DiveController

Yes, that's what I'm thinking. Good advice. If there are any problems I might try code 83. It may be a fair compromise between the two. Anything with plastic wheels (and there are some) would be re-wheeled anyway so I guess the replacements out there would be compatible with Code 75?

Do I understand the comments on the thread correctly that the Bachmann early tankers with the cables round the filler are more prototypical than the Hornby design (which I still like)? I haven't come across any reasonably priced Fina donors but I think any Bachmann of this type would do as they differ only by livery as far as I can see e.g. Bachmann Burmah and Black Esso tankers seem to be the same wagon to me?

Fran, are you referring to Lima 201s or everything Lima i.e. coaches an wagons etc.? I have a fair number of older Hornby wagons and Lima wagons, Mk IIs and, unexpectedly some Mark IIIs now.

Yes, I think Peco have good trackwork. I think that's where my money's going to be going. Thanks for your comment on Code 75, Stephen! Kevin

Glad to hear it, Stephen. I am thinking of a layout in Code 75 or 83 (I'm located in the US and that's the 'standard' for north American modelers, and would probably be more readily available for me). I have 141s, 181s, 071s, a Jinty, several N class steam. If you have any experience with these on a finescale rail such as Code 75, I 'd be happy to hear of your experience ot thoughts. Kevin

It seems like there are different LEDS that run within different voltage ranges, 9-12V and 12-16V. DCC track voltage is nearer 16V usually, whereas DC more like 12V. So you'd need to decide if you were going with DCC in advance unless you run them from a separate supply?

Beauty, and the Eye of the Beholder, Noel...

We discussed this model when it was on there. Look at this thread starting about page 54 with some links on TPO and nice pictures from Glenderg on subsequent pages http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/58-eBay-Watch/page54

Hi Noel, If you're doing an internal makeover on one, I think a few of the newbies in this area would appreciate a few photos.

Tom, if you're not finished would you post a couple of photos of the guts of the 141 service when you do the next one please? I have over a dozen of them and it would be better if I became familiar with doing it myself. Or a woolie if you're servicing any... Thanks, Kevin

Any thoughts on knowing when a service is needed or do the ailments above qualify?

I don't think we've have had a stupid question in a while so rather than y'all nod off with celebratory Christmas grog and nosh, I thought I'd post. I have bought several of my 141/181s secondhand and although some of them are 'new', they have probably been lying in a box or on display for several years. I noticed that some of my locomotives do not run as smoothly as others. Some are really quiet, begin to crawl at a lower setting and have a greater top speed than the others. I suspect that some need servicing but other than saying that they are a little noisy or something I do not really know why exactly qualifies them for needing a service. More to the point, I do not really know how to do 'a service'. I know things need to be oiled sparingly but that's about it! I 'ran in' several of my locomotives and then noticed an eBay listing where the seller had test run the locomotive for only half a circuit of an oval to test "to prevent burning out the motor" as it obviously needed a service. I hope I've not done any damage to my locomotives when running them in if they needed a service and I did not realize! I also have several Woolies that are obviously noisier than my baby GMs, likely a product of different motors etc. Any advice on how to optimize my fleet would be appreciated so that I don't have a slow-mo in consist with a hard working engine or derailments in a push-pull setting. Thanks, Kevin

Nothing in the closets, but several items located from BosKonay's ATTIC:-bd and on their way to me! Thanks

Ger, I have no idea what they're worth but this is on eBay as a BIN with 4 watchers http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hornby-Thomas-R9750-Stepney-No-55-Locomotive-Limited-Edition-OO-Scale-New-/231409143853?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item35e10f502d I'm not even sure if it's what you're after for certain EDIT: Last one, less than eBay, 10% off http://www.petersspares.com/hornby-r9750-stepney-thomas-and-friends-060-steam-loco.ir RE-EDIT: IN STOCK http://www.bourtonmodelrailway.co.uk/hornby-r9750-stepney-limited-production.ir?cName=railways-hornby-thomas-friends Can add to cart, seems to be in stock http://www.ttcdiecast.com/hornby-r9750-stepney---limited-production-27427-p.asp

Scahalane, that's seriously good stuff. Really, really impressed by the buildings! God almighty, if you wanna come over here and do a few for me, there's good weather, water sports, barbecue, ...

http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3901-Murphy-Models-Locos/page3 David, right below you on FOR SALE, ANY GOOD? MM CLASS 141 CIE BLACK/ORANGE 161SA(WEATHERED BY GEORGE NORMAN) ONE HORN MISSING. BOXED NON DCC 105 EURO MM0190 CLASS 181 CIE BLACK ORANGE 1905/A FACTORY WEATHERED BOXED MINT ALL THE BITS - NON DCC 105 EURO MM1042 CLASS 141 CIE BLACK ORANGE 142 NON DCC ONE HORN MISSING BOXED 105 EURO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP A NEW HORN IN A DETAILING PACK FROM MARKS MODELS

Somebody did a great workbench thread on this very recently with pictures, maybe Glenderg? I'll look it up later if you don't find it first EDIT: Nope, I misspoke it was Lima Mk IIIs, so not sure that it translates to Mk2s http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3852-Separating-Lima-Body-from-Undercarriage

Agreed. Email sent. Kevin

I have several of them, Rich and they are nice. The Carlow station is going to be just that and also will pass as a nice country house with a few touch ups. Same for the pub. I do nor understand why there is not a lot of demand of them. Shame they can't stay on there shelves. I suppose the retailers need to sell them off for cash-flow but I'll bet there will be some on here in a year or two looking for them after they've gone!!

Dave, The B&T A3 has a white CIE roundel whereas the Black A8 has the "correct" orange/tan one. When I asked about this anomaly on the 071 class (MM088 original versus MM0088 Supertrain) I was told that GM supplied it in the wrong shade of orange and with a white roundel and they were eventually repainted in to Supertrain. The A's precede the 071, do they not, hence, do the models reflect prototypical A class liveries or this is a 'modeling anomaly'?

New MM 071 Class Locos MM0085 is an 071 class in IE livery (factory weathered) MM0086 is in Supertrain livery (unweathered), …..which could be weathered to 086 Supertrain or renumbered and weathered to Supertrain 085 I think the 085 is a typo for 086 unless the loco has been renumbered and weathered, or else it is 085 but in IE (not supertrain) livery

Nice work, Popeye. Very similar to 988. 1001 look alike it has a different support/saddle for the tank

Great article, John!

I can purchase and ship this from Hattons for less than the eBay GSP shipping charge, or is that what you meant?

Magpie, that's a great link to Steam locos. I had no idea there were so many and a record of them! THANKS!