A couple of Life-Like Proto 2000 SD9s have been through the electrical shops in the last 24 hours. Lenz LE1024E Back EMF decoders have been fitted and the grotty light bulbs replaced with nice, bright LEDs. Despite the high standard of detailing, there's much about these models that annoys me intensely, silly little design issues where Life-Like have dropped the ball completely. The SD9s are famous for having bodies that won't fit on the chassis properly, in fact on some samples it's physically impossible to join the two halves of the loco unless you make some alterations. Press the body onto the chassis too firmly and there's a very high risk of damage. At times like this it's easy to lose sight of the fact that they're about a million times better than most UK diesels and throw the whole lot out of the window.
This pair of locomotives is a testament to my impressionability. I originally bought them back in 1997 because they were being sold off for next to nothing and I thought they'd be a good source of donor parts, in much the same way that Bachmann Class 25s are. Unfortunately I fell in love with the Southern's elegant and understated livery, with the result that not only do the locos remain uncannibalised, but they've been joined by a good number of roadmates and a small library of books.
No plans for a Southern layout, though. Yet.
Currently On My Stereo: Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge