SRman

Was that the one in Canada? As you say, someone must have been desperate. My MSC version has now had a TCS M1 decoder fitted to match the other two. I'm getting quite adept at doing the conversion now, adapting the 4-pin "blanking plug" to take the decoder connections. The whole process only took me around 20 minutes this time.

I can't help wondering if some of those class 101 units in the photos are not, in fact, class 111 units, which also had the higher powered Rolls Royce engines, like the 110s. Visually, the 111s are almost identical to the 101s, although some, but not all, 111s had a four-character headcode box above the windscreens when built. The giveaway for identifying those in later life was when the headcodes were plated over, the destination screens were lower than the standard ones, 'embedded' in the centre windscreen with the tops a little above the level with the other screens. From Wikipedia's entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_111#/media/File:British_Rail_Class_111_at_Skipton.jpg

That just reminded me: Corgi OOC did a model of their MCW Metrobus Mk2 in that livery as well. I can't tell you what route it was modelled on, at the moment as mine is buried in a box somewhere, currently.

Oddly enough, M & D's headquarters for many years was in Maidstone's Knightrider Street.

I have that very book in front of me now! I was researching the tenders allocated just yesterday, with a view to naming my kit-built MN (Golden Arrow Productions body on Hornby MN chassis with WC/BoB cylinders). There is also a bit of useful information on tenders in The Book of the West Country and Battle of Britain Pacifics: a British Railways Illustrated Special (Richard Derry, 2002, Irwell Press Ltd), with reference to which light pacific tenders were temporarily behind which Merchant Navy in the early years.

Just look at Dapol's OO class 73 for proof of that last statement!

The only thing I have picked up on is the thickness of the mouldings at the front edges of the casings on the 21C1 and 21C3 models. Hornby have painted the edges green, which, to me, exaggerates it just that little bit more. When 21C3 arrives here, I have in it mind to paint the front edges black, once I have run the model in and ensured it works properly (I don't want to invalidate the warranty). Pictures will follow in due course to show whether my idea worked or not. When faced with a model that attracts superlatives in the descriptions and reviews, it is only small or niggly details that can be criticised (and there are bound to be the odd ones with a class of locomotives with so many detail variations); in the overall scheme of things, Hornby have done extremely well with these Merchant Navy models.

My third Peckett (the MSC one) has just arrived this morning through Mighty Ape (once again, price matched). On opening the box, it was completely devoid of a whistle, even though it appears never to have been opened before. After testing and running on analogue DC on the rolling road (perfect!), I drilled out the remains of the original whistle and glued a Markits turned brass LSWR whistle in its place. All that remains is to do the DCC conversion as per my other two, using a TCS M1 decoder again. I'll post pictures and/or videos of all three running later on. After a heavy fall onto my hip and shoulder last week, I am still only able to stand for short periods, but it is improving.

I have just taken a little video footage of the three industrial locomotives from Hornby at work through Newton Broadway, during a quiet moment at home. I really must improve the lighting before I try another such film, but this doesn't look too bad. The Sentinel diesel hauling some milk tanks rocks and rolls a bit but I think the effect is actually quite good, if unintended. Following it is the Huntley & Palmers Peckett with a few open wagons, while on the other side a de-named Dodo passes with a few vans.

The roofing lead is a good idea. I have in the past weighted a Hornby air-smoothed West Country, Wilton, with an extra 75 grams or so lining the inside of the casing. I did manage 100 grams but then fitted sound, which meant the extra bit right at the front interfered with the speaker. While I have not, as yet, received any of the new MNs from Hornby (21C3 ordered from AJM just yesterday), I would guess there should be room to add some of the lead around the interior of the body, even if only a little to add weight over the front wheels.

Thanks for the kid thoughts, Doug. Yes, it was a running joke, that you and the kids had seen Toby but it took nearly two years before Lyn actually saw him. She just thought Agnes was delusional (I always said I was just humouring her!).

Thanks for that - it illustrates the other points perfectly too.

If they do produce a 24/1 with headcode box, they could also offer the 25/0, which had most of the class 24 body features, including the shallow windscreens, flush cab doors, fishbelly lower cab front, class 24 style fuel tanks and battery boxes, and even the valances to the sides of the buffer beams (I'm not 100% sure, but it is possible they had the full valance panels when built).

I don't yet have a model of these latest MNs. However, with past Bulleids from Hornby, I fit the cylinder drain cock pipes but cut them short of the front steps so they have room to flex outwards if pushed by the bogie wheels. With some other locos, like the King Arthurs, S15s, or Standard class 5s, I have mounted front steps, which can cause problems with bogie clearance on tighter curves. But, by mounting the steps angled slightly outwards, I have achieved just the fraction more clearance that they need for my tightest curves. B All such mods are part of the art of compromise. It's nice to have the extra details, but it is even better to have a model that will run on your own layout! If you can't have the whole detail, then parts of it are the compromise necessary for good running and reasonable appearance (think in terms of Heljan fitting all of the buffer beam pipe work on all of their more recent diesel releases; I tend to lop most of the central pipes off flush with the bottoms of the buffer beams to allow the couplings to fit and swing. It still looks better than a bare buffer beam.)

Toby - a Sad Farewell My constant supervisor and occasional helper, Toby, had to be put to sleep last night (Good Friday). He always had to poke his nose into what I was doing on the layout or when modelling. He suffered several episodes in recent times, each getting worse. He was not in pain at all other times and was still a happy boy, but when he had another severe episode last night, we took him to the vets' and had to take the hard decision. He started off as a semi-feral kitten, and after a difficult period settled down to be a very faithful and loving companion. He was only a little over 8 years old at the end, but he did have a good life. We buried him this morning under one of his favourite resting spots in the back garden. He will be missed.

Hornby do seem to have allowed for a few differences and combinations of them. From what I can see, there are straight or curved pipes under the tanks, different numbers and/or positions of toolboxes, three different domes produced so far (Lilleshall's illustrations show a shorter version of the type on the MSC one), plus the different safety valves, and curved or straight front handrail. There's also the lubricator tap thingy on the chimneys of two of the first releases but not on the MSC one. I think it would be nice if they could do the more open-backed cab variant, but only Hornby knows whether they have tooled up for that or even other variations for later production.

I decided to decorate a Bulleid locomotive to join the Golden Arrow Pullmans I bought from Rails of Sheffield. A bit of digging revealed that BoB 34083, 605 Squadron had at some time in its earlier career had the mountings for the large arrows along the sides. The photo I have shows it in malachite green with yellow stripes, but in BR days, whereas mine is in BR green but with early crest and tender in original high-sided condition. It may well be that 34083 lost the mounts later on, but that was close enough for me. The decorations came from Precision Labels, but I chose to mount the front headboard on a piece of 20 thou plastic card, and also mounted the flags on a bit of brass wire soldered to a strip of scrap brass wrapped around a screwdriver to create a pocket to slip over the lamp iron on the loco. At the time of this photo (actually a merge of two photos to get better depth), I had not painted the brass wire or pocket, and the vee angle of the two wire flag poles was too acute an angle. This will all be fixed soon.

I was going to try to match the Huntley & Palmers blue but it is easier to use standard paint colours available in any model shop, so both the pannier and the Sentinel have received a sort of French Blue - the gloss one I used on the pannier was a little too bright but toned down with black weathering powders. The diesel will get some weathering but nowhere near the amount the steam engines got, or will get. Of course, with the second and third Pecketts being in greens (the third one in MSC dark green is due to be delivered today), that throws my standardised scheme out a bit, but then again, the appeal of these industrials is that they are rather more colourful than the cororate BR trains of various eras.

Thanks for the suggestion, John. When I fix the signals permanently in place, I'll look at experimentally running a couple of fibre-optics up through the baseboards to shine on them using LEDs under the boards. Back to my industrial loco kick, the Hornby Sentinel diesel has had a rough repaint in a darker blue, with a second coat still to go on, and red buffer beams and coupling rods and cranks replacing pale blue and yellow stripes. Once I am happy with the blue, some black and white (LNER) lining will be added to blend in with the steam locos. I removed the printed logos and intend putting etched plates with a number 10 from Narrow Planet, again to blend in with the steamers. The bright yellow buffer faces were also painted black. I am in two minds about the step recess areas; should they remain blue or should I paint them black? The loco initially ran perfectly well when I got it, on DC and on DCC but it very soon developed dead spots in its motor. Very annoying, particularly as I have pretty well invalidated the warranty by rewiring it to fit the TCS M1 decoder. Anyway, I ordered a replacement motor from Peter's Spares, together with a heap of detailing parts for other projects. That arrived today, so I quickly tested the new motor then soldered the wires to it and fitted it all back together. The new motor runs very sweetly, so lets hope it keeps doing that.

You've just deleted your kids??????

A somewhat anonymous but very clean Peckett W4 awaits its next turn of duty.

It is possible that Hornby could slip in some extra releases during the year; they have certainly trickled out surprise announcements and "leaks" during the last few years. We'll just have to wait and see.

The end of one era, and the start of a new one. Sorry I couldn't get there for that one last time. Wishing you and Sharon every success in the new location. Good luck, and Bon Voyage,

As Stephen said, they seem to be a "multi-buy" locomotive. I know I fell in love with them and now have the third one on its way to me even now. Narrow Planet have done reasonably well out of me too, as I ordered suitable name, number and works plates for my three and DougN's one as well, plus some extras for my "industrial" 57XX pannier tank and Hornby Sentinel diesel. Yes, I have caught the bug to create a fictional industrial scene!

I would add that the back to back distance would have to be increased a bit to go through current Peco code 100 points - they seem to have tightened up the clearances at some time in the ensuing decades. Most Triang driving wheels can be eased out on their axles with a little gentle levering, at least on the side with the insulating bush,sufficiently to get through the points without dragging.