SRman

The problem with a cut-and-shut using, say, a 2 EPB DTS, is that you lose the through connections for the lighting. I'm in the process of using a Replica Railways non-gangwayed coach body and seating unit on a Bachmann 4 CEP TS chassis: the through lighting works using this method (I tried it with the CEP coach before dismantling it for the conversion). Once i have finished it and it works, I'll post how I did it and some photos in my workbench blog.

Yes, 1500 as the tractor unit had occurred to me, Matthew, although I would still need to revise the window layout. Thanks for the suggestion. I have been looking at Electra Railway Graphics overlays for the refurbished CEPs, and thought maybe I could get a set of NSE vinyls and do a 3 CEP (or was that COP?) as run by Connex before repainting. Another alternative would be to use the DMBS chassis under a 4 EPB conversion, and use the remaining centre coach with Electra Connex vinyl sides in the middle of the Connex Thumper to make it one of the hybrid three car sets. My mind is whirling with all the possibilities!

Every so often, when I show photos of my layout progress, someone will observe and comment on the cream coloured, raw resin 2-car unit sitting on some track in the background on the upper level. This is a Bulleid-style, BR-built 2 HAP unit, utilising resin body shells and seat units from Ayjay Models (bought through Radley Models), sitting on Hornby 2 BIL chassis bought cheaply when Kernow Model Rail Centre had the Southern Railway liveried examples on sale. I have finally started cleaning up the body shells and seat units with files, and primed and painted them. I have also cut off the moulded on jumper cables on the cab fronts, although these are not too badly done by Ayjay. I still prefer to use finer wire for the cables. This unit is going into BR blue with full yellow ends. I would prefer the full blue and grey, which suited these trains quite well, but for the time period I wish to represent, blue fits better, drab as it is. The yellow is not yet the final shade as I have used Humbrol #69 for the base coats. I'll use proper BR warning panel yellow for the final coat. I have painted a wood colour for the interior walls and partitions (not sure if they were wood or plastic finishes on this batch of HAPs), and a light green for the cab interiors, but haven't done the seat colours yet. I thought perhaps a mid-grey for the second class seating (BR's 'Trojan" pattern) but am debating what colour for the first class upholstery: blue, black or orange, maybe? I am still to add the handrails for the cab fronts and guard's doors, as well as the jumper cables. I may replace the moulded on horns with brass or white metal versions I have in stock. The kit comes with both horns and a whistle moulded on, so the modeller just has to cut off the bits he (or she) does not want. Anyway, enough waffle; here are the photos as it goes until now. Please note that I have perched the freshly painted bodies on the wrong chassis for the last two photos in this sequence! The seat units had to be modified a little to fit the Hornby chassis. This mostly involved a milling wheel on the Dremel tool to grind away the clearances, but also included a couple of holes drilled to clear the projecting components of the Lenz decoder sitting under the seats of the DMBS. And finally, one photo with the body shells on the correct chassis! Once the Bachmann BR Standard-style 2 HAPs become available, I look forward to mixing the types together in multiple. The Hornby mechanism makes this a lot easier than if I had used the original resin chassis and Black Beetle or Tenshodo SPUD motors.

Apart from the white pipes on the bogies, I haven't been brave enough to tackle weathering mine, yet. Yours looks good, Paul. You're much braver than me!

I agree that MLV looks to be in green: I think I can see a BR coach stock crest in the middle of the lower side. It's a little difficult to make out the colours of the window frames at that angle and distance, unfortunately. Just have a look at the very clean roofs on the middle unit. Still a great shot, though.

I use Kadee #19s on mine, except #20 on the trailing DTC of the HALs because of Hornby's gaffe on the coupling pocket being too far back. Mine run on third radius curves, but if the clearances aren't sufficient, go to #20 for all. I bend the dropper arms up a little, but if they foul your uncouplers, and you want semi-permanent coupling, cut the droppers off completely (something I have done within kit-built units as there is no need to automatically uncouple coaches from within a 4 SUB or 4 EPB, or, indeed, the the pairs of intermodal container wagons where I have used Kadee #17 couplers). A YouTube video I posted around a year ago with four units "in multiple" using the Kadees between units. Sorry about the reduced size of the window (an error I made when reducing the video for YouTube).

Let's put it this way: even at reduced prices, I'm not buying any more until Dapol *properly* address some of the issues with the first lot. I was in the market to replace all of my Lima/Hornby E-Ds -I have eight operational ones - that's still approaching £1000 of business Dapol have lost from me alone. While that may be a drop in the bucket to them, if a good few of their other potential customers feel the same way, it all adds up to a rather bigger issue for them.

As the Southern had most of their coaching stock in fixed sets, it would not have been practical to restrict passengers to just one set within a longer train: think Atlantic Coast Express (ACE), which probably had more brake coaches than non-brake ones. The restaurant set was marshalled somewhere in the middle, so passengers would have had to have been allowed through all those brake coaches.

Good evening from Oz!

I would agree with you, Andy. The first one (7109) appears to have the unpainted surrounds a la the Bachmann/Modelzone model, while 7132 appears to have only the sliding vents unpainted. Thanks for posting those pics, Robert.

If it's any help, the Modelzone one has silver frames like the green ones (whether or not that is accurate, I don't know!).

Yes, that more general idea may have uses on my layout when I get the upper level going. I may also adapt Ian's and Jaggzuk's ideas for the 2-aspect signalling on the lower LT level. Very useful diagrams, guys. Thanks.

I think it's lost a few c.c.'s in the typing there, mike! [in double-pedant mode!]

Oh no! The layout is eating him!

Enjoy the show. Wish I could be there.

Hornby had faulty PCBs in the first class 50s. They sent out replacement PCBs to anyone who asked. Bachmann got the numbers on the wrong coaches in the first release 2 EPBs. they sent out complete replacement bodies. Heljan had assembly problems with the drive trains in the first issue class 17s. They replace the complete chassis. What did Dapol do to appease dissatisfied class 73 purchasers?

They have been, and most probably gone again until the next batch is released. There may be some stock left in model shops with a less prominent Internet presence. Edit: Hattons still have "more than 10" in stock of the BR blue version http://www.ehattons.com/52642/Bachmann_Branchline_39_528_Ex_Southern_CCT_Covered_Carriage_Truck_BR_Blue/StockDetail.aspx. Other versions have sold out and newer ones are available for pre-order but no prices listed yet.

For DougN: I know you have seen Newton Broadway quite regularly, but here is a photo to put the train lengths against layout/track length in a better context, taken from further back so most of the layout can be seen, including "around the bend". An 8 VEP set is also posed on the viaducts, as well as the MLV + 8 CEP.

I still want that as the maximum, but I am aiming to have the ability to run such trains occasionally. The MLVs look a little silly on a single 4 CEP unit! Once I get the Ayjay Bulleid 2 HAP going, that can attach to a four-car CEP or VEP to make a six car train (the Bachmann BR HAPs are probably still some way off). That also allows for a reasonable length Bournemouth Belle plus loco. The fiddle yard loops won't all have to accommodate the full nine cars, but I will be making at least two of them long enough. Looking at where the points will fall on the baseboards, that also fits for easier access and maintenance as they will be clear of the Underground tracks and boards running underneath. But yes, on average I'll be running trains of between two and six coaches long (with or without locomotives), and maybe six to 21 four-wheel wagons. Some loops may be asked to accommodate more than one shorter train, which may mean working out a sequence carefully to allow them to be shuffled along without impeding others. I have been sketching few ideas for the engine shed and goods sidings in the middle of the end board, but haven't really come up with anything I'm satisfied with, yet. I seem to recall the S15 managed 31 wagons on your layout (you must get a name for it!), although it struggled a little.

One more from me, with a nine-car set of units (MLV + 4 CEP + 4 CEP) posed on the viaducts to show how the longest proposed trains will look snaking along the top.

That BR one really looks very nice. I have a soft spot for the B12, in spite of it having no place on my current layout: my first "large" steam loco as a teenager (a couple of centuries ago!!) was a Triang B12, which, while nowhere near modern standards, was not a bad model. I suspect the retail price of the new model will deter me from buying one, but the temptation will be there, for me.

I'm not sure if I will have it running or not, Peter. I will have it looking presentable, and the wiring will be simpler than the low level as I won't be allowing for analogue DC at all on the upper level. As long as I can temporarily hold all the viaduct tracks in place, I may possibly be able to run a service of sorts, perhaps without working point motors. We'll have to see ... if my back goes out again I won't be able to complete some of the work in time.

With enough operators, we can run more trains! I have enough cabs for six people to each operate one or more trains - for ease of use and safety, one train per operator would work nicely.

I have been laid up a bit over the last few days with sciatica on the left-hand side. The doctor gave me two days off work and said "Rest, but don't spend too long lying down or sitting in one position". I decided to do a little track positioning (not laying, as such!) which I could do standing up without much bending involved (even so, I fear I have overdone it a little). Using my new Xuron track cutters made this a relatively quick and easy job, too. What I have done is cut and fit the track along the front of the layout, on the bridges and viaducts. It is not fully laid as it is not fixed down in any way, yet, a job that has to await my finishing the bridges and viaducts and also completing the third and fourth rail laying on the lower level (the viaducts get in the way of this). Anyway, here are a couple of photos to show how the alignment will look when finished. The curve under the 2 HAP unit (the unpainted resin kit at top left) is a set track 3rd radius item. If I can ease this out a little I will do so.

Rails of Sheffield are too, and a bit cheaper. I got tempted and bought the NSE liveried one. It can run on its own, or with the Connex version I bought from Kernow when they first came out.