Downendian

Wow well I've learnt a lot more about late Laira repaints with silver footrests. I didn't know so many had received this. I can clearly remember D1026, looked absolutely stunning in the summer of '74. It is clear though that the footrests rapidly faded. I'm still none the wiser. If Andy's slide is printed 1974 then D1008 or D1034? Neil

A very brief update - trying to get back in the old routine of Saturday morning modelling. All my spare time at the moment seems to be taken up with writing - I'm currently writing four chapters of an academic book, and I've just successfully got a paper from the research group in the excellent journal Clinical Chemistry. For those that have bought the railroad TTS class 47 with the intention of fitting to Lima 47 bodies, I found this a very simple task requiring just a couple of cuts to the Lima body side glazing so that there is sufficient clearance for the railroad gear tower. A couple of brief pics - disassemble, glazing unit out, junior hacksaw cuts x2 and reassemble. Less than 30 minutes work. Don't forget you need to remove the buffers before removing both Lima and Hornby bodies from their chassis! Glazing unit cuts on the left Reassembled Lima body The railroad chassis is very lightweight and will certainly need more weight, I will try and do this over the coming long winter as I have several railroad/Lima jobs on the horizon.

Hmm must admit this one is challenging. I now think based on the position of the numberplate that D1036 is the only thing to suggest it's not (apart from the date of course) - on D1036 the plate should line up with the bottom of the body side grilles - it apparently doesn't in Andy's photo. However, look at the two white blemishes on the paintwork beneath the nameplate, one of course is a gauge the other is not - they are in the same position as the May 1975 shot of D1036, I'm still sticking my neck out with Emperor. If you look at Andy's Flickr link, the nameplate is a bit more visible - and it certainly isn't a short name so I think D1048 is not likely. Neil

Other Westerns to receive the silver footsteps (Laira) repaint around this period were D1026 and D1036. D1034 as far as I am aware never had the silver footsteps treatment, and remained in a fairly scruffy state until she was withdrawn in 1975. It can't be D1026 as the loco in Andy's photo has headboard clips. D1036 had a higher mounted numberplate than the rest of the class, but was repainted a year later in May 1975. https://www.flickr.com/photos/63616124@N06/5792929034/ D1036 in the above photo is May 1975 - are you sure it wasn't May '75 Andy? The numberplate in your photo is in line with the cab front warning flashes, but the angle of the shot makes it difficult to see if name and number plates match. My guess is that it's D1036. Edit - it looks like the "D" has been painted black too. Neil

Spot on Brian for the version modelled by Hornby. But when the Crosti gubbins was removed they reverted back to conventional ventilation of course. http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/File:Mangotsfield3.jpg My Golden arrow version is after the removal of the Crosti equipment. Neil

I knew I should have put one of those Smiley/winky emoticon thingies at the end of my post. It was said tongue in cheek. Neil

Lovely stuff Grunfos, I like how you've dealt with the headcodes on the models. They make a huge difference to the authenticity of them, it's an area the RTR people seem to consistently get wrong, Heljan and Dapol in particular. Although not especially a fan of the 50s 50 039 is quite a specific era with TOPS numbers and double arrows, as I'm sure you know. They were like this whilst at Crewe before departing for the WR. When On the WR a single arrow was applied mid ships, and of course by 1978 they were named so the double arrows returned. That's exactly how I want my 50s to look ca 1975/early 1976 to run alongside my battered Westerns. Neil

My credit card has been charged by Hattons too today - should be here tomorrow or Friday. That will make 3 Crosti's in my fleet 1. Golden arrow resin body on fettled Hornby railroad 9F chassis (awaiting painting) 2. Crownline (edit) converted Hornby Evening star on a fettled railroad chassis 3. The new release. I only have one other 9F and a Bachmann Evening star, for some reason as I always intrigued by the Crosti version, mainly by seeing photos of them on the Mangotsfield line and Westerleigh. I need a bit more balance in my 9F fleet. Neil

This one made we look twice http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=361372922647&globalID=EBAY-GB Bachmann class 58? They've never made one, but the underside of the chassis in the photos suggests differently. Hold on a minute aren't those coupling rods? Photo of a Bachmann 08 thrown in! Neil

Well I look forward to when DC kits are available again, as I've decided to press ahead with a 3H (class 205) project, in the absence of a centre car for the Kernow 2H. I will also buy a Swindon class 120 as I can't foresee this RTR. Unfortunately the replica power bogie is still unavailable so both projects will have to wait until next year. Neil

Thanks Mike - a veritable mine of information as always. Neil

Just checked it looks like 832 onslaught which of course 832 had class 43 scavenger grilles as you say Stovepipe. It does appear to have Swindon pattern marker lights too, so a class 42 and 832 the only one like this. Will need to dig for more in service photos of 832 - didn't twig that she had numbers at just one end. Neil

Will take a closer look Nidge - unusual as just one number - and date definitely wrong if it's 832. Neil

Hi Mike No it was sold as an original print and not postcard - I thought it was an original with copyright - perhaps I'll take it down just in case. Neil

Hi Nidge Thanks for the info - re the '"Wells Fargo" BP replacement set - just noticed one of your posts on this subject from five years ago http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13135-blue-pullman-replacements/?p=117282again this was D1031, I wonder if this was the up service, same day? I did think the same as you when I saw the slide of 832 near Aller junction, there's always the possibility the date is wrong - I've seen a shot of her on her last BR sortie somewhere edit : ah it was 821. Neil

Good morning, some recent acquisitions First, for some reason there's not much demand for preserved hydraulics in service. I got this one rather cheap. 832 Onslaught West of Newton Abbott in august 1969 Secondly a brace of 1960s Westerns at Cholsey, date unknown D1020 Western Hero Neil

Last time I sourced it was from Waitroae. neil

Thanks Jonny - I'll look further into it, but I still think the scanner itself is the problem as the software shouldn't be needed with excellent starting slides.It is needed when the slide is faded or underexposed -see below. Here's one of the problem slides, D1001 at some point in 1962, OK slightly out of focus but captures an early Western well. Colour balance not too good because slide was faded - I had a play with the Mac software and although it looks slightly surreal I was pleased with the background! Anyone know where this is? original slide, slightly manipulated surreal D1001

Brian Hanson took some very useful shots on the roof of D832 which is an "honorary class 43" as it has the NBL scavenger grilles. You can see the lifting ring is in line in Brian's first pic - I am of course assuming the Swindon and NBL rings were no different. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/39887-warship-scavenger-fans/?p=426566 Neil

Any tips on fitting the roof vents and lifting rings? I've had a look at D865 this weekend, and crickey yet more evidence that eyesight isn't what it was. The open vents don't go in sweetly as I'd like and certainly I'll be fitting with a dab of something sticky. I'm going to thread the rings onto a length of ultra fine monofilament fishing line so that the carpet monster doesn't eat them. Neil

Many thanks for all the information this evening gents. Very helpful indeed. Neil

This thread has been neglected of late - here's one for tomorrow - I've self plagiarised from an old version of RMweb (originally posted in 2009), but one of my fondest memories of my childhood, refreshed slightly by rescanning some photos two of a very small number I took in the 1970s: Sunday August 15th 1976 Marathon trip to BREL works at Crewe and Doncaster and surrounding depots- did we really do all this in one day? We skipped Derby works which was on the itenary due to lack of time - A magnificent trip organised by the Inter-city railway society, costing little over a fiver (?5.50)! Westhouses depot 08 181, 20 004/042/062/068/077/082/097/142/155/157/165/187/188/190/197/198, 47 352 with 47 477 passing. Doncaster depot 08 100/102/131/136/184/373/506/607/608/876, 20 130, 24 010/017/097/099/125/126/127, 31 001/010/011/156/196/281/300/303/327, 37 032/162/212, 46 047, 47 216/220/223/302/375, 55 015. Doncaster works 03 058/091, 2173, 08 057/087/401/444/559/745, 13 001, D5901, 24 003/015/016/071/086/096/117, 25 015, 31 016/105/110/143/153/191/218/268/271/276/284, 37 004/018/044/075/090/163/164/218/244/300/305, 47 006/425, 55 002/010/013/019/021, 56 031-033. Mexborough 37 134/135/203, 45 044. Wath 08 047-049/050/864, 31 148/246/275/299/307, 37 125/129, 47 285, 76 004/006/009/011/015/021/022 /023/027/029/030/038/041/053. Barrow Hill 03 129/389, 08 141/267/331/509/861/868/870/871, 20 003/021/022/054/057/058/119/204/210 47 276/294, Crewe works 08 068/112/460/469, 40 006/008/039/040/043/046/053/065/066/068/074/080/086/102/103/105/106/107/143/150/155/166/196, 47 004/007/044/060/068/072/077/079/086/093/111/118/134/137/141/148/156/168/176/181/194/197/198/205/215/249/252/272/287/288/295/309/323/333/355/377/404, 407/408/413/414/418, 424/427/428/429/434/448/451/456/467/462/479/480/507/511/519/521/523/534/539/541/555 (63 class 47s!!), 50 001/006/018/026/041, 76 034/035/037, 81 003/006/016, 82 003/004, 83 013/015. 84 007, 85 001/005/022/023, 86 035/208/218/223/228/233, 87 017/030 W43025/027/028/029. Cockshute depot 08 416/635/802/913, 24 047, 25 264, 47 242/339, with 81 001 passing. Bescot depot 08 083/294/327/356/590/613/614/674/809/814/955, 20 060/075/091/150, 24 137, 25 153/252/253/259/262/300/306, 40 174/178, 46 010, 47 002/094/138/144/185/280/335/354/487/545 A very memorable trip organised by the Devon branch of the ICRS. We left at around 0300 and I well remember the parched yellow motorway embankments (1976-remember the drought?), and the very early morning mists which I'd never seen before (never needing to get up this early!). Westhouses was the first stop at around 0600 and what a fascinating place it was- I seem to remember a large proportion of the class 20s there were still in green livery. I can also distinctly remember to me an alien sulphurous smell in the atmosphere around the South Yorkshire coalfield area, which of course has now long since gone- those smells were new to me too. At Doncaster lines of 24s awaiting cutting were present as well as the first 31/0s to go, and also the last baby deltic D5901. As means of compensation, three new 56s (the first built at Doncaster) were there in frames, and 55 013, Black Watch - my last Deltic. After rapidly touring some Sheffield sheds we made our way to Crewe, and that vast expanse of a works was host to now less than 63 class 47s, plus some early class 40 withdrawls. Also the HST build programme was in full swing, and class 50 overhauls had yet to switch to Doncaster. I have some groggy photos of the day which I will try and scan and upload in due course. I'd had one too many fizzy drinks and based on the rough ride endemic with 1970s coaches I managed to throw up in the bushes at Cockshute after suffering badly from travel sickness between Crewe and Stoke. Here are the photos of the day- the 40 was chronically underexposed, I've tried with some image manipulation software. 40 105 at Crewe works, gleaming and just about ready to leave. D5901 in the company of two withdrawn 03s 03 091 and 2173 await their turn for cutting Neil

Lovely pics of D826 -there's a very nice 4mm representation of her in that state on the Kier Hardy EM site - look under class 42 plus there's a pic (last one) in the August 2015 update section. I've just unwrapped my two 842 and D865. I'd just brought the parcel back from Plymouth yesterday and I'd forgotten to take it out of the car boot. Wife, daughter 1 and grandson went off for the day in it whilst I pummelled the keyboard on my book. Found the unwrapped parcel on the bed this evening , complete with invoice strategically parked! May need an inter flora order this weekend, good job I downsized my order from 2xblue and one of each green and Maroon then, when Hattons abandoned their preorder promise. Smashing models, just love them. The new bodyshell tooling is very well done, the scavenger grille is exquisite and I particularly like the engine room cameos and door steps. The nameplate on 842 does look oversized, and the numbers on D865 too small, but no real problems as they will be reumbered in any case. The NBL works plates also are slightly masked by the body, but im being a fussy Git here really. I've yet to get to look at the innards but from the assembly diagrams the chassis looks very similar to the retooled 42. Will have a closer study this weekend as I have a spare 21 pin chip and will fit. Yet to fit the roof lifting eyes and vents, hope to get some depot photos over the next few days. Get em while you can they'll sell like hot cakes - can I stretch to a green one? Neil

So is D6343 at the same location Nidge? I think the shots were taken the same day- no location details provided I had thought it was OOC but know you know the place like the back of your hand! Neil

Some more for the weekend. The first D1056 in September 1975 backing onto her train at Plymouth North Road- one where the new scanner behaved itself! Next D1003 at Newton Abbott on 22nd August 1969 with a motorail service. The early withdrawals from the class 22 fleet, being scrapped in 1969 are rarely photographed. I was pleased to win these photos recently. 6351 at (edit) Swindon stock shed in (edit) 1962/3 with clear evidence of a recent prang, in the company of Hymek D7010. 6343 at Old Oak again in 1969. Neil