mattingleycustom

Oh, the NRM are quite proficient at it, the '4468' on the front of Mallard is too small. You'd think a museum would do some proper research, like look at a photograph from the time she broke the speed record. Glenn

Just spotted something: ... there's something wrong with this numberplate

I remember the Class 31s on the Cardiff trains at 'Froddington Central' in the 1970s, odd looking things when compared to the home team's Class 33s. The Bachmann model looks to be a cracking representation of the Class, I do like the green ones with the two 'go faster' stripes. Glenn

I used to enjoy a bit of weathering Not a lot of limescale on this Bachmann 9F, but I have gone more mad in the past ... just can't find the photos right now. Glenn

At last a model of an SR U1 ... oh no my mistake, it's that great big LNER U1. Oh well, I shall continue to wait (im)patiently. Glenn

Something I posted on the Hornby P2 new tooling thread a week or two ago: I was looking at my pair: 2003 and 2005 and thought there was something not quite correct about the front end. I think I have it spotted it now, on the Hornby models the curve of the running plate from above the cylinders to the front of the loco is too shallow; or put another way the gradient of this slope is too small, resulting in the casing being too deep for most of its length from cylinders to buffers. On the models, at the front end where the first casing join behind the buffers is, the top of the casing/running plate is about level with the lower door of the 'Cod's mouth', whereas on the real thing (photo of 2006 borrowed below for reference) it is below the level of the hinges on the lower door. Overall it's a minor thing that may have more to do with Hornby catering for the various combinations of front end on the first two and the production batch of four. The lining could have been finer; the white line between the sloping front and smokebox side is too thick and the boiler bands should have a thicker black band between the white lines. I will restate that these are minor points and overall the Hornby version is a fine model of an impressive prototype. Glenn

I was looking at my pair: 2003 and 2005 and thought there was something not quite correct about the front end. I think I have it spotted it now, on the Hornby models the curve of the running plate from above the cylinders to the front of the loco is too shallow; or put another way the gradient of this slope is too small, resulting in the casing being too deep for most of its length from cylinders to buffers. At the front end where the first casing join behind the buffers is, the top of the casing/running plate is about level with the lower door of the 'Cod's mouth', whereas on the real thing (photo of 2006 borrowed below for reference) it is below the level of the hinges on the lower door. I will restate that this is another minor point and overall the Hornby model is still a fine model of an impressive prototype.

Yes, my ToF has the same 'feature' Glenn

No, on my 2003 I watched it at slow speed and the white lining is definitely not quite concentric with the wheel itself. On the whole it's a minor problem. These locos are very good models but not quite excellent. Glenn

I wouldn't get too hung up on the gap between boiler and smokebox, that is truly minor. If I had to criticise anything the white lining on the parabolic curve is too thick and the black lining on the boiler bands is too narrow; for reference Dapol have done a very good job with the boiler bands on the SR D1 Class locos. All in all its a cracking model of an impressive loco. Glenn

I avoided mentioning the Electrics, but you have a point. However: 2BIL, 2HAL, 5PUL from SR days and plenty more later BR(SR) stock: 2EPB, 4CEP, 4BEP, etc is available. 2BIL or not 2BIL?, that is the question ... sorry couldn't resist (again)

I'd love to but they seem to have put the wrong front end on it and given it a silly name without a Scottish connection. Glenn

I don't think there are any complaints from us SR modellers, once upon a time there wasn't a rtr SR coach worth the name but now we are spoiled with: Hornby Maunsells, Bachmann Bulleids, pre-Grouping ex-SECR Birdcage, ex-LSWR Cross-Country LAV stock, plus the Gate stock and a few others. Glenn

Oh yes, I was having some fun with my bowpen. I think it turned out okay-ish, but I should have applied more weathering to the bright piping under the cab definitely. One day I might get my railway room back!

Them things are Guard Irons, fitted to all(?) locos to knock foreign objects off the rails before the wheels might hit them which might cause a derailment.