JBM37404

15 minutes ago, davebem said:

The buffer beam is a separate moulding that plugs into the bodyshell on the old and new releases. So the rails exclusive as well as the kernow and locomotion exclusives have the original valence but new chassis, the general releases all have the new Crewe cut buffer beam separate moulding along with the new chassis. The body shells on the Crewe cut ones have been slightly retooled so the bottom of the cab front runs flush with the cutaway.

 

Rails have said the 158s are due in next 30 days.

 RE : 158s

Much of the next 30 days will be the time off/shut down/party season so it could well be new year. Will get the no heat 37s out on substitute turns while waiting!

3 hours ago, fezza said:

 

It is possible that they release the less common liveries (Res, Virgin) first and then the bread and butter liveries (blue, green) later as they know the latter will sell anyway. We've been waiting for Res and Virgin for a very long time - they've been promised for about a decade and I think there have been two 47 retoolings since they were first announced! Great to see them finally appearing but it has been so long that sadly the layout for which I wanted them has now been scrapped and replaced.

Markets seem to be based round collectors anyhow especially as like the motor trade the used models are part of the industry strategy. Why else put tissue paper round boxes as that forms part of the 'value' I would snap an IC swallow or Railfreight distribution one in an instant but there is a good chance these will be in a few years time and the blue/green basics will be next.

The 158s have been pushed to dec/Jan according to the Manufacturers website although I over heard a rep at Warley say something about in time for Christmas?

I'm thinking the 37 is in line for a retool internally next as the sound market will be ripe for that and no new releases at present.

On the mermaid theme mentioned earlier I saw on YouTube clip 37156 hauling one mermaid, a yellow tank wagon and bogie flat of some variety. This was 1991 mind but another sighting! Quite easy to reproduce. The clip was filmed at Mossend yard so the train could have been going or coming from anywhere......

Makes me happier with my one mermaid wagon!!

On 13/11/2023 at 17:27, jbqfc said:

I have just had an Email to say the replacement Strathclyde 156 body's are now in stock 

 

John   

Not heard a thing yet or had any delivery.

Angus ponders his future as the type 2 waits some troublesome trucks to shunt.

11 hours ago, Davexoc said:

 

I think that the sounds, good though they are, can't recreate the effect of load. A light loco will romp away on full throttle, but a heavy freight needs to crawl away making alot of noise. I know the speed steps can be tweaked, but that would need doing differently for both cases.

I would love to recreate somewhere like Didcot in the 70-80s, but I don't think there is enough space even in N to get both the full chat of Valenta powered HSTs on departure of the stoppers and also get the 125mph non-stop passing through effect too...

The majority of sound layouts I see at shows are TMD style ones, which can have a bit of life with sounds or a bit of to much of it with a large number of locos. I enjoy weathering and doing scenics a lot more and as the gambling industry says when the fun stops. Sound fitting felt like it was taking over.....

4 hours ago, Robert Shrives said:

Good luck and probably wise give speaker size, I use my memory to insert sounds in my mind - but of course being old the memory sound files are quite large!   

Same here, grew up in the 80s and 90s so plenty of decent memories. Ultimately DCC sound although it's coming along well it's still the same recordings so a fleet of locos will all sound identical. 37s all sound different to my ears based on how knackered they are and under what load etc. Even in the larger scales I'm still not convinced despite it being the in thing.

Have decided after mixed results not to pursue sound in N any further, chips are getting offered for sale and back to normal DCC. Felt it was stressing me a little and couldn't get the time needed to fit and the results I wanted.

47283 arrives on 6T37 ex Dover to get loaded with more Highland produce.

This loco is sound fitted after some milling out and pcb was removed.

Thanks

John

33 minutes ago, tiger said:

 

I found a 1993 Platform 5 which confirms most of the above.

 

+1 from me for a Farish Mk2a BSO in RR. I'd be pretty pleased if they produced a BSOT in Regional "SCOTRAIL" too, although I think these are "early Mk2" or Mk2z as they tend to be described these days. Technically the Farish 2a BSO is the wrong bodyshell for these due to the incorrect gangway doors (folding on a 2a vs plain sliding door on the 2z) and vacuum brakes vs air, but that didn't stop Farish previously when they produced the  "Highlander" LNER Green/Cream tourist livery coaches.

 

The releases from Farish over the last few months have been great - if not expensive - but such an improvement over previous years. I'm looking forward to the sound fitted class 47s in particular from this announcement.

 

Lets hope Farish also produce the following to close some gaps in the range, which have been mentioned by others:

 

• Class 47/4 or 47/8 number series in INTERCITY livery with the updated next 18/DCC sound chassis.
• Mk2f RFB in Virgin (so odd that it has not been released with the autumn or winter announcements)
• Class 158 with original "EXPRESS" branding (icing on the cake would be a Scottish version, 158701-744 with first class at one end and snowplough modification)
• Mk1 coaches in IC charter livery with the white roof - 31xx series open firsts especially plus that RB(R) which I'm sure they must have in the tooling shop...
• Another run of Mk2a TSO in blue/grey.
• How about a run of Mk2a TSO, FK and BSO in Provincial Trans Pennine livery, to go with that regional special 47475?

 

Cheers

 

Tom.

I'm probably going to try and change a 158 to a 701-744 some how. I would also really like to know what the factory sound is like or just stick with non fitted and put a 3rd party one in.

5 hours ago, 47475 said:

 

With all the MK1s finally reproduced this year, hopefully 2024 will be the year of the MK2A. A Regional Railways BSO is an obvious missing choice, but a few BFKs wouldn't go amiss either.

 

I too would prefer a 158 with the original EXPRESS branding. I will hold off in the hope that such a version will be produced one day.

 

 

I agree on 47475. I would certainly take that one. After Trans-Pennine, it wore that livery for a while when it was allocated to parcels work.

 

 

Farish have not made a single MK2A BFK so far. I'm sure there are plenty who would purchase 2 of them for Waterloo-Exeter formations, since there were two of them back-to-back in the middle of those rakes for a good while. Also blue/grey, InterCity and Regional Railways of course. There were also the ex-NSE BFKs and TSOs that were transferred to the north west, debranded and had the light blue stripe painted over the red. Those lasted a while and were common within those rakes, so a regular release would even be justified.

BFKs also at Inverness for Scotrail Express services to Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

13 hours ago, acg5324 said:

Well there I was expecting a splurge of c47s and only two more versions than announced many years ago. There’s hope for Spring 2024!
 

Odd no VT RFB

As I posted elsewhere having just milled out a 47 for a speaker and removed the PCB with ok results but a massive amount of time needed to do the work I was right that Sound fitted would arrive. Although we will see whether it's something loud enough. I have 7 37s one of which I have sound fitted and 6 to go but am sure they will announce the 37s in the future!!

49 minutes ago, Suffolk Rob said:

Bar some of the 08 sound variants where chip supply may be an issue, their website suggests only the 14s and 47s outstanding amongst diesel locos with both having scheduled delivery dates for this year as mentioned above

 

Rather hoping that next week's "surprise" might be a sound upgrade for the 47, possibly with more liveries/body styles. It does seem a long time since any 47s were released.

 

Might it be that their supplies of sound chips have been prioritised for something new over the next batch of 08s?

 

Speculation of corse but all will be clearer in a week's time

 

Rob

Just as I am finishing a mill out hardwire on a 47.....

158s must be on the horizon soon. Bachmann site said Nov/Dec?

17 hours ago, jonhinds said:

I’m planning on eventually having running sessions broadly themed around three years: 1987, 1989 and 1991. Need to do a bit of digging into timetabling and diagrams.

 

[Square brackets not available RTR]

 

1987:

Class 45, 47 on limited summer services

HST Executive livery

Class 101, [104], 108, [110] Metrotrain

Class 142, [144], 150/2, 156

Parcels: 31/4 and 47/x in BR Blue small logo, Class 101 parcels sector, [105 parcels sector]

 

1989:

Class 101+108 hybrid, [104, 110]

Class 142, [144], 150/2, [155], 156

Parcels: 31/4 and 47/x in BR Blue small logo, Class 101 parcels sector, Class 128 Royal Mail ‘Duplex’ red

 

1991:

Class 142, [144], 150/2, [155], 156, 158

Parcels: 31/4 in BR Blue small logo, 47/4 in parcels sector livery

 

There might also be an occasional scrap working using the loop to run around. Railtours with double headed 31s and other loco classes also possible.

 

Retro work a pair of 153s into a 155, would be a good project.

Latest on the workbench.

WIP 37427 as in 1993 condition.

Thanks

John

Followed this project for a few years and glad we get a regular updates. It's a great piece of work although my era is 90s I still managed a run into Fort William in 1986 and remember the BR days well. 

It isn't half tempting to start a West Highland plan in N on different levels once my Aberkeld Jcn layout has passed its sell by date.

On 01/09/2023 at 05:04, 47606odin said:

looks great, but why was there no provision for a speaker?

There's room in there for a sugar cube

2 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

After three years the layout is finally far enough along to get some stock out. Everything has been box stored and the only locos I have had issue with are all 4 of the DC class 86s. Power is there and lights are on, but there is no hint of movement. All other Dapol and farish stock runs just fine (might have needed a bit of a clean or initial help getting going after a juddering start, but all basically ok). I can't believe it is a coincidence that all 4 of the issue locos are 86s. Has anyone else had a similar issue? I am a bit lost about where to start looking and any tips of suggestions would be very gratefully received.

 

All the best,

Dave 

Crude way of maybe getting some life in, put them on the track or rolling road, then with power to the track apply a bit of pressure to the model from above and side on in different directions and see if the motor hums or turns also lightly lubricate the gears.

26037 pokes out the tunnel mouth as the Per Way gang stay out the way till it passes on Aberkeld Jcn

John

On 14/08/2023 at 16:25, 47475 said:

 

Different roof shell vent arrangement to the BSO as well, I believe.

That's true yes. Not too hard to sort out.

1 minute ago, 47475 said:

 

One type that has not been covered at all with the MK2As is the BFK. It was common in the Waterloo-Exeter sets to have 2 x BFK back-to-back. Having a BFK would also allow InterCity / InterCity Charter to be done too, as well as various other liveries including Regional Railways and the ScotRail version of RR.

I'm going to alter the inside to make it a BFK as the Scotrail hauled sets on the Highland Mainline had a vac braked mk2a BFK usually in the consists in 1993.

Some shots around the Castle and some animal Cameos.

John

38 minutes ago, 47475 said:

 

From what I have read, that BCK was converted for staff use and had various interior modifications including bunks, a shower, etc. I purchased one recently for a bargain price. It seemed strange to release that without the matching stock it operated with.

Same logic as the RR mk2s with no brake. Again I have an NsE one waiting the dip slowly....

8 hours ago, 47475 said:

 

A Dutch 31 would be hard to resist, as would a Dutch 47.

 

 

I agree. I've been waiting a long time for one of those - and hopefully not 401 in the short-lived 'black numbers' variation. Something more representative would be great.

 

I've been researching the InterCity charter rakes today, so they are fresh in my mind. Some InterCity white roof MK1s (and MK2A BFK!) wouldn't go amiss and would go rather nicely with a Mainline 37/4.

They did a white roof BCK but no FOs or Catering vehicles. The 37401 would be better than nothing mind. The cocktail stick would soon have it renumbered. I'm sitting on a large logo one (37418) which is soon to be dipped to become 37402 in 1993 IC Mainline. Whats the odds as soon as I peel of the last of the masking tape Barwell hey presto one into the announcements.....