The Black Hat

Look fine to me! Can't wait to get it into my station on the Gauging Train in the dark.

Really need to get the Orange and Blue paint on these!

Any idea of the source of where you got these from please?

I want plaice. I don't want soggy chips. I want mine crisp... unt light brown....

Everyone will buy the first one for it and that will be close enough.

Nice choice. Been due when Bachmann were doing the LMS version. One for anyone doing the Moors and the WCRC stable if I remember correctly.

Any news or info how you did this. Hoping they are not as fiddley as the Realtrack versions are/were. Just would be interested to know how this can be done and what the results are...

One of the areas I have thought would be coming would be more specific engineering rolling stock as then you can couple it to different engines. The ones that I would have thought would have been done following on from all the Network Rail ballast stock thats been done would be the lines of point carriers, flat wagons with track pannels - and my educated guess would be the long rail wagons used for CWR.

None never produced and a gap in the market would be the B16, especially if you can do B16/2 and B16/3 as well.

I wish Simon a enjoyable retirement. He did well at being to help and was able to grab some low hanging fruit to help Hornby. But big green express engines only get you so far and I can't help but think that the creativity of things like Q6 and Duke need to be followed up with other inspiring choices - rather than Hornby defaulting to Simons Southern or express favourites. BR transition that Hornby keep aiming for is slowly loosing out to privitisation and with the diesels in the range poached by others Hornby need some serious effort to keep on track and defend their range. Simon has been great to help revise fortunes but new ideas and a fresh perspective might be what Hornby actually needs most.

I have asked about the remotoring option but not finding much on that at the moment. I would be interested to know if there's one out there that can be changed.

Hello all, The start of some photos showing the full station put together for the first time. This is quite a milestone for the development of the layout - as finally the main focal and interest point of the layout is seen together. Photos here show the station approach, rather than the full junction seen together as well - meaning theres still more to look forwards to when it all gets put together. It has mainly been done because one end of the roof is now pretty much complete, save for some minor alterations. This end is the main canopy section, with the slots for the viewing into the station still needing to be fixed to the wall, as well as the platform ends needing to be finished on the end of platform 1 where it took a bashing and the end of platform 6, which has not been added yet. The view above shows the station roof together with the junction for the first time. Id like to think you can really start to see the character of the area coming together just from this photo. Thankfully, the design can allow the layout to be run in a few different periods, pretty much from the 90's onwards but the 2005-15 period will be the main one for the layout. Looking from further down this shows the view from the entrance to the depot looking across with the station in the background. Above sees the first time the station roof meets the ends of the platform. Trackwork also shows how all lines arriving into the station get access to all platforms allowing for plenty of changes and operation to keep those watching interested. In the main, the layout will run on a timetable that lasts an hour - the clockface idea mirroring how the real railway works. Yet, as ever there will be changes when things dont go right or when things fail. In the foreground is the headshunt for where its expected some steam engines will be taking on water from a road tanker. The main platforms for charter access are 1 and 3, on the far side, showing how there will be activity every time one arrives and needs an engine change or terminates at Briganton. Drivers eye view: this is the approach shot for arriving into the station. The arrival is bi-directional as trains from the branch will arrive on the right and on the main from the left. Platform 3 is offset from the main to the right, essentially forming a loop. This allows charters, specials and others to be put here and passed as needed. It also shows how design of the layout featuring operation of the layout was planned from the beginning, meaning there is the scope to have interest and keep people watching happy for a while. View from the right. This is the view from the head-shunt (dubbed 'the Nike tick' because of its shape on the layout) where the end of the train into the loading area can be pushed as wagons are unloaded. On the right should be the building which forms the corner of the warehouse for the logistics company, while on the left is a view across the junction to the station and head-shunt. A photo here of the station looking north from the head-shunt. It wont be long before some spotters and photographers need adding to the end of platform 5/6 for the shot over towards the head-shunt and things passing through the main line through the station. Finally, two photographs of the station roof of Darlington, the inspiration for the layout. From this end you will only really see one span in its entirety as both sides will have buildings but its showing the roof to great effect and is a mirror for that at the other end. A shot of the real thing from the end that you see the full 3 spans, with the view down into the station hopefully looking like some of the shots above. I am quite pleased with the layout, even the station looks impressive and Andrew is impressed too which is high praise indeed. Although the layout is quite a monster in size hopefully it should not be too bad to move thanks to the way that it is crated up and now as boards get complete this will be something that is looked into more so that lessons are learned from having moved layouts in the past. There is so much more to do and now the finishing touches are being done for the station building and then onwards onto the town scene. I do hope its all of interest, comments and feedback mean a great deal as the whole point of this is that it does get interest and enjoyment to others that then watch it at work. No doubt will be more to follow. Hope its of interest.

Hello all, Start of some photos for putting the full station together. This was the first time this has been done. Firstly, the station building board (as it will be come to be known) is lifted out for checks and photos. The work done shows the station with the main part of the roof pretty much finished. There are some slight tweaks and touching up from the builds and moves but its looking a lot better and starting to show what it will end up like. Here, the station is lifted out onto the legs. In this photo, the station building is seen at the end of the roof structure. At this point most the building is glued down by adding large L shape struts inside the structure to then secure it into position. The roof are still loose and some out buildings but these will be done soon although some roof will be loose to allow access to cameras that will show the inside of the station. Another view of the station at the end of the roof. The tiles are down in front of the building for a pedestrian area. I was looking at lamp-posts in front of the building and at the side but getting the wiring through is likely be difficult so the building will light the area. It should be possible to put some down the side. Taken from outside this photo shows the inside of the station. Again there are a few touching up tweaks to be done but its one of the first taken in pure daylight outdoors. The eagle eyed observers can see the holes cut into the buildings where the cameras will point through to show the inside of the station, or more importantly how much further there is to drive before hitting the buffers. Will post more soon of the station being put together.

Hello all, Another bit of an update for the station. The roof has been repainted (again) as the colour did not quite seem right on a trip through to Darlington. Extra fittings have been one for the front of the canopies, where the white boarding has been added. Roof above showing the repaint: Roof showing the boardings on the end being added. The main station end being finished with the extra columns seen below the roof. It is similar in set up to Darlington although the centre one is further back at Bank Top. Also, I have decided against any extra glass panelling at the end of the station, as that would then go too far across the platform and start to block the view into the station. Should be more photos and update soon.

An update on my suggestions: One they already do: (Need EWS door) Some new ones: And for steam:

All due respect - but really think its completely the opposite.

Sorry but I am honestly wondering what planet your on. DCC I would think is already dominating the market. DC is already obsolete and it has been for years. You can't get a new engine without it being dcc ready or now in most cases DCC fitted or DCC sound. People are modelling with DCC because it is better - loads better and it would be wrong to suggest even for a moment that a youngster with the enjoyment and enthusiasm that I saw should think of using analogue. Go and see exhibition layouts, those that are used at home and most people now use DCC systems. You dont need one controller to be dominant, merely that DCC systems are used more than analogue. Its clear DCC holds value and has greater resale given the collapse in supply for various reasons. Meanwhile that 20/30/50 years of second hand analogue stock will remain and will be there for a modeller who wants it - but those selling care more about the sale and of shifting such stock as the number wanting it really is dwindelling. Analogue is already obsolete and like Canute the tide is in.

Here is one of the first looks at the engine (still with a fair bit of work to do)... seen alongside stablemate Marquis of Londonderry / Fighting Charlie I'm looking at naming 79001 Monarch

Thanks! Yes, the Eleventh Earl of Mar still gets quite a few comments when out and about, although recently my new layout has been under construction. See Briganton in the layouts thread. Hes getting renumbered again for the ECoS not to throw a tantrum. I do like the BR blue version you have done. Looks very nice and well laid out. The Earl now has Charlie and a BR standard project to keep him company amongst the other new builds my fleet has!

Yes. As in, no digital socket at all and would need to be hard-wired for conversion.

Its okay getting bargains if your happy with what you have and realise the longer term costs of getting them. I was in a model shop recently and saw a young man, all of about 10-12 who was really showing interest in the hobby. He had some pocket money and relative in tow as he looked about the shop, spied the odd bargain and looked for the points he wanted to extend his yard. A lovely young man showing promise and interest in the hobby that I recognised in myself some years ago (im not that old). However, getting analogue engines at knock down prices can be great to get people into the hobby but these engines are simple, easy to use and tend to be sold on and sold on again. However, there is still a bit of a market there for them for those running an analogue system for years and don't want to convert to DCC, or for youngsters entering the hobby. But at what price do we reward interest for those getting bargains when the longer term costs will be to loose money if you need to convert to DCC. Analogue engines are bargain prices because there is a gult of them out there. Selling older models to those showing interest means that they need to bare the costs of conversion later and in turn will get little for the engine they bought sold to them by a shop, trader or individual looking for the quick sale. Digital engines hold their value, as supplies from new stock have diminished thanks to changes in China, Covid, transport costs and inflation. However, our young man would be far better off trying a few analogue engines out and then more quickly making the jump to DCC. That way he keeps things that will be of value and be able to retain their value in years to come. Otherwise we risk crushing the optimism and enthusiasm a youngster has by saddling him with a system that is now historic and for him will be no use going forwards. Yes, some at the club will be running on analogue and have the same system as what he starts with, but encouraging him to follow their path would, I feel, certainly not serve his best interests. This youngster could have engines that when looking to be sold on to a trader again could be getting them a return for £5-20 meaning they might need to sell back 2, 3, 4 engines to get a second hand digital one. I honestly feel its a betrayal of their interest and that doing this does not support them into the hobby. I do love seeing the enthusiasm youngsters have for following into the hobby and getting what they can but the future is digital and there is no way its going back. Honestly, can we please encourage them to get a set up that will be much better for them in the longer term and encourage them into that, especially now as digital stock is about to go into the Next generation of DCC and so there will be second hand digital engines entering the market in the coming years and these are what they should get to foster, grow and explore their shared interest.

Kicking this thread back into life but can I ask if people went and changed the motors on the Hornby P2 for better runnning. I have two TTS sound fitted models and think that somewhere people did swap the motor for better reliability.

Some more photo's of the layout under test for the lighting last night, this time with room lights on, area lit and the lights in the station off as the roof is checked for how close it matches and how it looks prior to the lights being turned on. Roof structure in place without the station buildings. With two other views of the main roads under the roof through the station.

146. Thats how many bulbs are under the trainshed. Last night the roof was put into place and lit up so that the full roof was seen together for the first time. I was really pleased with the look of the whole structure. The lighting adds another dimension to the reality of the model, but also serves to show how gorgeous the original station designs actually are. Above the full station can be seen put together for the first time. Looking into the station down the main platforms with the view here of the station looking south. This view here from the other end of the station looking north. Lights can be seen on the right being higher than they are over areas where they are over platforms, rather than columns where they go between. The view above is at the top of platforms 5 and 6. The hole in the board to the front is where the webcam will go and then sit within a station building. Hope they are of interest. Comments and feedback are welcome. Will try to post more soon.

A photo of the engine being worked on... not long now before it can be seen for the first time, although the name plate will be taking some time. (Buffer beam still needs work to tidy it up).