SouthernMafia

Be interested to know if a replacement board is being produced for the Hattons 66 like his Bachmann one, that would be most useful.

Looks great, must get round to doing my pair. Though tempted to replace the LEDs as they are not supposed to be warm white !!

Nice to see some 58s, though typical they're doing 58021 which I'm in the process of renumbering mine to! Will they come with etched plates ala Bachmann releases, or none ala Heljan?

Looks like you weren't far behind me Ian! Just catching up on the thread and great progress. Always wanted a low level fiddle yard to give more scenic space, certainly be considering your build process for future layouts.

Night shifts are great for thread updating! A few more projects on the go, starting with some more renumbered 37s after a Railtec delivery today, 37097 and 37191 join Cardiff colleagues 37046, 37711 and 37905: As we're in Dutch mode, this pair of 73s have been resprayed and renumbered for Andy P SWT442: And 47303 is another respray into Freightliner triple grey, looks good behind a 57 often how I remember them. Some footage of 47303 in action: https://twitter.com/southernmafia1/status/1317033842696474625?s=19 Lastly, 47197 is having some surgery at one end to make it correct, 47190 being the base model which is flush at both ends:

Thanks Rich, it fills up with 159s quite nicely for a Salisbury depot feel too! I'll have to take some shots of the 33s all lined up, I think I'm up to about 15 of the blighters now! In the mean time, some 37 projects have been nearing completion, with 37401 finished, a renumber from 37411. I've been focusing on getting as much of the fleet up to the same standard, with loop couplings and lowering being the main work recently. All these shots show lowered ones which really makes a vast difference I feel. Here we are before and after next to 37422: 37422 has had its horrible factory weathering removed with enamel thinners, thanks to James Makins tips: ...as has 37254...to become 37191: 37043 also finished, although this has been sold on: And the most recent 37 project 37892: This is version 1, which started life as 37428 and has had a nose job, end grille changes and the bodyside window filling, then a partial repaint. Hoping to do a better version 2 at some stage with an easier base model.

Seemingly I like to have multiple projects on the go at the same time! Here's a few completed in the run up to September. My Hornby 60s received some attention, with 60078 becoming 60044, 60007 becoming 60059, and 60014 become 60056. Sometimes I like to have locos with different variations they carried throughout the years on either side, hence why 60044 only has one EWS sticker on one side: 60044 60059 60056 L-R 60054, 60033, 60021, 60059, 60044, 60056  My DCC sound install in a 450 was improved with a second speaker added to the adjoining trailer car, this was a vast improvement: Some footage of this can be seen here: https://youtu.be/_9C6PVbL35U A couple of Airfix Warrior tanks built for me were mated to some recently acquired Warwells. Will need to get hold of and build the PHD cradles at some stage: I've also been working on some container repaints, here's a 40ft P&O Nedlloyd before finishing, one of a pair: Tied in to these I bought some very nicely finished Genesis wagons off eBay, including an FAA and FKA set: And this lovely VTG KWA. The dozer is HO, but it works for now: More soon!

Wow mid-October, how did that happen!? It must be time for a thread update. Not too much has happened to the layout as I've been working on a lot of stock projects lately, but I've finished landscaping the area around the new sidings and some crude grey concrete painting has been slapped on, this will need weathering to improve the look. Also used some textured paint and brown earth stuff to fill in some corners. Trackwork has been painted, some more magnets installed, and now waiting for a ballasting session (putting this off for as long as possible...) Stock update in next post.

...only the "classic" Foster Yeoman scheme...so what's happened to the later version? EDIT - Dapol site suggests they are doing the later ones, but is this old info or have Hattons got it wrong? Also not seen any images of the later livery. 

Was in the shop on Saturday (what better way to support a local shop than visiting it !) Phone rang several times which Annette always answered. Rather than taking unbradge with a perfectly good local business online how about try phoning them in the opening hours already mentioned until you get a response. If there's a problem with an order or emails they're not doing it on purpose! Out of interest what was the item? Clive says the spares stock is moving and so all spares currently unavailable.

This is a bit cheeky, great to look at and if you get a good one then great, but sort your QC out and engage with us about what you're doing to fix it, how can it be "the best" with all the problems?

On my GBRf models they are printed, no etches included. Rather frustratingly on the original Dapol 73206 release they are the correct size, on the Olivias 73205 and 73141 they are too big, and don't come off well so hard to hide with the correctly sized Shawplan plates.

Thanks Simon, that's interesting. Where are we going to end up, Euston?

An interesting development found buried away in the GWR internal weekly newsletter: "We are working with NR to secure the funding to progress the development of electrification between Acton Wells Junction and Acton West Junction (aka The Poplars) and between Didcot and Oxford, extending to Hanborough. This has been approved at the Great Western & Wales Programme Board and we waiting for are wider Government sign-off to release the funds. " I'm not sure how the Poplar is of any interest to GWR but it's certainly of huge benefit to the freight sector and would allow AC locos to run through from London and beyond to Stoke Gifford, East Usk, ADJ and Wentloog, if they electrify a reception road or two at these locations. Then of course the Class 88 discussion on the last page speaks for itself!

Because that's a completely different variant of the TEA which hasn't been produced before. Hardly a suitable comparison to the very old Hornby model. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to what was wrong with the high spec Hornby model? I see the high spec HAAs are seemingly hard to get hold of. Rob, these are the ones that go for about £20 on eBay, or £60 for the triple pack. They had sprung buffers, NEM couplings etc.

Whilst I'm sure this is great news to those who would like a new HAA, I can't help but think that something new which isn't already available from another manufacturer would have been more welcome. There are so many wagons that have still yet to be produced, I'm a little puzzled at the choice to be honest. Is this a different variety to the high spec Hornby model, which in itself is a decent model? Sorry for sounding negative, great supporter of the work you are doing (got TEAs and Warflats on order), but seems like a wasted opportunity to produce something previously not seen before. (For example the Powell Duffryn PXA https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/pdufcoilpxa)

Not seen many efforts to renumber locos yet, I experimented yesterday with what takes the transfers off well as I had enamel thinners out for another project, and it took this 1 off with a cocktail stick in seconds after some gentle rubbing. Loco destined to become 66560. Just to clarify, I don't believe there are any external differences between a bug eyed 66/5 and 66/6, unless someone can tell me otherwise?

Kernow reporting these in their weekly email...looks like the new tooling to me?? http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/65499/3441-Heljan-Class-33-0-Diesel-Locomotive-number-33-025-Sultan http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/65500/3442-Heljan-Class-33-0-Diesel-Locomotive-number-33-008-Eastleigh

I see the INTERCITY releases are now available, and selling quickly as you'd expect! Can anyone confirm if the Buffet vehicle is what the stock picture is? https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/br-mk3-trailer-buffet-coach-f-40703-era-8.html When Hornby released the Virgin Buffet the window configuration was completely different on one side to the stock picture! Luckily it was the version I wanted, closest match to those in XC rakes. Unfortunately if the Intercity version is the same as the stock pic then it's not suitable for XC rakes.

I use DCC Concepts z218s in mine, but I remember reading that the bulbs cause excessive power draw and indeed I had a chip blow. I disconnected all the bulbs and am steadily going through replacing with LEDs, not had any issues since.

Well enough to consider another run with different numbers? ;-}

Agree on 33008, thought we were getting it via Gaugemaster but that was a massive let down. At least it wasn't the version of the livery I wanted, so there's still hope. Maybe someone will do it as a Limited Edition.

I could be wrong but would a Bachmann PCA be a suitable donor wagon, and I think Fox do the transfers.

Pleased to report that after adding the thermal pad previously mentioned in another thread there has been some improvement in the motors running hot. The motor still runs warm but it's nowhere near as bad as it was. A success I'd say. I may in time tweak the motor brushes as suggested. Also experimenting with Hornby VEP couplings for through wiring for lighting in the driving coaches.

Pleased to report that after adding the thermal pad previously mentioned there has been some improvement. The motor still runs warm but it's nowhere near as bad as it was. A success I'd say. Thanks for the help.