luke_stevens

I've finally had time to sit down and read the article :) My introduction to Belgian Railways was a little earlier. My first adult independent holidays was spending 11 days traveling round Belgium by train back in '87. I remember the first night sitting on the end of the platform as Oostende watching a train going to Split in Yugoslavia. Later that week I was on a diesel hauled service and as I got down out of the coach I saw that the brass foot step had "built in 1938" cast into it's surface. And my first trip on double deck stock was one of the M5's in the original maroon; looked lovely but cramped up-stairs. And Nohab's to Dinant! Pleasant memories. Luke

Sounds like you had a good show! It doesn't sounds as if you cam back home saying "never again" under your breath, which is a really good sign :) Luke

Now I see Paul's point about not blocking the bankers! It would look good on it's own :) I also liked the diesel on the China main overtaking the steam on the bidirectional. it has an "industrial progress" feel to it. I better point out as no-one else has, that the Faller roadway wasn't working... I was running the bidirectional from behind and I didn't realise how it was juddering. For the operators not on the industrial section most of the trains are "fire and forget": once a train disappears around the curve are the far end of the layout I don't know what is happening until it reappears and runs into the yard. If it has lost coaches / wagons (which happened much less now) it will only be as the train reaches the stop point that I may realise it is short. And as an operating team we need to talk less! I chatted with a couple of other operators and we need to come up with a specific set of agreed hand signals: "stop train", "Your train has separated", "move forward", "move backward" and the most important "What the F are you doing?!?" :) One thing I've realised for the videos from Warley is that I'd actually like to take time to just watch the layout... high praise from me! Luke

That was much more of a struggle than I'd expected. I couldn't find one anywhere local (and I live in London) so ended up getting one from Peco themselves at the Warley show. :) Luke

I think the key takeaway from Warley was that the layout kept working. Yes there were issues with lots of things but not at the same time. Fundamental the layout "has come of age" and we can now look forward to exhibiting it far and wide, with confidence. Beijing anyone?!? 🤣🤣🤣🇨🇳! L

The layout of Dorian Gray? The more finshed the layout looks, the more finished we all become? L

Yes, we can confirm that!!! 🤪 Luke

Pleased to have you back in one piece... Try and maintain the post-holiday relaxed vibe! Luke

I better get a copy :) Luke

We're at the Manchester Model Railway Exhibition 9th & 10th December, if that is any better? Luke

Which layout came first? Luke

:) No, the fire was when the layout was powered up but NOT working... Long story... L

It looks exceedingly calm... Usually at least someone has their hands in the air about something! Luke

I was tempted! Luke

It came from a Facebook group called Finescale Artists Railroad Techniques, which is a bit of an odd group. The other photos is at the botom of the post but the fist 3 images are the conversation. Maybe it isn't the DHP1 but I've got pretty wide interests and don't know of any America, European or Chinese prototype that's like that. My guess is that it IS the KR Models DHP1 but the production of the paint masks has been out sourced by the Chinese manufacturer to a Chinese subcontractor who didn't expect someone to recognise the model. I wonder what KR response will be if the read this topic? Luke

I saw this on a Facebook post to the "Finescake Artists Railroad Techniques". Poster says it isn't the DHP1 moulding, but it really looks like it.

I think I may have been over-optimistic 🤣🤣🤣 L

And there I am wanting a Duchess in BR Maroon... I go back and reread the Hornby TT120 catalogue and in the descriptive piece it talks about the first 3 Duchesses: "... the first being in LMS Crimson, while the second is resplendent in BR Green, with the third model presented in BR Maroon" which doesn't match the photos / item numbers at all. I'm hoping! Luke

From Hornby's Facebook Page (Tuesday 3rd Oct 23 at 10:45)

That's a bit of a concern. Hopefully we'll still get something announced on TT120 Day? Luke

Tuesday 10th October is the 1st anniversary of Hornby's TT120 range. There seems to be suggestions of some announcement and a press event. Previously there have been rumours of a previously unannounced 0-6-0 tank loco and an 08 in green. As that wouldn't make a great announcement / press event on their own, I was wondering what else they might announce / show progress on. My thought are: 08 in BR Green and in BR Executive (to match the Mk2 coaches) The 0-6-0T to be a Jinty, though a Terrier would be nice :) NSE 50 and Mk1 coaches in NSE Pre-production model of the Duchess, and an announcement of the BR Maroon livery version Pre-production models of the Mk1 SO and the Mk1 full baggage 3d print of the Cl 31 3d print of the 9F 3d print of the Gresley teak coaches Thoughts? Luke

The Faller roadway is quite capable of doing this without our intervention... L

Enjoy the kit! I really like these kits. They are about my level of complexity and don't take forever to build (except if you keep stopping to take photos and post on RMweb). If you have a questions I've found Osbourn's to be very helpful. If i can help just let me know :) Luke

2 gloss coats with 24hr between, followed by a couple of matt coats, masking fluid carefully picked away from the windows, the surrounds tided up with a little hand painted matt varnish, all reassembled and we're pretty much done for the moment. And the Hornby one for comparison! Almost twice the size... The brass bolts do already clear the track but I'll leave further trimming until there is a layout to run the model on! I may add a dab of matt oily black to the buffer heads in the future but this will do. And a roof shot because, why not? So? I've really enjoyed building this kit. It's a good kit, easy to build and easy to customise. Criticisms? 1) I don't like the laser-cut ventilators. To me they are too flat and too fragile. 2) The battery-boxes don't represent the prototype layout or style, but are easy to change. Mistakes? Many, all mine! I should have realised the L-angle was a different size from the Siphon. I should have used shorter bolts for the bogies. Learnings? When you assemble the bogies if you don't glue the end of the bogie sides to the frames then it will be much easier to fit and remove them for painting. Use a sharp soft pencil to add some graphite to the axle boxes: it will make them smoother when they roll. Finally thanks to Osbourn's for providing the kit and not saying anything when I went about making it my way! Luke

Sound is good! But you already know I think that! Whose sound files are you using? Have you tested it before you install it :) ? Luke