SWT442

The images on the likes of Rails of Sheffield show the wagon in 'early' livery, which I think is applicable until around 2000? Wagons in 'later' version of Yeoman livery look like this: (Not mine, click to go to Flickr) They're still in use in this colour scheme, though looking pretty rough around the edges and heavily graffitied. I took these shots last week, wagons were part of 7A17 Merehead Quarry to Acton. Andy.

I'd say the FAA & FCA flats are more of a hole in the EWS/DB specific container wagon line up, having been in use for over 20 years now. Dapol do the IKA, given an EWS paintjob would be a passable (if not accurate) representation of an FKA. Certainly surprised the FAA's haven't been done. Good use for space starved modellers as just one wagon can be a realistic train. The FCA's have now stated to appear on departmental services with drop-side mesh 'containers' on them, giving more options. Getting back on topic, the FWA's are certainly stacking up to be an excellent model. Will be putting an order in for 4 of the VTG Green sets in a few weeks on payday, don't want to miss the order deadline! Andy.

If we're talking EWS Intermodal wagons, I'd much prefer to see the FAA & FCA wagons. The FKA could be done by Dapol as just an EWS paint of their IKA sets, not completely accurate I'll agree, but would do the job for most. To me, the FAA & FCA seem to be a good one to do, as they came about in the late 1990's, so ran with EWS' early traction and could be seen on Enterprise services, so long rakes not needed and could mix with other wagons, such as Accurascales excellent PFA's & JSA's. In more modern times, as well as being used on EWS/DB Intermodal trains, they were the main wagons used on MOD services. Again, this means no need for long rakes as one or two wagons can be seen, good for the space starved modeller! With the MOD workings now under GBRf, you're not limited to EWS/DB locos at the head of them either. The FAA is probably the better one of the pair, being a single wagon rather than a twin set like the FCA. I'm also with @James Makin though, my credit card would be straight out for some WIA sets! Andy.

Can't say any of their 'SUV' names are particularly inspiring. At least Mokka is the least worst, Crossland X and Grandland X seem somewhat duller. I guess Mokka is a name to appeal to a younger crowd, wanting to get out of their Corsas into something bigger once the kids come along. A friend has done just that! As an aside, I don't think Vauxhall needs to worry about not having GM behind them anymore. They've been owned by PSA Group since 2017, which merged with FCA this year to form Stellantis. Now being part of one of the largest automotive groups in the world will certainly help keep the name around. Most of the cars are now just Peugeot's with a Griffin on the front grill anyway. Andy.

Just throwing this out here, as seems semi-applicable to this thread. Was flicking through WNXX earlier and a picture caught my eye, which was of the sand train between Ipswich & Neasden very recently. It looks to me like the rake of wagons are modified PTA/JTA/JUA, as I've not found another wagon type that they could be. To me, it appears the end has been redone with 2 braces that now go round to the sides of the wagon and meet with the first rib, and the tops are thicker and beveled, rather than small and square. Also looks like some of the side ribs have been beefed up too. If they are modified PTA/JTA/JUA, then it looks like they've been done recently as the paint looks pretty fresh. No of the above pictures are mine and link to the original on Flickr. I did have a brief search about for some info on these wagons but not found anything as yet. Be interested in peoples thoughts. Andy.

Part 2... Whilst I was on DCC Supplies site, it was noticed that they were selling bodyshells of the newer releases of 73, including the limited editions. Shells of both 73109 in NSE & 73128 in EWS picked up, these being put onto the chassis' of the GBRf pair I have. The EWS one was a quick and light weathering job, while the T-cut and cocktail sticks came out to change 109 to 129, as per the article in Rail Express Modeller. The transfers and plates came from Fox as per usual. I was pleased with the numbers as they had to be done individually. I never did take any shots of 73128 being done but they're all posed on Depot here! 73129 needs to be fully weathered and then it's finished. I've since picked up another GBRf body and I'll get the NR body in due course, so then I'll have a quad of GB73's for when I'm in my modern running mode. Something that was picked up in the Summer for a bargain price was a kit built EPB in Railtrack livery. It used MJT components and ran on a Bachmann MLV chassis, with a bodged up Lima/Bachmann chassis on the dummy coach. Now, the EPB's in departmental service used a pair of motor coaches. Instead of being sensible and doing some work to make the dummy coach underframe have the components of a motor coach, I of course took the silly and more expensive option and sourced another MLV! It was admittidly cheap but still more costly than some Replica bits! This then presented another issue, as the dummy coach had used a Lima MK1 as its base. So it had to be stripped down to its component parts and then rebuilt as a stand alone body that could then be dropped onto the MLV chassis. This turned out to be easier than expected. The MLV chassis had the buffer beams cut away and some bits of plasticard added to it to ensure the body would sit at the correct height. Some Replica headlights were added as were some Kadee's on the inner end. The buffing plates off the MLV buffer beams were also repurposed and added to the inner ends. Now, the body isn't technically correct, as they should both have a guards area behind the cab but I can live with it. The cab needs a bit of filler to help blend the joint in between the it and the body side. The unit will eventually be repainted and become 930204, as it seemed to be the least buggered about with EPB that Railtrack had. It's good enough for now though! And onto to two more up to date bits of kit. First up is a TPE Class 68. Now, these have been nowhere near the South Coast but with Accurascale showing off their incredible MK5 sets, I just had to have one! So, I obviously needed a loco to go with it. With Dapol sneaking their TPE 68's in, I picked up 68023 "Achilles" from Rainbow Railways along with the TPE 68 transfer sheet and some nameplates. My preferred loco was 68032 "Destroyer", mainly due to the name! But, with that one proving popular I lost out. So, instead of turning 023 into 032, as I initially planned, it instead became 68030 "Black Douglas". I was worried the printed numbers might be tricky to remove and possibly damage the intricate printing of the livery but they came off with the light scrub of a cocktail stick. Result! (I know the Vossloh logos are wrong! No one does the Stadler ones yet.) And last but not least, an IFA point carrier was started. These used a 3D printed kit by a seller on ebay, who also does some excellent modern lineside detailing bits. The base model is a Dapol FEA. And that's it! Probably be nothing for a while now as I'm moving into my first house soon. But that'll mean more space for stuff as workbench MK2 will be 2x Ikea desks instead of a drop down table in a little cupboard. Bring it on! Andy.

Right, time for an update. With the layout in 1990's mode, most of the stock worked on has reflected this. First up, the Alphaline 158. The cab corridor connections have been done as the blanked off type, this using a piece of plasticard cut to suit and painted using Humbrol yellow acrylic paint, which was a good match for the factory applied yellow on the cab. The skirts had been done using the same paint, making it correct for a unit of the 2000's. A sound chip that was surplus to @SouthernMafia's requirements was fitted as well. I still need to get the Alphaline logos resized as well as the other decals ordered up. Once done, a weathering can commence. My Virgin HST is currently passing over the bench. The nameplates and windows decided to make a break for it, so needed putting back in place. The tweaked TTS Valenta sound chip was replaced for a ESU V5 with the stunning Legomanbiffo Valenta sounds. These were matched to an EM2, making it sound phenomenal! Listening to it takes me back to being about 6 years old, hiding behind my Dad on the platform of Southampton Central watching these monsters scream past in a hurry. Anyone got a time machine?! The dummy PC was straight forward fit but the motor PC requires a hacksaw to the chassis to make it slot in. An arrival at the back end of Summer was 33116, which has seen some bench time. This is the limited edition model by the NRM. I was undecided about how to model it, as it lost its plates by mid-1998. In the end, I did with plates as I like the look of the long plate on the loco. The detailing pack was fitted along with the plates and it was eventually weathered. I didn't record that as I mucked it up but did eventually sort it out and I'm pleased with how it came out. Something wasn't quite right though and eventually realised the plates should be black and not red! It'll be changed in due course, along with some different headcodes. This also gained an ESU V4 decoder reblown with some Legomanbiffo sounds. Continuing the Southern loco theme, a quad of Class 73's also ended being a little(!) project that got some love. I picked up a pair of Dutch one's last year, essentially at a BOGOF price. Not being convinced with the colours used, they were kindly resprayed by @SouthernMafia who was doing some of his own, with the Dutch duo done as 73110 & 73138. The result was much better than the Dapol effort! What it didn't fix was the God awful running qualities, with them seeing the tried and trusted method of additional pick ups added. With some new weathering paints to try out, they were used on the pair to give the rather faded and grimy look of these machines as they were at the turn of the 21st Century. An initial application of Humbrol white weathering powder was used to fade the paintwork, before some Lifecolour weathering washes were used. These are definitely my preferred choice for body and roof weathering now, as they're not as aggressive as the enamel paints and thinners I've always used. I'm particularly pleased with how the roofs came out, as pictures show a noticable difference between the cab and body roofs. They do need a little bit of finishing off and some bits putting back on. Fortunately, DCC Supplies do a good range of spares for these, so all the bits that got lost to the hoover can be sourced! The Shoebox fun continues in Part 2... Andy.

If you're referring to Infiniti being available in the UK, I've got some bad news for you. There's just a few (hundred) for sale on Autotrader. They've been for sale in the UK since 2010, but pulled out last year I think. Personally, I think the Q50 isn't bad looking, if a little bland. Andy.

It sort of is. I'm fairly certain engines manufactured by BMW, Mercedes & Porsche have always used timing chains no matter the fuel type. That being said, no guarantee they use their own engines in their own cars. With Mercedes, the A/B/CLA/Citan vehicles from about 2015 onwards have used Renault engines. Andy.

Likely be 33025 in Dutch for me to pair with 33116. I'm hoping though the weathering is toned down a bit and the marks where the plaques were is adjusted. Looking at pictures, the paintwork is more faded and grimy rather than coated in brake dust. The marks where the plates used to be aren't quite right. For the period it's being done as was when it went to Scotland in late 1999 through to 2000, the marks look to have been painted over to get rid of the rust patches. Certainly the depot plaque marks are barely noticeable apart from 4 rusty holes. Aberdeen in April 2000 Eastleigh in June 1998 after withdrawal. (Neither picture is mine) I'd probably still go for it if it's released as is, but try and sort the weathering out. Andy.

Oh wow, that's a stunning rake Nick! Andy.

Time for a little update. As is tradition, more projects have been started before others have been finished. Always good to have a few hundred on the go I guess! First up is the start of a rake of GBRf FEA's loaded with some of the lovely Accurascale Gypsum containers. This train being done to represent the Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks flow, as it was from about 2015 until it went over to the JNA wagons a year or so ago. The wagons aren't 100% correct, as the single FEA's as done by Hattons were used, but I've got 4 Dapol twin sets which I picked up dirt cheap a few years ago, so they'll do! The only downside to Accurascales containers is that the logo panel is secured onto the body with 2 pegs, rather than sat on the ribs. No doubt this stops it from falling off easily, but to do the containers as they were in later years means taken them off most of the boxes. This leaves round marks on the body. Easily filled I suppose, but I'm far to impatient and just wanted to get on with the weathering! That was the first wagon done, and I was quite happy with it. However, I then decided to look up some prototype pictures rather than do "what looked best", and my first attempt was way off! Ah yes, much better! And definitely a case of less being more and paying attention to the differences between each container. The other wagon will be re-done to match. The plan is to do a pair of wagons at a time, so once this one is complete, I'll then buy another couple of packs of containers and crack on with the next one. And onto the latest work bench project, an Alphaline Class 158. Not something I've ever seen done, even on the older Bachmann models. This one is the latest release, and was a cheap ebay find. Well, £170 seemed pretty reasonable for a new model considering the going rate! The Alphaline transfers are by Precision, and have been drawn up from scratch as he'd not done them before. They were actually ordered for @SouthernMafia when I had the SWT branding done for the 159 & 4-VEP, but I had some done for myself, just in case! My chosen unit will be 158842 as running between 1998 and mid-2001. The cab front door needs doing as the one piece unit without the window, while the obstacle deflector needs the yellow paint extending onto the sides of it and the beige band on the bottom painting out. I'm not convinced by Bachmanns' shade of 'Fawn' on the body sides... The Alphaline logos are just a touch too big, as the bottom of them should sit flush with the lower beige band, but I didn't want to risk trimming them and mess them up! The colour density is a little bit too light, ideally a blue patch should have been painted on before putting the transfers on top. Something I'm sure @SouthernMafia will get right on his. As I say, I'm too impatient and tend to get on with things before I lose interest! They look good enough for me at least. Unit and coach numbers will need to be ordered, along with the tiny "Wales & West" branding and bicycle signs for the doors, before it'll be weathered up. Andy.

If You've Never Been In Love With Anything - Embrace

Stick To Your Guns - Sick Puppies

Hitchin' a Ride - Green Day

Some more progress has bee done on the SWT/NSE Class 159. With the roof having now been weathered, it's about 90% complete. Just needs some detailed weathering on the underframe and a little bit of tweaking to the roof and it'll be done. The body sides have been left as is, as most pictures of these unit around the late 90's showed them as being fairly clean. The staff at Salisbury were certainly on top of unit cleaning during my short stint with SWR, so doubt it was any different 'back in the day'! Following on from the last update, the rest of my 'Bug Eye' Class 66's have had the upgraded light boards. Makes a big difference! When I picked them up, I noticed the seller had a kit for upgrading the Hornby Class 466 'Networker', so picked one of them up as well. I'd been contemplating just ripping the lights out when I got round to chipping my trio up. It's not a bad kit, but definitely needs improving. Unfortunately the wiring to join the coaches together is too short and I think the lighting circuit boards are bigger than the old ones, so don't seem to sit in a position to give out the proper light intensity. The tail lights don't show at all! Hopefully the seller can offer a solution. The instructions also state to remove the weight to give an area where the main board can sit, though in doing this it then means the unit struggles to move as there's not enough weight in the chassis to get the single driven wheel to properly 'bite' the track! And that's about it really. The 4-VEP is currently being prepped for a bit of weathering, once that's done the next one can be started on. Andy.

So You Wanna Change the World - The Georgia Thunderbolts

D'oh, of course they were! Would still look good, if incorrect! Andy

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated! Glad I don't have to mess around changing the speaker again. Andy.

Evening all, I'm after some advice if possible. I've got the model as mentioned in the title, which I picked up as a renumbered example a few years ago. It didn't come with the decoder manual, and I picked it up when I was starting out with DCC and was one of the first sound models that I purchased. I ended up changing the speaker in it for one that gave a better quality of sound. The decoder has recently been reblown with some Legomanbiffo files as the Hornby ones were a bit naff, and it now sounds like a proper screaming Grid! But, I changed the speaker long before I knew that certain decoders needed a certain impedance of speaker connected to them. Having searched about I'm led to believe that the factory fitted decoder is a Loksound V3.5, which looking on ESU's website requires a 100 ohm speaker. I've searched for what a V3.5 looks like, and it doesn't seem to look like the decoder I have, the decoders that look the same are V4's. I found one chart that showed it as a V43. No doubt the physical look of the decoder isn't the best way to determine what it is, as the layout of components can no doubt change, but it was the only thing I could think of! The current speaker fitted to the model is 4 ohm, which a V4 can take. Can anyone confirm what decoder was fitted to this model, so I can make sure the correct type of speaker is used? I've no idea where the speaker I removed from it went, so can't use that as a guide. I've attached a couple of pictures of the decoder in case it's of any use! Any help greatly appreciated! Andy.

Not seen any mention of it, but the HKA's are out. I picked up 3 of them from Hampshire Models the other week, quite a decent looking bit of kit and a rake of them would look very impressive. A full NP set behind a Dapol 59 would be quite something! One thing that does let them down a bit is the couplings IMO. The HTA's and BRA/BYA's of old managed to have working body mounted knuckle couplings, as well as the option of standard tension locks. Considering the majority of HKA's are 'inners', so have no buffing gear and only knuckle couplings, it's a shame that it's only bogie mounted tension locks that are provided. The gap between them if run as 'inners' is absolutely massive and just looks so wrong. A bit of a cop out considering how much these cost and that it was doable over 15 years ago on similar wagons I've used #17 Kadees for the inner wagons, which does bring the gap down but is still quite big. I might look at trying some Kadee drag boxes mounted to the body, but I'm a bit loathe to take a knife to a £60+ wagon! The weathering on the ex-NP wagon is quite well done though, and the DB ones certainly grab the eye. My trio are to be run as part of a mixed aggregates train, so join the 6 Cavalex PGA's I've got. Some of the weathered ex-RMC JGA's will complete the rake, which is based on the short lived, and ad-hoc, aggregate service that ran from Acton to Eastleigh around 2017. Andy.

Every Monday Morning Comes - Suede

Another bit of Solent 60 action this week courtesy of DCR. As the storm clouds of earlier are blown away, 60029 "Ben Nevis" is seen at Lee, between Romsey and Southampton. It's working an early evening 6Z91 Westbury Down TC to Southampton Up Yard - 08.10.2020 The train arrived at Westbury on Wednesday morning, before doing the first loaded run to Southampton. The empties return the next morning before coming back in the early evening again. Wished I'd gone for it again today, as the weather cleared to wall to wall blue skies! Hopefully there's a return path tomorrow morning as I'm working nearby... Andy.

A selection of shots from last week. With a well loaded 'liner in tow, 66532 "P&O Nedllyod Atlas" is seen at Dunbridge with 4O57 Wentloog to Southampton Maritime. The working now runs via Bath & Westbury instead of along the GWML - 25.09.2020 Running early, 66540 "Ruby" is seen at Dunbridge with 7V07 Chichester RFT to Merehead Quarry empties - 22.09.2020 With the loaded wagons towards the rear, 66562 leads 66526 "Driver Steve Dunn (George) on 4O49 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime. The working is seen at Saxon Road, Southampton - 24.09.2020 In glorious light, 66610 coast through Crampmoor, near Romsey, with 6V62 Southampton Up Yard to Whatley Quarry empty stone - 21.09.2020 A shot that's only really on when it's dull, 66722 "Sir Edward Watkin" nears journeys end at Millbrook with 4Y19 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks empty Gypsum - 24.09.2020 Easing along the Down Goods Loop, 66737 "Lesia" is seen at Saxon Road with 4M51 Southampton Western Docks to Trafford Park intermodal - 24.09.2020 Having just left Marchwood, 66752 "The Hoosier State" creeps along the Fawley Branch at Trotts Lane with 6V44 Marchwood MOD to Eastleigh East Yard. The train was all empty FYA flats - 23.09.2020 With 59003 seemingly not about, 66779 "Evening Star" was the chosen loco to work the Westbury to Eastleigh departmental circuit all week. It's seen at Millbrook, with 70809 for company, as it works 6V41 to Westbury Down TC - 21.09.2020 Seen the next day at Dunbridge, this time with 66151 for company, 66779 has an RDT set in tow. This Westbury bound working ran via the Chandlers Ford branch, so had the headcode of 6V40 - 22.09.2020 With another RDT set heading for Westbury, 66779 is seen at Saxon Road with 6V41 - 24.09.2020 Andy.

A couple from last week. The Class 59's now not as common around the Solent area since Freightliner took over the Mendip workings. A shot only really do-able at this time of day when the Sun isn't out. 59204 rolls through Crampmoor, on the Chandlers Ford line, with 6V62 Southampton Up Yard to Whatley Quarry stone empties - 22.09.2020 In no hurry, 59102 "Village of Chantry" ambles through Dunbridge with 7O40 Merehead Quarry to Eastleigh Aggregates Sidings - 25.09.2020 Andy.