Neal Ball

Surprising that it’s now 14 years ago. That’s the same version in my photos at Henley and it has always been a good runner.

I guess the question is, which depot supplied the engines for Helston? And then do you have details about loco overhaul for the correct period. Let’s assume locos for Helston were supplied from Truro and that 1158 was based there in 1918. The bonus would be that it visits Swindon for a heavy general in Sept 1918 - which would include a full repaint - and that come Jan 1919 it is released back to Truro - the chances are it would arrive back from Swindon in the 1919 livery. Looking at loco history details they were in and out of Swindon all the time, so the chances are a loco would get all liveries relevant to that time. Does that help?

Here is a quick iPhone photo of the 28xx which shews the extent of the train. The loco drove into Platform three, then reversed the train into the headshunt / back siding access. Its a lovely loco that runs very smoothly.

Thanks Andy. The 72xx is a Hornby loco from the so-called design clever days, weathered by TMC it's a lovely loco, which runs very well. It is fitted with a Zimo MX640 sound decoder The Dean goods loco over the years has been a right pain in the a**se, but these days is fitted with a sound decoder, which will be a Zimo MX series. Now as a result it is a very good runner. I am sure the story of this loco is way back in the history of Henley - several pages ago! I bought it from Gaugemaster / the Engine Shed as it was the local model railway shop at the time - this is in fact the 2nd loco as it was so difficult to get into the tender to fit the decoder! It's an Oxford loco. The Collet Goods is a Bachmann loco, with only pickups on the loco - one day I will add pickups into the tender. Its fitted with a Guagemaster decoder - its an "ok" runner.

As I was assembling the train, I added coal into two wagons - one was a fresh load using the Geoscenics kit. This wagon already had a Dapol plastic coal load, which I reduced in height and then added coal on the top. Im not going to weather it, to make a difference in a mixed train.

It's a nice loco Phil. I have a spare DC one that wont be PX to Hattons now :-)

There was talk over at Helston with @Andy Keane who has just placed an order for a Dapol 28xx, whilst at the same time Phil @Harlequin has cancelled his order. I have two Hornby locos, only one is DCC enabled, the other is in my "Sell to Hattons" pile.... It was my fathers when he had a layout, but given I also have a 72xx; Dean Goods and a Collet Goods, I don't think I need 2 x 28xx. Seen here with a mineral train arriving into Henley-on-Thames: At 10 wagons plus a Toad it was well within the limits of the loco. Obviously I doubt the real Henley would have seen such a loco on the branch.

I don’t think the Dapol windows pop out Bill. However, the windows do pop out on the Rapido B set.

Have you tried the Dart castings brass fittings? I’ve started to use them on my carriage bogies to good effect. You then fit the Kadee NEM couplers in and so far they have been very good. https://www.dartcastings.co.uk/mjt/2580.php Hopefully that will work for a loco - might need some adapting. Good luck, Neal.

i wont be painting bolections where the carriage is already glazed....

I think if someone has the first batch in stock when we are next in the UK I will be tempted to do the same. My preference will still be shirtbutton livery - but if they are delayed, I might have to change my mind.

My understanding is that decorated samples were due at Dapol after Chinese new year - maybe in the last couple of weeks and production of the next batch will start shortly after. I am guessing that we are probably looking at a summer delivery.

There must be quite a bit of stock at Pendon that is of that sort of age and still regularly running. Guy Williams built them to last! I assume the SRM was built by Guy.

Not bad seeing as its only my 2nd time of using the bow pen - I need to go back to the Slaters Toplights and finish them off.

As I thought, my older Castles are better with my heavier trains! Windsor castle brought 5 kit-built carriages into platform 2 at Henley-on-Thames, reversed it into Mill Lane sidings and then took the stock into Platform 1 ready for departure. Having achieved that, I started painting the bolection mouldings and droplights on any Clerestory C23 carriage. It will need a lot of work to tidy it up!

This will help: https://99percentinvisible.org/article/slip-coaches-back-when-british-express-trains-detached-passenger-cars-at-speed/ Dont worry about it being a slip carriage, the principle is the same.

New video from Pendon museum: Im hoping to have time to get over to Pendon on our trip back to the UK this summer.

I also like the idea that a window can simply be popped out and a half open droplight added in its place. Amazing.

Which is all well and good - but do you have any suggestions about how to make it louder?

Im not a speaker expert…. But our Hifi speakers at home have a piece of hardboard over the back. The front of the speaker of course has a piece of mesh. I think Phil’s development is very interesting - anything that can make the sound louder is to be applauded.

I have a 3D printed yard crane courtesy of @Harlequin and the detail is amazing. The fact that there can also be 3D loco, just blows my mind. The rate of change is amazing and of course if you were to say Kodak / Polaroid to the woke generation, they probably wouldn’t know what you are talking about. Change at this level is good and to be encouraged.

They both look good. If one side is better, simply place the wagons that way round and no one will know. I have a viewing side and an “other side” to a lot of stock and it works really well. (Don’t tell anyone 🤣)

That loco is looking very good Andy.

Thanks Tony, I’ve been very pleased with how the loco and also the Clerestory carriage have come together. It was the harder option to build and then adapt the SE Finecast underframe, but I think it’s a better result. Thanks again. Neal.

That looks to be a good project Mikkel. Ive seen these 3D prints on Facebook and also on Rich's thread, they all look very interesting. There is another fitting in the photo, on the smokebox side, just above the saddle, that is not on the 3D print. Is it the lubricator pipework? Is it then the same on the other side? Good luck with the conversion, its going to look very good. Neal.