Karhedron

In Dapol's defense, this kind of research is harder than it looks. I have been helping the NGS with their Collett full brake and it took several of us quite a lot of research to nail down the details and livery variations. That is just for a single model. Dapol have dozens of models in their range. Like it or not, they are not experts on the detail variations of every single one. These errors are often only obvious in hindsight.

Cool, I look forward to seeing the results.

Another one I would like to see is the GWR 9400 class pannier. This is a fairly straight-forward 0-6-0 and another easy win for both 00 gauge and N gauge as the Lima and Farish-Poole offerings are pretty dated.

A couple of photos on these threads. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/58469-track-comparison/ http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=9732.0

The weathering looks good, did you use powders too or just the airbrush?

I would like to see the GWR heavy 4200 2-8-0 and 7200 2-8-2 tanks in N gauge. Whilst originally intended for heavy coal traffic in the south wales valleys, they eventually turned up on loads as diverse as iron ore and china clay. Hornby's 00 versions were perhaps rather spoiled by haphazard research and careless application of "design clever" (a phrase that deserves to be up there with "wardrobe malfunction" ). But an N gauge version that learns from those mistakes would be rather tasty.

Are the CADs up online to view anywhere yet?

Have a nice time!

I believe the APT-E was only ever a 4-car train so the set as-sold is accurate and realistic. My guess is that the additional centre cars are for those who wish to model "what if" scenarios.

I believe the tilting mechanism proved ideal for high speed running on the sinuous Cornish mainline while the gas turbine power plant made easy work of the gradients.

Great choice! (and I guessed right ). Any chance of an N gauge version?

Precision Labels produce some vinyl overlays for the old (Poole-era) Farish Pullmans to increase the names of coaches available and allow complete trains to be modelled. Bournemouth Belle and Golden Arrow http://www.precisionlabels.com/l12.html Custom Pullman names http://www.precisionlabels.com/sl18.html Pullman logo and livery overlays. A quick and easy way to improve the livery of the Farish coaches http://www.precisionlabels.com/sl19.html

As the proud owner of a 22, thanks for persevering.

Hi Dave, I have a question about batch sizes. I know that there is typically a minimum size for a run in a particular livery. Is it possible to break that run down any further for minor variations? For example, if the normal minimum run was 250, would it be possible to produce 250 black locos but half with early crest and half with late crest (or some equivelent minor tweak)?

I think that textured paints are inherently tricky to get right. I have tried Greenscenes but I have tried the Tamiya range with simmilarly disappointing results. Maybe a spatula is the right tool but those pots are not cheap and if applied that thickly will not last long.

For a 325, you may find these easier than doing multiple cut-n-shuts. http://www.shapeways.com/model/644170/325.html?li=search-results&materialId=60 A cheaper option would be to stick some Networker cabs onto stipped Mk2 bodies as these are already the correct length. http://www.shapeways.com/model/327590/n-gauge-165-cab-pair.html?li=user-profile&materialId=61

I would love to see the early "flying bannana" pattern of GWR railcar in N gauge. I realise the early ones had more variation between class members than the later angular ones but in terms of art-deco styling, they are a classic. Alternatively the Farish railcar is pretty long in the tooth. Maybe a version of this to modern standards could be done in such a way as to permit the twin-sets to be produced as well.

Ingleton viaduct. Dominates the town which itself is a great place to visit for walking in the Yorkshire Dales.

Very much wish It's territory ;-) , but I have made a note and have a look at them just in case. Just throwing in tuppenyworth. I also model the GWR/WR and would also like some of the older types of stock. Sadly I am not sure that clerestory or toplight stock is a good choice for RTR. The problem is that both types are actually a family of similar but distinct vehicles, often containing many diagrams, each of a relatively small number of vehicles. The problem is whether to model specific diagrams (which may have been geographically limited in real life) and hope people modelling other areas will accept them as "close enough". I think the market has reached the point where generic vehicles which may be hybrids of more than one diagram are no longer considered acceptable. A more feasible suggestion would be the Collett 57' mainline stock from the late 20s and early 30s. This was the generation of coaching stock that immeadiately preceeded the coaches made by Dapol and Bachmann. This was proper mass-production stuff so you could produce a decent range from 3 or 4 diagrams. It was widespread, working over the whole GWR network and it was long lived with much of it receiving BR Maroon and lasting until the early 60s. Here are some photos of the sort of vehicles I have in mind. http://www.imber.me.uk/W5043W.jpg https://www.flickr.com/photos/camperdown/6901714686/ http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/coaches/1184/1184pic_01old.html What do you think Dave?

I have thought of it. The reason I have not thought harder is that the models I would most like to see next stand a reasonable chance of being produced RTR in the next few years anyway. D600: Already coming in 00, hoping for an N gauge version. 4700: Dapol have a 4000-gallon collett tender drive and Farish with shortly have one courtesy of the Castle. With a new build 4709 taking shape at Didcot, hopefully someone will have a crack at this one (especially as it has never been done RTR in either 00 or N gauge so there is a potential 2-for-1 there). City of Truro: Bachmann do one in 00 and have recently cracked small tender drives with the 2MT so I am hoping an N gauge one will come from Barwell in the next few years. Ditto the less glamourous but more useful Mogul.

A fair point and as a WR modeller, I can at least appreciate the analogy. The point is that if a subject is popular, then even poor models will sell. I was happy to ditch my Farish Western for the shiny new offerings from Dapol and I would not go back. But the point is I did have a Farish Western. I model the WR and I wanted a Western for my top-link transition era expresses. I did not avoid modelling the scene or the class in the hope that better models would appear in the future. I got on with modelling using what was available. The AC electrics available in 00 are probably no worse in terms of detail and accuracy than the Farish Western. If people do not buy what is available and make the best of it, why would manufacturers assume that better models are an automatic solution. To quote a well-known economist, a gap in the market does not automatically indicate a market in the gap. I did actually model the WCML in 00 many years ago until going to University and buying my own house meant I lost access to my parents' large loft. I had (and still have) 86s, 87s and 90s hauling lima Mk3 coaches with DVTs built and EMUs built (or dodged) from MTK's offerings. But it was a pretty lonely furrow to plough and I looked in vain for articles in the modelling press of other people doing the same. If I was lucky there would be 1 or 2 articles per year covering OHEL modelling in the sectorisation era. If I had the space to start modelling 00 again, I would probably get my stuff out of storage and carry on where I left off. I could replace the DVTs with the new Hornby ones and my limping EMUs with the ones from Bratchell but my AC locos would probably just get a servicing and maybe some etched details. I was a teenager on a paper-round budget when I bought those locos but I would still be happy to run them in the absence of better offerings. Sure, I like accurate detailed models but I model the scenes and eras that appeal to me. I would rather model the sectorisation era WCML with crude models (by today's standards) than the big-4 era LNER (to pick a random example) with highly detailed models. The reason is that the subject just does not "do it" for me. The fact that OHEL modelling lags behind other types in terms of range and accuracy just means a bit more effort or money. Where are the talented kit-makers producing more accurate scale models to show us how it should be done? There are a few but I would expect more if there was really the pent up demand for OHEL models. Don't get me wrong, I like electric prototypes and I would happily invest in some if I had the space to model the mainline scene at home. But the scarcity of others doing the same leads me to suspect that not as many others would join me as are necessary to make a range of new models viable. As I say, I would be happy to be proved wrong and I would like to put my name down for an N gauge class 321 in original NSE livery please.

Dapol catenary masts are a decent representation of british practice and can be had for about £1 a mast meaning electrifying your 00 or N gauge layout will not be quite so budget busting as stringing up knitting on the real thing. It is not perfect as it lacks the full range of mast and portal types found on the original but again, it is enough to get started with.

I find my self in reluctant agreement. There have been a new 86 and Desiro in recent years along with existing classes 87, 90 and 91 RTR. New Mk3 coaches including the DVT have made modelling the WCML a bit more feasible. Also Dapol have produced ready to plant masts. Granted there are still gaps but a keen modeller could at least make a start. The sad fact seems to be that the 86s and Desiros seem to have wound up in the bargin bins while layouts with OHEL remain a rarity (such as Kinlet Wharf). I don't think that there is a "critical mass" of potential AC modellers just waiting for 1 or 2 more crucial items. It doesn't help that OHEL is generally associated most with mainlines. Even in N gauge, reproducing this sort of scene takes up a fair amount of space. There are small stations with overhead wiring but these tend to be either intensivey worked suburban settings or operationally limited. (St Albans Abbey anyone?) Ironically the modern EMUs that are crucial to this sort of scene are probably good candidates for producing with 3D printing where the tooling for small runs might be prohibitive. Once you have a Mk3 suburban bodyshell and good mechanism for driving it, you just need different front ends and window/underframe detail to produce a very large family of units. I hope that in time, 3D printing will provide the more niche items that may never be profitable in large quantities via tradtional RTR.

The viaduct of the old DN&SR near Winchester that is visible from the M3. I was rather surprised to see that it had sprouted a signal post last year but it had been reopened as a cycle-route rather than a railway. The other is the Muswell Hill viaduct that carried the old Northern Heights line from Highgate to Alexandra Palace.

OK, the balance of evidence appears to be in favour of riveting on the roof. Perhaps it is best to stick with it, particularly as and changes to the tooling are likely to be costly in both time and money.