Steven B

True PAYG is hard to find, and if you've got a existing SIM card, hard to justify keeping. My network has slowly been pushing up the cost of text and calls such that even on my light use the £10 a month automatic PAYG is now attractive. The advantage is unlimited calls and texts. The disadvantage is that it's still more than a basic contract from one of the piggy-back operators like iD Mobile, Adsa or Tesco. Steven B

Lovely! Fingers crossed it passes through the magic shrinking machine and we see a N Gauge version. Steven B

Lovely modelling on the train but suffering from flat-earth baseboards. It's nice not seeing shadows on the backscene but it's looking rather faded. 25042 250286 by Steven Clements, on Flickr Steven B

Fingers crossed for tomorrow's announcements !😉

The Bachmann EZ Command is about as simple as they get but you only have control over F0-F9 - limiting if you have DCC Sound fitted locos For entry level systems by the main suppliers: NCE Power Cab Digitrax Zephyr Roco z21 Start Each of these will control the full range of function outputs. If you're happy using a mobile phone or tablet then a SPROG II connected to your PC will work quite happily. If you want something stand-alone then a Pi-SPROG or DCC-EX system will work nicely too. Steven B

It's an interesting concept - I've seen something similar done in 009 using Peco track. The builder had narrow (generally <6") wide modules that plugged together in any order to give a meandering single-track branch line across his table top. The videos do show how well Kato Unitrack can be integrated into a layout - once weathered I struggled to tell it from regular code 80 in those videos. Kato have been pushing their Mini-Diorama's in the UK for the last 18 months or so which are a similar concept (often with wild and wacky results) but using very tight radius curves. In the UK, T-TRAK has slowly grown in popularity over the last few years with several N Gauge Society Area Groups now having modules. They're a lot wider so allow for more scenery, but with a bit less flexibility in track plan compared to the modules above. Steven B

First I've heard of the Peco CDA (and presumably the HAA) being the incorrect length. Where's it been said? Steven B

If only someone produced a decent HEA! Steven B

It'd be nice to know if I'm budgeting for one or more decoders per unit. Likewise Next18 vs E24. I'd hope that by now they'd know this even if they're not 100% sure of the underframe detail. Welcoming a product announcement and then seeing little visible progress for months on end is rather frustrating. I think I'd rather manufacturers held off until there was at least CAD, if not an EP model to be seen. Steven B

Loco hauled, Intercity (exec) Pullman please! Steven B

Given Rapido's history of producing fun but not quite prototypical liveries, can we expect an up-to-date interpretation of Lima's infamous "Grimsby Fish" van? "Margate Fish" perhaps? 😉 Perhaps one branded for JR Hartley? With a headboard for the Flying Kipper?

Do you know when you'll be announcing what combinations of liveries and set lengths you plan to produce? Steven B

I find this very hard to believe. Does this mean that anyone who's ever produced a model of "Mallard" has asked permission from the NRM? Steven B

Unless I'm mistaken, two Rapido and one Hornby van could be found in Whitby yard 60 years ago: (Ernies Railway Archive on Flickr) Steven B

Given the 16.5 vs 14mm gauge difference, perhaps they should have modelled them to a different scale so the track gauge was correct! 😉 Steven B

Window frames and bonnet top would be black - a very dark grey (Humbrol 32?) would give a nice weathered effect. I use very light grey (Humbrol 147) in place of white for the same reason. With the 37s, the roof started out as light grey but soon weathered to near black - if you're not comfortable applying weathering then a dark grey wouldn't look out of place. Steven B

Large logo was generally: BR Blue BR Yellow Goose Grey (roof) The mid/light grey roof generally weathered to a darker shade with soot from the exhausts. Class 50s were the big exception - several large-logo blue locos had black roofs, others had black panels with cab roofs being blue. Twelve class 47 appeared with a blue roof. There were also some non-standard versions such as 37116 and 37361. Steven B

Lovely use of a photographic backscene; great scenic work - particularly the blending with the back-scene. Shame about the factory weathered loco and stock: (Trevor Plackett on Flickr)

I wish my scenic modelling was good enough to replicate this: (terry eyres on Flickr) "40152 climbing towards the high level bridge across the Manchester Ship Canal at Knutsford Road Latchford with 6E95 20.04 Arpley -Harwich PQ ( Whitemoor ) Speedlink" Steven B

Double check with the data sheet - many are rated at 3A or more per pin. Voltage also shouldn't be an issue with most rated for over 100V. I doubt you'll have any problems. Worst case (far end of the layout with multiple locos and several trains with track powered lighting) you may need to use a second pair of conductors. Steven B

The old Farish model will be quicker! Steven B

What era? 1950s would be different to 1980s Steven B

Yes, the Spartan could travel on a Warwell if needed. The weight distribution is an interesting question: Landrover RWMIK - 3500kg Jackal - 6500kg FV103 Spartan - 10600kg You'd need to see what difference in axle loading is/was allowed. Steven B

Train Tech make a DCC accessory decoder with two relays - Train Tech RL1. A slight more involved (but less expensive solution) might be to use an accessory decoder and one of the many relay boards designed for use with Arduinos. These should allow the logic level output of the decode to safely switch the relay as required. Steven B.

For those wanting to avoid these "fake" models - I've only ever seen wagons being advertised as shipping direct from China - no coaches or locos. The N Gauge ones have tended to be covered coil and flat wagons - made by Dapol for Modell Bahn Union - not Dapol's British range. That may have changed of course... Steven B