Steven B

For 1990s BTCC, my favourite has to be a Volvo 850 Estate! For current day Accurascale, Mk2d and HEA please (in N, along with the Mk2b & Mk2c if it's not too much to ask for!). Steven B

Copy BR and mix 'em in the same train: D802_ExeterC_1441-to-Wloo_22-7-68_crop by robertcwp, on Flickr

Very nice work! What's the source of the brick paper? Steven B

I wouldn't count on any green or blue class 47s - the body shell used for the current release is the mid 1980s "Crewe Cut" where some of the metal work was removed from around the buffer beams. More sector and privatisation liveries are more likely. It may be that Farish have yet to modify the body shells for the older periods to match the new chassis. Steven B

Some exquisite modelling and one "it's too small for old fingers and eyes" and you make your mind up? Can I suggest you pay a visit to your local N Gauge Society Area Group and get hands on with the actual models? You'd be more than welcome at a Yorkshire Area Group meeting. Alternatively, a few Peco wagons or a Gaugemaster starter set (GM2000105) will let you get a feel for the scale without a massive outlay. Steven B

Or reference a copy of the original design guide: http://www.doublearrow.co.uk/intercity.htm Steven B

Nice work! For the route number and destination blinds you could have used white transfer paper and just printed the black - it would have avoided having to paint the white patches. Steven B.

"Pick your own" running numbers are going to upset those who attempt to collect all the catalogue numbers! Steven B

Watch out for Siphons! The Dapol Siphon is the earlier outside framed version - non of these survived to received BR blue. The Lima model is the later inside frame vehicle which did. Steven B

It still is. Whilst a lot uses computer generated animation, you'll still find many of the old skill alive - the new Clangers is still stop-motion animation as an example. Steven B

1978: 27011+27032* n by Steve Thorpe, on Flickr May 1995 was when Motorail was stopped by BR: (6089Gardener on Flickr) If you want to ride on a train with a CCT, head to the North Norfolk Railway - they attach one to a train during the summer months when it's used to carry prams and pushchairs belonging to the youngest of their passengers. Steven B

Using the Dapol Siphon chassis (2A-000-020) is an alternative - for around the same price as a pair of B-Set bogies you get a nicer underframe. Steven B.

This is somewhat disparaging to those not actively involved in operating the trains. Safety critical training goes beyond track/footplate access and is needed in many roles. Would you want to eat at a cafe/buffet where the staff don't have food hygiene training? Steven B

It's called gaining experience - not uncommon elsewhere; Most military officer's posts are of a two year duration before they rotate into another posting. Steven B

Replace coke cans with drug paraphernalia and you're not far off the truth. It's worth knowing how to safely deal with some of the nasties you can find whilst litter picking or clearing derelict areas... Steven B

Here are some of the ones the Yorkshire Area Group of the NGS built earlier this year: Some were built as pairs (including gluing them together!) Steven B

Class 93 plus some extra CAF coaches to make the soon to be spare Transpennine Mk5s sets up to 10 vehicles?

Loco (37) should have been sent back to the shop - not having all the marker lights working with today's prices is unacceptable!

If you mean the Mini Dioramas (28-888 and 28-889 or 24-051/24-052), then yes; As part of the N Gauge Society's show at the NRM earlier this year the NGS Yorkshire Area Group was asked by Gaugemaster to build a few. They've since been seen at TINGS and will be on the Gaugemaster stand at Warley/NEC at the end of the month. Being around 6" long and 4" wide they're very small and it's quite hard to produce something to fit in the space available. Many of my ideas just wouldn't work without adding extra length or width. Being so small, there's no where to hide any mistakes. A couple of mine were a bit rough around the edges which would have been lost amongst a layout size module (or even T-TRAK), but on the mini-dioramas they stand out. They are great fun to make. Expect to loose yourself for several hours on each one you build! Watch out for the 124mm curved radius (4.8") on the curved modules - you might struggle to get some of the longer wheelbase models around them. See: https://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2023/09/kato-at-tings-mad-but-i-love-it.html for some of the UK based modules, and https://www.kato-dioramakit.com/ for a whole host of modules ranging from the exquisite to the completely wacky! (some-times both at the same time) The best ones (in my opinion) as those that are those that stray away from what might be called "serious modelling". Steven B

You'd need to ask the guys at Heaton Park! Metrolink's minimum radius is 25m if Wikipedia is to be believed. A quick look on Google Earth suggests this isn't far off what the minimum radius is on the current track. I think the problem with Metrolink tram on the existing track is the depth of the flange - older wheelsets manage on regular rail at Crich so suspect they wouldn't have too much trouble with Metrolink standard track. Steven B

It's a while since I was last there, but I think they hope to extend beside the shed at the boating lake and head west towards Bury Old Road. From memory the old trams would be able to use the new line, but the Metrolink tram wouldn't be able to get to the museum end of the line. I could of course be completely wrong.... Steven B

From a visit last year, I think they're hoping to lay a new branch to run the Metrolink tram on. There's also some issues around supply voltage. Steven B

It wasn't so much the fragility of the dangly add-ons that were the issue with the class 28, but the tolerances of the fit. On my two examples the brake pipes only just clear the bogies as they rotate. Other owners of the model weren't quite so lucky. I think I agree with the comment above that we've probably reached peak detail in N. I can't see the need for more separately applied parts. The current Mk1 was a big step up from the old Poole era one, but other than adding lighting the only thing missing is the lamp irons (frustratingly molded as part of the gangway cover). To my mind Farish, Rapido and Revolution are perhaps a little way beyond what my ideal level of detail would be. Kato's Eurostar and class 800 are someway below. Dapol aren't far off but need a little more finesse - their Collett coaches aren't quite up there with the Farish Hawksworth; They'd look odd in the same train I feel. Steven B

It's not just heavy rail where modernisation causes headaches for preservationists. Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester are hoping to have a first generation Metrolink tram running. Whilst their existing fleet can be mended with a hammer, I suspect that after a few years they'll be left with a static exhibit despite the large number of spares they've aquired. Other areas have similar issues. It's easier to keep a Lancaster bomber flying than a Vulcan for example. Steven B

Nice that the livery issues with the Mk3s sleepers (blue/grey & Intercity for me please!) have been corrected. I'll probably replace my existing four and potentially add a second rake. @Adam1701D have you given any thought to doing the white roof Mk3 Sleepers used on BR's Land Cruise trains? Ditto Pullman branded Mk3a FO? Steven B.