TravisM

I'm finally going to attempt to scratch build some buildings for my Sellafield layout, which absolutely dominate the area, especially the fuel processing plant and need some tips on building these mammoth's. It has been suggested that I use 'foamboard' for the carcasses as it comes in large sheets and relatively cheap. Does anyone know anything about this product as I've never heard of it before and where I can buy it? I've attached several pictures of mock ups that I've done using cereal packets but look 'too' small, they need to be much, much bigger. I had planned on using thick plasticard for the carcass and then laminate using plasticard brick and steel sheeting for the outside walls, but I was told that's a expensive way of doing it and use foamboard for the main structure as it was stronger, lighter and cheaper the plasticard. Any suggestions would be very helpful. After looking at the few pictures I have of the site, the main building need to reach close to the top of the back scene

This might be of some help; https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ Then click on identification of trees

We’ve spoken before regarding my Cumbrian Coast layout and I’m following your Greenford project. As my Cumbrian layout is probably at least 2 years away, hence building the Sellafield layout as a stop gap, which could possibly be exhibited. I hope your project is going well

I've decided to order 1ftx30ins extensions to each end to give me a total length of the layout as 8ft, and going by @Chris116 suggestion, I've started using cereal boxes to create mock ups of the fuel handling plant, and eventually the two processing buildings. As Ben Jones of Rail magazine and Heljan fame did a recent article on the BNFL CBD18/Class 18's at Sellafield, hopefully I can collar him at DEMU and ask him if he would consider sending me any other useful photographs of the rail system used within the site. I'm also seriously considering making the buildings the full height of the backscene because having read Ben's article, and seen the few pictures, the buildings seem to tower over the railway. I've also decided to put the track back at the front of the layout, as a scenic part of the Cumbrian Coast line and include a security fence between it and the Sellafield site.

Wot, no announcement of a third run of Class 37's!!!!! Gonna sit in the corner and sulk 😤

Might make the trip and finally meet you Dawn, won’t that be nice for you 🤪

Hi there, I've only looked on Flickr and not looked at the dates, but I'm pretty sure it would be the 15th June as that would be the one that ran up the far north line to Thurso and Wick, then back to Inverness. From what I can see on Flickr, the coaches were 4 maroon Mk1's, but I could be mistaken on the middle 2.

I'm looking for information on the coaching stock identities that was used on Highland Railways 'Jones Good', number 103 on it's 1962 Far North Line rail tour. I think they were mainly Mk1 coaches, but not 100% sure.

I wouldn't dismiss the Bachmann FNA's, especially the early batches as they were built in the early to mid 70's. The Accurascale one's are far too late for your time frame. I've attached a link to Martyn Read @Glorious NSE response about FNA's Depends on which batch/numbers they are doing: 550000-550005 - 1970 550009-550014 - 1976/7 550015-550016 - 1978 550017-550018 - 1982 550019-550020 - 1984/6 550021-550026 - 1986 550027-550060 - 1988/9

Awesome work and will be following with interest.

Thank you, duly ordered

Do you know what issue number it is as I'm trying to find a copy to use as reference. I emailed Rail and to date, not had a reply.

@class26 Might be interested in this as he models the far north line in that time period

I want to build some mock ups of the buildings and wondered what card I should use. Would the card used on parcels etc be okay or world someone recommend something better?

Hi Craig, I'll be totally honest, I'm not confident about cutting into the chassis to fit a speaker, so the bass reflex will have to do. Do you have a link to where I can get one and are they a easy fit? Regards

I've recently acquired 4D-022-010D 68008 'Avenger' with is DCC fitted, and I was wondering how easy is it to convert to sound? Is there a speaker fitted, or do I need to buy one, if so, can someone recommend a good speaker which gives the bass tones which Class 68's are known for. I love the feeling of your internal organs being moved around as the loco passes by lol.

I don’t understand why you consider a Realtrack 156 ‘grossly expensive’, when you consider, even by your quotation, it’s ‘an impressive model’. With most DCC ready loco’s now hitting the £200+ mark, I don’t think £280 overly expensive. As to them being rare, the first runs are but Charlie and others still have plenty in stock.

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned before but a new and improved version of the OO scale Class 73, as I believe first ones got quite lukewarm reviews. That would include the original 0, 1 and 2 series, as well as the 9’s in both GBRf and Caledonian liveries. I think the ‘Minions’ can be forgotten about there was only two and their use was limited

I wonder if I can justify a full Mk5 sleeper, either the highland or lowlander sets, with a Class 92 for my Cumbrian Coast layout, being dragged by a pair of Accurascale Class 37/4's (yeah right lol). I think @Accurascale Fran, @Accurascale, @McC and the rest of the Accurascale team would just about wet themselves from laughter at the thought

Finally got the last few points and laid out the track plan. Even though I wasn't going to make the layout bigger, I'm going to ask Tim Horn to make me some 1ft extensions for either side as one of the left hand side sidings is far too short. I could move the whole track plan to the right by 1.5cm's, but I wanted to keep the centre diamond crossing right in the middle, to keep it 'balanced' I'm about to order a Revolution Trains BNFL Class 18/CBD 18 and I've been told by @Revolution Ben that the length over the couplers is 183mm, so coupled to a FNA, my shortest siding can't handle it, hence the extensions. As I'm about to sell my Bachmann BYA's, Bachmann 08 and Hornby Class 60, I can use the money to buy more FNA-D's or PFA's

Wow, I wish I had seen that before I bought extra points etc, I'm now committed to my track plan of Sellafield as I'm about to sell off my BYA's, Class 08 and Class 60, to buy a Revolution Trains BNFL Class 18, as well as their FNA-D's, as well as more Accurascale FNA-D's, PFA's and Bachmann FNA's.

It would have been ideal had I continued modelling the line between Sleaford and Boston, but I've moved location to the Cumbrian Coast, more dramatic.

Had a quick trawl through Flickr and other sites, and found three others, 156447, 465 and 485, all in 'Barbie' livery. Is there any more?

I found out today that the Northern franchise (or what ever it was at the time), inherited several ex Scotrail Class 156's in around the 2018/2019 time period, which would fit in with my proposed Cumbrian Coast layout. I've seen a picture on Flickr of 156496, in 'Barbie' livery and stripped of Scotrail lettering, leaving Workington in April 2019. I assume that it wasn't the only 156 to go to Northern and wondered if anyone else knows of any others, when they were transferred (approximately) and what livery they carried at the time of transfer. I ask because I've been offered a Realtrack Class 156 in Saltaire livery, which I'm very tempted to get.

Hi Roy, I should have pointed out that, that particular model is exclusive to the SRPS and as you rightly said, I expect it's been included within a third batch's production run, which will hopefully be announced soon.