birdseyecircus

Thanks for the reply guys. Yes I did think about Das clay, but never having used it before I wanted to stick to something I had done before. I first bought some 0 gauge stuff a couple of years ago from a friend. This was a Rivorossi shunter painted up in BR colours and 3 wagons. Since then I have bought a Heljan class 26, Heljan Railbus, Dapol terrier along with some Heljan wagons. All this stuff has just sat in their boxes, with the odd run up a length of track! So getting the Dapol 08 has really spurred me on. One other purchase was a Tower models 02 diesel shunter kit, which I have yet to tackle! Paul

Thanks John. On 00 ballasting i do spray with water before glueing but from time to time things dont always turn out as they should! I have found some woodlands scenics fine cinders i forgot i had. I did a small test which i was pleased with. I managed to ballast around 10 sleepers tonight. It takes much more time than 00 gauge. Paul

Thanks stephen. It is some off cuts of thick art card i had lying around. I have used it before when it has been in contact with water and glue on 00 layouts. I didnt want a bed of ballast with just the top glued forming a crust. Paul

Well the last couple of nights has seen me fill in the sleeper gaps with card to reduce the depth of ballast. Tonight I gave the track a spray with a Railmatch 'Sleeper grime' aerosol. After a clean up of the track, a quick test ensured that everything still worked ok. I then placed cork on the remainder of the board to bring the ground level flush with the sleeper tops. Ballasting next. I have been watching the ballasting in O gauge thread. So a few experiments will be needed. I did have a quick go at ballasting a couple of sleeper gaps last night and it certainly takes more time than doing it in 00! I am still undecided wether to opt for sand or ballast. Paul

Over the last couple of years I have acquired a few O gauge items along with some second hand track. The delivery of the Dapol 08 has finally given me the kick up the backside to producing something to run it all on. I model OO gauge and a small bit of N gauge too (!) so space is at a premium. Apart from the loft floor it looks like this will be operated on the dining room table when (if) its finished. The wife doesn't know this yet, so 'pass me the salt' could take on a whole new meaning! I had a 4 foot x 14 inch plywood board which means it would have to be something very simple. A short cassette/ fiddlestick was made out of scrap wood and an off cut of track. Before any track fixing I ran the 08 and arranged a few wagons in different sequences. All worked well and I had a nice 30 minutes. The wiring is only temporary for the moment but it all works! I have begun to fill in the sleepers with card to reduce the depth of the ballast. Paul

They are now in the UK according to tower models Paul

37099 stands at Ferriby with a Network Rail Test Train. 2 Nov 2016 Paul

Tower models update states first batches of the 08 have been completed and due for shipping next week, with arrival in uk 2 weeks later. Paul

37716 and 68003 selby st hull 29 october 2016 Paul

20305 & 20303 head past Hessle on 21st October 2016 Paul

I emailed Bachmann and got the following reply: Thank you for your recent e-mail The instructions are unfortunately of the earlier type and have not been updated yet. On the left hand side of the model, the speedometer cable sits just in front of the cab. The crank screw can be removed to allow this part to be removed and the body released. Assembly has been revised several times in China, on some models the bracket supporting the pipework will remain with the chassis as its removed, on others the bracket will remain with the body. In this case, the pipework may need to be cut unless it’s possible to ease the pipework off the bracket. This arrangement has not been repeated on the later models like the Fairburn tanks. Regards Jenni I decided to have another go. I could not get the screw out holding the speedo so left it attached. I cut one of the pipes on the other side but instead of a clean cut it broke off around 4mm worth completely. The pipework jumble under the cab door was gently moved over its support bracket, but the pipework behind this would not budge. All this movement allowed me to lift the boiler just enough to prop it up using a pencil between the body and chassis whilst I fitted a decoder. How on earth the pipework which was stretched to the limit did not snap I will never know, but the job is complete and the loco running. I have just had a Model Rail USA tank delivered and the instructions with that are far superior to the 4MT tank. Paul

Thanks Phil I will have ago during the week. This must be one of the worst body removals for DCC ever. You would have thought some of the extra details could have been left to fit by the buyer after they had installed the decoder. Paul

Has anyone removed the body to fit a decoder? The instructions are very poor. I have removed the five screws as shown and the boiler lifts a little but the rear wont budge. Various pipe work seems to be connected to both chassis and body along with the speedo cable. Any clues? Paul

I can remember that it had a suspension bridge and that john noakes did a piece about making wagon loads out of bounty bar carboard. At the time the chocolate bars were sat on a card tray. Paul

Watched two episodes so far and enjoyed it. I liked the turnout replacement one. Paul

Well mine has arrived in Hull today. Time for some fun after tea! Paul

Over on the Oxford diecast Facebook group a similar thread has popped up slating corgi's recent releases and oxfords dominance. I wonder if airfix modellers are also in deep discussion? Paul

But there is a chance to put things right provided they are aware of there many issues as has been highlighted here. Ignore them and they are in trouble. Let's hope the headlines read 'Hornby back in the black' in a year's time. Paul

I guess 2015 was the same but in 2014 nationwide retailer Smyths toys ( the biggest competitor to Toys R Us) did not sell any Hornby products. Just cheapo car slot tracks and non descript train sets from unknown makes. Paul

66301 is seen at Selby St as it approaches Anlaby rd Junc in Hull with a Doncaster Belmont - Beverley auto ballaster train on 7th Feb 2016. Paul

It does seem an expensive way to produce a publicity model. They could have had a fold up card model or a one piece resin cast. Paul