Steadfast

Thanks guys It'll be dual era Swifty, the signage on the layout front is just velcro'd for easy changes. All that needs to change on the layout is one depot sign and the road vehicles. The rest is suitably neutral I think off the top of my head I'd never abandon the current day look, it's what I know best, but Intercity Swallow and NSE have a certain appeal lol Jo

Thanks Chris, yeah 011 has had electrical mods and repaint but no overhaul. 099 has had the mechanical mods and repaint but no overhaul, both acting as testbeds for the overhaul program. The loco had only just been started up, so was quite cold, but still 011 does seem to clag a bit jo

Over three years since the thread was started - I think it's fair to say there's been a real class 60 resurgence in that. I remember wondering if I'd photographed my last 60 back in 2009... Anyway, here's a few from November 60063 and 60011 provide the sight of two 60s at Hinksey. 60011 is the current 'super shunter' and 60063 is working 6E48 Didcot power station - Lindsey, having brought heavy oil into the power station over night. The 10 tanks in tow hardly tax the power of the class 60 8/11/12 60011 moves off to shunt the yard at Hinksey 8/11/12 60092, fresh from overhaul at Toton but not yet repainted, sits at Westerleigh prior to working 6E41 to Lindsey. Of note are the EWS maroon door and the primer green cooler group 17/11/12 60079 arrives at Westerleigh with 6B13 from Robeston 17/11/12 60092 finally departs Westerleigh with 6E41 to Lindsey. The loco has been refurbished at Toton by DB, but hasn't yet gained the bright red paint work 17/11/12 60019 passes Chippenham working 7C54 Oxford Banbury Road - Whatley 23/11/12 As ever these photos and more are here on better resolution jo

I realised I haven't posted to here for a while, here's some of the older ones since he last update. I'll add some more recent ones later. Mostly the usual DB red with the Murco tanks, but a wee bit of variety here and there. The first two were on a week off work, as the weather goes to show.... 60007 passes Pig Lane near Hullavington working 6B33 Theale - Robeston 26/9/12 60007 passes Bourton on the approach to Swindon working 6B33 Theale - Robeston 27/9/12 60007 approaches Hullavington loop working 6B33 Theale - Margam 6/10/12 60079 passes Acton Turville working 6B33 Theale - Margam 20/10/12 60054 passes East Usk yard in Newport with 6E66 Margam - Scunthorpe steel empties 26/10/12 60045 passes East Usk yard in Newport with what is thought to be 6M41 Margam - Round Oak, though both loco and wagons were swapped at Llanwern! 26/10/12 More soon jo

Nice work there Simon, particularly like the DRS 66 and the NEM cut n shut! I do like the Seacow box, a great idea to protect the ends, nice one! jo

Hi guys, Alex, that sounds like a good 50 to do. I am a little undecided, whilst I love the NSE livery on them, a large logo one would be easier to paint, and I could get away with it on a railtour with my present day stock. Hmmmmmmm decisions! Jack, I've got a pair of tractors in front of me now, but they're going DRS blue I'm tempted to get an RfD machine when Farish bring out the refurbished 37s. As for the grassy bits, its all around the car park at the front of the layout. It's been there about a year I think... jo

Cheers Jack. Funny how we get that feeling every time we go to Westerleigh lol! I must get cracking with the other TDA, now...1 down, 28 to go haha jo

Cheers Swifty, that's kind of you! Glad you enjoy it! jo

A while since the last update, there's been a few new arrivals at the depot recently. 66725 has joined the fleet, here seen arriving with another refurbished mk3 from Derby Next is a first look at a test back dating of the layout, the signage is all velcro'd on to allow for rebranding, the idea being I can run whichever era I fancy. The 47 I've had for ages, being a respray and detail job based on the new model 47 from when it was first released. There's another couple in the cupboard, one of which will be getting Intercity Swallow. The 101 is a stunning model and I've been looking for an excuse to buy since it was released, and rolling back to the early 90s gives that. Anyway, photos In time there'll be either an NSE or a Large Logo 50, Scotrail/NSE 47706 and some Intercity HST stock too. I'm not sure, but I think the 150 probably should be in the earlier 'Sprinter' branded livery rather than the Regional Railways it carries jo

Hi all, it's been a while since the last update. A little progress to show, first, a game of spot the difference with the IIA photo further up the page. It looks a lot more complete with the grey solebar, its now ready for transfers and weathering. Secondly, I've actually finished something! Well I think its finished, anyway, maybe needs a thin wash of brown...hmmmm Transfers are homebrew in Photoshop, emailed off and printed for me on an ALPS printer, as usual by Kelvin at Red Firecracker. The all over grey, well, grubby brown, TDA that I expected to be finished first, is actually lagging behind somewhat! It's getting there though. One thing these photos do show up is the roughness of some of my masking.... jo

Indeed, a 4mm van would be longer than the entire car park on my layout! jo

Thanks for the replies guys, I'd better get some PG Models Sherpas then hehe jo

Reading Andy's Sherpa anecdote got me thinking. These days, fleet support seems to be a white transit with operator branding on the side, eg FGW. Presumably early 90s it'd be a yellow transit or Sherpa with BR lettering on the side? I'll get my photos of the FGW transits on here when I can, too. Thanks! jo

I use cocktail stick between the couplers and then twisted to reliably uncouple Microtrains, though Ian's screwdriver solution is rather neater! jo

As if by magic.... jo

Got a feeling there's a panel join there. Still they could've done the triple grey thing and just done 099. In fact, why not paint it in a nice, neutral demonstrator livery. How about triple grey....hahaha If it turns out to be quite quick in photoshop tomorrow before work then maybe... jo

Nice work Jon, '706 is on my to do list in my planned roll back to the 'Swallow Era' of 'Baby Laira'. I'll be watching your work here with very much interest! A thought with the TDM kit, what about Bachmann tops and bottoms with brass handrail wire for the cable? 0.2 or 0.3mm might do it? On Farish locos, I've fully degreased the bogies with remote control car cleaner spray (HPI brand),in a tub in the kitchen sink. I've had problems in the past with non-degreased bogies resulting in the weathering going glossy over time. The R/C car degreaser also removes the paint, so you're back to bare plastic to start again. HTH jo

The yellow fleet looks great Merf, particularly the new addition. I'd forgotten how odd the front window made the Roadrunner look! I managed a couple of photos of the N scale Network Rail MAN I mentioned previously - thanks for posting your photos on my thread, they were a godsend! The Japanese cab is just a gap filler to get it out for last weekend's exhibition until I get the MAN cab finished Thanks again for your help jo

Hiya, I'm glad you enjoyed it! N isn't as fragile as it may look, some of the trips to the floor that my stuff has had may be testament to that! As for spending the hard earned, it's just as bad in N jo

Hi Matt, Fantastic pictures, thanks so much for sharing them. I like seeing other people's shots as they always angle them differently, and see different things to I do, top stuff! It was great to catch up with you and Steve again today, I'd forgotten it was so long since you'd seen the layout! So much changes in a year with some black paint and glued on foliage haha The show went well today, my throat was sore by the time 5pm came along! The layout performed well apart from a few 08 based issues with the mechanisms sticking up. Here's a few of my images from today, the first of which is stacked in Photoshop. A couple of notes to explain a few piccies, the Network Rail truck just has a temporarily fitted Japanese cab to get it out for the show, in time I'll fit the correct MAN cab. The Freightliner 66 is coming in for fuel after working the Burngullow sand train and the 60 has just dropped of the oil tanks from Fawley. Well, any excuse for a 60 Anyway I'll let the images do the talking That's all for now! jo

All set for the morning, after a wee scare with the 08 not wanting to pick up electric. Tightening the nut on the pickup assembly did the trick, and touch wood, is now running smoother than it has before. Famous last words? I hope not! I've spent this afternoon making a stock box, seems to work rather well. Should speed up set up and strip down, not that it takes more than about 15 mins anyway! Please say hello if you're passing tomorrow jo

Hi Ben and John, Thanks for the comments. Elastic is what I was looking for, based on reading of your uses before. However the fine black cotton was the best thing I could nab out of mum's sewing box at short notice! I've been interested to read of you using it for loco air pipes etc if I remember right, so it's something that's been on my mind before. I'll need to get some for a future experiment anyway, so will see what I can find. John, the truck I'm doing is based on one with a shorter overhang, like this one The two types seem very similarly spec'd, apart from the rear overhang. I guess it's to get into tighter spaces jo