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A Journey


Assessor37

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I suppose that, like most men of a similar vintage, my interest in railways began in the 1960s when steam was still prevalent. I recall trainspotting with my uncle at Northampton station, sitting on the spotters’ bench in Victoria Park, watching the shunting activities and main line traffic. My dad worked for Mettoy, who made Corgi cars, vinyl footballs and spacehoppers, and distributed Aurora kits and Jouef train sets. So, my first train set was Jouef with a Hymek and a few wagons and coaches. Dad made a simple 6’x4’ circuit with a couple of sidings. I wanted something more elaborate, so, when I got married and bought my own house, the loft was converted. I was working for Mettoy by this time and the link with Jouef had long gone. My layout was mainly Hornby with a few Wrenn, Lima and Airfix Mainline items. A bit eclectic and not based anywhere in particular. This was in the days before digital photography and very few 35mm pictures survive from this era of my modelling. I collected Railway Modeller magazines religiously; it gave me an excuse to visit the local model shop and buy essential items for the layout.


 


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Then things changed completely. Mettoy went into receivership and I spent periods between jobs and work. I applied to join the railway and started as a Guard for North London Lines at Watford.


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It was then I realised that my model railway was rubbish and did not follow railway practice. So, I ripped it all up with the intention of starting again. Working on the railway meant long hours and much travelling to and from work and my free time was severely curtailed. I moved work from Watford to Rugby, where I became a Relief Driver for Transrail. Class 37s were my basic traction. I also signed 31s and 08/09s and I had the chance to drive 47s, 56s and 60s.


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When DRI was introduced the future for Rugby looked dim. I transferred to Thameslink at Bedford and got my full time Driver position on Class 319 units. I became a Driver Instructor and an Assessor. When First took over the ambience at work was bad, and I took my retirement.


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Whilst I was on the railway, I’d started to build kits to tide me over. I had joined the Airfix Club and when the forum folded, I moved over to the newly started Airfix Tribute Forum. We had a good rapport with Airfix, and I took over ownership of the ATF when the creator was going through difficult times. I still haven’t got back on my railway layout, though one day I hope to. I do continue to build railway items, usually ex-Airfix kits.

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This is a Dapol Deltic I built around 2006

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/264131354.jpg

 

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/264131360.jpg

 

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/264131365.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/264131369.jpg

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Airfix as made by Hornby today is somewhat different to the old Airfix, which included trackside accessories and buildings, rolling stock and such like. Many of these are still made by rivals Dapol, although they are still using the same tooling 50 years later which understandably is starting to show its age! The aviation, military shipping and vehicle models which Hornby still make under the Airfix brand have been refined and improved considerably over the time, and are much better.

 

I still hanker after the trackside and rolling stock kits that were made in the past and feel it might be extremely good if Horrby were to add some of these to Airfix once more. Perhaps brand new subject matter which might complement Hornby Railways as well as perhaps providing material that could be used by Wargamers. The difference between 1:76 and 1: 72 is not so great. 

 

Here are one or two suggestions

 

Air Ministry 14 ton aviation fuel tank car,

 

S160 2-8-0 USA class,

 

LMSR 350 hp Diesel Shunter with jackshaft drive

 

Train Ferry ventilated Covered wagon (SNCF or NS)

 

 

 

 

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Snap . . 

The Dapol kit was a bit awkward to assemble due to some of the mouldings being a poor fit. Shawplan glazing will be fitted. I found out I am nowhere near as good at kit building as I was in my youth.

I used a Hornby Class 55 chassis, but had a bit of trouble locating a motor bogie. It has directional lights installed and will have a  Class 55 sound decoder installed once I finish wiring the decoder socket in.

It still needs a bit of grey paint splashing around on the roof, etc.

/media/tinymce_upload/e3e95e096732dc2f1d9942bc7f647477.jpg

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Cheers, yes the river was painted back then. It's actually a military diorama base in vac-form.

Here are a few Airfix kits in civillian clothing, first a Matador tanker.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/331187770.jpg

A Coles crane.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/331187769.jpg

An Opel truck.

 http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/331187763.jpg

I don't know where the building came from but it looks interesting, I think I still have it.

The Austin Ruby is a white metal kit, probably by Scale Link.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/331597010.jpg

 

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/16682529/331597003.jpg

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I've found some WIP shots of the Deltic

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/15696186/261855185.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/15696186/261855187.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/15696186/262302663.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/15696186/262302662.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/15696186/263119124.jpg

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Well I was going to say that if you like the Delta so much then they have a real 1 at the Barrow Hill Round House, Staveley, Chesterfeild, Derbyshire - bus as the Rule is "STAY AT HOME" then you can't for the time being - but I suppose of you google "Barrow Hill Round House" then you will find photos of it instead at the "Barrow Hill Engine Shed"  😀

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http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876840.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876842.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876844.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876845.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876848.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876849.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876851.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1312/4776356/21369352/410876853.jpg

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I remember the first time I saw DP2, at Kings Cross, I was seriously baffled! I had become used to seeing Deltics there of course, but then this big plain green one turned up one day. It didn't sound like a Detic.

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Ratch - your secondary account obviously didn’t bring instant posting rights with it from your primary account on the other forum. Ask forum admin to correct it.

 

At present due to the current situation picture moderation by admin has been a tad sporadic.

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@ Assessor37 :- 2 things - 1stly I have instance approval just like a number other Forum members on here do - just send Admin a very nice email asking for it!!! forum@hornby.com

2ndly - I like your photos - very 1950's  😀 - The house that I grew up in had aslo that 'square bit' on the front but the front door was on the other side & we had no garage but a drive instead & I think our old house was built in the Victorian times!!!

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