NHY 581

Probably have it but with no other reason to go there it will be a faff having to drive into the zoo, sorry, city centre, park etc,etc........ I think on this occasion it's going to be left until after Crimbo. Rob.

Seasons greetings, John. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and to a Happy New Year. Rob

Hi Alan, Merry Christmas to you. Lovely to finally meet up at Uckfield. Hopefully, we'll see each other next year. Best of wishes, Rob

Looks excellent. Much of interest within. I just need to work out how to get my hooves on it before Crimbo. Rob

From a great height............. Rob

Given the announcement of the blue ncb job, I find myself pondering just how low an arch these little chaps will poke through and how much a feature you could make that....... Rob

I prefer green..........but blue is nice..... I prefer green..........but blue is nice..... I prefer green..........but blue is nice..... I prefer green..........but blue is nice..... I prefer green..........but blue is nice..... I prefer green..........but blue is nice..... Oh dear.......

Merry Christmas, Graham. Best wishes for the festive season. Rob

Merry Christmas both. Hope Santa is generous but above all enjoy yourselves. Rob

Evening all, Well, we're nearly there. Only a few days to go and I have a bit of time off to catch up. The last week or so has seen me helping out in the shop just about every day due to staff shortage and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.....even though we haven't really stopped. It's been very busy and reassuringly for this lovely hobby of ours, many customers have been little modellers in with their Mums and Dads......or Mums, Dads and other relatives sneaking in to buy items or vouchers for their little people. Many of these have also been new customers as well, all of which really bodes well for the future. Most importantly, I'll take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you all for making this thread the social animal that it is and I'm only sorry for my own inactivity as of late, something I hope to improve upon in the New Year. Thank you for the encouragement, banter, kind words and best wishes throughout the year and in particular those given so readily regarding my wonky hooves. Many of you fine types have trundled along to the various exhibitions and it's been good to meet up and chat with so many of you. All the shows have been fabulous and I have been very lucky with my invites but my personal highlights have been Railwells ( thank you Spams) , Stafford ( thank you Jay ) ,and Uckfield ( thank you John, Gwyn and Pete ) I hope to repeat the catch ups at next year's shows of which, there are a few..........and rest assured I'll be boring you all with the details. So, may I conclude by wishing you all a Happy Christmas. May it bring you all that you hope for and the peace and goodwill you all so rightly deserve. Merry Christmas !! Rob

And the very best of wishes to you, Rob. It was lovely to catch up at Stafford in September. All being well, I'll be back there next year but most probably as a visitor. Until then, have a joyous, healthy and very Happy Christmas. Rob.

Stunning.

Had a play with a sound fitted specimen today, Great fun and quite loud but I was intrigued to find that the sound file contains a couple of whistles as well as, for me at least, the more expected bell. I just didn't expect a whistle as well as a bell. Rob.

I must say thanks to Rapido and Chris M in particular. My 'alternative' cowcatchers ( Sheepcatchers in my case ) arrived today. Another example of Rapido's commitment to and their engagement with their customers. Thank you. Rob

Thanks all. I got my C53s and G15s mixed up. Note to self, don't research when away from your books and in a busy shop. Rob.

Sadly, I'm unable to credit the photographer but on the basis that the caption is correct in terms of the loco itself ( and it looks right ) then 129 was introduced in early 1921 and renumbered by the LNER in 1924...so in all probabilty this is pre 1924......... Rob.

The comments regarding appropriate rolling stock are pertinent. It's one thing providing a rather nice loco but commercially, it makes sense to build on that release by making appropriate wagons, coaches etc. Less of an issue with BR locos but for the pre-grouping liveries, without delving into kit building, suitable rtr pregrouping wagons, in this case Great Eastern, would be useful. One open, a brake van, Oxfords van and you have a good start. Rob

Tidy.

Glad it's helped, John. Amongst the contributors to this rambling thread, there is a great deal of knowledge which everyone is only to happy to share. Crucially, due to our 'familiarity' with each other, I like to think there's more of a chatty, social nature on here. So, if anyone has a question, ask away. Rob.

Morning all, Well, a resounding thumbs up all round for the Powercab. Another plus was/is the ease of installation. I had mine installed and running in probably an hour. Forty minutes of that was measuring, cutting and cleaning up the hole to drop the small terminal panel into. There are no big power packs to accomodate. It is literally plug and play. I don't need or want any computer based capabilities. I just want something to make the trains move and if the mood takes me, make them noisey. DCC is as complicated as you make it but I am a firm believer in keeping it simple. Trust me, having made the quantum leap from DC to DCC, that will not change. Rob.

Exactly right, Steve. In fact, I went one better. Chris Hopper @Gilbert invited me along to the Thornbury show to help operate his DCC controlled layout, Penmaenbach. Spent a day getting to know the NCE Powercab and afterwards promptly ordered one though Chris had very kindly sent me home with a spare one to get to know both it and DCC in general a bit better. It certainly worked as EWE was DCC'd as a result and the new layout will be DCC controlled from the start. Rob.

Roger. I'm new to DCC so perhaps not best placed but here are my thoughts to date. I use a NCE Powercab. I have experience of the Bachmann Dynamis system and various Gaugemaster DCC systems. The Powercab is by far the one which I prefer. The ergonomics suit me, moreso at present due to my gimpy hooves. There are three says to control speed. Two sets of push buttons. The first increases/decreases speed in mutiples of either 5 or 10 depending on if you are on 28 or 128 speed steps. The second set increases/decreases in 1s. The third option is a roller. Very smooth. The background noises I can't comment on. Decoders. The best I have found is Zimo or Bachman /ESU. I've tried DCC concepts, Dapol, LAIS ( Carp !) and a few others but Zimo of Bachmann/Zimo, Bachmann/ESU are those I stick with. The above combination gives me the smooth, slow speed running I want. I hope this gets the ball rolling. Rob.

Of course it's okay, John but sorry, control what exactly........if you mean this thread, I have no control. Gave up years ago ! Rob.

Jamie, you are Chief Photographer in Chief to SWAG for as long as you want to be. Your photographs are a lovely and provide an eagerly awaited record of the event. R

Afternoon all, Just sharing this here....... ☆ SWAG Members Day- SUNDAY 28th APRIL 2024☆ Rob