MRDBLUE17

Hi Alex, No rush on the BBA’s on my part. The samples in photos and the video clips looks superb. Besides I need to actually get a layout built to run them on! Hope all is well with you guys. thanks Mark

Hi Fran, I could easily decide to run the Sellafield to Hull working if you do another run but with the larger boxes. That’s a nice working to top and tail and had 37’s on it in the past too. (If you know anyone that’s doing some nice 37/6’s of course!) lol. Thanks Mark

Hello everyone, Just a quick shot of the recreation of the Highland flask working. 37605 and 37602 top and tail the Carlisle - Georgmas working with the FNA sandwiches with a pair of PFA’s. The tension locks have been swapped with Kadees and the PFA’s are a perfect match to Bachmann FNA in coupling/buffer height. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, I would keep an eye on the Rainbow Railways website over the next couple of weeks as there will be further liveries to the 156 added. I saw Colin last night and had a look at the latest Northern variants coming soon. The latest white livery is my favourite with a lot of the small details printed on which is a nice touch. I was never a fan of the refresher livery as it’s not a region I model but it does look really good on the 156 the colours. cheers Mark

Hi Steve, No worries the 31’s especially the late 80’s/early 90’s are a bit of a minefield to model as things changed during overhaul. They are a favourite of mine growing up watching them on the Furness line with around 10 for my 90’s project. Set roughly around 1992 when I was 12 lol! I’ve recently got 602 in Network Rail to go with the earlier 31233 I had which go nicely with the new 2f coaches. Cheers Mark

Hi Classy52, The image looks correct to me. Quite a few 31’s had the vertical radiator grills fitted during heavy overhaul in the early 90’s and the raised cowl around the fan. Modifications designed to improve clean air flow to prevent over heating and reduce failures. It’s only the second release with the vertical grill after the first release 31110. I think this will be a popular choice from Hornby which will hopefully encourage a late blue 31/4 which is most requested in various topics on here. Ive had a conversion to create 31467 on my bench for several years which would go nice with this on a ballast working. Cheers Mark

Hi Rob, If you are looking to fit sound the 31 is actually more straight forward than first appears. I remove the fan mechanism unit which just unscrews and this creates plenty of room for a 20x40 size speaker. The Hornby TTS chip has some very nice engine sounds on it and once you seal the speaker into the supplied plastic baffle improves it even further this will then sit on the chassis with a little dab of glue. The fan once removed can then be glued on the roof which looks fine in normal operation. Hope that’s of use to you cheers Mark

Hi Mike, I’ve sent you a PM on the DEMU forum, sorry Ben forgot to add you to that as you’ll see I have an issue logging on to order the KFA’s. No rush just so you see it. thanks Mark

Well done to Simon and the team at Hornby on another catalogue full of surprises and products to tempt. I am looking forward to the NMT HST power cars. I suspected a run of these would come out on the back of the MK3’s in 2019. I was pleased with 31602 and the yellow MK2F’s I got in December so a couple more MK2’s will come in handy as well. 60100 in DB is a great choice to celebrate 100 years of Hornby along with one of the GBRF 50’s. Its also good to see the DRS MK2’s appear for my 37/4’s to pull. Now my 90’s era layout will certainly get 31147. Then hopefully if this goes well a blue 31/4 will appear next year! Now to save up and sell off surplus to fund what I would like. Cheers Mark

Hi Laurie, Well done in having the opportunity to create something different. Having watched what you created on the GMRC it certainly created broader appeal and interest and I know plenty of people that liked it as it was so different to what you would expect. Having more interest in railways will help the hobby as all those extra sales of track and scenics will all help for future investment and Hornby are best placed to tap into the family market. Cheers Mark

Hi Fran, My normal postie said he had a big box in the van for me which he would drive round with as it was raining heavy here. Top service right to the door. Anyway here are the first 3 having a little run on my micro project based on Morecambe. I was looking forward to these when they were announced and knew they would be very good. But actually having the model up close genuinely my expectations for a small wagon have been exceeded beyond what I was expecting or even possible. They have a nice weight to them, crisp detail, sprung buffers, air pipes, the little cut outs in the sole bars. Then the brake pipes and underside detailing which I really didn’t expect as possible given the size of the wagon. The other thing which is really nice is the 6 containers are all really unique in the various warning signs and stickers in different positions, not just simply the same with a different number. Absolutely superb job Accurascale these first 9 wagons will be used eventually to add to 4 different DRS workings I’ve seen in various photos. Now do I dare run the highland working through Rannoch at Glasgow for fun? Cheers Mark

That’s a nice line up of 90’s Kat. I like the DB livery. cheers Mark

Hello, 2020 from Bachmann - personally the DRS Class 20’s coming out are probably my top item. (I know it’s not a new announcement but they are due this year) A useful item would be to add the WCRC MK2 brake coach to go with the TSO’s due out and hopefully the WCRC 57 in OO as seen in the 2mm range this year. I’m actually hoping for not too much to tempt this year only because Accurascale, Heljan and Revolution are producing items that are very relevant for my interests. Hopefully plenty of interesting models for those with different eras though. Whatever is announced I hope its a success for Bachmann as they have given us a lot of good models over the years. cheers Mark

My wife got my email ! With a what have you been ordering now question lol! (No secrets when I use her PayPal.) Well done to Fran and all at Accurascale for producing a very useful wagon type that really suits my modelling interests. Hope you all had a good Christmas and Happy New Year. All the best Mark

Further to the below, At Glasgow our group will have a small area set up as part of our layout/demo area with magazines that we are giving away. We will have a collection bucket for any donations which will go towards one of the homeless shelters in Edinburgh. Details of this will be on the stand. thanks Mark Hello everyone, Having had a big sort through I have a large number of Model Rail magazines. I’ve kept certain copies that might be useful for future projects so not all complete years. Instead of just going in the recycle bin I thought someone might find use or just enjoy having a look for inspiration. I have bagged them into years as below. If you would like a bag please message me and I will bring to Glasgow Model Rail Scotland in Feb where you can collect them for free. 2000/01 - 11 Issues 2002/3 - 16 issues 2004 - 10 2005 - 9 2006/7 - 14 2008 - ? 2009 - 10 2010 - Complete 2011 - ? 2012 - 11 2013 - 11 2014 - Complete 2015 - Complete 2016 - 10 2017 - 4 Please do not ask for a particular copy or which are missing as I simply don’t have time to go through them again. Thanks Mark

Happy Christmas Dave to you and the family. all the best Mark

Hello everyone, Just to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brought you something nice. All the best Mark

Ho Ho Ho Mick! I thought avoiding dolls thrown from prams would be an occupational hazard having 3 daughters but reading this is more risky! Its nearly Christmas and the Hattons team have obviously worked hard including a night shift to get these models out to as many people as they can. Great to see the positive comments and the video from SDJR 88. Maybe a bit of thanks instead of a bunch of moaning wouldn’t go amiss. It’s only a toy train at the end of the day. As it goes this Christmas I have a nice Bachmann sound fitted 37 under the tree, an extremely generous gift from my mum. I don’t have a nice Hattons 66 yet or even ordered however between now and the end of Feb I hope to have saved for a nice sound fitted pair ready to put into service at Glasgow show where I will enjoy running them. Happy Christmas everyone Well done to Hattons and those involved to make the lighting and sound the best we’ve seen yet in 4mm Cheers Mark

Hi Phil, an interesting article to read. If only all business leaders took the same approach Lyndon has taken. I can certainly see a much more vibrant brand with him and Simon back. The catalogue this year was packed and as a result I think us all as modellers have probably bought more. I know I certainly have this year. With being at shows behind layouts or demos this year and last with the GMRC on telly there are more children and families coming and interested so it’s good Hornby have product range to get people started and continue that interest. It’s good for all of us both now and for the future of the hobby. I must admit it will be interesting to see what we will get offered next year from Hornby what with a 100th birthday to celebrate. Cheers Mark

Seeing the photos now the models have arrived I must say it looks very good. Seriously tempted to get the RR sound fitted model. cheers Mark

Hi James, Superb work as usual. I like the detailing to transform the 37/0’s. I like the Transrail beast as it always looked a smart livery but I did like triple grey sector locos. I’ve often thought about running Rannoch with them in the late 90’s Ive seen plenty of photos of 37194 but nearly all in DRS blue it seemed to get plenty of use given the number of photos on the Cumbrian Coast. The EWS 37/4’s are nice. I’ve a few on Rannoch and never noticed 37411 had a different grill. Mine was changed to 37406 a long time ago. All the best Mark

Hi, I just double checked mine and yes it does have the frost grills in the usual detail pack. The etched plates are also very well done too. It was only after looking through Flickr I spotted the frost grills in place in the early 90’s so adds further variety for me as it will be the only 37 in the fleet with them. Like Ken I only noticed the handrail detail after looking back at the real thing once I had my model. When this one got announced I was quite happy as it fits in my early 90’s era project so ordered one and really pleased with it. I think Bachmann have done a really good job on it, Printing and livery is very sharp and they have matched prototype details particularly well. Thanks Mark

Hello everyone, I’ve bought more Hornby products this year than I have for a while. There is a wide range so hopefully something for everyone. The latest being 31602 which is a rather nice model and the yellow MK2F’s. My older 31233 is at the other end and both models have been fitted with Hornbys 31 TTS sounds which has some nice engine noises on it. Cheers Mark

As much as I would like a KXA too, I can’t see them being viable to be done as they are very limited in operation. Mainly to the flows of imported waste from Barrow Docks to Sellafield. Of course there’s always rule 1! The new type FNA however could be an option as they operate in very short model able trains throughout the country and sometimes with a PFA with container of low level waste as well. Would certainly compliment what’s available and coming with the 37/6’s To add to Frans useful formations if you look at Flickr and put in the search, Trains Workington docks for example or Trains at (insert a Cumbrian coast locations Drigg, Maryport, etc) you will get loads of DRS workings come up with the PFA’s amongst them. I’ve spent many hours looking whilst researching for a future layout. cheers Mark

I’m looking forward to the DRS class 20/3’s and the 2 HAP in NSE from Bachmann which look like appearing next year. The only other items are the VEA vans to finish off my 90’s era project stock but not sure where these sit in the current production plan or development stage. I suspect we will see some new liveries on the 90 which is a very nice model. A DB one would be nice. With prices what they are now my spend on Bachmann next year looks to be far less than previous years but this is really just down to what we know is due out that I would like. If the new Scotrail 170’s come later in the year or something new is announced that appears sooner this can all change. There is a lot more competition and choice now than ever before and other products fit my modelling plans so selling and saving to fund these probably means a bigger spend overall especially where things will be produced in shorter runs and possibly only once too. Bachmann seem to be getting a harder time at the moment but they have a vast catalogue of decent models so there is probably at least something for everyone in the range at any time and plenty to tempt impulse buys when out at shops or shows. cheers Mark