Invicta

Ties in nicely with some previous Bachmann LMS releases, bearing in mind the Ivatt 2-6-2T, Class 2 & 4 2-6-0s and the Fairburn all appropriate for the immediately pre-nationalisation period... As suggested earlier in the thread, possibly a canny choice for the first LMS release given the existance of the NRM Midland version- maybe Bachmann's logic is that people who've already bought the NRM edition might be more tempted by a black version as the first 'mainstream' range Compound, rather than another red one.

These came up in a thread a while back- http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/49684-a-rarely-photographed-npcs-vehicle/ and this looks as if it might be the 'aeroplane van' version. http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_christie/6404229321/in/set-72157626818480878 IIRC, the volume of the Essery & Jenkinson LMS Coaching Stock books covering NPCS refers to them as aeroplane vans- Funnily enough, it's a conversion I've had at the back of my mind for a few years but have never got round to as well. Apart from the obvious roof modification to do the 'aeroplane' version, how much other work does the Lima 42' van need to bring it up to scratch- The bogies definitely need swapping, as Lima modelled it on BR Mk1 bogies- as I recall, someone suggested that the Bachmann LMS bogies are a fairly easy swap for these? How about smaller 4-wheel stuff- Hornby announced the LNER fish van for 2013- didn't some of these end their days as parcels vans?. Sticking with a fishy theme, how about other fish vans- Roger Chivers does a plastic kit for an 6-wheel LMS fish van- did any of these find their way into parcels traffic?- and if so, how late did they last? There's also the LNER 'Pigeon van' in the Chivers range- again, presumably these saw service in general parcels traffic?

As I recall, Bachmann supplied the Crab with the coal rails separate in the box as part of the detail pack (funnily enough, mine ended up on an Airfix 4F tender!)- Maybe they've gone the same route for the 4F?

Something else interesting in that photo- note the yellow end on the DMU, wrapping round onto the cab doors. Isn't that the livery variation that was much-discussed on RMWeb and elsewhere when Hornby offered it on the ex-Lima bubble car a few years back? (Edit to say- just noticed that Pennine had already mentioned it!) How widespread was this, as I think I've only ever seen a handful of photos of it?

I don't know about the Wirral version, but I'd be fairly surprised if there wasn't a NRM release of No 1008 at some point in the next couple of years- Looking back at the NRM releases, so far we've had a mixture of new exclusive tooling (Deltic, Truro, the Compound) and reliveries of existing product (the GCR-liveried ROD, the PO wagon sets and the Hornby Scotsman) An L&Y liveried version of the 2-4-2T would fit nicely into that- I'd certainly be tempted by one! http://www.nrm.org.u...CT_937214_2.png

I really wasn't expecting that one- but I'm very glad to see it- a very welcome addition to the existing armoury of LMS/LMR passenger tanks!

Yes, I like the fact they've gone for the earlier RHD Midland version, and Johnson/Deeley tender- so apart from this being a modern 'state-of-the-art' model, rather than a warmed-over 70's relic, they're also offering something subtly different to the Hornby model.

Definitely- I'd always prefer to see an ex-WD/Army Austerity tank (or an ex-NCB one for that matter) wearing a historically accurate and appropriate identity, than dressed up in BR black with a fictitious BR number masquerading as a J94

Oh yes....I've had that experience on one of my occasional appearances helping out as an operator at exhibitions- We once had a diesel TMD layout with lots of DCC sound locos, mostly 'turned up to 11', immediately back-to-back behind us at a show- I swear I could hear Class 20s in my sleep that night.... Funnily enough, one of the layouts I've helped out with in the past experimented with working block bells a few years back. IIRC, we debuted them at a 2-day show, and for some strange reason, I don't think we ever used them again after that...

Not in a model railway exhibition context, but I've pretty much witnessed that one- When I used to work in libraries, one of the branches I worked in also housed an art gallery, which was only separated from the neighbouring department of the library by a glass screen, so even when it was closed, customers could still see what was happening in there We had one regular customer who fancied herself as a bit of an amateur Brian Sewell, and liked to give very blunt appraisals of the exhibitions to the staff- and anyone else who happened to pass by, whether they wanted them or not.... One morning she was watching through the glass as the next exhibition was being hung (modern abstract painting, a pet hate of hers), and she loudly commented to a passing customer, something like: 'I don't know who this idiot is, but they can't paint for toffee. It's about time they let someone with some talent show here instead. At least I won't need to waste my time coming in to look at this load of old rubbish now'. Trouble is, the chap passing by wasn't a customer- he was the artist's husband....

I don't know if the story's true or an exhibitors urban myth, but I remember either an article in one of the mags, or a thread on here a few years back about people's unusual experiences at exhibitions, in which memory someone described operating at a finescale exhibition and encountering a parent with a young child in tow carrying a Hornby Thomas. Dad asked the exhibitors if there was any chance they could give Thomas a run on the layout to entertain the child. The operators politely explained that they couldn't as their layout was finescale, and Thomas, being OO, wouldn't fit the track. 'No problem' replied Dad, as he handed over Thomas- which had been neatly re-wheeled to either EM or P4...

Yes, I remember that one as well- think I might have seen it at a couple of other shows around Kent as well- a little diorama in a box displayed over the layout. IIRC, the script went something like: 'Hello Thomas' said Gertie, 'I'm Gertie the Gas Axe'. 'Oh b*gg*r' said Thomas... I also remember wagons loaded with bits of a cut-up Ertl diecast Thomas which appeared from time to time in a goods train- possibly the same layout. I guess you could also build a layout featuring every known layout cliche known to man, from buses on bridges to fairgrounds, gypsy caravans, fire engines attending fires, weddings happening at a church while there's a funeral going on in the churchyard etc... Trouble is, I suspect it's already been done....

Hi Chris, I'd somehow managed to miss this until now, but just been reading back through your blog and the 'Little Midland' thread- The L&S and Glenfield has long been a source of fascination for me (I'm originally from Coalville, though exiled in East Kent for a while now), and I've been pondering thoughts of modelling it, and doing some fairly sketchy research in 4mm for a few years now. You really have done a lovely job, you've caught just the atmosphere of the many photos of it I've seen over the years

Thanks! So looking at that link, the full list in 1/76 seems to be (including new colours on some existing models) AEC Matador wrecker: BRS Austin K8 Welfarer Ambulance- Civil Defence Austin K8 Threeway- Midland Red (that's a very welcome one for me!) Austin A90 Atlantic- Ash Green Austin Tilly- 9 Survey Regt, RA Bedford OX30- Ministry of Food 'Food Flying Squad' Bedford OWB- Merthyr Tydfil Bedford TK Fire engine- 'Stanley' Bentley S1 Continental- Dawn Blue Bentley MkVI- 'Ivo Peters' & 2-tone Balmoral Green/Ice Green Bentley Mulsanne- Royal Ebony David Brown Tractor- Bertram Mills Circus Ford Consul- Sebring Red Ford Transit Mk1 Beavertail- RAC Ford Zephyr Mk3- Tuscan Yellow Green Goddess Fire Engine- Teesside Land Rover- Gwynedd Health Authority Land Rover Defender- British Rail Land Rover Transporter set (with 8 Series Ones) Leyland Princess- Staffordshire Police Morris J Van- Ministry of Food (Odd that they've chosen to duplicate the 'J' as Pocketbond already do one) Morris Marina 4-door. Harvest Gold (a good old classic 70's BL colour!) and Blaze Reliant Regal van- AA and BOAC (surprised there isn't a 'Trotters' version yet- and I'd have liked to see the saloon/estate car as well as the van!) Renault Dauphine- Met. blue Scammell Mech Horse- Army (RASC) Scammell Show Tractor- Whiteleggs Scania CP28 Pump Ladder- Strathclyde Scania Topline & fridge trailer- DFDS Tricycle van- Bertram Mills Circus Triumph 2500- Signal Red Vauxhall Viva HB- 2-door- Peacock Blue (must admit I was hoping for a 4-door, as we had one when I was a kid!) VW Bay Window- BRS Rental (Hadn't realised BRS ever used these!) VW Beetle- Turquoise VW T25 van- Pastel White VW T25 (side window version) Cornat Blue/Guinea Blue VW T25 camper- Ivory Only N gauge items listed on that site as 2012 pre-orders are a GWR version of the Albion horsebox, and a Plaxton Elite coach in 'Jones Login' colours

Some interesting choices there, and covering a nice range of periods- as you say the HB Viva (Oxford covering another part of our family motoring history!), Marina and Reliant are all good choices for the BR Blue era, the VW T25 is a nice follow-on from their existing Bay Window, and likely to be popular for the 80's modeller, and that Transit beavertail sounds very useful- wonder which Mark of Transit they're doing? The Atlantic is an interesting 50's release, although hardly an everyday sight (according to Wikipedia, less than 8000 A90 Atlantics sold, with about 50% going for export), http://farm5.staticf...66e01a009_z.jpg ...and is anyone going to give me odds on Oxford releasing that MkVI Bentley in Midnight Blue, as Ivo Peters' NHY581? It could become the Somerset & Dorset modellers' equivalent of a bus on a bridge!, http://www.wllr.org....pril%202010.jpg The Austin Tilly sounds like a logical addition to the military stuff they've started to do, with last year's AEC Matadors etc. Did Tillys get sold on any great numbers for civilian use after military service? http://www.flickr.co...ley/3701080449/ I guess the tricycle van is likely to be one of the early Reliants (originally a Raleigh design apparently) http://www.flickr.co...hmm/4800795571/ ....although I think there were other manufacturers who offered similar vehicles? http://www.trainsfer...0-wb-james2.jpg

If we're looking at a flatbed to deliver bagged domestic coal, a Thames Trader would be the first thing that comes to my mind as well- I was born in the mid-60's, so my memories are mainly early 70's, but Traders or FGs were both still pretty common in my neck of the woods.by then

Very nice- I've always liked the Lima LMS 42' van as a model, and it really does scrub up very well with a little work- I really must get round to tackling the bogies on mine

Yes, some excellent releases there- they're well out of period for any layout needs I'm likely to have, but the 'wedge' Princess and Triumph 2.5 are very welcome, we had a Princess when I was a kid

Especially if it's got sound....apparently, according to John Cove, a former Paxman director who was there at the time the Fell was being trialled, it sounded as hideous as it looked: Finally there was the problem of the AEC auxiliary engines and the Rootes blowers they drove to supercharge the main engines. In the station, with maximum boost required for starting the train from rest the noise from these was hideous, especially as it was added to the noise caused by the radiator fans and six engines also running. At that time a number of competitors were running various other prototypes on British Rail and when the Fell locomotive passed them their service engineers always made a point of ostentatiously blocking their ears! http://www.paxmanhis....uk/paxfell.htm

While we're on the subject of characterful diesel shunters, let's not forget LMS 1831... http://www.derbysulz...com/LMS1831.jpg An interesting thought- we've seen several diesel one-offs produced now, but so far I don't think anyone's yet gone down the same route for steam... Other than Leader, anyone fancy a.'Turbomotive' or 'Fury' ? ...or let's really push the boat out- how about the Paget? In comparison, I suspect there's more chance of Hornby announcing the Fell for 2012- in Gauge 1.... Is there even a kit available for the Paget? http://en.wikipedia....aget_locomotive

From vague memory, there was an interview with someone from Bachmann in one of the mags a few years back, in which they said that when they did offer replacement chassis separately, they were very slow sellers

I hadn't heard this in ages! 'Now listen 'ere, you scurvy sons of dogs, Round the next bay be a galleon full of Spanish doubloons... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKv5ulewTO4

The Leyland coach arriving at Cynheidre http://youtu.be/CrOTFP_ohFc

Just to add a bit more on Hasland's Garratts, from the 'Midland' volume of Hawkins & Reeves' LMS Engine Sheds (vol2) 'Some of Toton's Garratts (a total eventually of 16) by now well past their prime, were concentrated at Hasland in the 1950s for the iron ore traffic between Wellingborough and York, working on occasions right through to Middlesborough, but all had been withdrawn by 1958. The last one to remain was 47994, the sad giant forced to stable in the shed yard. No special accommodation was provided for these engines at Hasland, even though as early as 1945 a batch of ten had been allocated. Two, Nos 4984 and 4997 had appeared as early as 1933. That raises a thought, given 7013's suggestion a couple of posts back of modelling 'a shed scene where Garratts were commonplace' Now Garratts are pretty lengthy beasts- 87'10'' give or take the odd half-inch- which must have made them a bit of a handful to house on shed, and the reference to 'no special accommodation' at Hasland made me wonder if any adaptations had to be made for them elsewhere...? A quick skim of a 1945 allocation list in the LMS Engine Sheds book has them concentrated at Toton and Hasland, and look at the section on Toton reveals that 'special accommodation was required and a new road was taken through the length of numbers 2 and 3 sheds, enabling some of the big locos to stable under cover' There's an aerial pic of No.2 shed open to the sky during re-roofing around the time of Nationalisation, which illustrates this perfectly- No.2 shed was arranged around a turntable, and locos are stabled on the roads radiating from the table, while there's a single road along the length of the side wall of the shed, running through from the adjoining building, which is used to stable a couple of Garratts. The caption comments on 'the limitations on stabling room imposed by the 'Garratt Road', and it's noticeable that several of the roads on this side of the shed are cut short and used to stable Jinties or a solitary diesel shunter-they're too short for anything much bigger, so the 8Fs, 0-6-0s and a couple of G2s are either on the other side of the shed, or on the longer roads running running into the corners of the building.

It would be handy if there was something like that- I've recently been spending a lot of daytime at home while I'm between jobs, and can't believe the amount of cold calls I get I had to smile at a comment I saw on another forum recently when reading about this annoying 'Microsoft Service Centre' scam call that a lot of people have been getting. The poster saidsomething like they'd had one of these calls, played along a bit and feigned interest then 'told him to hold the line because I needed to go and get my credit card. That was about an hour ago, I wonder if he's still there?'