lapford34102

Thank you for the comments Gents and hopefully get a chance to chat at Derby but be warned you might get given a controller while I go off for a lie down in a darkened room....... Mike, if you're back online in Costa del Wibdenshaw, I was rather surprised at the amount of inner sideframe I had to hack and file off. A little concerned that with the half axles pulled out they might be inclined to go out of gauge but time will tell. Wayne, I'm happy with the look of the EM track despite my less than precise construction but will be interested in what effect PECO's "scale" track has on the hobby. Still dithering over EMGS partly because the nearest group is an hours drive away though that's not exactly a sound reason not to. What I could really do with at the moment is someone to help me get to grips with Templot. Been vainly trying to sort out a 3 way and how to do multiple points and not finding the tutorials much help. Thanks Rob. The front edge greenery is something of a stopgap and I intend to replace before Derby. Stu

A few additional toys for Sheepcroft prior to it's Derby appearance which is where a conversation (of sorts...) over my other layout started the whole thing off. A few new bits of stock including a couple of 16 ton minerals primarily because Mr Tailby rarely fails to comment on their absence. To overcome the old chestnut of loaded/empty coal wagons going in and they're not exactly empty A couple of extra locos to go with the existing Hymek and Brush Type 2. Having a baby Warship and Derby Type 2 will give the layout (hopefully) a definite WR early 70's feel. Both were picked up "cheap". The unboxed Sulzer ridiculously so at Donny and has had the chassis modded along with new exhaust and repaint. The Baby Warship, renumbered, is yet another example of Dapols strange interpretation of Rail Blue and will probably go in the paint stripper in the not to distant future. It's one model that needs a decent EM conversion kit as pulling the half axles out doesn't fill me with confidence. Both have had their headcodes replaced and reglazed. Stu

Hi, Nice layout and an interesting subject. For a little more historical "accuracy" the oil sidings, as you probably know there was a tank farm by the line, it was MoD for fuelling warships and for helicopters at the Navy base. An NSE 205 unit would look quite at home as would something Regional Railways, 101/121/150, for Bristol services. 73's didn't like Weymouth much, for a short time they did have a regular parcels run but with only a few vans.The climb to Bincombe was a bit of a struggle for them, Lord knows how they would have coped with the Rodwell bank. You could of course go the whole hog and electrify the main line and two platform faces. You look to have enough space for an NSE VEP. Cheers Stu

A pair of Repoll's been on and off our bird feeder last couple of days. Don't think we've ever seen them in the garden before. Stu

Another take on the issues from an Airfix retailer here- down page http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234997311-Hornby-grim-day-for-the-share-price/page-2 The problems, seemingly quite a number across the operation, have been gone over at length. The question is where do they go from here and here I'd echo those who have expressed concern for staff, Hopefully someone with a better understanding of the model business than the present management seem to have can take the helm. Stu

Highly likely. By the way well said Pete 75C. It's been announced so not much else to do but wait until it appears. Stu

Excellent news. I await wider reaction with interest ............................ Stu

Have to agree with Black 5 Bear, don't think this is a "bashing" thread rather but rather an epidemic of bemusement with people struggling to find a logical explanation for what at first sight appears to be a somewhat illogical product. Perhaps they'll be an exclusive for Highclere Castle but hopefully someone will be able to put our minds at rest that Hornby, as John points out above, haven't gone off into the undergrowth yet again. Stu

You realise that Hornby's offices are now in buildings that used to be the labs of a well known pharmaceutical company - it developed Viagra amongst other things - so who knows what they found in the cupboards. Whatever it was I don't think I want any. Anyhow 3D printer looks good though no idea where I'd put one and the "starter" system could be a sensible move if they develop the range. Would have been nice to see Airfix do something Kitmasterish. Stu

Late evening news. Had film from the site and included a clip from Dawlish reporting that NR considered the damage at Dover to be more complex and extending much further than the Devon washout. NR spokesman unable to give a timescale until the work required had been fully assessed. Local MP appeared to be calling for a quick patch up job rather than a long term solution. Some character from local users group apparently unable to understand the idea that NR needs to stop things getting worse before they even start "repairs" Personally impressed with what they've done so far. Stu

Southeastern to start Dover - St Pancras service via Ramsgate primarily for Deal & Sandwich http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-35379387 Although the BBC website article says there's not date for completion this evening local media were talking about the summer. Stu

David, There's a fenced off area where they've removed the track, a big hole or something else ? Stu

According to a NR engineer who has been on site they will be repairing the wall. They'll also be checking to see if there are remains of the trestles behind it. Apparently unsure as to whether the wall was built and the area behind simply backfilled. Stu

Local TV tonight showing film of rocks being piled against the seawall plus local MP this time saying it's more important to get this sorted than apportion blame. He's got together with the South Thanet MP which suggests they've both realised there could be political repercussions if this isn't sorted fast. While I understand the thinking I don't regard abandoning the line is any sort of option for a number of reasons with the incumbent MP's future prospects being high on the list. Equally I'm sure telling the residents of Dover that in future their only direct route to London is via Chatham wouldn't go down well, and rightly so. Stu Edit Looks quite easy on the map........... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.2785387,1.0487456,13z

Quite, Rob. Where's all this about "scale" colour suddenly come from ? Have they all being doing this for years then ? AFV/Aircraft/etc modellers have been using "scale" colours for ages and there's plenty out on the web about that. Add X% white to for one scale, Y% for another. The rule is smaller the scale the more you lighten the colour. Not sure how Dark grey + white gets to black. Be curious in reading these thousands of words on the subject, someone point me in the right direction please :-) Stu

Though by 65 it appears to have acquired a grey band http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/f/folkestone_harbour/index3.shtml down page. A bit more research needed as to when 02's livery changed. Stu

E6001 appeared in SR Coaching stock green with small yellow panels and a dark grey roof, E6002-6 appeared in SR green with no warning panel but a light grey solebar stripe. The roofs appear to have had the cab sections painted green. This comes though with a health warning as pictures seem to show 01 with painted cab roofs and 02-06 without. Perhaps someone can fill in the detail. Stu Edit - haven't trawled back through 30 odd pages so this might already be explained

Looks generally good apart from the too prominent exhaust cover and it's a pity they couldn't use the right font for the number. http://www.rail-online.co.uk/p594593195/h43464C2#h1e94696a Stu

Hi, Thank you for posting those, very useful and highlights the improvements over the Lima effort, especially below the solebar. Just one observation - not sure about the font used for the number. When someone who has one has time I'd be interested in whether they have split axles a la Class 22. Wondering how easy an EM conversion would be. Cheers Stu

Urban myth I'm afraid, they were all rail blue. The first dozen JB's or so had a light grey solebar band and no BR arrows unlike the majority which had arrows but no band. At least one well known author has perpetuated this in a book on the ED's though no idea why. There exists somewhere a good colour photo taken at English Electric. It shows a new green class 20, new rail blue ED and a new electric blue AL6 electric. The difference is obvious. One possible explanation is that while rail blue should be rail blue there were variations. The ED's were conventionally sprayed, the TC's/REP's/VEP's were finished using "airless" spraying and the TC fitted Cromptons brush painted. Depending on the light etc they could look quite different. HTH Stu

Might well have been mentioned before but I hope it's not "electric blue", should be rail blue. Stu

Just a thought. Did this 08 model list which might be useful. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/95161-class-0809-models-list-4mm-update-120415/ Stu

Hi, just a footnote to this. At least 4 Class 12's were fitted with air brakes in 67 as part of the Bomo' electrification. A couple were usually at Weymouth working the tram until AB'd 03's appeared. When they arrived they only had 3 link couplings so a couple of loose screw couplings had to be scavenged. Not liked on the tram as visibility running hood forward wasn't very good. Stu

Sort of confined to barracks after a bit of day surgery my attention turned to Drewry Lane which is off to Warley next month. It was built using recycled track which didn't worry me too much at the time as I never expected it to be still getting invites 6 years later. The point under the overbridge was a bit troublesome from day 1 and I had kept saying I'd replace it but never actually got round to it. A recent local outing showed another point was looking a bit iffy so decided to lift and replace them all with new ones though leaving the sidings in place. The old trackwork was sliced up in-situ to hopefully minimise any damage and came up well. Any remaining ballast was carefully chiselled off leaving a useable trackbed. The new track was glued in place - I'll never use another trackpin, lesson learned - wired up and tested. It's now been ballasted and the basic weathering done. Still more to do there but the general scenery going to have a bit of work done on it so I'll do that together. Looking at the layout with the pointwork gone was one of those moments that makes you question your own sanity but I think it'll be worth the effort. Running is better and whilst primary power tends to be Bo-Bo diesels which would run well on a couple of old wire coathangers I can now vary things more. A couple of pics, sorta during and after. Cheers Stu