Silver Fox 17

As far as I know they were introduced in 67, (and only in blue), so in the steam era but unlikely seen alongside a steam loco. The green one was done many years later so mixing the two together under rule 1 gives me a "BR green" diesel to run on my layout. I dont like full yellow ends which is why I will try to paint them out around the windows.

Green ones as on one of them I can hopefully paint out the yellow window surround and then under rule 1 it is suitable for my layout. The other, to see if I can use the chassis in a Deltic body.

Regarding level crossings, one thing I don't ever remember seeing on a model is the pedestrian access gates on one side. Many of the old gated crossings used to have a small gate where pedestrians could use to walk across when the cars were held up. I don't remember any signs saying "no access if gates are closed" you went through and if the train was not in sight you walked across. Obviously the modern era with faster quieter trains and automatic barriers means the public access gates are not allowed but I have never seen them modelled on layouts, so, when I put my modified Tri-ang TT level crossing on the upper level I will add this feature.

Also now there are hard rubber panels in set sized metal trays used in many locations

Dublo never made a 9F although one was planned. I think you mean Triang/Hornby in 00?

Peco told me at the York show they had plans for some different wagons but wanted to wait and see what Hornby were going to bring out. I cannot see anything Hornby have mentioned would be worrying them due to the era's planned.

I agree and hopefully I will be able to get both. Evening Star did not last long enough in BR days to get grubby, 5 years I think.

What about all the green with Evening Star too?

A Duchess/City loco with curved front footplate (like the Hornby models) was not streamlined. The streamlined locos had a gap between the lower front footplate and upper main one.

Okay, thanks Tim. To get a better look at the Duchess I have lightened your photo, hope you dont mind.

If you are still there Tim, can you ask if all the Staniers are going to suffer the scrapping issue or just the parcels vehicles? Are they still scheduled for May release? That LMS Duchess looks nice.

"Blood" did vary considerably. When new it was crimson, not quite maroon but soon started to fade to an orange hue. Precision/Phoenix paints do make new and faded colours for blood and the faded looks more like most of the photos around. The custard was more yellow shade than not but again faded to a pale cream. Precision/Phoenix custard is a more yellow shade and I have toned it down a little when painting models. I did have a photo of a Britannia with about 5 different shades of blood and custard coaches behind but cannot find it at the moment. You will always get someone thinking a colour is wrong as apart from new/faded, sunny/dull etc our eyes all see shades different to others.

Going by the ones I have seen from 15 years ago when I was 00, the teak was brilliant.

This was a photo of the Gresleys, Scotland February 2023, and the only time I have seen them. If the teak finish was an issue (brilliant in 00 though) then blood and custard or maroon would be acceptable.

They seem to have packed in with TT 120 now.

I know we should not have to but it is an easy fix to remedy, possibly even with a sharp knife as opposed to me grinding the plastic away.

I have had my pacifics with coaches going around old Triang TT small radius curves which are tighter than Hornby R1 without any issues.

They also come under the GEM name as they took over them. They also do junction signals albeit equal post heights. Even Triang TT signals can be used and they are diecast apart from the gantry version.

I wrote this morning about 8.00 regarding my shipping costs and got a reply about 9.30 saying all sorted with full refund, cannot complain about the service there.

Hornby are aware, I have sent videos and photos of the problem two weeks ago, they also mentioned it in the video this morning. The Mk1 underframes were modified by removing the offending material and altering the moulds.

That is not the issue, the problem is the moulded ridge set back from the bogie pivot. That dimension would most likely be the same irrespective of the length of the coach, it is where the Kinetic spring is attached and they are not going to make that longer.

The issue of the Stanier wheels catching as Carl mentioned he would like to know what has been done and where to the underframe to rectify the scraping. I sent photos 2 weeks ago to Hornby and was told they had passed it on to the correct department with video and photos showing what I had done. I did get a reply saying they were going to take a few "off the shelf" to see if they noticed the issue or if "it was just my coaches". Listening to the video it seems they did know there was a problem especially as they did insert a washer to try to alleviate the scrapping so not just mine.

When was the video meeting done, this week, last week as there was a comment made that surprised me?

I have around 60 locos with bogies, mostly Hornby as bought, but, a few that I have made/converted all using only Hornby bogies like on 2-6-4 tank locos, 4-4-0, 4-4-2 locos and not had any problems.

That is why I do not look at any YouTube once I see "paid content" appear, no matter who.