1977joey

I know such as the provincial Class 150/1’s that were announced 2 years ago & still no ETA on those, these are simply a re issue in a different livery. I agree with you though Fezza, it must be off putting starting from scratch with the limited availability of N Gauge models right now, which if there was the availability of the models, N gauge would be more popular simply due to the fact you can fit twice as much in the space of a OO gauge layout, so if your space starved & want a decent layout it’s the obvious choice. Luckily I’ve built my fleet up since 2005 time, tho now regret selling off my old tooling Mark 2 air con coaches while we sit & continue the painful wait for the new tooled Mark 2fs that were announced years ago lol! Cheers, Mark

Just looking at the Bachmann website, it looks like the availability has been updated & see that the Mark 2fs are now pushed back to October, which to be fair I’m not surprised at with the current climate we’re in right now, though still frustrated at the fact (pre Covid 19) we should have had them in the shops December gone having being pushed back from September!... Still no ETA on the provincial 150/1’s which I’m also eagerly waiting for... Stay safe Peeps, Mark

I really REALLY hope Bachmann shrink the Class 117 & give us a Farish N gauge one! It looks superb! So pretty please Bachmann, us N gauges are crying out for larger suburban DMUs too... Cheers, Mark

A few more, a 3 Car DMU approaches Platform 6 with a terminating local service from Wolverhampton, there is a fair few passengers on this DMU for the Aberystwyth service. On arrival at Platform 6, passengers scurry around to platform 5 for the waiting Sprinter for Aber... Cheers for now, Mark

Well a short running session this morning, it's April 1987, A Bristol to Manchester postal service approaches Platform 4 while in bay Platform 5, the 0920 Shrewford to Aberystwyth Class 150 4 car Sprinter waits for the road... Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, Well more modelling done today, though this time with a locomotive. 37426 is my favourite of the 37'4's as I saw it named at Aberystwyth when I was just 8 years old back in may 1986. It was to mark the introduction of the 'InterCity' Cambrian coast Express, London Euston to/from Aberystwyth from that time & class 150 Sprinters taking over from First generation DMU's on the line. The only Large Logo Class 37 loco I could find to do this was the collectors 37558 Avro Vulcan set. I only required the 37 so have sold on the aircraft to an aviation enthusiast So today I've renumbered & renamed her into 37426 by the excellent Railtec Transfers. I have also with a tiny bit of thin brass put an impression of the small Vale of Rheidol plaque beneath the name. I have to admit the numbers & names were very stubborn to get off, but with a little patience & persistence, i managed to get all removed. I also backdated the overhead warning flashed with Fox transfers one's. I'm now just waiting for some small Welsh Dragons for the cab sides to complete her. I've also painted the buffers grey & put in the black grease marks. Here are some pictures of today's modelling aswell as her in action at Shrewford together with her sister, 37429 'Eisteddfod Genedlaethol' And finally a short video showing the loco's departing Shrewford with the 'Snowdonian' to Pwlheli Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, Well how times have changed since my last post, I hope everyone is keeping well & healthy. As i work for the real railway, I spend a lot of time socializing when not at work, now this is not possible, I'm turning my attention to the layout. Over the last few weeks I've been detailing the scene around the football ground & the river. Still some bits to finish off, tho I'll have to wait to get the materials when my local model shop has reopened. This is the football ground & river scene so far.... This shows I've fenced off the Signal box area & car park, I've also printed off 'The English Bridge' as a back drop. The reason I have a low back scene is for easy access to clean track & reach over the rear of the layout. Another shot of the 'River Severn' And finally the south end showing a Class 37 hauled Cardiff to Liverpool service entering the station area. Still lots of detailing to do around the football stands. Next on my list was to find something to fill the northern most corner of the street scene at the Chester end of the layout. I googled cinema's & found a kinsgway models Art deco Odeon cinema, which I thought would set it off. Here's some pictures showing it's construction as of last night, to completion today. I'm really pleased as it's set off this end of the layout. I now need railings in front of where the road & pavement sloped downwards under the railway & to blend in the side area. Construction of the cinema begins.. The shell of the building placed on the layout for size And now complete! As can be seen from this picture, the road markings still need to be done A shot from Railway level showing a Class 47 hauled service departing the station heading north to Manchester Piccadilly, the cinema forming the backdrop Cheers for now, Stay safe everyone Mark

Hi Tom, Let us know how you get on Re the Mark 2f's... I've sold off all my old tooled one's a while ago thinking they'd be ready on the shelves December gone lol! Cheers, Mark

Hmm, so now it looks like we have no idea when any of the outstanding items are due, unless they change that with the next update. Last I saw of the Mark 2F's was June so I everything crossed they are sticking to this ... Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, After a bit of an absence and a very difficult year, I honestly haven't done anything to the layout since my last post. However after seeing posts on various sites of the repainted HST marking the end of operations on LNER, it's inspired me to give my trains a run this morning, aswell as my HST. So...The 1121 InterCity to London Euston waits at Platform 4 hauled by a banger blue 47, A 3 car hybrid 150 Sprinter has not long arrived at Platform 5 with a local from Wolverhampton, & the 1115 Liverpool to Plymouth HST arrives at Platform 7 (this was a diversion service via Salop in real life but I've pinched it with modellers licence as a timetabled train as an excuse to run a HST ) I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy & Prosperous 2020

The class 117 DMU..... one can dream lol!

David I know, just short of £50 RRP for a carriage is eye watering. The fact they keep being put back each year then the price rising feels really unfair. It feels the longer we have to do without the models, we're also having to pay more for the wait! Cheers, Mark

So June 2020 then for the Mark 2F's. Everything crossed they can keep to this & the price doesn't go up on them...!! Cheers, Mark

Totally agree Montyburns! I was already feeling like that seeing they'd been pushed back to February after an already long 7 year wait! The OO guys have had theirs out for months aswell as Hornby doing they're variety of the Mark 2F, cheaper version too...talk about spoilt for choice! I really wish other manufacturers would get into N Gauge & give us even half the variety of what the OO guys get...and get them into production. They say a layout is never complete, but when it comes to waiting for rolling stock that was announced 7 years ago and still waiting while they keep moving the goal posts and the price, feels like it's taking the Mick. Cheers, Mark

Mark 2F's now pushed back to January/February 2020 now I see too...

Hi Peter, discovered this video on youtube & thought it would be of interest, totally your location & Era enjoy... Cheers, Mark

Just found this thread. I very much want an N gauge Class 116 or 117 unit in N, it's been on my wish list for years! Can't believe Bachmann (after it being a most wanted model in N for a good couple of years running) are only doing it in OO so far. I'm also hoping Dapol fill the gap with one of these units. Looking forward to seeing the progress on this model your doing john.... All the best, Mark

Ah there we go, it's now let me post the last 3 pictures on my laptop, the 101 DMU departs for Wolverhampton & the 37 departs for Aberystwyth....

Cheers Simon, hope your well? I'll have another go in the week as I'm on a break this weekend.. All the best, Mark

I had got more pictures to post, tho I keep getting a warning saying I'm only allowed 10MB, I thought that was per post so tried again here on a new one....but never mind... thought the older version of RMweb was easier to use Cheers Mark

Hi Everyone, Well been a while since I updated my thread, so I thought it was about time. The football ground has since been completed, though this does need the area around it detailing & I also need to finish detailing the river area of the layout... Also had a few running sessions as it's been too hot to do anything else, that's as long as I can stand the room even with the fan on lol! The next series of pictures shows the delayed 1019 chester to Wolverhampton DMU approaching Platform 7 while in Platform 6 the 1050 Shrewford to Aberystwyth waits, formed of 37429 & 5 Mark 1's, during July & August this service is loco hauled instead of a crowded 2 car Sprinter! A Class 25 is on the centre road with some empty OBA wagons bound for Bescot

Many thanks David, glad you like it Thanks Imsforever, Plenty more to come, especially with summer saturday loco haulage coming up 80's style Cheers, Mark

Thanks Mark , Well I had another running session last thursday when really I should be completing the football ground But hey ho! lol! 47535 'University Of Leicester' has bought in the empty stock into Platform 7 to form the 1721 InterCity to London Euston In bay Platform 6 can be seen a brand new Sprinter Class 150/2 on the 1705 stopper to Newport (Gwent) While behind it a Class 150/1 is on the 1725 all stops to Wolverhampton which follows after the InterCity. A Class 33 has arrived at Platform 4 with the 1719 Provincial Express to Manchester Piccadilly (Ex Cardiff) Cheers for now, Mark

Finally a shot of Scotrail's 47710 'Sir Walter Scott' which has paid a visit to Crewe works & pressed into service on todays 1521 InterCity service to London Euston which it will take as far as Wolverhampton where electric traction will take over Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, Well construction of the football ground is almost complete. To create the actual pitch, I copied, pasted & printed onto card a football pitch layout & i'm pleased with the results. Just to get the area properly tied in now with the car park areas to be sorted & all the area next to the track needing fencing, bushes & vegetation. Once this area is done, I'm going to concentrate on the hill on which the 'Shrewford Abbey' sits which is in urgent need of attention. A Cardiff Central to Bangor (Gwynedd) service is routed into Platform 4 & passes the in progress Shrewford Town football ground Cheers for now, Mark