Hornby's intention to produce a completely new model of the ubiquitous English Electric shunter has, unsuprisingly, raised a few eyebrows. Bachmann introduced their model only 3 years ago and, unlike most of their loco releases, it is generally held in reasonably high esteem by modellers. Having no major shape errors it tends to 'capture the look of the real thing' in a way that more modern releases have singularly failed to do. It has it's own selection of mistakes, of course, but they generally fall into the detail category, rather than the fatal 'wrong shape' sector. Getting the basic shape correct is the single most important factor in producing a convincing model, and Bachmann's success in this area with the Class 08 is what gives it the general air of Gronkness that endears it to enthusiasts. Indeed, the advent of the Bachmann 08 was a pivotal event in my getting back into UK modelling.
Dependable runners (once the naff pick-ups were sorted out) this pair of green machines have been giving yeoman service on my shunting plank (AKA test track) over the Christmas period, uncomplainingly shuffling an assortment of wagons around. While it'll be interesting to watch Hornby challenge Bachmann over this numerous and widespread locomotive, it's a shame they chose this particular class with which to battle it out. Even if the newcomer turns out to be near-perfect, it won't open up any new layout building possibilities for me. I may buy some, I may not - I'll wait and see. But if Hornby had produced a good model of something that one of the other manufacturers had fouled up, on the other hand, they'd have been beating me off with the proverbial unclean stick.
There is considerable scope for improving on the standard set by Bachmann, nevertheless, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. The flat-looking springs and the clumsy, platform-catching coupling rods are an obvious place to start. Bonnet doors with the correct, pressed-metal profile would be nice. Pick-ups that work, DCC-Ready and lights could help create a superior product. What I dread, though, is the typical screwed-up-but-in-a-different-way scenario, that habitually sees UK modellers putting the body of one model onto the chassis of another, garnished with a liberal sprinkling of third-party bits'n'bobs. I have no doubt that brand loyalty, combined with a numerous prototype, will give Hornby a solid return on their investment, but to be useful to modellers rather than just shareholders, this release needs to be bl**dy good. If it's not then I won't be the only person sticking with the Bachmann alternative.
Choice apart, Hornby deliberately going head-to-head with arguably Bachmann's best D&E loco will provide both spectacle and speculation. Will it be a case of anything you can do, we can do better? Will such direct competition from Hornby effectively administer a much-needed kick in the pants for Bachmann? Or will a two-tier market emerge, as in the US, with Bachmann catering for the less quality-sensitive end of the market and leaving the discerning, adult sector to others? Who can say? Hornby are rank outsiders in the serious D&E field. With the Class 31 as yet unseen, their non-steam track record to date consists of the flawed but encouraging Class 50 and the decidedly poor HAA and Coalfish. That they chose to retool only the top half of the least important of this pair could almost have been calculated to give no clues.
Easily converted to DCC, the Gronk has played a part in convincing many that DCC is the way to go. Not only is silky-smooth running easily achieved, but there's the psychological benefit of the resultant perception; if you can fit a decoder into a small shunter then everything else is going to be plain sailing by comparison. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since I first put the Class 08 fitting guide online, so it might be worth adding a few comments here...
In the intervening period, the Lenz LE1025A has remained my standard choice for these locos, because it provides a reliable default option that works exceptionally well in most cases and, importantly, is easily available. The best match, however, has always in my opinion been the Zimo range, and in the odd instance where the Lenz chip doesn't give first class running (Bachmann mechanisms are very inconsistent, so nothing is ever certain!) I've resorted to Zimo to cure the problem. The EWS loco pictured was an erratic runner initially, but is now one of my best, equipped as it is with a Zimo MX61 decoder. The only thing that stops me recommending Zimo across the board is the fact that they aren't, at the time of writing, easily available in this country. If you're not averse to ordering online from overseas suppliers they're worth seeking out, though.
Of course, the Lenz LE1025A isn't the only option, it's just a good, safe recommendation. I've also had good results with the Lenz LE1035A, for example, and the new Lenz Gold. On the other hand, one route I wouldn't universally recommend is fitting a smaller decoder, such as those meant for N gauge. It's not that they don't work (quite the opposite, I know many satisfied users,) it's just that there doesn't seem to be any point - it takes only a couple of seconds to snip off the mounting posts to make space for a normal decoder. Smaller decoders tend to have fewer lighting functions and are often more expensive, although that might not seem a problem in a Class 08. But a year down the line, when you decide you want to swap a few decoders around, you might wish you'd bought something a little more flexible, something that will fit into a wider variety of applications.
A related point I've learned the hard way is not to cut the unwanted function wires off when I don't think I'll ever be using them. Not only does this cramp my decoder-swapping style, but it seemed like only five minutes after I confidently wrote "as I'll never fit lighting to this loco I've completely removed the unwanted wires" that Express Models released their Class 08 lighting kit. B*gg*r!
Currently On My Stereo: Bjork - Debut
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Some more wagons have gone through the shops in the last 24 hours. This Bachmann Queen Mary brake van has only just been taken out of store and hasn't had much done to it as yet. The tension-lock couplings have been clipped from the bogies and some Smiths hooks epoxied into the buffer beam, but nothing more.
Originally intended for use with a local propelling move on my layout, inspired by operations at Walsall, the plan was scrapped because the original Bachmann Class 37 turned out to be of no use to me. With the re-tooled version looking distinctly more 37 shaped, things are now back on track. Photos of the real thing can be found here, taken when 37695 drew into the platform before setting back into the yard. See also Nigel Burkin's article in the May 2003 'British Railway Modelling' magazine.
Some more Bachmann BR Standard brakes have received couplings. Two are end-of-rake vehicles, with an instanter on one end and a Kadee #18 on the other. The grey example nearest the camera, however, has instanters at both ends as it's destined for a shunty-shunty lifestyle on local trip workings.
The biggest problem with the Bachmann model is the trenches between the planks - a real swine when it comes to renumbering.
A selection of Hornby hoppers have also received Smiths instanter couplings. These are destined for conversion to HTVs at some point in the future, but in the short term I don't mind running them around as place-holders in their unaltered form.
If you're wondering why most of these photos show groups of three or four wagons, it's purely because that's about the number I can get done before the two-part epoxy adhesive starts to set. By a fortunate coincidence this fits well with my ability to tolerate this mind-numbingly dull task.
A trio of Bachmann 13-ton sand tipplers all instantered up and awaiting their first turn of duty. My intention was to produce some quick, fill-in vehicles just by swapping the couplers, but the multi-part chassis design and the steel weight right where the coupling hook needs to go mitigated against this. In the end, after much cursing and swearing, it would probably have been quicker to build some of my Red Panda kits rather than mess around with a chassis that was never designed with the modeller in mind.
As you can probably guess, the majority of my modelling time over the Christmas period has been frittered away fitting couplers, I dread to think how much of my life has disappeared this way over the years. I can't delude myself that this is modelling, that it has any kudos attached - it's simply wasted time caused by poorly designed products. With my American stock I just throw away the provided coupling and replace it with my preferred Kadees, using the standard draught-gear box habitually fitted to most stock. With my European stock the situation is similarly easy, but uses the standard NEM socket rather than the draught-gear box. Only with UK products do I need to start hacking around like a complete amateur (sorry, I know I'm supposed to say 'craftsman' but it sticks in my throat) in order to get even basic functionality out of a model. Attempts at providing the standard NEM socket on UK stock have so far been limited and incorrectly applied. So, whilst the Bachmann brake vans can have Kadees plugged into the provided sockets, the sand tipplers cannot - the socket is at the wrong height, just as it is with many Bachmann products.
This is the key reason that Americans can build significantly sized model railroads, while many UK modellers struggle to get beyond the test track/shunting plank/diorama trap. It's not the myth that all Americans have basements the size of Central Park that's the factor, purely the availability of suitable products. The correct tools and materials for any job are critical for success.
Currently On My Stereo: Ozric Tentacles - Floating Seeds (Remixed)
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A selection of Bachmann wagons have had Smiths instanter couplings fitted today, to beef-up my selection of transition era stock for shunting plank operations. Some of these need regular three-links, but I'm out of those until the shops open after the holidays. If truth be told, that china clay wagon isn't a particular fine model, but it was kicking around doing nothing so what the heck.
As it's an end-of-rake vehicle, the brake van has an instanter on one end and a Kadee #18 on the other. I configure most of my brake vans this way, because the Kadee enables easier coupling of locomotives to the train, without all of the b*gg*ring about associated with the instanters. A screw coupling would have been a better match for this vehicle, but I've never found any that I'm entirely happy with. I can always take the instanter off and replace it, anyway, and in the interim it doesn't look too bad.
Also on the workbench at the moment is a selection of Bachmann Warships. I've got them in bits while I decide upon the best way to fit lights. Considering it's age and heritage, the Warship is a pretty good model. It has some anomalies in the shape of the cab and windows, plus various detail errors, but it's far more accurate than most of Bachmann's more recent releases. It also put's Heljan's more expensive Western in the shade, as far as I'm concerned.
Currently On My Stereo: Ozric Tentacles - Curious Corn
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Roco's recent 'Platinum' release of the classic German V200 diesel-hydraulic interested me a great deal. I've always wanted one of these for my collection, but felt that Roco's model didn't do the distinctive prototype justice. Unfortunately, within seconds of sticking my freshly-libelled electric nose into the box, it was obvious that this wasn't the new model I'd hoped for, merely a tweaked version of the existing, twenty year old tooling.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad model as such, but it's not of the standard we've come to expect from this illustrious company in more recent years. As well as bringing some familiar dimensional errors with it, the paint finish is a little orange peel-like in places. If you want a model to hold up as a marker for the overseas excellence that UK products need to aim for, then this isn't the one to choose. On the whole, however, it puts Heljan's recent diesel-hydraulic outing very firmly in the shade, despite showing it's age.
If anything, this is more of a personal disappointment for me, as it was a favourite prototype I was hoping for a modern model of. Perhaps this will teach me the importance of doing my homework before being seduced by a glittering new toy.
Errors aside, the model can still teach the manufacturers of UK stock a thing or two. Note how the model is not just DCC-Ready, but has a dedicated space for the decoder within the fuel tanks, and a channel for the cable to take to the socket above. No wiring issues here. Mounting the decoder in the fuel tank leaves plenty of space for a speaker above the main circuit board, indeed a DCC sound-equipped version is available off the shelf.
I don't know if this is fiendish cunning, or just an attempt to disguise a legacy of days gone by. The body is secured by two screws through the roof, which are in turn (that might be a pun if your standards aren't too high) concealed by a couple of plastic widgets. One is resting on the roof just to the right of the screwdriver. Generally, a lot of thought has gone into these models and they can be stripped-down easily. All parts can be ordered as spares through UK suppliers, too, which is a welcome change. Essential, in fact, if you want to replace the traction-tyred wheelsets from hell with something a little more becoming.
Currently On My Stereo: Deep Purple - Made In Europe
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Details of Hornby's 2005 D&E new releases feature in the new issue of Rail Express magazine, so seek out a copy if you want to read more. The 'suprise' loco is, as many had guessed, a new Class 08/09.
Whilst the other loco to be released is a brand new Class 60, as had been widely rumoured over the last year.
Wagon enthusiasts will be treated to a new model of the Seacow ballast hopper, which will hopefully see the end of the silly prices the chunky old Lima example often commands.
Currently On My Stereo: Man - Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day
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I never cared much for Class 37s. Actually, I suppose, that's not strictly true - it'd take a hard heart not to be moved by the sight and sound of the real beast. But I never actually cared from the modelling point of view, as they weren't signature locos in the Black Country of my youth. True, they were no strangers, either, but a layout could quite easily be built without a 37 and still remain plausible. When the loathsome Lima example appeared in the 80s, I joined in with my friends' guffaws, but still didn't really care. Even when the infamous Bachmann 37/4 limped onto the market I didn't much care that Bachmann had made a dog's dinner of a Class 37. It was more the wider implications that worried me, that such ineptitude could still occur and, worse still, be defended by the riders of the establishment gravy train. The fact that we were going backwards in scale model terms, contrary to the howling and frothing of the WeveNeverHadItSoGood brigade, didn't bode well.
Yet the feeble attempts to silence criticism of this model had the opposite effect, with more and more modellers examining both the prototype and miniature in depth. By the time the Bachmann Tractor had been shunned by large sectors of the modelling community, I had a far greater appreciation of these mighty machines than I'd ever had before. As people discussed ways to produce a decent Tractor without recourse to the Bachmann release, I became increasingly absorbed in the subject until eventually I wanted some 37s of my own. Bachmann's second attempt was thus more interesting to me than their first, regardless of whether it was accurate or not.
The new model isn't particularly good, if truth be told, but neither is it the complete disaster it's elder sibling was. The most significant issue is the vastly improved cantrail curve, of critical importance as that was the fatal error preventing the vast majority of modellers from making a credible 37 from the original. Detail errors abound, if you compare the photos above. The buffers and cowling are too low - the centreline of the buffers should be about level with the bottom of the bodyside on a 37. The cutaway between the buffers is too high, as most people seem to have noticed. Compare the position of the D-shaped recess around the tail-lights with the sand-fillers and the bottom of the side-grilles on the nose. Compare the top of the headcodes with with top of the side- grilles. The tumblehome is still too large and the third attempt at the lower body panels now sees them depicted by raised lines. Is the main bodyside grille in the correct location? Does the body sit correctly on the bogies? Is the nose the correct shape? Do the cab windows look correct?
In short, it's a typical Bachmann vague approximation. Almost everything is wrong in some way BUT it still looks fairly 37-like if you don't peer too closely. It doesn't have any show-stoppers like the original's cantrail. In a nutshell, I could see myself using these new Tractors, because they can run out-of-the-box as inoffensive place-holders in the short term, and I can see an upgrade path for using them as the basis for better models in the longer term. An opportunity that just wasn't there with Bachmann's first attempt.
As the green, centre-headcode version of the Bachmann model looks the most convincing to my eyes, my mind has been wandering to the Welsh valleys of late, where modelling of my favourite coal traffic could continue unhindered by the absence of a decent model HAA. Whether anything ever comes of these ideas or not, I shall probably be spending much of Christmas mulling over the traditional, implausible puns based on Welsh place names.
Anyone for Pantysnyffyn?
Currently On My Stereo: Man - The Welsh Connection
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Although there have been some decidedly poor models released in the last few years, regardless of whatever the braying WeveNeverHadItSoGooders might claim, there are a couple of stand-out moments for me. Two comedy classics where the sublime concept of an error has been taken to the ridiculous extremes of a caricature. The first of these has to be the Bachmann Deltic with it's bizarrely sloping nose, curiously reminiscent of a Concorde on final approach. The second (and a new entry this month) is the Heljan Western, with it's already infamous peaked-cap look - surely a homage to Budgie the Little Helicopter?
The two comparison photos above show the problem. Jon Numan has done a fine weathering job on the model, it's just a shame that Heljan couldn't be bothered to put the same amount of effort into the tooling. Compare the model with Pete Piszczek's photo of the real thing, and also the second version of the model where I've crudely removed some of the cab roof. Sorry, I can't claim to be much of a whizz with Photoshop.
There are those who go out of their way to claim these errors don't exist. Or call it 'rivet counting' whilst pretending photographs conveniently distort things and don't count. If they want to stand up and make a spectacle of themselves then that's fine by me. I do, however, intend to do my level best to ensure that innocent bystanders aren't misled by this clap-trap. People should be able to make their own minds up about whether something affects their decision to purchase, based on facts and not fictions. So if you're struggling, try this animation put together by Pete to show what all the fuss is about. Buy the model, or not, based on your own standards. Then, as with the Deltic a year ago, sit back and enjoy watching people trying to convince you it's correct, secure in the knowledge that they're talking complete and utter b*ll*cks...
Currently On My Stereo: Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson - Industry
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Unbiased Al-Freebie Information Minister, Muhammed Saeed al-Shergar:
Greetings, comrades and Western jackals! Bob here! It's been a while, I know, but I've been helping your government with one or two matters in recent times, and they don't let me have my crayons. Things are pretty hectic here and I seem to spend most of my waking hours strapped to a chair with electrodes clipped to my most personal parts. It's not so bad once you get used to it, in fact it's actually kind of pleasant. A bit tingly, you know, like when you think about your Triang collection while sitting on a bus going down a cobbled street. But I digress. Anyway, like I say, they don't normally let us write, but we are allowed one letter out per year, so here goes. If the elves at the North Pole are as good as their word then you might be reading this before your Western Christmas.
Comrades! I am disheartened! What has happened while I've been away? One of our bravest comrades gave his life to substitute the Railway Modeller sketches for the real Class 37 drawings and it was one of our greatest victories! Subversive magazines who actually allow D&E enthusiasts on their staff were sent letters from Mr Timmins, the solicitor from above the newsagents. This was followed up by Agent Armand, our deepest of deep cover operatives, spreading rumours that anyone less than ecstatic about the model hadn't actually seen it when writing their reviews. Now the model has been retooled and I only find out about it because the old one is being given away inside my breakfast cereal!
Comrades! What happened to Phase III of the plan? All evidence of curved cantrails should have been removed from prototypes under the cover of darkness. Locos were to be jacked up to leave a large gap above the bogies. Photographs were supposed to have been destroyed. What went wrong? Granted, you've done well with Operation Bucket and Project Whizzo, but this is a time for sustained effort. You can't just stop! Only Agent Delta seems to still be actively spreading misinformation.
The enemy jackals are increasingly well organised. They use the internet to communicate and I've heard rumours that they even have a couple of their own magazines now. Our methods need to be correspondingly sophisticated, the old ones don't work now we haven't complete control of all channels. As indeed some of our less experienced recruits have found out in the last 24 hours on one of the magazine forums. Be mindful of the following pitfalls:
Comrades should also be careful of using certain key slogans that have outlived their usefulness. A document captured from an enemy demonstration stand at an exhibition by our crack team of Winja-Ninjas revealed certain security breaches. The following phrases are known to have been compromised and should be retired - their use tends to announce the speaker as a clueless airhead, unfortunately:
Finally comrades, it is becoming increasingly obvious that we're fighting on a different battlefield these days. The old tactics just aren't as effective. We need a new strategy, if we're to continue to toady to the manufacturers well enough that I, ermmmmm...I mean we, can enjoy a steady stream of review samples for my collection. I mean review. For me to review, that's it. That's what I meant. I shall give it some thought, and if anyone has any revolutionary ideas then please let me know. Leave a note by the sherry and mince pies and it'll get back to me.
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Some of this weekend's Warley acquisitions. First up is a supply of yellow-white LEDs from Express Models, handy for replacing grotty old bulbs in a variety of rolling stock. I'm consuming an awful lot of LEDs of various types these days, as I try to catch up with lighting projects I've been putting off.
A number of the new Lenz Gold series decoders are currently being tested in a varied selection of rolling stock. Initial impressions are very good indeed, especially when plugged straight in and not tweaked. Although I value configurability in a decoder, it shouldn't be forgotten that things should work well straight out of the box for those who don't want to b*gg*r around with CVs all day. Although it's early days yet, my testing so far shows the new Gold decoder to be better than most in this respect. I suspect I'll be buying a lot of these before long, even though they cost a few quid more than average.
A decoder I'm using more and more these days is the Digitrax DH163. As well as having the obligatory Back EMF and high frequency drive, this is a six function decoder which is handy for many modern lighting configurations. The Lenz range doesn't include a six function decoder, unfortunately, which gives Digitrax the edge if you're a lighting junkie.
However, if the Lenz Gold series decoders continue to impress me as much as they have so far, I may revise my strategy for stock needing more than four functions. Fitting a Gold chip and a Lenz LF100XF function only decoder in the same loco, will give me a total of eight functions, albeit at additional cost.
Another six function decoder I've been testing in recent times is the TCS T3X, almost an exact match for the Digitrax DH163 except for a lack of proper Back EMF. Note that the TCS website does claim that Back EMF is present, but their current wording adds that "it is different then conventional type of BEMF" - whatever that means. I note that, at the time of writing, individual product pages no longer claim the presence of Back EMF, although the 'Frequently-Asked Questions' pages still make reference to it.
On my layout TCS decoders are unable to maintain train speeds on curves and gradients where competing products from the likes of Lenz and Digitrax have no trouble. The much-trumpeted 'dither' feature in no way makes up for the lack of Back EMF, as far as I'm concerned, although I accept it might be beneficial if I had a selection of poorer running steam locos with sticking motion. In other areas the T3X is a highly specified decoder, indeed the configurability of the lighting is what attracted me to the device in the first place. But the Digitrax DH163 is similarly advanced and gives me better performance all round - the prime function of these products is to drive trains, after all.
When trying out different decoders it's important to prevent them coming into contact with something they shouldn't, dragging along the track or catching on an adjacent obstruction. For this I use a few scraps of plastic, glued together in a 'H' shape. I've got two - one sized to fit over a typical US chassis and a bigger version for UK equivalents. Handy.
Currently On My Stereo: King Crimson - Red
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It's funny how things aren't quite as you remember them. As the Bachmann's new TTA is a good, basic model of an older version of the tank wagon, I knew I'd be buying some to run on my layout. But given that it's configuration is less useful to more modern modellers, I thought I'd probably base the more numerous hack & detail conversions on the older Hornby model, seeing as how I've got dozens stored away for just such a purpose. Unfortunately, now I've dug some out to properly think the project through, the model is far cruder than I'd remembered - as the photograph above will show.
I've filled and sanded the chasm between the two halves of these tanks a good many times in the past, but what of the great slab that the barrel rests upon? The ends of the tank don't blend with the sides very well, and the rivetted strip along the bottom is much poorer than the Bachmann one. No, I can't see the older Hornby moulding being of much use to me, I'm afraid.
The Bachmann model could be usefully exploited by the detail part manufacturers, given the wide range of variations seen on the prototype. I've still got some TTA chassis packs from the much missed Appleby range sitting around, but they're not going to go far. If only Bachmann had produced a chassis with the more useful Bruninghaus suspension...
Currently On My Stereo: Thin Lizzy - Renegade
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Warley was typically hectic this weekend, and I didn't manage to escape from Nigel Burkin's D&E modelling demo stand for a look around the show on either day. Other than grabbing a copy of the latest Rail Express magazine from their stand before the show opened, shopping was limited to decoders and LEDs from Express Models, hand delivered to me across the hall by Nick Gurney. How's that for service?
None of Bachmann's expected D&E new releases were on sale at the show, unfortunately, although examples were on display behind glass. Nigel accordingly made his review samples available for closer inspection by the public and comparison with one of the infamous earlier models was possible. Many thanks to Nigel for allowing me to photograph the Modern Railway Modelling review samples for inclusion here, even though my photos effectively duplicate what is available in the news section of the Modern Railway Modelling website.
I'm fairly upbeat about this model as I can see modelling opportunities starting to open up where it's predecessor offered none. There are certainly a lot of errors still present, but the much improved cantrail curve alone starts to make the thing look like a Class 37. Moulded detail on the roof is much finer than before, but 'fishnet fanny' is still present. As many people commented over the weekend, this cheap and nasty toy-like feature is all the more incongruous now Bachmann have shown they can produce some nice etched frost grilles - included with the model but not pictured here.
Students of detail will note that the cantrail grille arrangement is different on the two individual models. A DCC socket is included, (although suprisingly the lighting has now completely vanished,) along with a NEM coupler socket at the correct height.
The much delayed TTA tank wagon is also of great interest, as 4 wheel tanks are still in regular use on the railway to this day. Anyone expecting the model to be pitched at the level of the finer Bachmann offerings such as the Intermodal Twins or the BRA/BYA should note that this is a more basic product, sitting comfortably in the range alongside things such as the 16t mineral or the BR standard brake van. Indeed, the early chassis arrangement fairly clearly shows the model was intended to be of use to modellers of earlier eras in the same way that it's predecessors were. More modern modellers will need to upgrade the chassis components for accuracy.
The atypical chassis is a particular liability when it comes to producing models of the other prototypes that have shared these underframes over the years. Whilst the new POA will no doubt be welcomed by modellers of the post-steam world, many will feel the need to perform surgery upon the chassis in order to bring things up to scratch.
Currently On My Stereo: Thin Lizzy - Johnny The Fox
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This is my humble OO test track, Peco code 75 laid on two reclaimed melamine-faced chipboard shelves. The trackplan was dictated by what I'd got lying around spare at the time and all wiring is taped to the top surface of the boards. The whole thing sits on top of some cheap bookcases in my office, but can easily be relocated to the dining room table or even the floor as mood dictates.
When joined end-to-end there's enough space to test most new purchases and DCC installations. The shunting necks on the left are long enough to hold modern, two-car DMUs, whilst the neck on the right is sized to suit a pair of 20s. I've tidied the thing up a little in the past 24 hours and fitted two stripwood off-cuts to the ends to tame the more enthusiastic locos. This bijou-plankette might make an appearance on Nigel Burkin's D&E modelling demo stand at Warley this weekend, subject to space constraints.
Currently On My Stereo: Ash - 1977
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At long last I've added the much-delayed page covering the installation of DCC into Bachmann's Class 158 DMU. I'll probably split it into sections at some point in the future, as it's a bit long and meandering if truth be told. But for the time being the information is at least there for those who have requested it.
Currently On My Stereo: Elton John - Captain Fantastic
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After months of waiting, Nigel Burkin's new Modern Railway Modelling magazine is available, or as available as it can be given the erratic nature of both the news trade and the Royal Mail. Such trials must be as frustrating for Nigel and the team as they are for the poor consumer trying to find a copy on the shelves of a well-known and increasingly customer-unfocussed news chain. It's well worth tracking down a copy, though, if you can find a branch of WH Smith that believes there's a market beyond soap stars' t*ts.
The absence of D&E material in the UK modelling press has become more of a yawning chasm than a gap in recent years. Indeed the bulk of worthwhile material has appeared in Rail Express, a magazine that isn't even a modelling title - a sad reflection on the moribund state of the industry. Still, that's hopefully behind us now we've got a mag that concentrates on the fifty years of railways that others overlook. How long until it becomes a monthly publication?
Modern Railway Modelling includes DCC material from my good self, but otherwise it's a quality publication...
Currently On My Stereo: Saga - House Of Cards
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