Mike at C&M

To anyone who has to settle on the livery details for a model, you now have my greatest sympathy! I have just been down to Carlisle station, with the livery samples, to answer a few specific questions on the livery details. And I have come away with more doubt, then when I walked on to the platform. Today's unit was 156.501, and it was sufficiently dirty on top to not be able to tell what was painted black, and what was painted blue. Whereas 156.512 had one blanked out window, the toilet window, 156.501 had two blanked out windows - the toilet and the vestibule in the other car. The overhead warning panel that is in the windscreen of 156.512, is not there on 156.501. The main reason for going was to compare the blue colouring of the livery sample with the 12 inches to the foot version. What became immediately apparent was that where the vinyls are applied, it changes the background dark blue colour slightly, although this is not noticeable at distance. So the final decisions on the livery have been made, and these will be passed on to Dapol

Thank you to everyone for their comments about the livery details. The fact that all comments relate to details means that we have the basics correct. The main comment has been with regards to the bar across the front windscreens where the wipers are positioned. This isn't there because the front of our livery sample has no glazing in it! The left hand window also has an overhead warning flash within it. The roof on 156.512 may be unique, but we are doing a specific unit. At the front of the car, it comes right the way to the edge of the full yellow end, a close scrutiny of the roof at the inside end shows the black finishing at the end of the ribbing, the smooth area at the car is blue right the way across. Comment has also been made about the alignment of the "ScotRail" writing and its; alignment compared to the doors open warning light. It is not the same on both cars when looking at the complete unit from one side. One car, has the 'o' in ScotRail under the warning light, the other car has the writing offset to the right hand side of the light. One final point I would appreciate guidance on is the blanking out of one of the smaller bodyside windows. The final photograph below shows a blanked out window at the cab end of car No. 52512. However, I made the error of not photographing the entire bodysides of both cars on this side, due to the platform. Can anyone please confirm, or deny, that there is only one window in the unit blanked out like this. As for release date, it is likely to be early Spring, but I hope that there me an outside chance that they may be released by the time of the Glasgow SEC show at the end of February.

Adam, It is probably best to say that the Saltire livery has evolved as it has been applied to more and more units. The Gaelic writing is a more recent addition to the livery.

Bennyboy, I would love to say that Dapol have developed a Maglev drive, but that would be a lie. Adam, We thought that this would be a standard livery, with few variations. We were wrong. I photographed 156.512 extensively during a layover in Carlisle station and the decision was taken to re-produce that unit as we know what the correct details are on that unit. As it did not carry the Gaelic wording, neither does the model. I have had a few PMs with some minor details to check. Thank to all for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

I have received my livery samples, so a few photographs to tempt you further. This is the final stage at which we can make any required changes, so please feel free to point out any errors that you spot.

A word of warning to the retailers. I have just checked the trade website, and it looks as if our orders for the Crosti have been cancelled. Something to consider when putting your orders together for the 2015 range. Once again, a moving set of goalposts! Yours, with extreme restraint...... Mike

mjcampbell comments that he does not know if Heljan are taking pre-orders. I can confirm that Heljan are already accepting advance orders from retailers.

Various comments about the N Gauge sample photos have been passed on to Dapol, so we shouldn't fall into the same traps as Hornby. On 'Captain Electras' advice, I walked the 3 minutes from the shop on to the footbridge shown in his 2nd shot to get a shot of the roof. However, even that was fraught with problems, but that is another story (or three). Thank you to all for their comments, your interest and assistance is greatly appreciated

When we did the ScotRail Mark 3 coaches, we put up the pictures of the livery samples and asked for any comments on errors and omissions that needed correcting. So below is the provisional artwork for the ScotRail 156. Any comments will be gratefully received. We are already aware of the double numbering on both the coaches.

A few weeks ago, several people in prominent places within the industry questioned whether the relevant permissions were in place for us to do this model. There was a danger that our project could hit the buffers before we had really started. I am happy to report that following assistance from these people, often in places you would not expect, Dapol now have the relevant licences in place to produce the model, so the project goes ahead! A big thank you to everyone for their help.

Kingmoorkid, Could your entrance to the 'Cellar Bar' have been through the arch way to the left of the hotel frontage? I agree with your comment about that this layout is invoking great memories, especially as I can remember Carlisle pre-electrification.

Before we move on to the coaling plant, some pictures of the hotel in it's current state. Very sad to see a building like this going to ruin.

Another fan as of the start of Channel 4 coverage when they first broadcast highlights in 1982. I chose to follow the Washington Redskins, as they won the Superbowl in that season. Wembley hosted a number of pre-season games in the following years, and when the Redskins played there in 1992, I just had to go. And the highlight of that day, seeing the great Joe Montana, the quarterback of the San Francisco.

Thank you for the positive response. Especially to those who are spreading the word on my behalf, it is highly appreciated No unit numbered has been decided, but the one I photographed in detail at Carlisle station was 156.512, and the driver was kind enough to put me a number of different destinations up in the matrix display. Looking to update the shop website over the weekend, to facilitate online ordering.

Thanks gelboy45. Obviously getting my Scottish flags and Yorkshire villages mixed up.

C&M Models are delighted to announce that Dapol have accepted a commission to produce an exclusive limited edition Class 156 2-Car 'Sprinter' unit in the current ScotRail 'Saltaire' livery. This is an 'N' gauge model Production is scheduled for early in 2015, and it is our hope that the model will be available around March 2015. The price of the model is £109.95, plus postage if applicable. It is not expected that there will be a price rise out of Dapol in the interim. The specification for the model is as for the standard Dapol model. Namely Super Creep Motor, Directional Lighting, DCC 6-pin Ready, All Wheel Drive and Light Bar Ready. Advance reservations are now being taken, and the easiest way to register your interest is to e-mail us on sales@candmmodels.co.uk We hope this will prove as resounding a success as our ScotRail liveried Mark 3 coach sets have done. Mike Parsons C&M Models

John, The storm was filmed by placing the camera on a steady surface, in my case it rested on a jumper, and simply letting the camera 'roll'. Mine was shot at 1920x1080 resolution A decent video editing suite should allow you to capture an individual frame. It can be time consuming to get your still shot, but the rewards can be well worth it. And they make great desktops for your computer. Mike (87029) Parsons

A bit of a cheat this one, but it did fulfil my ambition to photograph lightning. I videoed the storm in HD and then did a frame capture to get my shot. The storm was at Shanklin, Isle of Wight in early August 2013 For those who are interested in thunderstorms, the following link is a real-time tracking map for lightning strikes in Europe, USA and Australia: http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en

Ours is not the only top league with unfamiliar names at the top, SV07 Paderborn currently lead the German Bundesliga. Then again, if they score goals like this one, they deserve to be top. Nice one Moritz Stoppelkamp! http://sport.bt.com/video-01363814401986?videoid=3797679037001&videotitle=Stoppelkamp%20scores%20epic%2083-yard%20strike&videoimage=v1%2Funsecured%2Fmedia%2F2503979514001%2F201409%2F2899%2F2503979514001_3797798488001_stop-bc.jpg

The following link is very useful for tracking thunderstorms: http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en I saw the storms tracking east through Bavaria and extrapolated it to likely arrival in Plattling. The link is good for storms throughout Europe. Earlier this year I was treated to the incredible storm over Nordrhein-Westfalen when I watched it live on the Dortmund Flughafen livecam. Nature is awe-inspiring at her violent best.

9.20p.m., and 28 degrees Celsius. Time to put the webcam on and watch the approaching thunderstorm.

I think at present, most people will simply be breathing a sigh of relief that Hornby are now bringing out new models at a reasonable pace, after the drought we have suffered over the past 12 months. As a retailer, it is far better to know that a model will not make Christmas, then to have to blindly assure potential customers that it may be here by December 25th. Most people are prepared to wait that few weeks extra.

Release dates on the Hornby trade website are: R3242 BR Early 30/12/2014 - (effectively January 2015, due to Christmas/New Year closedown) R3243 BR Late ditto R3243A BR Late 5/12/2014 !

Can you come and do something with the 12 inches to the foot version of this building, please. It is currently lying derelict with no obvious sign of anyone wanting to do work upon it. 'Chapeau' for your excellent work. This Carlisle resident is incredibly impressed with your work.

We received 2/3s of our order for R3207 last week. The trade website does not give a date for the remainder coming through, but does acknowledge that this remainder is still to come.