Warbonnet

The Centennial will be making her first run!

Well said. Can we bare in mind that this is a very sensitive subject where innocent people died before we make subsequent posts? Also let's keep it away from politics as per the rules. Thanks. Justice for the 96.

Yep they call it super detail and she's a lovely loco, but the front pony truck on them isn't detailed for some reason. Compare it to Scotsman when you get her and you'll see. It was one of the original 'super detail' locos Hornby brought out so things have moved on even since then. Still a top quality gorgeous loco though, I do love them myself. I can't remember who does the replacement pony truck off the top of my head, but I will do that and the boxes when I get my laptop repaired in a few days time!

Nice one! I like the Duchess too in black. I wouldn't worry too much about the brasswork along the bottom of the loco as that would've been quite dirty quite quickly in service. The big fall down of it is the front pony truck, which doesn't look anything like the real thing and certainly not detailed in the way the newer Hornby steam locos are. I will probably get round to sticking an aftermarket replacement on mine at some stage. Oh and you defo improved the weathering on the 66! Great work!

I'd just put it on one of the driving axles Anto, like the rearmost drivers. Hornby locos pick up on the tender too, a bit of a failing on the Bachmann locos. And as for the Dutchess and the 66? PICTURES!!!

Yep it's good stuff, plenty of tips for you there Kirley! Hope they're of use. You can get snot from model junction in the UK http://www.modeljunction.info

It dries pretty clear, I picked up a jar when in the States last year for A4Mallard and it seems to do the trick for his steam locos. His diesels don't seem to need it.

There's Bullfrog Snot too, no need to get the lathe out! http://www.bullfrogsnot.com/

Interesting, I may check that out. Thanks for the tip!

I still think it's drastic action and not something I would go for personally. One thing I would look at is how freewheeling the rolling stock is. I notice that a lot of modern rolling stock is not as freewheeling as say, an old Lima Mark I. Check back to backs etc. I ran a new 201 on A4Mallards layout with three sets of Dapol Megafret container wagons (each set = 2 wagons, so essentially 6 container wagons) and it ground to a halt in the corners where there was an incline. The wagons are poor runners, not free at all, and i reckon the 201s could do with more weight and 12 wheel drive because a Bachmann 66 pulled them and more no problems. Either that or re-do the helix if it's causing too many problems. Big and annoying job that though!

I wouldn't do anything like that if you want to maintain smooth running, especially as the trains are climbing with little room for big derailments when the only alternative is crunching on the floor below.

Something that's long dead thankfully.

Thanks Horsetan!

I cannot answer your question Horsetan but as someone who would like to go down the route of locomotive kitbuilding, are these motors DCC friendly and can they be wired up easily?

Red Line LUAS collided with a skip truck this morning on Benburb Street. Reports that two men have been taken to hospital for treatment, video of the aftermath on the link below. http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/current-affairs/video-heres-the-aftermath-from-this-mornings-luas-crash-0028215-1 Lets hope everyone is okay. I wondered why about a thousand people descended onto my bus at Blackhorse this morning.

Cool, was in Hawkins Street yesterday and they had one on display too, seems that there are a couple 112s doing the rounds. I think we're all counting down the days!

Great pics. Do you still have 112 in your shop?

I've managed to find some more pics of Brendan's layout in earlier stages of building. Sorry for the quality, they were taken on my phone. And a video [video=youtube;-ukzZWsCNMc]

After previewing the two locomotives I'm working on in my last blog, I thought it would be a good idea to take you on the journey on one of the rebuilds from start to finish. I have been into trains for a long time, but it's only recently I have looked at detailing and rebuilds. It's also coincided in me developing an interest in American railroads, and thankfully it's a match made in heaven. I've sung enough about the detail and quality of American models in the past, but another area in which they excell is the after-market detail parts business. Companies like Details West, Detail Associates, BLMA and Cannon and Co. (to name but a few) offer great products to improve older and less detailed locos, as well as making the newest stuff even better. Another advantage is the brilliant spares department offered by the likes of Athearn and Kato, making getting parts for locos so easy. As I stated in my previous entry (giggidy) I bought three relatively modern but badly treated locos from Dave who took them as part ex at a show. He stuck up pics on the 1st yuku site (seems so long ago now) and how we all laughed at them. However, I fancied my chances as doing them up, or at least acquiring them for spares. They were nice and cheap and I decided that once the horrific paint came off them there was plenty of potential. On top of that if I made a mess of them in my novice ways I wont be down too much money, far cheaper than trying similar detailing on a brand new model! The third loco I ended up with was an Athearn RTR GP40X high-hood. Out of the three I bought this was in the worst condition. It was orignally an 'undecorated' loco, which is basically a kit form which comes with lots of additional parts for you to fit. All additional parts were missing, the paint was dreadful, it was missing a bogie sideframe and the additional bogie parts, and it was a bit of a lumpy runner. I then got to work researching parts and listing out what I need before ordering from online retailers and Athearn's parts department. One nice and easy job was to install the grab irons front and rear as none were ever attached. I got a big back from BLMA and got to work. [attachment=:name] Also added were brass horns, MU hoses and couplier cut bars (which I'm not sure about being correct, despite someone telling me they were the right ones to use. I may well replace them.) Next to go on will be the ploughs and other small detail parts.

You saw me coming Dave, for info the two locos I'm working on are the second and fourth pics. I especially love the irony on the box under the last pic - "As close to real as it gets." Indeed!

Should be a nice runner, the Blueline is a very smooth runner. I have a very cheap Athearn SD9 waiting. Sounds like a belt sander but have a replacement kato motor to dropin, going to be a big project this one, looking forward to it.

Hornby railroad class 55 deltic, Athearn blue box SD9

Like the National Power 59, I wish someone would hurry up and do an up to date model of the 59s! Good work!

Nice one Des, will it come with the central tanks (or are they battery boxes?) for between the bogies too? Looks a great starting point for one of these locos.

Probably get it for 50p now the Olympics is over.