MRDBLUE17

Hi everyone, I would agree a little bit of patience is needed, I’ve had my balance email and paid and more than happy to wait as these models are going to be superb. I was lucky to handle the EP sample way back and the detail possible in OO is even better than those impressive 2mm models. Remember that Ben and Mike do all this around there full time jobs and literally will have 1000’s of tanks to sort out, pack and send and I for one am very grateful of all there efforts in making these impressive models for us all to enjoy. Now the far bigger issue is finding time to build the layout to run them on lol! Thanks Mark

These 66’s are shaping up very nicely and I’m looking forward to Bifs sounds for this, already the best 66 sounds and this version is going to be even better. All the best Mark

Hi Jules, That will have been Martin doing the2mm track, he will be at Falkirk Saturday morning only this weekend. Sadly didn’t make Perth this year around work but will see you Sat. Cheers Mark

Falkirks a good show you’ll enjoy it. I’ve planned to go Saturday with the rest of the Scottish Modellers group where we will be doing various demos so come and say hello. Cheers Mark

Another excellent choice from Hattons and a great price too. I think a suitable 90’s era one will be needed. Thanks Mark

Hi Kev, Both units are looking great with all that detail on. At least you’ve been able to make the most of the time having to miss the shows. My mum has been complaining about the Northern Strikes for weeks as she can’t get to Blackburn to watch the football! All the best Mark

Well that video made me smile. Thanks Mark

Hi Charlie, Provincial and GMPTE orange and Northern branded for me. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, Just thought I’d share a quick shot of 40012/97407. It’s the old first released Bachmann 40 that I’ve had since new sat doing nothing. A 40 doesn’t really fit my modelling era but I always wanted to model 40012 after reading an article in the old pull out modelling bit of Rail magazine from the early 90’s. I needed a few transfers for a couple of projects so added Steve’s 40 pack to the order, arrived next day and a few odd hours since has allowed me to easily turn my old 40 into 40012. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, I very much enjoyed watching the final last night, it was exciting to watch and if I hadn’t already known who the winning team was it would have been hard to pick a winner. I liked the Brunel inspired layout and those Cooling towers on Melton Down were impressive. Very well done to Aberdeen, stunning heat layout and where there ideas and concept came from for the Final just brilliant to do something so different. Don’t be hard on the Fawley team - they are a great bunch of very friendly people that I had pleasure of meeting in our heat and spent time chatting to as well as showing us round the museum and railway trip through the estate. They stuck to what they enjoy and are all very talented Modellers which showed in the quality they produced. I’ve just spent a couple of hours this afternoon in Harburn Hobbies meeting customers and talking about the show as part of there Peco weekend with Steve Haynes. The time flew by and was great to meet a few younger Modellers, one who has enjoyed the show, recognised me from our heat and was in looking at getting a set for Christmas, another was buying a set to add to his collection and another with his dad showed me what they had been building and shared a few modelling tips with. It seems the show has brought more people in and my thanks to Bob/Jill and the team for inviting me along. The good thing about this is building a railway actually brings a family together to do stuff instead of everyone in isolation on a tech device! Well done to all in the final it made for some exciting telly. Thanks Mark

Looks great, very nicely modelled Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, I’m looking forward to coming in on Saturday between 2 and 4 to chat and answer questions about taking part in the Great Model Railway Challenge. Perhaps share some speed modelling tips we learnt that you can use and the products, many from the Peco range. Great opportunity to stock up for the Winter months or get that all important Christmas present. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, The Diesel Dynamos, formed to show Railway modelling was a fun and enjoyable hobby. Including a modern theme and technology to control the layout (later our downfall when the cameras were on us. After a bit of a line up change we ended up as a team of 5 with Ray, Phil and myself travelling down from Scotland where we met Nik and Marcus for the first time the night before. It was a great experience to take part and here are just a few shots of Mattford complete and ready for Judging, including James and Tim presenting. Our thanks to Clive for pulling the team together and the input several people had before filming began. Thanks Mark

Well I’ve been waiting for a pair of these and recently ordered a pair of Southern Pride sorting vans from Footplate to build to go with them along with a few BG’s or Guvs. The shade of red doesn’t upset me from looking at Kernow website which has good quality images which you can zoom on a smartphone easily. Yes the lines maybe are not as vivid as they should be or we would like, I could add Fox transfers once I get hold of them if it’s really that bad but the model itself looks very nice and good end detail too. The earlier Bachmann sorting vans are for my CumbrianCoast TPO set which didn’t run with the stowage vans anyway but I can understand many will run them with those which are nice and bright. Thanks Mark

If it helps and you don’t want to order through Olivia’s they will be available from Rainbow Railways. As they are not out yet and not listed if you drop them an email they will get you what you need and contact you nearer the time. I will add I know Colin and Mike at Rainbow Railways and they have got items for me via Olivia’s on several occasions. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, These tanks do look rather nice, it’s a livery that always stood out and good that Olivia’s have produced them. I could run a few on Newlands as plenty of photos of the wagons at Mossend but did any ever run up the Cumbrian Coast Line? Thanks Mark

It’s great to see Hattons have got Si on board. I’ve read his two articles and they are of his excellent high standard of useful prototype info which makes modelling so much easier. It can see thus being a very good move for Hattons as it does help focus on what products you might need to model a particular interest. I’ll look forward to more. Something on TPO formations would be good with the new stowage vans out as well as more on the RHTT. Thanks Mark

Hi Everyone, I’d just like to wish Dennis a long and happy retirement although when we spoke at Glasgow it sounded like he had a lot planned so I hope to still see you at shows in the future. All the best Mark

Hi Callum, The layout looks great, I enjoyed it in the heat episode and the use of narrow gauge added a lot of interest. All the best Mark

Hi Alex, Looks excellent. Thanks Mark

I’ve 2 sound fitted 68’s both with Bifs sounds and base reflex. It captures the really thing perfectly and I regularly see or hear the ECS moves on the Edinburgh / Glasgow line. Cheers Mark

I would try Crafty Hobbies in Barrow-in-Furness for 37025. I’m sure John and Shelagh will have them at good prices having got my DRS 47 from them. Very well stocked shop good to visit when I go back home. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, As Kathy has pointed out our layout came together pretty well and from the footage with the camera truck and even the testing you’ll see our trains running fine. Right on judging when the cameras were on and Tim said start your engines the laptop crashed and I’m stood at the front not able to move a thing! The clever editing shows Marcus tapping away to reboot and then 3 of us looking at a handset but not easy to spot what went on the day. The lorry crash just made for great telly! It was really funny when it happened. PS Kathy good to see you on here too Cheers Mark

Hi everyone, It’s Mark from the Diesel Dynamos very much a name for telly, I’m sure it was Rays suggestion so that’s what we went with. I’m really pleased with the many positive comments about our episode and glad that you saw how much we were enjoying ourselves. What you didn’t see happen although the footage and remark about running was picked up was the laptop crashed right at the point Tim said Start your engines! As you can see the layout worked pretty well before and after! That’s just Sod’s law. I’m proud of what we achieved in the time and it was a great experience. We met some great people Phil and Castle along with the rest of the Flyers were brilliant, showing us round the museum and organising a trip down through the Estate too. I enjoyed chatting with Armit and he brought in his wonderful O gauge 85 to show. They were a bunch of very talented Modellers. The Railway children even made me feel old at 38 and were a brilliant team - there story telling at judging was fantastic probably the best and funniest of the series and our team and flyers did try and help where we could as they had an ambitious plan. The production crew, presenters and judges were all friendly and interested in what was going on and probably slightly worried on day 2 if it was even possible we’d complete our layouts. And we didn’t need to worry about what people think as the feedback I had during and after has been amazing. A great experience all round and really hoping for a second series as The Dynamos will return. Thanks Mark

Hi everyone, Out of all these rep editions I’m looking forward to the EWS 37/7. I’ve wanted this livery for a while ever since the Rail Express 37/7 variants first appeared, keep looking for a decent pre-order price as it’s outside of my normal shopping area. Thanks Mark