Downendian

Hi Ian, most DCC controllers will run a DC loco with blanking plug. My Lenz system does this when set to address zero. Neil

Haha I edited it Budgie before you posted, I seem to put D in front of everything force of habit. Of course if SLW produce more 24s then I will spend to support their venture, as I intend to do with DJM. Neil

Having decided not to go for the crowd funding option, preferring to see the "model in the flesh" so to speak, especially with the Hornby model already out (Andy Ys side by side comparison with the Hornby model was very helpful), I'm torn between ordering the GFYE E5010 or putting my money down for my much preferred option, the class 74. I only saw 4 class 71s in store at Hither Green in November 1978, but 74s I have much more sightings in my spotting notes. Perplexed - help needed Neil

Hi Mike, I've just bought a pack of 12 blues from eBay. If they aren't available in Spain I'm happy to ship them to you, they are only £9. I have noticed the tip wears after use on a number of locos and is less effective. Using a new one on the other flank of the 33/1 made a difference. So I think a small investment of less than a quid for renumbering 4 locos is worth it. I haven't yet used black on blue, but would suspect it may "stain" the blue livery as inevitably there will be microscopic scratches in the original livery. Neil

Heljan 33/1 on the operating table last night. I slightly refined the technique by prior wiping the numerals with acrylic thinners, and the decal came off quite easily. There is still a gloss finish where the old decal was, but as I seal new transfers with Satin varnish not really a problem and was the same issue as the old cocktail stick method. Much more controllable than a cocktail stick and seems much less pressure is needed to shift the decal, and with a bit more refinement I'm sure will mean I will consign the T-cut method into my "historical methods" file. Neil

Hi Steve Heljan decals have always been the most difficult to shift, hence the alternate approach. serendipity in action. I have some 33s to do will try it soon on them. Neil

Hi all, I've discovered completely by accident a method to effectively remove printed decals for renumbering purposes, which I posted in my workbench thread. I've just bought a number of Sharpie permanent markers in various rail colours to act as "touch up liners". The silver ones are excellent for use on window surrounds. I wanted to mask a Heljan hymek numeral to apply Shawplan steel numbers over the top, and was most surprised to see it vanish by applying a near perfect matched green Sharpie. I've played with a number of blue shades, and found it works on Bachmann models as well, but needs a bit more elbow grease. The Sharpie ink can easily be removed with acrylic thinners and does not attack the original paint, and the blue shade does not need to be a perfect match as it's removed by the thinners in any case. I assume the fibre tip provides the necessary abrasiveness and the solvent in the ink helps matters along. It's very good with Heljan decals, and at least as good as the traditional cocktail stick/T-cut method I've been using for years on the Bachmann 44. Neil

I think the Mangotsfield to Yate MR route was shut in I think 1970 Mike, so yes very likely. Neil

Nice finds David, thanks for taking the trouble to post the links. Plenty of material for my renumbering of an early WR Brush 2. Neil

Indeed made the local news, apparently around 50 people trespassing on the track near Cam and Dursley. Neil

Only just got in. Apparently stopped at Dursley because some clowns were on the track! Hot cup of tea brewing, at least I saw the old girl. Neil

40-15 then

Well a brief update, D7029 (Heavily modified Hornby body on Heljan chassis) is coming along fine. Just one corner to add metal numerals, worksplates, glazing, headcodes and decals. I'm still pondering to deal with the scavenger grille- will bite the bullet this weekend, but depending on Grandson 2's imminent arrival (daughter in labour!). I think I've stumbled on a way to quickly remove Heljan numbers, which tend to be more stubborn than most to shift. I'd just bought a number of "sharpie" permanent markers in various colours, and the green was a pretty good match for Heljan BR green. I was wanting to renumber D7097 to D7094, so I tried masking the last 7 with the marker, with the intention of fixing metal numerals over the top. To my surprise the numeral magically vanished in front of my eyes. I removed all of the marker pen ink with acrylic thinners and indeed it had vanished! Minimum pressure needed, and not a sign of the gloss sheen normally associated with the normal cocktail stick/T-cut method. So I set on a few Bachmann body shells in green, first a Warship then a 44 in blue. The results on the Bachmann models were less pleasing, but still equal to the cocktail stick approach but much more controllable as you are holding a pen. So will try this on more Heljan Hymeks as a fair few still to do. I can only assume the Sharpie solvent attacks the Heljan numerals very well, but not so well Bachmann decals. Edit : just off out with Grandson 1 who's staying with us to see 60103 to the west of Westerleigh junction Neil

Well thanks Rob, I hadn't realised they had been in the range that long!

Resurrecting this thread, but I hope not off thread too much. I've just bought a Bachmann brand new 2017 release diagram 71 FO from eBay. Edit : Hornby are releasing the diag 73 thanks for pointing out the error Phil! I had no idea Bachmann were doing these as well, or have I just been hiding under a stone for too long? Neil

Terrific photos Chaz, the pair of Brimstones In flight is one in a million. You must have used a very fast shutter speed. I'm getting a new camera next month, and butterfly photography will be one of this summers actvities. Neil

Very nice Ray, thanks for posting. photos of D1060 in blue comparatively rare. Neil

Not especially a bargain, but I picked up a Dapol class 22 chassis, and a complete set of spares for £75. The windows were donated to my D6327 project (has anyone got the windows out without breaking one?). The windows were fixed with Klear to avoid sny future shennagins. DCC supplies had kindly supplied me with complete bodyshell as I had a full set of windows on long term backorder, so the chassis went under that. Job done and another pair of 22s added to the fleet. Neil

DJM are doing the D6XX, as commissioned by Kernow, Dapol were replaced by them a while ago now.Neil

40 066 and D6 almost complete, save weathering the class 44 bogies and buffer beam pipework. 40 066 started life as an old Lima model and had the following modifications, Shawplan scavenger fan, windscreens, horn grilles and laser glaze. Added handrails, filed away headcode boxes and fitted headcodes "Z" one end, following ScR practice and denoting an Edinburgh bound train from Carstairs in November 1975 (I was on it, my first class 40 haulage) and 7S60 a fictional inter regional freight from Severn Tunnel junction. The top of the nose was filed to shape to remove the "tombstone' appearance of the Lima model. The Lima body fits directly onto a Bachmann chassis, and the whole body was resprayed. I will look at the cab bulkheads and dashboards, as they don't fit well to the Lima body - razor saw and epoxy here methinks. Ive got another six or seven Lima bodies to do, next will be 40 116 with sealed gangway doors and the only one to be scrapped in green, 40 039. 40 066 is the first class 40 i had fitted shawplan bits, and I'd learnt a lot- don't carve away too much of the Lima screen, and also have learnt the hard way how to put the scavenger grilles together effectively. Of course Bachmann have never produced the "square box" ScR variant as applied to D260-266 in 1965. Several other 40s had square headcode boxes later in life at one end, presumably Glasgow works had swapped them with the original batch, D6 was a bit more straightforward, a partial respray from a Bachmann D1 to make her economy green, and a few Shawplan bits, and plates were Fox. I will probably weather a tad more and seal in satin varnish. D6327 is awaiting a delivery of her crew, and will post photos when complete. Neil

Hi Neil Yes white coolant streaks is precisely the weathering needing to be done. Decals added to D6 yesterday, nameplates fitted, just to add the headcode discs and a bit of attention to the chassis then all done. Neil

Not an especially high quality photo (taken on an iPad in low light) of D6327 now nearing completion (a bit more weathering, pipework and crew to fit). D6 and 40066 on the last stages too with headcode discs, wipers and roof fan to fit. I'll get the SLR out later. Neil

Well I've just placed my votes after this evenings email from SLW. It looks like the Highland 24/1s are on their way and unusual livery variants - I had no idea that there were blue small yellow class 24s (two of them existed). The choices are 1. BSYP 2. Two tone green small yellow panel 3.BFYE Glasgow style front end 4. Research department red/blue 5 Crewe built green small yellow 6. Green full yellow panel 7. Highland 24/1 green small yellow headcode box 8. Highland pre tops 24/1 headcode box blue full yellow Looks like SLW are going to get a large chunk of my railway budget in the forthcoming years. Great work. Neil

And a class 206 3 car Tadpole unit went for £120 on eBay a few days ago. I understand re tooling for new kits, but if Charlie still has stock, there's clearly a market for them. Neil

I wonder what the service was Phil? I suspect Severn Tunnel junction was involved, there is hearsay they worked there, never saw one myself,but prototype info always useful for layout rakes. D6, 40066 and D6327 all had attention yesterday. I'd managed to source some class 22 spares, including glazing and fitted with Klear, what wonderful stuff that is, fitted laserglase in 40066 with it too. Hope to post photos of progress soon, but at a conference now until Thursday in sunny Lisbon. Fitting the 22 head codes was interesting - modelmaster - cue plenty of Anglo-Saxon vocabulary, good job I had the house to myself. The modelmaster decals have to be cut very close to the numerals or they won't fit and ping out into the carpet. They are a big improvement to the front end, and just throw away those that came with the model as they are well undersize. Neil