Bluebell Model Railway

Would anyone happen to know if the front Locomotive guard irons are available as a spare? One of mine has fallen off and disappeared, I did email DCC supplies the Dapol spares dealer and received no reply believe they are on vacation, and they don't appear on the spares listing unfortunately.

mmm obviously it's a first EP off the tool... it worries me same with Leader that KR models have gone to tool... and produce a sample, either just to check the CAD which 3D printing or Rapid prototyping can do, and which other manufacturers do, just doesn't make much sense to me, especially if there are things that need changing... it's a worry. I don't mean to be rude but it just seems it's being pushed through... without much checking, modellers these days want of course value for money, if your paying maximum price for a model you want it to be correct.... otherwise its like buying from Wish... it looks like one of those expensive phones but it's anything but. I hope that's not the case.

Has to be remembered, he's on his own when I talked to him weeks ago, I ordered something 2 months ago, and completely understand his position, delays at etchers as everyone is using the same one mostly, then to prep / paint and pack and send orders, and yes the website isn't fantastic nether is Sage as it takes the money straight away, its tough to do everything on your own.. We had a good chat for over an hour about the problems and issues, as I understand the manufacturing and small business... it has it's draw backs. So I sympathize with the situation... unfortunately when a manufacturer makes a model and x amount of orders come in for say a terrier your unprepared and then takes months to make more.

This one has been 2 years in the works... thanks to Hornby's Generic carriages made it a bit more easy when a half decent 6 wheeled chassis are hard to find. So modelling the Bluebell gives me chances to make carriages which are waiting for restoration and to show how it looks as and when.. I designed a shell of a SER/SECR, Family First / Saloon, 172 on the Bluebell Railway, originally a 6 wheeler, so kind of a project for using a generic carriage for a chassis, not too difficult, although need to add 4mm to the length... There's a walk through on YouTube, and Photo's on Flick R. Transfers were from Fox Transfers, although the First for Saloon was printed by a small transfer company as Fox didn't have the right size, also has interior lights as well which are battery / magnet operated. https://flic.kr/s/aHsmMCrEZa .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... So another one to add as this has been on going for 2/3 years. D&S kit, LC&DR Brake Second/Third numbered 48, borrowing information from my Bluebell contacts, its been a challenge as its under a tarpaulin and the only LCDR liveried carriage is 114, luckily my contact told me about a few plans like adding the duckets on the brake taken from the peoples millions carriage, where the duckets were removed and saved.. so helped a bit with decisions on what parts to use. Second challenge was Transfers, currently to my knowledge and also makers of LCDR kits Roxey Mouldings, there is no one (apart from in Australia) that does LC&DR transfers in OO. So that took about 3/4 months to draw some up, and also make a few up from other letters ect... so least they are available now if anyone wants them. Finished in Teak colours... was quite a labour and research intensive kit to build, but quite pleased with the result considering the really poor instructions. If anyone wants information on the transfers feel free to ask, I would be happy to assist. Photo's of the kit build: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmW8PPd8

Thanks to Andy for reopening my old achieved topic... it's been a while... In fact so long it seems I have missed quite a bit out as the last post was 2018 LBSCR Directors Saloon - Worsley Works 4mm So in April 2018, I purchased a Worsley works LBSCR Directors Saloon in 4mm.. as it only came with 2 sides and 2 ends, and floor... that was going to be interesting sourcing parts as there wasn't much guidance on where to go and find these parts especially the roof... Thanks to some kind gents at the Bluebell for helping with photos of the details like cable runs and roof vent details, layout of interior ect... it was fun to do a bit of research and find all those missing bits... I have put together a photo gallery of all the parts and places I found items from, the roof was challenging coming from the Southern Railway group Gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmb7obXn Write up: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WJwvq_xbXmi2jIdwr9qZwrNEVWeQ_giH/view?usp=sharing LNWR Observation Car, 4mm OO (3D Print) In the middle of that project I built another carriage which is posted elsewhere on this forum, for the LNWR modelling competition which you can find here: www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/136667-lnwr-observation-car-project-4mm/ PDF write up: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18lokEgCXeXKNEtRWgeWiEsOvg1Ds8v2V/view?usp=sharing Gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHskv8RTR5 GN Directors Saloon mk2 (With lights!) So I designed with a friend and 3D printed a replacement body shell as the other was going the way of a Banana... so this was made in different way in 3 short pieces, and the inside was to be detailed and illuminated... Gallery:https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFYqQWs Roxey Mouldings, LBSCR All third, lockdown project May 2020 This was a birthday present to myself, as I hadn't seen any family for over a year at this point in time, I still have another to build even now... really enjoy these kits, simple and easy to put together, paint and well lining, which takes a while using a method I borrowed from the LBSC Circle.. I got so bored I think I recorded a video of it to get people kit building, especially now with costs and prices on the rise. Gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmMEVUkd Branchlines, Ex LBSC, All First Bogie This was a different kit maker I have never made before, not as difficult as the LBSCR directors, but close, all parts included, the brass roof was a bit of a pain, and decided to move away from the instructions in a few places, finished in SR olive green and lined... oh what fun... numbered 7598. it was a challenging kit, builds up ok, some room for the maker to improve bits and pieces, overall came out pretty good. Completed in August 2020, image gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmMmVTdX For now that's about it, although nearly finished 2 others.

Hi Martin, When they show a photo of a lined Maunsell Dining carriage.... and then they show that... it's kind of false advertising for me... as it's not representative of what they are selling you, When I asked all those years ago.. will this be lined out, the answer was yes, I think there's two R30030 and 30A... but god knows, the information is vague 1927 and 1930 being mentioned when they were reclassified open thirds. For me that sounds early on rather than later... Oh well more money having to be spent

I have just sent them an email regarding this, as they claimed none of the restaurant cars were lined.... well guess what I found Hornby.... I mean £20 of lining transfers per carriage... I was always told when I was younger if you do a job... do it properly..... another manufacturer springs to mind when saying this after some discussions about errors on one of their models. I understand keeping costs down... but then theirs cutting corners.

Yep that was my impression too... the photo depicting the prototype has lining, then a photo of the model with none... now do I cancel or keep a £60 model which is wrong to put lining on it myself which will cost another £16-20 to buy and sort out... somewhat disappointed.

It's pot luck, I had one the motor didn't burn out but the dcc socket in the tender did have something burn out and motor was OK... The motors are mass produced in China by a third party, about £1.20 from China. They I think to this date 824 is the only olive green one released to this date.

Apparently they are out of stock... lol Failing that the page has been taken down so I guess you will have to order from the other side...

Eye spy some nice put together samples on Kr Models news letter... Via Facebook

Certainly quite a risk, its a new range for sure... I am just trying to remember who announced what first.... as it was last year all this came out, so it appears some how they both knew they were both working on the same if not similar range.... So I don't really buy the whole Studio Canal knew nothing about someone else doing it.... Someone knew something about it. Depending what the IP covers.... obviously the other manufacturer thinks its got the upper hand... but is that for the use of the name... or the graphics.. or the use of Studio Canal on the box its obviously more heavily branded for the enthusiast or collector. There could also be a clause or an agreement between the two, which says deny everything... who knows, either way get on with it, not interested in all this political stuff... depends who has the best sales... either way Studio Canal sell a few more dvds

So that's 2 price rises, I was told in August... as i was speaking regarding another order, and was told Hornby increased the price just to let me know... so this is the second.... but yea still cheaper than building a kit.

Received mine this morning just looking over it looks nice and in one piece... Didn't get a dispatch note at all so was a suprise it turned up while I was out.

It's only Monday lol... Still some delays on customs recently so I wouldn't hold them to their word as you just never know.

Not wanting to stray to far from topic... But in regards to carriage colours... Bluebells purple or dark lake is based on what was found during strip down which is why many say they have it right. It was found on both the 4 wheelers they have... Here's a photo from their website. http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/cw_news/cwn-pic2/3360/livery_davec4593_9mar10h.jpg

Had a look at ordering but website appears to be broken unfortunately.

I also asked the about progress or any changes ect, on the NRM Facebook page regarding the Nrm version but nothing, not a word.

Unfortunately when you do work for a model shop it's shocking how many his name comes up... Trains stopped working well its pull of pet hair.. Oh this guy on you tube said its fine... Let me guess.... Yep Sam's trains.. I've serviced my train by watching you guessed it... Sam's trains... Oh dear... Usually caked in oil. Sadly these guys who are not children... They look at how many views or subscriptions he has and think oh he must be well regarded... Then follow his rather poor advice. As I say they have become so frequent now I've just started turning them away sending direct to Hornby as I feel he is a poor advocate for their products and business... Need to be more careful who they pick.

You don't have to fix the models he's wrecked lol I do... Sadly his servicing and his recommendations is that of someone that has no idea what he's doing.. So much so I refuse to repair them so I told them to send the models back to Hornby... Seeing as they use him from time to time.

Sadly it's a cry for attention... And very biased... Say he's only in it for money... And has no interest in this hobby. I'm mean he has to pay for subscriptions and viewers... Tells you everything. Waste of server space.

It does look that way. The ducker brake end look very Stroudley. Also interesting in the video Simon says they have been working on this for 2/3 years so pre dates Hattons announcement by a year possibly 2.

Some images on my model group have been up a few days look good very nice could be a wallet drainer lol

It's a good question... One I wish I knew... Obviously as you say Bonchurch is best known and the last one to be put in to that livery. As I model what I can see on a photograph, oddly I've only seen 1 all black o2 in southern and BR and that was Totland (typically the one I wanted to do) Ones I've seen photos of, w15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 Most were in malachite before hand so had a transfer placed over, some were overhauled like Bonchurch and went straight in to malachite BR.

Yes I half expect in the not to distant future O2's may appear or a re run of popular versions, with the only o2 being put in to BR malachite expect there will be a model at some point plus 2 for the price of 1 as they just put transfers over Southern down here.