Bulver

Many thanks to WTD for the link, and also to John for his response too. Greatly appreciated , and also apologies and thanks to Bexhill Donkey who was the poster I should have directed my query to. Rod

A question for TrainDriverJohn, please. I can’t trace the web address for the Key/Hornby 2020 catalogue, and would be grateful if you could advise. I have tried the publisher’s website, but can’t locate the link. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I stupidly threw away the flyer with this month’s magazine, trying to be tidy.....doh! many thanks Rod

Hattons/Heljan Beyer Garratt 2-6-0 0-6-2 47988 in BR black with early emblem and revolving coal bunker - lightly weathered, I had ordered this in 2018 and forgotten all about it! Also realised I had ordered another loco at the same time, which thankfully, hasn't appeared yet.....phew! Rod

lovely potted history and pictures, LC, thank you for sharing them. would like a few of those Met coaches to run behind my Heljan 'John Bunyan' Rod!

HB, that stuff brings back memories.....back in the the ‘60s I worked for a company called Expandite in Park Royal, NW London. they used to produce a similar product called Philplug. Remember going into the factory and being met by a mist of asbestos dust.. Didn’t learn my lesson, went on to work for another company producing asbestos based materials, gaskets, pump and valve seals etc. I must be fireproof now lol Rod

'(but I can't tell you more about it - because I've forgotten what I have order ' whoops, Jimmy, hope you like it when collecting it! Rod

Great stuff, Jeremiah, as always. Fascinating to see your CAD transformed into the model. Rod

Terrific, a fantastic project and looks to be a real talking point at dinner parties! Well done Rod

@StuBaggyBoy When I got the class 90, I was a bit surprised to find the cab(s) unpopulated, looks like the devil’s own job to get to that area of the loco too. I certainly won’t be trying it. Rod

i, too, thought that the cab on this loco is crying out to be populated, but having struggled to undo the roof retaining screws for the decoder, I have decided against touching any other bit, in case something else falls off! Rod

oh well, picture appears, saves me having to download again phew! Rod

Whoops - looks like my attempt at posting a picture of my class 90 has disappeared. So....will try again later Rod

For StuBaggyBoy, a picture of the class 90. Have to say, the Hornby version looks pretty good to me also/media/tinymce_upload/fd259fcb99a8714eaf36e9d2144d1e31.png

Apologies, Stu, will post a picture of the class 90 tomorrow Rod

Hi Stu, just opened the laptop, so sorry for not replying earlier. The height from railhead to top of pantograph is 70mm (as far as I can determine using a vernier gauge and 76 years of eyesight!) it was most enjoyable watching the start-up sequence again, seeing the pantograph being raised. hope this is of use to you Rod

Thanks, HB, I knew there was a cv change, but have been unable to locate the info.. I am sure the solution you mentioned was the one I used, to ‘reasonable’ result. Rod

Hi Jim, i fitted a class 47 TTS decoder to a viTrains model, and experienced the same problems. I think that I found a resolution to this in amending CVs, but unfortunately I can’t trace the ref. at present. I will have a look and report back Rod

Received a replacement for the new Bachmann class 90 last week, and fortunately only 1 tiny piece of pipe had fallen off. It was so small, I thought it was a bit of black thread initially! Shan’t worry about it now. As I had bought the Legoman sound card, fitted that. On trials on my rolling road the start up routine is very good, the pantograph rises up at a (to me) prototypical speed, and the engine start up follows. Very good bit of kit, one day I might even have a decent run of track for it, rather than the windowcill of the conservatory lol Rod

Ken, yet another master-class in the art of loco construction. Thank you for sharing it with us Rod

Yes, Al, I had read some of the stories, but hoped that the company would have taken remedial action. The supplier was apologetic and immediately offered the replacement. I will see! Rod

Just taken delivery of a Bachmann class 90, lovely looking model. unfortunately, when I unpacked the loco from its clamshell, the 2 rear buffers had broken off, together with 1 light lens from the front. The buffers, being sprung, were not repairable, and as a result have had to return immediately for a replacement, shame, but not a good reflection on the QC at Kader Towers. Shall await to see if the replacement is ok. Rod

R2811 Rolling Road, plus Spare rollers. Also a Trix class 124 transpennine twin set. This was very noisy when I tested it, wouldn’t have needed a sound chip! However, I saw that the motor block was very slightly out of line, corrected this and now much quieter (not sure which I preferred lol). Runs nicely and a good condition for a late 60s/early 1970s bit of kit. Rod

An impressive collection, NewLad, thanks for sharing it with us Rod

R3635 ‘Lord Rodney’ with TTS sound fitted. I reckon this must be a ‘Rails’ after-fit special, very good value and a lovely runner so far. The sound is very good, too. Rod

Thanks for the update, Good to hear Hornby sorted it out for you. Rod