio roof pods, NSE flashes on headcode box and painted axleboxes IN WORKS 5. 50019 Ramillies Laira Blue Civil Engineering Livery NO 6. 50033 Glorious same as 039 NO 7. 50036 Victorious same as 033/039 but red buffer beams and radio roof pods to add TO ARRIVE 8. 50032 Courageous ONSE with Blue Nameplates YES 9. 50050 Fearless RNSE light Blue with Crests NO 10.50014 Warspite Large Logo with red buffer beams and Black roof.NO NB NB For modelling purpouses i have chosen this loco as it was a toss up between 50004 St Vincent and 50030 Repulse, although least mileage i have chosen Warspite for Livery difference plus it was a firm favourite of mine and sadly the 3rd to go 50014 Warspite r.i.p .