Robert Shrives

Well that has found a use for my resin 121 model. in grey u/c a few moments ago! Robert

In the last century a supplier to the model trade did a 2mm/ N etched 07 -16 but what with all the issues only a few were delivered and some angst caused. The 1:160 model without central roof is a reasonable model and some have added a central roof section to make fit the common UK version ( Not that many if any left in traffic now.) It might be something that Revolution models might have on the pad given it is working up a drive train for a LT 1938 tube train model which would suit a tamper . Robert

To add a box landed from NZ this week with TPO /tool van , should look the part in the weed killer train, might take a while to build mind you - real world in the way again ! A great looking kit and a good set of instructions. Robert

That looks very good , and I am sure more reliable than the real thing - but they do live and work in a hostile world of dust, vibration and the human hand/boot ! I like the way it looks as only the 2mmfs track it stands on gives the game away the fine scale z track is also very good. It is a mark of a model or work of art in this case is that the gauge/ scale of model is not instantly definable. It shows how the fidelity of the hobby has moved on in the last decade or so. Mind you doing it in 2mm would test the most saintly of us ... thanks for showing.

TBH , thanks for all the hard work and I hope you can catch your breath after a few hard weeks - Dublin based beverage ? now required. No doubt you will surprise us with more ace models to go with the coaches and reruns of waggonery. - 5 good choices ( if money was no object) suggested already ... Thanks for all your work helping the marketplace and three thumbed average modelers like myself. Robert

Brilliant room in the warehouse for the 80 class an MV then.... Hunslet might be a a squeeze on the left hand racks by the staff door ?!

You do like to live on the edge, having been caught in the act of having a delivery ! Good luck and I hope you keep your head when the time comes to explain !

Well just for fun 4 sets of powercars in N from Dapol on the Network Rail measurement test train runs as a short HST of 5 or 6 vehicles around UK on a data gathering exercise - NR now know how bad the network is they have loads of data to prove it - doing the repair work of course is another matter ! Top to bottom the power cars show the 20 year life of the train with a simple line livery to blank and now a vinyl rich livery. The unlined pair achieved using "peek" metal polish which is a water based cream version of brasso and then Railtec trasfers and a Dapol nameplate. The bottom pair are the Gaugemaster offering as a commission from Dapol - comes with two coaches and I have started 3 more to ensure Dapol off the rest of the train in short order! Robert

Hi , Late to the party again - collected my two in Brum this morning and agree with all said and the loco booklet is a great idea. regards Robert

It flew up the Cambrian coast when the new masts for the improved radio signalling was installed - likely little bits of plant on a road vehicle or a boot or two . less than 6mm of the stem contains enough DNA for it to reproduce and spread. Burning does nothing , robust cutting knocks it back and then the buried waste 3m down survives. Nasty chemicals pour down stems and into ground around over a 8 - 10 year period seems to do the trick- nasty invasive stuff and NR does a little bit half arsed and not followed up . Not sure what part it plays in any food chain so possible to eradicate I guess but then to be followed by ... Budlia seems a likely candidate with uncontrolled spreading on the trackside with ineffective cutback over root ball removal- I guess nobody cares enough to lead a good clean up, but it shows nature will win out. Worse of course it was used by railways to support embankments due to its vast root networks , self inflicted pain....

Helps to make the project perfect, you must be very pleased, I guess it will haul all of the rolling stock. Thanks for showing , hopefully mine will be landing in the next couple of weeks. Robert

Hi 5Ps and all that - proper planning prevents poor performance ! Can you fit a master and slave decoder one in each cab area and just link pick up wires? Robert

Make a nice £300 plus shelf queen - just need a long shelf ! I wonder what the NSE version would look like !! Robert

Looking good hopefully will get made but would really prefer an N version, in blue. ( I guess a dd rather than DD!) Nightmare sets in reality being not really DD but augmented singles with a half upper deck wedged in the headspace of the lower deck and only accessed from the lower deck - so it took longer to unload. I think it is brilliant and amazing that such a model is slated for rtr given only a couple of sets ever built and only ran in London. It will really stretch to braking point rule one layouts - but it is the fun of the hobby. Robert

Wowser! That looks a job for the loom shop, hate to have to test all the cables ! I guess all for leds on the ends and in the tool hole. The finished job will be brilliant. Thanks for sharing. I think you deserve a lie down! Robert

Hi Indeed only added as a "joke" to the sad time when all three resided together with the ITG pending a future of some kind. The costs of not adding a motor in an tightly priced production line of niche. It has not stopped Dapol making Dummy n gauge 73s for double packs nor of course a high density plastic centre section of the dummy HST power car that required tooling, over using the metal chassis sides as used in the PC. Mind you it does not stop BMW providing working traffic indicators !! Happy modelling and really looking forward to these coaches.

Now that loco would make a nice kit or small rtr project ! - Ideal for selling in a three pack - a class in a box ! With enginless dummies for a bargain option ..

Tornado books in Birmingham have yet to get copies but the boss noted one wholeseller was showing sold out ! So could be popular purchase. Robert

My copy of the book landed to day and devoured ! great pictures of times past and useful captions as well . I look forward to future volumes. Jim has bought together the round number of 99 pictures! and this must be just a drop in the ocean of the pictures taken from 1974 so much more good stuff to come . Thanks Jim! Robert If of use the ISBN : 978-1-5136-8868-8

Good ideas , In a slightly older period perhaps 80class and 141s on Craven / MK2a stock or Hunslets on Pushpull stock, Now 121 Mk3 and Hunslets on MK 2 would make a great look as well. Your track plan ? What - Ifs always work better if the back story is more than plausible. Like Scottish highland never were branches coming to life in the BR blue era - eking out a rural lifeline that just a little look around shows proposals were drawn up but never enacted. - I suppose a category of "almost happened" is required. Robert

Hi Seems a moving feast. But I would have thought retailers would have stock 14 days later- allowing for wholeseller distribution , but have seen it take weeks even from the big publishers. I guess the slightly worn excuse fest of "Covbrx" will also get a dusting off and polishing ! Robert

No end to the talents of the man !

Lovely pic and glad to see you are still able to operate layout from time to time - hope all well and health ok as can be. Robert

While asking about bits and pieces from the good lads I was taken with the long handrails on the ends - I guess a tool exists for bending to length - bags of 20 or so would be good for me as my efforts with a Bill Beford jig not as good as yours ! I bet you could smuggle a pile out next time somebody goes to the factory ! The deforming bogie was an issue with the Dapol N MK3 coach bogie (BT10) that also has a metal strip for pinpoints and pick ups. IIRC correctly it was solved by letting the frames rest for a period before inserting metal part, but you still see bent ones on coaches. _ I guess the metal cools differently to warm plastic and some deformation results, but there might be a much better explanation of engineering tolerances and bogie being forced onto the metal strips. I was surprised at how well they ran with the banana effect on the video, with little twist on the bogie. Robert

Hi Just being a bit of a devil`s advocate - I am sure a GSV will be a hot cake but when discussed in the weed role it was suggested IIRC that finances did not add up... I am sure that the sums will be worked out in the end patience or get up and make one has always stood Irish modellers well ! I am sure a Dutch in both modes has appeal and patience a virtue! Robert