59004 ( was Shedcombe....)

I will run 2 as one train, with the motor coaches/speakers on the outer ends. Very nice to hear the separate sounds passing by. I'm sure Bif can do me a favour, and set both decoders up slightly different, so they will sound a little out of sync. The other diesel train with 3 coaches will be top 'n tailed by a 33. No idea if I will run it with the rear loco idling or on sort of tickover, but both under power would be overdoing it a little, I think. Regards, Michel

Jon, I suppose you mean debranded, rather then rebranded? For the layout shift from 1967 to 1987, instead of 2x green 2H and 1x blue 2H, I now intend to run two 2H sets in NSE livery as one train, with the motor coaches at the outer ends. Of course Legomanbiffo sound fitted!!! I would like to find pictures of Class 205 units in NSE livery, running as 2-cars, even if it was later as 1987. Who knows were to find them? Regards, Michel

It seems black is later, with the unit debranded and fitted with high intensity headlight, whereas silver is early branded NSE. Hard to see if it's rounded livery edges on the earlier version. Regards, Michel

What colour Paul? Regards, Michel

Seeing all these tasty NSE Thumper pictures, especailly with these nice enhancements, I'm rather tempted switching the time frame of my layout, from 3/1967, to a timeframe within the NSE era. For this, the layout trackplan is getting altered somewhat, incorperating a terminating local service, incl. small stabling point, in between the continueing mainline. The fleet for the local service will be 4 trains (2x 2H NSE forming a 4-car train, 33 + 3 coaches + 33 and 4x 2-EPB (Blue, 2x Blue/Grey, NSE) forming two 4-car trains). They will all run at rushhour traffic, whereas the 4x 2-EPB will run as four 2-car trains outside these periodes. Regards, Michel

It seems there are ways to get the model to run as 3-car. Matching paintjobs will probably be tricky. What type of coach/carriage is sitting in the centre of this NSE Class 205? http://www.tosh-railways.com/Railways/70-uk-railway-photography/DEMU/i-MNkL7Lw/A Regards, Michel

I must admit, the Thumper in NSE livery looks rather tasty. There has been a lot of talk about Kernow having picture proof for all 2H versions they have released/are releasing. Does anyone know of a picture of a (or rather this) 2H in NSE livery, as opposed to a 3H? Any likewise, for the Connex 2H? And why are these both de-branded versions? Regards, Michel

I have emailed Kernow rather then the website form, as I have included some attachrments. They have just enquired on FB what email address I've used. Wait and see what happens next. Regards, Michel

I've sent an email early August, nearly 2 weeks ago, regarding ordering 2x Green 1121 (one to become 1119) and 1x Blue 1122, but have not had a reply back yet. Just wondering ....... Regards, Michel

Although it's very appealing, I've decided not to embark on a Swiss project. Mainly on cost, a little on availability (of former releases) but also as I'd like a concept that can be taken to exhibitions, have a close to home in the flesh availabilty for stock and other items and more in touch with my youth. I guess I'm getting old and sentimental. Still, it remains a tasty model, if rather wallet heavy. Regards, Michel

Thanks for these pictures Paul, they make a few things/question at least somewhat clearer. However, these, and all other/previous you have, I'd like to have in full resolution. Can you please email the all to michel.vandenhof.trains@gmail.com? The Allegra makes it clear, that it's very desireble to work with flowing track all the way, and thus especially transitional curves and curves possibly with a little cant. I think in the visible area's it's 400 mm radius minimum, and thus 350 mm radius minumum technically, with the intercoach cables on. How flexible are the corridors? I really would like them to be one piece, or at that they connect up and remain that way in curves. Will quite likely not be easy to work that out, with all things going on inside and just outside the corridors, but I will certainly give it some thought and trials. If the corridors would be open on the underside, do you think, with unscrewing all 3 chassis, that you get all 3 out in one go, with the couplingbars and connectors still attached? Or possibly the other way around, all 3 chassis unscrewed, and then standing on its wheels, remove all 3 bodies plus corridors at once? The corridors have to be either very flexible and both parts need some form of hooking up to each other, or one piece, with less need for flexibility, but then an open underside and possibly both ends sticking loosely into the body ends. The way the model looks now in the pictures, the gab in the corridors spoils the whole super detailed effect of the model, a rather dear as such. I had hoped the corridors would have looked better on the outside curves as they come, but alas there's modelling work to do. Ah well .... only a £500+ model ...... Regards, Michel

Hi Paul, Thanks for your swift respons and glad you like the concept. Needs to mature a lot more (only looked into it for a first time yeasterday) and it may well change (but not by a lot, only details, chosen line aspects). Contemplating for a different passing station then Morterartsch, or possible another one next to it, but don't want them too close. Should look somewhat real/thruthful, but slightly more operational potential would be better I think. Now it's just in and out Tirano with a passing option at Morteratsch that requires the upward train to make a shunt manouvre. Another station, with passingloop and limited stabling is what I'm going to look into. Plus I want the order of elements right, and after Morteratsch they aren't now. Thanks for taking the time to take some good pictures on tight curves. Prototypical to scale, it looks like the tight ones are around 520 mm radius (checked Alp Grüm and Montebello Kurve on Google Earth). Can you take pictures with the inter coach cables on, or is that a lot of hassle? I'm looking at getting all 3 released Allegra's (at least) in DCC sound, but not all come as sound version from Bemo AFAIK. However, you can get the Loksound Micro V4.0 Next18 with the same Allegra soundproject on it, for €105 plus postage. Not too bad. The 3501 (DC) is €499, whereas a DCC sound version of 3508 or 3510 for around €625-650. Yeah, quite an investment, but the overal layout fleet can be limited to around 12 loco's/units and of course coaches and wagons. Shame a lot of models sell out so quickly. Regarding track, I suspect, odd as it may seem, that Peco H0m is the most common one to find in the Netherlands. Tillig is know for its scale fidelity, but of course, sturdiness suffers. For a fixed layout, not so much a problem. Availabilty, looks and reliabilty are all important. I might hold buying track off to (after) Intermodellbau in Dortmund. If there's an exibition where I should be able to sample all 3, it's there. Points, I'd like to throw with servo's. Yes, the Google Streetview of the Bernina is superb, especially to make up my mind. Never been there before, but looks like an amazing ride. Regards, Michel

Hi Paul, I'm not entirely sure yet, If I do go ahead to emark on a Swiss Bernina project. But when I do (DCC/PC and sound), I think I will adapt/convert the bar(s) by making an inner/outer bar sliding solution, so there's no gap, but enough play for reliable running. Likewise, I prefer to use the side cables, as this looks really good and so nicely prototypical. What's the minimum radius for an Allegra? What minimum radius makes it still look prototypical? Do the gangways connect up well and really bend in curves? For the couplings, I like to see if a more prototypical centre buffer + 2 screwlinks can be made up. Might not be easy to have real coupling on/off going on then. Will see if I'll manage anything in that department. I've also put a enquiry out on the forum about a choice in 12mm track. If you can, please answer this as well? Sorry to hear Rhätia has suffered damp damage. Hope it's not too bad. My layout will be a permanent home based one, due to its massive size, shape and height (llne constantly climbing), so no storage worry or carrying it around. It will be in a heated room, 10.5m long, what the house was chosen and bought for. I intend to keep the curve changes and gradient changes within limits, for a prototypical look and prototypical running. Accompanied a first rough scetch. 1 pixel = 1 cm. I've called the layout Rhätirano, and starts down in Tirono, and ends just before St. Moritz. I've looked at Google Maps and Google Earth, and have incorperated things in that I like and combined have the space for. I don't want to put too much in, it shouldn't look to crammed. Regards, Michel

Hi Paul, Hope all is well in Salisbury. Here things are OK. Thanks for the nice review and clear pictures of the Allegra. Have you put the inter coach cables on the model? Can it run properly with these on, or are these just an option for display? The top bar between the coaches, do the 2 parts join up? Regards, Michel

Charlie / Arran, Have you thought about supplying a coupling bar, mimicing two coupled BSI's, that can be used in exchange of the standard BSI's, in case of running in multiple ? Would be a shame to need to do away with the BSI's, and find another, but obviously visible, solution. One could permanently alter two BSI's so they can be glued together, perhaps ? Regards, Michel