Indomitable026

1 hour ago, sulzer71 said:

From what I've read on here many are not impressed , I haven't bought one seen as Suttons announced theirs before I had chance to part with any cash , Just got home and had a look at the notes I took when I was chatting to Phil , 25092/093 were vac braked only , 093 had bodyside numbers , the one I chose to convert to 25301 is a dual braked one which is correct for the 25324 he's producing , it has been mentioned that some Scottish versions will be produced in the not too distant future

Scottish versions you say.

Oh hell!

2 hours ago, sulzer71 said:

25092/093 spent time there in 75/76 , I had a chat with Phil@SLW when I was ordering 25324 to turn into a Scottish one , although I would have preferred to do 092/093 he said 324 wasn't suitable for either due to a couple of differences which I can't off the top of my head remember but have notes at home which I will let you know later , Ironically Heljan have done 093 but in 80's condition

Whats the general view on where the new Heljan ones fit quality and detail wise?

2 hours ago, sulzer71 said:

I now have 3 of them and 2 more of the un-numbered ones reserved for me as well as the 2 Headcode box variants I have on order and now a 25! , I'm sure I'll be having more in the future

I'm modelling the 5 Inverness ones 102/03/04/12/13 in their last days there in 75 , got a list of detail differences as long as my arm here for them too! , the 25 will become 301 at Eastfield in 78

 

 

Did any of these types of 25 get to IS ?

I’d be tempted at one too...

I’ll probably be getting at least one of the head code boxed 24s...

12 hours ago, Mark Forrest said:

That really is very nice indeed.  So far, I've resisted a 24 (although must admit if there was a suitable LM allocated one available at the moment I'd be tempted), I was unable to resist the 25 though.

I keep threatening one of my Bachmann 24s with a Silver Fox bodyshell (cab donor) and a razor saw, but know I'd never get close to the standard of an out of the box SLW.

 

Any thoughts on a number for yours?

1 hour ago, sulzer71 said:

Just too hard to resist them though isn't it  , you decided on it's identity yet?

I’ve not decided on an identity yet - it’ll get used as the test loco now throughout the build - I’ll see nearer the time when the layout nears completion and we look to start exhibiting.

But yes, I’ve broken my own rules on the layout dates - but so what? 
 

It’s a great model that brings a smile to my face...

15 minutes ago, sulzer71 said:

Exactly what I suspected when I saw the package , is it not a bit out of your modelling era though?

Yes...

That was all a bit impromptu and unexpected - something moving on the layout.

The model is sublime in every way - I keep nipping back in to fire it back up - that sound !!

So what happened next?

As this is my first operational loco (the 2 x 26s and the 27 have P4 wheels but no DCC chips), I’d dug out my DCC controller from Diesels in the Duchy, connected the wiring up.

Boom

We had our first movements on the layout...

1 hour ago, Mark Forrest said:

Are P4 wheels back in stock?

I don’t know the answer to that but they’ve clearly found a set for this one...

It’s this beastie....

P4 and sound fitted...

Just now, ELTEL said:

I wonder what it could be ?
 

Tin of toffees 

Chocolate biscuits 

Malt Whisky 

Or a Class ??

I emptied my large whiskey bottle to pay for it!

Is this the best wrapped present I’ve ever had?

Inbound...

17 hours ago, Mark Forrest said:

Andy, yes and very nice it is too, I had considered something a bit like that.

 

Ideal scenario would be somewhere that I could run either my air braked freight stock or my parcels stock depending on what mood takes me - bit of a tall order!

Wagon maintenance depot converted from an old goods depot? So you parcels building can be disused or repurposed in to offices...

6 hours ago, Mark Forrest said:

My initial plan was that the two sidings would be quite close together, leaving plenty of room at the rear of the layout for a building of some description, the role of generic industrial building played here by the parcels office from Wolverhampton Low Level.

 

However, I’m currently liking the idea of the less crowded scene with the new siding further back, creating more space for loading/unloading from either of the two sidings, something like this:

 

I think the difference in height will make it reasonably easy to hide the rear siding behind a wall or fence.

I like the parcels office where you’ve got it...

4 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Span Yard.

Apologies for the rather cluttered picture, but this is my take on off stage storage on small layouts.

At the left hand end there are two exits (one behind the bit of paper), the top right is the main entry track of the layout, and these 3 have fiddlesticks, and the bottom right goes onto an extension board with a low relief warehouse. There is the one "on scene" siding top left to mantain interest.

To my way of thinking, having a fiddleyard on a small/micro layout serves no purpose and takes up valuable space, bearing in mind that Span Yard is designed to fit into a suitcase and travel to the UK as hold baggage for exhibitions (remember them?) so space saving is a prime concern.

 

Mike.

I remember you telling me about your baggage at the last Stafford show.

Great stuff.

1 minute ago, Mark Forrest said:

Speaking of planning, this print out of the revised track plan has been on my desk all week, I've been doodling ideas for some of the buildings.  Excuse my rubbish drawing, hopefully you get the idea.

sorry Mark, we need to concentrate on the job in hand - you now have full attention..

3 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

Yes, all good here thanks, just had a few months of not modelling/ no interest,  so dropped off the forum.

 

Not 100% back yet,  so don't expect too much from me.

 

Apart from the odd pithy comment where necessary, of course.

 

These things come and go.

I’m sure your mojo will be back soon and probably manifest itself in the largest model caravan site ever built...

Good to hear from you “Stubzie50”...

34 minutes ago, Mark Forrest said:

Time to get a little destructive, firstly making a gap for the road crossing.

 

Then, the warehouse needed to go...

Im keeping everything I remove for possible reuse.  A new trackbed will be needed for the new siding as the area under the warehouse is only made of foamboard.

 

Overall view with all the buildings gone and the fascia removed.  Hours to make, seconds to break!

 

 

 

Where’s the chip shop going?

“I’m short of space, the layout doesn’t fit - so I’m building an extension”

Love this....

Just now, David Bell said:

You can certainly lose a weekend doing that!

I find it really relaxing on in the background - all familiar stuff from ‘back in the day...’

Well, in case you thought I’d I’ve done absolutely nothing this weekend - you’d be right.

Apart from a couple of decent bike rides and...

I”m now watching the Alan Harrison collection on YouTube - literally hours of fun. Currently at Inverness with class 26/37 combinations on the far north line.

Last night was Par & St Blazey!

So the reason for the 20p tip is that I’m working out the spacing for the droppers and where the holes need to drilled in the mechanism slider strip below.

The battery has run out on my callipers but I can still lock them in place to translate the spacing on to the mechanism slider.

Next job, a 20p tip...

On 22/12/2020 at 07:00, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Neatness personified compared to me!

 

MIke.

I dug this mug out at work today out of the communal mug cupboard, a naturally I thought of you....

1 hour ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

At weekends I'm the one on the far left.

 

Mike/

Yes, I recognised the hips...