Downendian

I've just watched all of Andy's video on the project (post 236), whilst it's 45 minutes long it's extremely informative both regarding the prototype E-train and the model - recommended viewing! Get yourself a coffee , toast and marmalade and have an enjoyable break. For sure this project has raised the profile of the preservation of this iconic part of BR history, and all of the best for this venture. I certainly hope that one day she'll be running again. The forthcoming model sounds the business, order placed yesterday evening (after returning from the pub, a rather unfortunate weakness I have -train beer goggles, surely I'm not the only one with this affliction?). Despite causing a "disagreement" with SWMBO, I've gone for the all bells and whistles sound version, it would be rude not to. I fondly remember the WR trials in 1975/6 ( there's a pic of a APT-E alongside 252 001 up thread) so I can be justified running it on my layout, if I ever cared if facts should get in the way of my train set anyway. I believe the Swindon shot was posed, it was in all the railway press at the time. Neil

Terrific prototype choice, would never have dreamt this ten years ago. Payday soon, so will order, as others have said a price which is pleasing on the wallet. The iconic image of APT-E on the front cover of my tatty 1974 combine captures it all. As a young teenager this appeared the future of BR, fast sexy and a glimpse of the shape of things to come. Sadly things didn't pan out that way. I was actually expecting 252 001 despite Mike's (Stationmasters) numerical clues. Perhaps RapidoUK#2?. Good luck Jason in your UK market ventures. Neil

Been around for a while - still makes me smile http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2-1lmz3qreY Neil

An interesting incident this evening in my garden in South Devon. I was aware of a flock of swallows sounding alarm calls, and shortly afterwards a sparrow hawk dived for cover into a large Bay tree at the bottom of my garden. It quickly composed itself, saw me and flew off with at least five swallows in hot pursuit. I've never seen a bird of prey being mobbed by swallows before. Neil

Wow three months have passed since the last update. Still none to spray shops, but that hopefully will change during the summer hols. Back to Heljan Duffs - i have become rather smitten with the HJ power unit, having fettled a few to fit Lima 47 bodies but they are in short supply. Having noticed unbranded HJ 47s on eHattons for £60 a pop, I relieved them of 2 of their last 3 BFYE's. Having wanted a small fleet of WR "original" namers (i.e. 47 080 Titan, 47 083 Orion and 47 089 Amazon) the last three I'd needed to clear "Brush namers" back 40 years ago were to join my fleet. The advantage with the Heljan blue 47 is that it has the correct serck louvres and boiler ports for the original WR namer set. OK the Heljan duff has it's issues (it does look rather portly alongside its Bachmann sister), but its something I will live with and far more preferable than switching Serck louvres between Lima/Bachmann models. Sometimes the simple solutions are the best- a straightforward renumber and naming. I will add precision labels headcode panels when I chip 47 080. Next on the long-term to do list is the first ever large logo BR diesel, 56 036. This was a celebrity at the time, and regarded a bizarre livery variation when it first appeared in 1978. I saw her in this livery one wet, dark, November saturday at Coalville that year. I've tired of waiting for the Hornby large logo model to appear - it wasn't correct for 56 036 in any case. Shawplan bits have been fitted, although I feel the jury is out on the bodyside grilles - I wanted the see through effect, but they aren't the easiest of things to put together. These close up shots are super for showing imperfections - the scavenger grilles to the naked eye look flush, the photo reveals where further "spot welding" with superglue is required. This is an old Hornby bodyshell (pre the recent retool), but I've located some next generation 56 chassis, and with some basic fettling they fit perfectly.

Dave What's your view on the DMU market? There's still a few gaps in the RTR marketplace for first generation machines. I think I saw you mention that a 117 had been scanned recently (not by DJM). I agree with you that the demand for EMU would be very parochial, but DMUs ranged much farther afield. Neil

Looks an absolute beauty Michael, I love these big freight hauling steamers. Tis a credit to you. Neil

Beautiful peaks Phil. What did Mark use for the central doors on D15 - plasticard I'm guessing? It's a mark of the quality of the Bachmann model that they can look so real. Without wanting to open a can of worms, the blue on the BSYPs looks a different shade - what blue did you use? Neil

As we are having a bit of a STJ interlude, we used to cycle across the original Severn bridge there many a summer Sunday to capture what was on shed. ER split box and other 37s, LMR 25s and ER 31s, a class 33 (swapped here for a 37 on trains from Eastleigh and Fawley) were staple fare plus the occasional pair of 20s and class 40s. All intermixed with WR duffs, 46s and many 37s. A magical place, and often never a soul in sight. BR staff were friendly too, when they were found. i remember one weekend clutching a wad of computer paper given to us following our requests from the TOPs computer, and being frustrated that 2/5 class 47s I needed to clear were on Crewe works that day. I understand that 44s even worked there. Back to Westerns, I will never forget their distant roar climbing from Severn Tunnel into Stoke Gifford on Eastbound freight and passenger, growing into that familiar growl and drama as they rushed past. Westerns also used to sit rumbling away on stone trains in Stoke Gifford yard in their final throes, and it was always a welcome sight to be greeted by one cycling to parkway early on summer holiday mornings. Always a treat when they pulled away on fully laden trains. The embankments overlooking Stoke Gifford yard were a mid 1970s spotters dream, sadly now inaccessible with security fencing for decades. Neil

Spending a very pleasant bank holiday evening post BBQ with the family sat drinking a few beers on the patio. Just taking in the huge variety of bird life around my South Devon garden in the past couple of hours. Chaffinches, coal, great and blue tits, robins, dunnocks, greenfinches, house sparrows flitting around the peanuts before going home to roost. In the hedgerows close by I can hear goldcrests, a lone pheasant, numerous blackbirds, goldfinches and a song thrush. Flying overhead are swallows, swifts, house martins, and a pair of Canada geese passed directly over around 30 minutes ago, mixed with the dulcet tones of a distant skylark. The raucous calls of a nearby Jackdaws nest a couple of gardens away, and the soothing call of a few wood pigeons. The rat-a-Tat-tat of a distant woodpecker whilst the light fades. It's a beautiful place here the South Hams, may just wait till the stars and bats come out and see if the barn owl makes an appearance later. Do I have enough cold beer? Edit : a Heron just flew over too! Neil

Hi Kevin Nowhere in particular - just trying to capture part of the Bristol scene in the mid- late 1970s. The Avonmouth freights give me the chance to operate split box 37s, class 20s (albeit infrequently), plenty of LMR class 25s and ER 31s, plus 47/3s from all over the country. I'd love to know the prototypical trains - plenty of small vans, chlorine tanks, anhydrous ammonia to name just a few to Fisons and ICI. Neil

What a super thread, of great interest to me as I'm modelling mid 1970s Bristol area, including the freight that went to Avonmouth. So I'm really looking forward to the next posts! Thanks again for the informative posts Rivercider, it certainly has my grey cells twitching, especially seeing Westerns and Hymeks operating these services just over a decade earlier. Just wish I'd paid attention and had a decent camera back then. The Bristol Parkway area had a different mix with London-.South Wales traffic, and the glorious mix that went to Avonmouth to Fisons, RTZ and the rest. Neil

Progress based on the Fred Phipps gauge 1 model: Edit original thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/86065-any-questions-quiz-the-Dapol-team/?p=1458762 Although I'm not a member there any more, look at post 1 on this modellers united thread over a year ago.http://www.modellersunited.co.uk/Dapol-21-29-t78.html This is very good news - the Fred Phipps model is stunning. Neil

Bristol Rovers were relegated from the league yesterday. I'm a city fan but upset by Rovers going down, a lot of my mates are "gas heads". There's been a lot of infantile silliness on Facebook from City fans, it's bad enough for a city the size of Bristol to have only one team now in the league. I understand rivalry within the different city teams (Manchester/London/Sheffield/Liverpool Etc), but to celebrate such a misfortune such as this is bad form. I hope the gas win promotion next year and bounce straight back. Neil

Travelled to Heathrow yesterday from Bristol by train. Loads of Red Kites seen especially around Didcot. Neil

There's plenty of Tawnys here too, trust me it's definitely a Barn, it's in flight call is different to the screech, (more like a wheeze) which is heard from the woods opposite too. Will be looking out for it later after dark this evening. Tawnys are very distinctive I agree. Neil

Liked the para film tip for masking, I'm making a rare appearance in the lab tomorrow, I must "liberate" some. Like Phil used it for years, but never considered its modelling potential. Neil

Just had a Barn owl fly over the cottage and is circling around outside now gently calling in flight! Amazing stuff, must be nesting nearby.

better shots of the Orange tips a couple of days ago. Managed some close up shots with the aid of a telephoto. also saw fresh hatched peacocks and a few small tortoiseshells, and a solitary Brimstone Phil! Neil

Thanks Simon It does very much look like a Dunnock when the streaks appear on it's back when you lightened the image. It certainly looked much bigger than a Dunnock (Song Thrush size), but I'm willing to listen to more skilled ornithologists. Neil

No Brimstones spotted yet - but also plenty of female orange tips (well without orange tips!) less photogenic. Will be out tomorrow with camera spotting birds and butterflies in the South Devon hedgerows. Neil

In Devon this Easter weekend - some walks the last few days in glorious sunshine. Orange tips out yesterday, saw four separate insects in about 30 minutes. Always a sign that summer has arrived- one of my favourite butterflies. lovely! Neil

Ok for the twitchers out there - what is this? my first thought a slender but medium/large sized, thrush shaped songbird was this was a redstart. I didn't have my telephoto with me, but captured some shots, so apologies for the low res. Went out today with telephoto, and guess what nothing. Thoughts are now based on markings on zoomed in image, a Nightingale? Neil ps not in the back garden but about a mile away!