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This is how it looks now!! /media/tinymce_upload/a030dd425c8e67eb2aba17d141071328.jpg I'm letting the glue set and will paint tomorrow. Alan.

Congrats - get some photos up when you can of the Mallard. Here's a couple of photos of the USED B K3 and the NEW H Castle ... can you spot what's missing? /media/tinymce_upload/0489f8f4cb3565f1008b20924f2bafac.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/956c9a9f900d24c0585767bc0e4d84fb.jpg It's quite obvious. It's uncertain where / how it happened. The clear plastic locomotive holding packaging was damaged and flattened around the smokebox door - found what's missing now? !! - I have brass replacement ones by coincidence but am waiting until I regain a little calm and patience before I fit the replacement!! Al.

Totally agree with most of Caiptean's comments. (Secretly admits) I'll not 'show my cards' until the end if I think there's competition - that way I've decided what I believe it's worth and what my limit is - and I don't permit myself to join a bidding war. I don't trust myself to simply visit a shop, particularly like Hattons (relatively nearby) as 'it would be rude' not to part without something! I suspected shill bidding in a 'B' 9F I did purchase some time ago - co-bidder would raise the ante, wait for another genuine bidder besides me to bid, thus raising the 'value' and withdraw their bid - 3 times. They were banned for one month. There is buyer protection. These instances of complaints against the seller, swapping original article, are worrying and I find their charges near-extortionate, so whilst super convenient for an old hack like me, I can be on-the-fence as well. Buyer and Seller beware! I've only had one 'bad' purchase with an Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 'clicking gears' which I didn't find - through work commitments - until a couple of months later, so couldn't fairly do anything - runs OK backwards and silently so must be a 'wear thing' - future project as I like the loco! Al.

It was new, unused, but more onus would have been on the seller. I did mention I was offered a full refund and postage cover, but said would persevere. I've had other new-tool ex-GWR Hornby locos and 'detail parts' look good but several have invariably been detached in transit. The final packaging design is the manufacturer's and I believe it's either the packaging design or that of the loco itself which makes these parts more 'fragile' than they should be. As is now, it's a great-looking locomotive, and glad it was so easy to 'fix'. Point is I've had very few of 'these things' happen with recent 'B' locomotives - a K3 recently purchased is perfect. The final 'look' of the Castle is excellent and it's a proud-looking addition to the collection. Al.

Penrice Castle came out of 'surgery' and looks great - brake rods fit well and the shoe has mounted without binding. Nice to see the bulky double chimney, but I admit the single chimney looks more elegant. Al.

That must be 40 years old? I remember when they came out, I was still at school - one appeared at the model railway club, run by the Head of Georaphy in the geography storeroom! Nice 5-pole motor and very smooth. Great for a tenner. Runs OK on 'modern track'? Al.

Nice choice on the Mallard. Know what you mean about the 'last minute bidders' - hiding in wait until they pounce - very annoying. Main thing is don't fall for one particular item and set a budget, then strike back - do the same - 7 seconds to go normally gets the bid in. If you've set your fair limit, you won't do anything stupid like over-bidding - more than it's worth. Al.

Mk2 'blue and whites' are on their way - actually selected good 'new old stock' / used Airfix as the default Mk2 coaches - look great. I've bought a few Motorail coaches to tag on the end as well - Lima twin deck and Oxford Rail mono-deck. Got to open and see that Class 66 - looks fantastic. Heavy but surprised it's relatively light for a big Bachmann diesel - only 530 g - others weigh closer to 600 g from them. Looks like it may need the Class 57 I purchased as a banker!! D421 not arrived yet - can't wait. Seller says grilles are perfect and has never 'messed' with the adjustable ones - might lubricate before I meddle with it and then there's the fan .... A bit too complex I think, but nice 'gimmicks' nevertheless. Al.

Just received R3118 Penrice Castle from 'an auction site' and impressive as it is, it's obviously one of those 'QC Victims'. Seller said would cover postage and refund, but I do want it - just don't like the 'brass-painted' undercab pipes falling off, part of the under-chassis moulding with a shoe with location for brake rods broken off ... it seems it may have broken off in the post - but also indicates poor design and packaging to start with. A bit of polystyrene cement is resolving the issues, but it's not really the point - I expected better, and it's not the first 'modern' ex-GWR locomotive I've had with poor design issues. I received a K3 from 'another manufacturer and it's perfect - packaged and design well - that's the difference. Sort-of puts you off considering more from the 'big H' if this is how they're built / designed / packaged. As stated, seller was obliging if I wanted to return, but it shouldn't be like that - I'm keeping anyway. Al.

Put another way, I need to revise my enthusiasm into something a little more realistic!! I think I've enough 'toys' for now anyway ... but with that D421, it'll need the blue and whites to go with it, really ... be good Alan!! Al.

The wife is going to ban me access to 'a certain internet auction site' when I travel!! Last week I purchased an excellent-looking used Freightliner Class 57 (Bachmann) to 'banker' the biomass hoppers being hauled by the Freightliner 66 purchased 3 weeks ago. Yesterday I couldn't resist it and JUST 'won' a Hornby Class 50 - always loved to see them in Newquay station as a teenager - big, muscular and quite stylish - belays the sheer size. Looking forwards to seeing the fan moving ... Not certain but I think it has opening doors - might be wrong, but looks great. D421 - trying to keep it as 'early' as possible!! Al.

I went for the Freightliner - sort of ties in with the 'earlier' 08's, 20, 25, 37, 40, 47 and 55 Deltic I have - all green in some form. Must admit, 66 is a beast!! Al.

Over the last month, thanks to a colleague talking about biomass wagons he sees daily, I've purchased a good-used Bachmann Class 66 from Rails, and 'a few' HH hopper wagons - OK, quite a lot actually!! Out of the country for now, so they'll be waiting for me when I return. I was trying to stick to '48 - late 60's with a 'few exceptions' until now ... never mind!! Al.

Are any of these to control the Isettas by any chance? !!! (Joking.) Al.

All 3 interesting choices! I've a green Bachmann Deltic - fantastic locomotive - very powerful. I'm liking the railcar. Al.

Mentioned in an earlier post, but I've a Freightliner liveried Class 66 coming, and now there are 11 Freightliner HH Hopper wagons as well .... ideally, another 9 are required, but that won't be happening for a while! So much for sticking to my 'period' of '48 - '67 with 'some exceptions' - Mallard, Flying Scotsman, streamlined Coronations ... and a P2 ... Can't wait, but no photos for another 2 weeks - not in the country for a while!! Al.

Who cares? His money - simple as!! (No offence guys, and I don't disagree the inference.) Nice to recreate history and the detailing of the small scale vehicles is quite astounding these days. Look forward to seeing the loaded wagons. Al.

Must admit I got a bit confused with the numbers game as well! Always seeing J94's or 'clones' wherever I've gone on preserved railways in the past. I've one more coming, then I think I'll have to stop - or be certified!! Al.

Made a few more 'sales' on an auction site of older R/Control gear, so I've purchased a few 'industrial' J94's - always coming across them whichever preserved site I've visited over the years. Broken the trend with a 'just had to' as well - bought a Freightliner Bachmann Class 66 - just love the Bachmann diesels - detail, weight and power!! Photos to follow as/when received. Al.

I mentioned I wasn't too happy with the cylinder draincocks on my Flying Scotsman - I purchased the 'other option' ones - arrived today, again thanks to Peters - and also received the various packs which made up much of the missing accessory packs missing and never supplied with my 'new' N15. I actually purchased a pack said to be for the S15, but I guessed (correctly it appears) the are the same or near as. I had found a pack which included the steps but for an SR variant - sprayed black for this model, then I trimmed down the minimum necessary to permit the front bogie to turn more than 7th radius corners!! /media/tinymce_upload/7dc3e817412d10cfce5aa48885822466.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/c59d205f4b5f58e9aab8fad73acf1d00.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/0440a8ab058c84a0ee843d7baa2ae5c9.jpg Al.

Fitting the brake rods was a bit of a pain!! One of the 'eyelets' was broken off, just where it should be, so still permitted the rod to be glued into position - seems to be holding. I'll run it up and down a short test track this evening to see if it stays. Fitted the front steps - still seems to (just) negotiate 2nd radius curves (can't remember if my test curve is 2nd or 3rd to be honest!!). Al.

New purchase time!! I seem to remember an 8-coupled tank engine on the Dart Valley Railway, but doesn't seem to be listed now. I don't seem to be a great 'fan' of GWR, just appreciate the contribution it made to the ongoing developments of railway travel ... Can't wait to start 'adding the bits' to this one!! /media/tinymce_upload/99a7eb056d0bfe6942b2c6e2b2b3d4f8.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/e0889f1bab4aba7c57fe0075ba4ead1f.jpg This one is R3463. It still has the unsprung buffers, but does have a finer detail smokebox door 'dart'. Al.

I'll have to get the actual track started one day!! Sorry for all of the photos, but one part is still 'young at heart'! (Agreed, I don't like the draincocks on the FS either - I have a plan ...) Al.

2510 met a few more of its peers chez nous this evening - more me trying to see how it looks alongside them ... /media/tinymce_upload/85efedf427d3a4207ba414b0c7beb805.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/8cf7e3a1d373bfc706ec48f0915341b9.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/5d0e97c360cb2b649bd8059522745fca.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/e178f95642f96cee230cefc5142276db.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/9b0b861d871fc352a5631d20b9974086.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/e33fd451cd626be5ad13f9912bb14b69.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/47169d878da61cb52224ea7de11380ec.jpg I recognised the slight 'mark' on the Coronation, near the nameplate - visible in these photos. I managed to recover this, by cleaning, then lightly spraying with clear sating lacquer. Al.