Guardian

Hi Penrhos1920 and Coppercap, Thank you for mentioning these two types which would be an attractive tractionfor the Toplight City coaches. Unfortunately, none of the is available or announced as an RTR 00 model. Maybe one day... Until then, I will have to obtain a 61XX class to provide adequate traction.

Dear All, As I recently aquired set 3 (choc/cream twin cities crest) of the Toplight City coaches, I am curious about the proper traction of such set prior to the introduction of GWR 61XX class in 1931. Was it simply the preceding sub-classes, I.e. classes 5101 and 3100/5100? Or (also) something completely different? Thank you. Best, Mark

Hi Ian, I am aware of Cv 29 bit 1 but prefer to have that corrected electrically. As otherwise, without Decoder, the model runs the other direction as its classmates... Cheers, Mark

Received no. 82 last week. Very lovely loco. After running in, very good running capabilities. After having put in a decoder, I realised that the pickup connections to the PCB are connected to the wrong side - loco moved backwards when it shall run forward. Thus, I interchanged the two wires on the PCB. When plugging in a decoder, please keep in mind the decoder must not be longer than 10 mm in total, including NEM 651 socket. I had a Doehler & Haas PD10, which lead to excellent running abilities as it has a small stay alive on board, but it was too long to re-mount the body. Now, I plugged in an ESU Lokpikot Nano which was in my stocks. Also fine, but the B4 likes a stay alive..

The news that Hatton's close down and unwind their business is definitely bad news and not good for the industry sector in general. From a foreign modeler's perspective, one of the best working shops with regard to shipping and customs handling has disappeared. My first UK 00 gauge model order was a Hornby SR M7 class from Hatton's back in 2007... However, I hope the S.E. & C.R. P class rerun will be conducted anyway.

I wonder when UK manufacturers start to introduce close coupling mechanisms to wagons...

As the weather was good, I took the opportunity to picture Rapido's "Lion". L. & M.Rly. no. 57 "Lion". 1930s condition. Rapido 913001/501. I am very pleased with this model. Metal body, fine metal wheels, loco-tender connection with close coupling mechanism, hook-and-tension coupling at the rear of the tender. Reduced friction resistance by electrical pick-up through the axle bearings. The model looks great and reflects the 1928 ff. state. Only tiny little blemish is the small gap along the boiler between the upper and lower parts of the boiler. In particular the driving characteristics are very good. The model creeps at minimum speed - below walking speed - across points. the tractive effort of the model of 179 g weight is very good compared to it's size. This model is made for working adequate trains and not just sitting in the showcase...

Hi, as I cannot clearly identify the crest, this looks like a 1922 garter crest livery to me. Lined choc/cream in the 1920s may have been the earlier variant with garter crest (1922-27) or the newer variant with twin cities logo (1928-34). I hope Dapol's Set 2 is the garter crest and Set 3 according to the samples is the twin cities version. Btw, the lining of these liveries varies; the 1922 version is more elaborated. Additionally, the lined choc/cream twin cities livery 1928 ff. needs to be distinguished from the post-war Hawksworth lined twin cities livery used on express coaches. The latter provides for "Great Western" in full lettering left and right of the twin cities crest while the 1928 version has the abbreviation "GWR" in a panel on top of the crest.

Indeed. And additionally, Hatton's show the livery samples for Set 3 (GWR twin cities 1928-34) also for Sets 2 and 4. As the livery samples for Sets 2, 4 and 5 are not yet available, this is not too helpful...

Very pleasing. That clarifies the liveries of sets 1, 3 and 6: Set 1 - crimson with garter crest, era 2 until 1922; Set 3 - GWR choc/cream twin city crest double lining 1928-34; Set 6 - BR maroon era 5 as of 1957. I wonder if Set 2 will be GWR choc/cram with garter crest 1922-27/28. Let's have a cup of tea...

Hi Keith, did you receive your wheelsets in between? Did you have a chance to check out if it works yet? Cheers Mark

There is quite a lot of space in the smokebox - but that is above the bogie and does not add additional weight above the driven coupled wheels. Above these, only limited space is available. And the addition of approx. 15 to 30 g does not increase the traction noticeably.

Recently received my D1 no. 1749. Very nice model. Very good and silent running abilities. I was pleased to notice the fine metal spoke wheels, close coupling backdrops at the tender and between loco and tender. Electric pickups through axle tip and bearing istead of wipers. SR Maunsell D1 no. 1749. Rails/Dapol 4S-028-002. Mine works perfectly with a Doehler & Haass PD18A. The only issue is a lack of tractive power of the model. Although it moves a rake of five Hornby SR Maunsell low windows coaches on level tracks, in slight gradients of up to 2 %, the D1 does not manage to pull the full rake up the hill but only three coaches. The 253 g of the modell do not seem to provide sufficient traction without traction tyres. That IMHO is a pity as the model's running characteristics are outstandingly good and it would manage to pull such rake easily up slight gradients at slow to medium speeds with a bit more traction.

Ah, that makes sense....as I am also in the 1920s and 30s, I'll have to wait...or make an exemption...

Hi, I wonder if Bachmann intend to do any other GWR Version of the class 64xx Pannier Tanks than the "GWR" version. The have made the third number of the "GWR" livery as yet (31-635, 31-635A, 31-635B) , but none of the other GWR liveries (shirtbutton, Great Western letters). I would go for both of them... What may be the reason for that? Rebuilds in the 1940s? Best, Mark