Silver Sidelines

I am minded of Pam Ayres and her words: “ Infallible, articulate, self-confident... and wrong .” From her monologue ‘They should have asked my Husband’  https://monologues.co.uk/Pam_Ayres/Ask_My_Husband.htm Heljan D1000 Western Enterprise and D1010 Western Campaigner fitted with etched plates When the opportunity presents itself I will buy etched plates.   Lately I came across a set of C.G.W nameplates for D1000 Western Enterprise.   These were followed by a set of plates for D1010 Western Campaigner from Extreme Etchings. C.G.W. Etched plate for D1000 (top) plates from Extreme Etchings for D1010 (bottom) With all this ‘dreich’ weather we have been having I would spend a morning cutting out and fitting these plates.   I don’t know why I had not noticed before but the Enterprise plates looked to have been made to a different scale than those for Campaigner. C.G.W. Plates compared to Heljan printed plates The C.G.W plates ...

Back in 2015 I wrote a Post for my Blog detailing an improvement to the old Mainline / Dapol model of the ex LMS Fowler 2P https://longsheds.blogspot.com/2015/10/no124-dead-frogs-and-2p_19.html Mainline Ex LMS 2P from 198 Crucially the work required access to Hornby spare part X6475, the front bogie from their latest engine drive 2P (R3028).   Sadly as said in my previous Post about remotoring the HornbyQ6 , Hornby seem to have given up on providing useful spare parts.   Front bogie X6475 continues to be out of stock. After being tempted by a Dapol offering on eBay I needed to find an alternative solution. Dapol Ex LMS Fowler 2P listed on eBay The ex LMS Fowler 2P was a very common locomotive and as such should feature on BR (LMR) and BR (SCR) layouts.   Back in history Tri-ang produced a model of a southern L1.   It was engine driven and when repainted black it could be used as the starting point for a model of the ex LMS engine....

With all the rain outside putting a stop to gardening I have been grounded and have used the opportunity to tackle some longstanding issues.  Hornby first released their Q6 models in June 2016.  Having being raised in Middlesbrough I had to take delivery of two versions, an Early Emblem and one with a Late Crest.  They were tested and given a run around the layout before being stored away to make room for some BR (WR) trains. Q6 63443 Hornby R3425 February 2018 and Hornby released a further Early Emblem version.  I dug out my two original models and ran all three together.  It soon became obvious that one of the first models, number 63443, was a much slower runner.  On handling the model I was shocked to realise just how hot the bodyshell had become around the motor.  With further running I could well imagine melting the smokebox. Some research showed a problem with Hornby motors of a similar vintage.  My engine was too old to return for a ...

Two Bachmann Class 37s produced around 2004 According to Mick Parker’s splendid new Class 37 web site  https://www.class37.co.uk/fleet.aspx?strnumber=37676 my D6707 was outshopped in 1961 and spent its early life allocated to March.   D6826 was a later design without gangway end doors and was outshopped in 1963.   It was first allocated to Cardiff Canton.   Although outside of my layout period it was reported as being based in the north east of England between 1966 and 1969. Two Bachmann Class 37s, note the blue BR WR route availability symbol on D6826 These Bachmann models date from 2004.   They were unused and would have been ‘resting’ in their packing for around 15 years.   Not surprisingly when placed on the track they were rather reluctant to move. In one case the motor was dead.   There was an oily residue in the packaging and I surmised that the brushes might be gummed to the commutator.   I dropped one of the bo...

My last Post  https://longsheds.blogspot.com/2018/12/no-149-deltic-dalliance_31.html   reviewed past ready-to-run Deltic models. The message was that the prototype was large, lengthy (and noisy) and that a scale model was not compatible with train set curves. In an attempt to solve the issue Bachmann appeared to have adopted a ‘Belt and Braces’ approach. The Bachmann model has a narrower profile for the leading bogie wheels while at the same time thinning the bodywork with ‘cutouts’ in the vicinity of the front and rear bogie wheels. Then in addition, Bachmann controversially raised the running height of the model by almost 2mm (6inches). The perceived wisdom on the ‘web’ is that it is relatively easy to lower the Bachmann model to give the correct ride height. I would take up the challenge. Bachmann D9004 Queen's Own Highlander, lowered and coupled to a Bachmann Mk1 As with a lot of things in life there is generally more than one route to the desired goal. ...