MRDBLUE17

Hi Jerry, Thanks, no problem, the painting and printing are all done by Rainbow Railways. Cheers Mark

Hi everyone, The futures bright the futures orange! This week has seen a batch of these pass through for rebuilding for Rainbow Railways. They are stripped and resprayed before the livery elements get printed on like the glider livery. Etched name plates still need added. Thanks Mark

Hi James, If you have a look on Flickr at Arnside station the station building is spot on for that. Plus goes with the previous stone signal box which was based on the one at Arnside too. The new signal box I really like the look of as it matches the Furness Railway one at Dalton Junction. cheers Mark

I Agree the higher prices probably make us all a bit more selective but if retailers reduce prices are you then happy to see a retailer with no margin especially when they collect the VAT and pay back to HMRC? Not to mention all the other costs of running a shop. There isn’t vast profits to be made even at list prices. Mark

Well the fishmonger gave a glowing review of his Salmon! He didn’t need a drawing to know it wasn’t Game! Deer Deer! Just to lighten the mood! cheers Mark

Hi everyone, Rainbow Railways have just had a few more Achilles delivered into stock just in case anyone is still looking, https://rainbowrailways.co.uk/product/Dapol-class-68-class-68023-transpennine-express-livery-dcc-ready-oo-gauge/ cheers Mark

They look excellent and seeing this reminded me to call up to add an extra couple of wagons to my order. The guy I spoke to on the phone was very friendly and added a couple on for me. The chocks will be a very useful addition too if these can be done and I’m certainly interested in getting them. A pleasure to do business with. All the best Mark

Hi everyone, I’m looking forward to getting a pair of compass 20/3’s. One will become 20309 as that looks to be a good match for the detail differences covered on 312. Will be nice to have them run as a pair on various flask workings or a single with a 37 as was sometimes seen. Looks like an expensive month with the WCRC 57/3 out too. cheers Mark

Hi Fran/everyone, I suspect from the clue this is a new steam loco to be announced and my guess will be something GWR which is always popular. Cheers Mark

Hi everyone, Thought you might like to see DB 90037 which has just passed through my workbench for assembly. Just the etched name plates to go on to complete. All the best Mark

Well that is great news to see the Crab and Lamprey available so I’ve just placed an order. I’ve only heard very positive things about these kits from several modellers I know so I’m looking forward to building these. all the best Mark

Hi everyone, I was hoping to get some of the more modern variants when they come out with the ASF bogies to convert to Ospreys. Having seen the rather large discrepancy to the length of the wagon, unless that’s corrected on those, I will not be buying a rake after all. Thanks to Alan for sharing his measurements and comparison to the Cambrian kit. Cheers Mark

Thanks for confirming so quickly Fran, I was sure I’d read they were as that will look great. cheers Mark

Hi Fran, The new MK 5’s look very good already and the interior lighting looks nice too. A quick question on the sleeper stock are working red tail lights fitted? Just hope the 73/9’s go ahead to haul the Fort William set. thanks Mark

I’m certainly hoping the 73/9’s go ahead as a sound fitted Sleeper loco would be perfect for Rannoch and kind of needed for the sleeper set. Cheers Mark

Hi Fran, Does that mean send Guinness? No worries whenever they get here is just fine. So long as everyone is safe and well that’s the main thing. All the best Mark

I bought a triple pack to de brand and weather for that exact working. Whilst not exactly the right variant, There were typically a few mixed into rakes that run from Oxwellmains to Inverness under Freightliner traction. Colas now haul these workings and the large bogie cement tanks have mostly taken over. Cheers Mark

Hi Fran, Didnt see this one coming and looks like another very nicely detailed wagon. I possibly saw them when I was very young at Hamworthy but I don’t remember them. I know they use to run in fairly large numbers with imported Coil to Swindon in the early 80’s from photos I’ve seen. Whilst these are too early for me the focus on steel wagons does bode well for the future if the later bogie types appear! Cheers Mark

Hi Fran, What about the EWS FCA’s with a few container types for them? The Freightliner Services ones being good for the Lime from Hardendale. Cheers Mark

HI TOM, I AREN'T SURE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS EITHER? Interested to know if you find out though. cheers Mark

Sounds like a good idea Mick, another positive aspect of your 2 tier system will be to prevent posts such as “nothing in it for me” and “that’s a bit expensive” as within everything else there will surely be something and a price point for everyone. Now back to Hornby - how about either white roof intercity mk1’s or the Pilkington Glass set. Cheers Mark

Hi Mick, Keep drinking and you might just wake up to find you’ve ordered the rest! I can bring the 10 I’ve ordered to run with yours but I hope the KSA follow in the future for a nice mixed rake for me. All the best Mark

Hi everyone, Who knew that not long after Glasgow show we faced lock down and a very uncertain year. Hopefully everyone has stayed safe and well and is getting through this as best we all can. Having a hobby like ours certainly helps and hoping this little scene brings a bit of festive cheer to you all. Merry Christmas to you all and hopefully see you out and about at shows at some point in 2021. All the best Mark

Hi everyone, Quite agree, from experience, with what Tom said. I have a pair of 57’s both with Bifs excellent class 57 sounds and same version which run perfectly together. Bif also does a matched pair of 37’s which does work very well and gives you the added benefit of sounds that are dependent on direction so for example the horn sounds in the leading loco only. I have an identical pair of DRS 66’s that given the same decoders, matched settings etc behave completely differently with one taking off much faster. Not ideal when I wanted these to top and tail the RHTT. As for the 156, having the two decoder set up, whilst costing more for sound, does make for a very reliable pairing and provides numerous functions for lighting and things like playable destinations etc to be added without the need for a big clunky coupling between cars. APT fan - remember adding sound is a nice to have extra. Why not just get the unit so you don’t miss out on the one you want and then add sound in a few months time to spread the cost? cheers Mark

Thank you Mick, that’s very kind of you. I will find a way to do that when I get chance and share the techniques used. All the best Mark