cairnsroadworks

Yes it is Mick 😃

It does indeed look good. My comment re 37800 is that it’s a good base. Blanking the window is easier than meddling with windowframes!

They’re a minefield. So the Bachmann 37/4 is perfect for any 37/4 pre-DRS. Those overhauled by HNRC for DRS got the plates side windows and reinforced windscreens and LED taillights - 402, 405, 409, 419 and 425.This is the spec that AS have chosen for their initial 37/4 offering so reusing them for other locos is difficult if you’re a rivet counter like me 🤣 401, 407, 422 and 424/558 have the LED taillights and reinforced windscreens but not the plated side windows. That means you can model these from AS 37422 when it comes out. With some work the Bachmann 37/4 model is perfect for various 37/4, 37/5 and 37/7 models pre 2000, and as mentioned a base for 37800 as well. Of course Bachmann have announced 37175 in Colas which should have the reinforced windscreens so I’m looking forward to seeing that.

Not putting John’s model down - John and I are friends and we had this discussion already - the windows are wrong on the 430 base model as they’re not the reinforced type introduced initially on the DRS 37s then the Colas ones. The AS model correctly depicts the reinforced type, which is why I was going to use one to respray into 405 until they spoilt my fun by announcing it 🤣🤣🤣 I’m just waiting to see someone do a 430 as 800 as it does have the right windows for that!

On a separate point related to Bruce’s earlier. I’ve got both side by side now and I’ve sung the praises of the Bachmann model. The windows in particular. But I am blown away by the Accurascale model, it’s absolutely fantastic. Now I’ve looked closely I think the Bachmann windows might be too flat - the AS ones have a definite curve. You the punter will decide but for me the AS is the better.

I can confirm that this works for mine.

Exciting stuff. I know there was much debate on the other thread about glazing. The AS glazing looks like laserglaze. It’s fabulous.

My 3 have arrived and they look fabulous. I’m happy enough with the windows and the glazing is exceptional. Now where are the weathering paints?

I am looking forward to seeing what you get up to with them.

Very smart! Where did you get the paint from? I just copied the 20 🤣

You can pop in to the factory and give us some updates on the other froth 🤣

OoooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo I have a dispatch notification 🌊🌊🌊

The orange is easy. Loadhaul/Strathclyde PTE orange.

Don’t give them ideas… us resprayers have to have some fun 🤣

I knew you were going to spoil my fun 🤣🤣🤣

I was at the Crewe works open day in 84, as an 8 year old!

I’d also originally suspected this but this picture disproves that theory. I’ll shut up now 🤣

I know I’m being a door bore but I don’t think it got them repainted, given it was released into traffic in grey in May 1984 and in Intercity by February 1985. It was a very short lived experimental livery indeed.

As long as you - and your Dad - are happy that’s all that matters at the end of the day. Having repainted several models into this scheme in the past I’m in no doubt that the doors were the same colour as the bodysides, and I’ve yet to see a picture that changes that view, including the ones you’ve shown above, which in my view show the doors the same as the bodysides. There’s countless others on Flickr which show no difference whatsoever. in nice light you can even see the blue already coming through too 😃

I think all that those photos do is confirm they’re not black… window surrounds yes, doors no. Second from top pic especially it is clear that the doors are the same as the body. The other thing to remember that it only wore the livery for a year or less so the only repainting that was done was into IC as per 87012.

Seemed to lose them in 87 ish then?

Interesting! What year is that then Andi? 1986 - I see now. I only started looking from 88 onwards!

A search of Flickr reveals no images of it with an aerial until it’s Dutch years!

The issue is that they’ll release a new version on a diesel/electric and charge over £200 for it and people still buy them. Once that stops in might change but it won’t stop because of the personality traits of the must have everything collecting modeller.

There were issues with the width of the stripes on that one. I had a shocker of one where the red stripe was narrower than the white one 🤣