Guardian

On 16/03/2024 at 22:56, Coppercap said:

 

Typically one of these, a 'Large Metro'. 'County Tank' 4-4-2Ts were also used in and out of Paddington, though unlikely over the Metropolitan lines.

 

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 

23 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

The tech way to do this is to simply add 1 to CV29, which can be done on the main line. Diligent souls will tell you to read CV29 first, to see whether to add or subtract 1, but that can't be done on the main in most systems, is thus tedious, and I've never had a problem. 

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... 

On 27/09/2023 at 21:17, Hal Nail said:

one says "lined".

Here's a previous Dapol model in lined chocolate and cream:

 

 

 

 

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.

23 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

That's where I'm getting confused, not the first time with Dapol when it comes to liveries!

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...

17 hours ago, gwrrob said:

Dip your bread chaps, they look delicious.

 

https://www.Dapol.co.uk/blogs/news/oo-gauge-gwr-toplight-mainline-city-coach-update?fbclid=IwAR1paVezP8QcxPdWZCtMIsmH6aC-_P1TtQxNLei3fJLVNyTfPblAfVZhxYw

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...

On 05/09/2023 at 13:21, tetsudofan said:

 

Thanks for the information, ordered two sets (for my olive green & BR black livery models) last night and just got an email saying they on the way,

 

Keith

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.

1 hour ago, Star-rider said:

I'm not an expert, there are better people out there but I think the problem is that the Bachmann 64XX is moulded with a top feed which therefore dates it from 1940's onwards and earlier GWR liveries would be inaccurate for it.

 

The same is true of all Bachmann's panniers, its such a pity as my interest lies in the 1930's and I would have brought more. I'm hoping the new kids on the block will deliver... 

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

On 16/04/2019 at 19:26, Methuselah said:

In future, it'd be a good idea if threads like this were routinely split, perhaps by the Moderators, so that all the ordering, returns and other commercial issues et al, were in another linked thread, so folks could see some interesting dialogue about the MODEL itself, and directly-related subjects.

Hi Methuselah,

from my point of view, reports regarding faulty models, returns and other deficiencies of the model are important information for enthusiats (=customers) intending to acquire such model. Thus, such threads should not be split.

Btw, as I had to return my Stirling Single twice before I finally received a proper model some years ago, of which I just shot some pictures, some illustration of this awesome model:

GNR Stirling Single no. 1. Locomotion/Rapido 449373.

cab detail

Best,

Mark  

On 10/08/2023 at 17:00, Harlequin said:

Nice to see the square front drop running plate variation. 

 

Which - basically - makes it a 3100 class (renumber 5100 class in 1927). Dapol may have mentioned that they are not just doing a 5101/61xx class production rerun, but a modification to 3100 class. At least not on their homepage as per today.

And I wonder why they offer two different 3100 class numbers (3131 and 3146) instead of one of the renumbered 5100 with GWR lettering (e.g. 5131). Or an era 2 version of the 3100.

However, in addition with the roof variations, these variations are always appreciated.

Best,

Mark  

Am I correct that Hornby have put a diecast body on their recently (2021) retooled A 3 chassis with (still) wheelsets having plastic spokes? Thus, they sell an express steam loco advertising a die-cast body but delivering plastic wheels at an RRP of £ 362 without sound and with an outdated 8-pin socket? Impressive...

Best,

Mark

As any pictures of the lined LNER version seem to be gone, I may show some pics of N 27 no. 1214 acquired last year

LNER N 27 class no. 1214. Oxfard Rail OR76J27004XS.

Apparently, I was lucky as I received a properly assembled model. It is a good runner and has quite good tractive effort due to its diecast body. The ESU decoder handles the motor smothly, in particular after reduction of the top speed. It is what a J 27 should be - an unpretentious workhorse...

Best,

Mark 

On 31/05/2023 at 19:37, Dominion said:

The body molding is like Doncaster, Lemberg and Knight of the Thistle  from last year, so without the often visible top seam from the pre-metal running plate models. This new arrangement looks much better in my opinion. The running plate is nice and straight.

 

Overall though it seems like a correctly detailed and well assembled model. I am very happy with it.

 

Hi Tom,

Thank you for testing this A 3 model. Good to see that the ski jump footplate issue seems to be resolved. May I kindly ask you to check if the spokes of the wheels are still made of plastics?

Cheers,

Mark  

58 minutes ago, JSpencer said:

 

Many were rebuilt with side feed at the start. The SECR grey one is such a case https://railsofsheffield.com/products/Dapol-4s-028-001s-secr-maunsell-d1-class-secr-grey-4-4-0-steam-locomotive-no-735-dcc-sound

 

Without referring to my books, I think around 2/3rds of the 1926 rebuilds (from D to D1) got the newer side frames and - maybe  - top feed while SECR batch all kept the old D frames and side feed. But this is my fallible memory...

The best bet as always is to look at photos. Or simply go for a side feed version which works across the entire period you are after.

 

Ah, thank you for clarification. I had understood that top feed was the initial setup, not side feed. In that case, the choice for an earlier SR version is easy - side feed no. 1749.

Best,

Mark

On 10/07/2023 at 23:18, selset bill said:

BUT it can't pull the proverbial skin off a rice pudding!  My layout has a ruling gradient of 1 in 60 on the main line and it just about manages three birdcage coaches but not four.  On the club layout (whose gradients I haven't measured but I would guess 1 in 50 in a couple of places) it wouldn't even take three but got round, with a bit of slipping, with two.  Not good enough, Mr Dapol ! You should have put traction tyres on, like the D which is ok with three birdcages on the club layout.

Dapol should have included a wheelset with traction tyres. And if someone objects: if the traction tyres are made of quality rubber, any abresion on the rails is limited. As I run a lot of Märklin/Trix, Fleischmann and other continental models with traction tyres for decades, I made the experience that the rubber quality of the traction tyres is significant for their performance, longevity and abrasion resistance. And the increase in traction is immense compared to 25 g additional weight of the D1 compared to the D class... 

On 25/06/2023 at 15:03, Graham_Muz said:

Not sure which war you are referring to. It took until 1948 for the last top feed to be replaced by side feed.

But yes the use of a simple blanking plate was changed to removing the flange from the boiler steam dome. 

Hi Graham and all D1 specialists,

As I intend to get a D1 in a state of the late 1920s, early 1930s, is it known by when the D1s received the side feed instead of the top feed? I assume this was a longer process. When did it start?

Normally, I would simply acquire a top feed D1 as it represents the older condition, but the top feed D1 SR version no. 1741 has the side feed pipes mounted. If these are removed from the model, holes will remain in the boiler...

Best,

Mark 

On 14/11/2022 at 15:15, pauliebanger said:

 

 

*You can adjust this easily with CV57. Default is 40, lower gives lower max, higher values give faster top speeds.

 

Hi Paul,

is this a Zimo Decoder inside the Bachmann Double Fairlie? As yet, I only experienced ESU decoders in Bachmann models (and the respective ESU CV would be 53)

Best,

Mark

As any older images seem to have disappeared, some images of the very nice V 2 no. 4791 in LNER livery

LNER V2 no. 4791. Bachmann 35-200/SF.