gc4946

My chosen base model, Bachmann's 31-853 version. I'll re-number the loco but won't modify the tender by removing the tool box.

I bought Bachmann's 31-853 LNER no. 1996 from an auction site, thanks for the offer. Incidentally mum lived near Tivetshall, Norfolk at the time it was numbered 1940 so she could have seen it there

Thanks my plan is to reproduce no. 1940 as new in 1938 from Darlington in plain black with high-front 4200 gal tender

Thanks will examine images online and/or locos on sale at shows for the base model

Thanks, I just have to identify which Bachmann locos have this tender. I can repaint/renumber/shave off smokebox numberplate as required. I'm assuming it entered service in plain black (don't have access to Yeadon's)

I'm looking into modelling an OO J39 in LNER livery numbered 1940 (year of my mum's birth) which was built at Darlington in 1938, in its original condition https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=601039260&loco=1940 Later re-numbered 4959, 64959. There's no information on BRDatabase on which tender type was attached. I'll acquire a Bachmann model depending on the exact combination of details and re-number as required.

Quelle surprise! Hornby's parallel track geometry aligns perfectly with Heljan's engine shed's roads, track pieces just need sleeper ends trimmed back and between sleepers to create loco inspection pits.

All but one of my German buildings are scaled for N, by checking door heights, etc. The church is the only structure which could pass muster in 1:120. I could fit that in a corner of my modular layout setup. However it was an interesting evaluation whether N scale structures could be acceptable in this scale.

There's no brake cylinder on this ex-GWR box van, so strictly speaking it's unfitted. The screws hold the kinematic couplings in place.

Both my BR liveried vans arrived today. TT6006 described online as https://uk.Hornby.com/products/br-vent-van-era-4-tt6006 is actually E 145685 TT6007 described online as https://uk.Hornby.com/products/br-vent-van-era-4-tt6007 is actually E 145841 They're GWR 12T ventilated vans with planked ends, each containing twin louvres. https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/vehicledetails?id=3144651 BR built many more to this similar design but with corrugated ends https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/b763305/

A few years ago I bought a sizeable number of made-up N scale Faller and Vollmer historic buildings intended to represent the centre of a fictitious (West) German town. They were mounted on four 248 x 248 mm scratchbuilt styrene bases. The assembly of buildings shown here totals 496 x 496 mm. Given that many older buildings had lower door and window heights I wonder if they're acceptable for TT:120? If that isn't feasible I'll retain them as intended for N.

I know Modellbahn Union commissioned Dapol in N scale to produce various locos and wagons, I hope they'll commission "specials" from Hornby once more British prototype models become available

I dug out a Heljan engine shed bought for N and found the loading gauge suitable for TT:120. Although my current layout setup hasn't provision for an engine shed, it's a feasible possibility for the future. Similarly a short platform halt.

I sincerely hope Hornby will eventually announce Southern Region prototypes in the next year or so. A Terrier and Maunsell carriages will go down well. If not a Bulleid air-smoothed pacific to accompany all their lovely Pullmans.

The J94 and 57XX pannier brought forward is very welcome news. We'll have to see which variants will appear, eg extended bunker on some J94s and/or provision for a cab/bunker to represent the later GWR 8750 panniers.

My last rolling stock purchase for some time now. Hornby's LNER Toad E brake van in BR unfitted grey livery, handrails are all moulded on compared with separately fitted ones on the OO version.

Payment has been taken for my BR livery Toad brake van. It's a good thing I preordered that because Hornby's online shop currently has none in stock,. The LNER livery version is the only one available.

It's been quiet on the 1:120 front, work's progressing on a cut and shut job to create a Mk1 first corridor. This'll probably be my only such conversion. Hornby's tank wagons and LNER Toad brake van in LNER and BR liveries have landed in Britain according to their online shop so fingers crossed my pre-ordered BR brake van will be in my hands soon.

My passenger train formations will be 5, possibly 6 carriages, long. I may opt for cut and shuts once I invest in a much finer CMK razor saw as opposed to my coarser Xacto saw.

I own an Xacto razor saw but guess your CMK saw gives a much finer cut

An experiment in hacking one of Hornby's Mk1 composites. I'm modelling the corridor side of a Mk1 first corridor (FK). Hornby's never made a model of that type in OO. It's taken a pair of sides cut from a composite carriage to get this far. However I'll need to cut up another Mk1 composite (CK) to yield enough 1st class windows on the compartment side which are set wider than the 2nd class ones ... and then attach the modified sides to another donor Mk1 composite. I'll also need to hack the moulded interior to create 7 first class compartments instead of four first and three second class compartments and to move the roof ventilators to suit the new layout. The sides are 161 mm long, the plastic is 1 mm thick and reasonably malleable, but requires accurate work with a scalpel, craft knife and files . Similar work can be done to represent the rare Mk1 restaurant 1st open (RFO) (1-11) and the first few Mk1 first opens (FO) built (3000-3002)

Quickly dismantled a Hornby Mk1. One-piece moulded body shell with moulded-on door handles, handrails on ends and roof details Separate mouldings for gangways clipped in, glued in flush glazing. One piece unpainted interior. Underframe specific to carriage type with moulded footboards and relevant fittings, truss rods separately attached, kinematic couplings screwed to carriage floor. Bogies can be unclipped.

Gresley pacifics, maroon Mk1s and Pullmans are currently in stock on their website

Interesting to see how they appear in teak finish

Hornby's displaying pre-production models of their Gresley 61'6" teak carriages at Glasgow, photographed by a Hornby Forum member (courtesy Dave the Busker) https://uk.Hornby.com/community/forum/teak-344837?ccm_paging_p=2#end-of-replies They're a corridor 3rd and corridor brake composite (models between a Mk2 air-con and the Duchess steam loco) I'll preorder both types if they're produced in crimson/cream or maroon.