Taigatrommel

I think the price is a valid subject for discussion. It seems very high, though I suspect Bachmann have Kernow over a barrel there - I'd imagine Kernow have to cover the full development cost, and have calculated covering that cost from the first batch of models, just in case delivery ends up being slow and the exclusivity period ends before subsequent batches are sold. Although I say that the price is high, what would be a fair price? £45 a coach is not far off normal for new releases of high standard now, so that puts £180 right off the bat. Looking for similar products globally, I'd compare it to a couple of Belgian models. A set of five M6 coaches from Classix (an exclusive production of Heris models) is €270, so approx £215. That only has one driving end, so that's probably broadly comparable. However, they have wider distribution than Kernow, not being limited to one shop. A shop exclusive, the Olearts AM80 "Break" sells for €489 as a three car EMU, so £385. Next to that, £270 seems reasonable. Making these comparisons, now I'm over the initial shock at the price, I'd say it's actually reasonable. I'd better hurry up and finish my own TC!

Not quite, though CC 21000 and CC 40100 have a top speed of 220kph, or 136.7mph. That said, given Corail stock has a maximum speed of 200kph, I doubt they were timetabled for such speeds.

Not so, and Alsthom themselves have constructed C-C high speed locomotives- SNCF CC 6500, CC 21000 and CC 40100 for example. Similarly, Germany's iconic BR 103 is a Co-Co locomotive.

I like the DDR era lettering on the factory on Wittenberger Straße. Is it VEB Leipziger Bekleidungs Werk?

That's a great bit of filming, both REP and 442 look the business. At present I'm on a German modelling stint ready for an exhibition in just over a fortnight, but I have some bits to continue my 4-CAP. As the weather gets better, my mood for painting gets stronger.

That's certainly how the Germans pronounce it.

Another Cheltonian here. Did you get to the show on the weekend?

Too late, Lenz beat you to it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pztyM0xvmxc

Thanks Roundhouse, all the workings now seem to be railcars and trailers- mind you, 854s etc are pretty cool! What a wonderful amount of information there is on Zelpage! I might simply go for electric haulage, there are no shortage of workings that I could use with the Sachsen-Böhmen ticket.

I thought I'd just add to this thread to ask a prototype question... I'm probably going to have a ride out with a Sachsen-Böhmen ticket on Monday, and I was wondering if there is anywhere in that territory where diesel haulage can be found? A few years back I got a 742-754 double header into Liberec, but as more units come on stream I just don't know what's around nowadays. Can anyone suggest anything in the north of the Czech Republic to get any diesels in the book? This pdf shows the ticket's validity, but realistically any target has to be somewhere between Cheb and Liberec.

It's only a matter of time before a Roco V100 Ost joins my fleet. A while ago I made a list of V100s which could suit both my Rübelandbahn project and more contemporary modelling, ie those that carry 20x xxx numbers and DR livery. I think they're my favourite locos from anywhere in the world.

The (unfinished) petrol station in its context. I've been playing with foamboard (Canson Carton Plume) for the concrete, it seems effective, once I add some more colours it should come to life. The tarmac road is artists' foam, with some colour applied by make-up sponges. The petrol station is from Auhagen, and has been altered to have one set of pumps rather than two to fit the space.

I know, until I added that plasticard strip and did the filing, it looked like a DABpbzfa767.2. So frustrating.

I've deepened the door windows to something approaching the right size, and added bump strips from 0.5mm square rod. These things are best done before adding the etched sides, otherwise you risk damaging the window frames, just like I've done...

All right then. Just ignore that I sat the body the wrong way round on the chassis...

https://youtu.be/hoae1T-uyuk?t=2m21s

My version 2 etches have arrived. They're good enough for my purposes. I need to get more cheap Mk2Es now!

The ruler is just over 200mm. The squares are 10mm, the strips 100mm.

Didcot was a great success. The mk2Bs are parked so that the details I needed pictures of were on the side away from the platform, and I was able to get some good photographs. I've put them in a flickr album, as they may well be useful to people other than me. Another excellent revelation is that what I presume is a heat exchanger of some sort (it's a Stones device) is present on Mk2Bs- I wasn't sure if these were exclusively a Mk2C detail or not. Anyway, here's the album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/richbucknall/albums/72157661550530974

There's the crux of the matter - that then leaves a lot of expensive models that are missing a part! I might make a moulding off an RTR prototype for my own use, but seeing as I'm being asked for these etches I figure I might as well try and make something myself for the people who want the etches. As a bonus, I've just found out the Didcot Railway Centre is free entry this month. That's tomorrow's plans sorted!

If I could find a contact for permission, that'd be a great plan. I'm not likely to be up that way until Easter, but it looks worth a visit anyway.

Well, one at Didcot... I'm going there this weekend anyway. I'd better pack a tape measure. In the meantime, I've been drawing up a couple of bits based on the Bachmann model.... after all, it's what I'm trying to match. Once drawn in 2D I'll extrude it into a 3D model, I've created a layer for each depth.

I'm trying to work out where is best to go and have a look at some mk2s, by my reckoning the Mid Norfolk is the place. It's a long way from Cheltenham though. Suggestions of any more locally would be welcome, alternatively any in the Thames Valley or near the Lake District, those are my main haunts.

Back to EMUs while I wait for the v2 etches to come... I've made a mould of the TC/REP inner end electrical boxes, and cast a few. As such, I'm now ready to paint the REP! I'm working on Mk2 underframe components too. I've started building masters, but this could be the perfect motivation to try some 3d CAD design. It'll be less fiddly.

I hope you'll forgive me putting red ovals on your pic, these are the items I mean with regards to trestle remains: