LMSFan72

I actually have switched the coach bodies to the Rover Inca Yellow now. Slightly darker as I am considering painting the power cars in Humbrol 69. In reality the power cars seem slightly lighter than the coaches..

I decided to change my modelling “period” to be anything that could be running on the mainline in 2018. Given the amount of preserved locos with mainline certificates the opportunity is huge! That said, it does mean a number of class 25s, 08s, Princess Coronations and A4s will be off as I can’t repaint and number them all to something still running… So, taking advantage of some cheap deals here’s a few pictures of the repaint projects: Updating the NMT power cars livery to 2018. Power car detail removed with 7000 grit "wet and dry" stuck to lolly sticks and lubricated with T-cut. Blanking and repainting some £12 Midland Mainline Mk3s to match. Coach bodies in Humbrol 69 aerosol on Halfords white primer. Repaint and renumbering to get the fleet of large logo DRS Class 37s (these are all actually Vitrains). Railmatch aerosols for the BR Blue (1207) and Grey (1206), Humbrol 69 on the nose with Halfords Satin black. Using a couple of Vitrains 37s to recreate the proper look for 97301 (nose was ex-37709 with the blanking plate filed down as smooth as I could go and mating them to a respray of a 37201). Humbrol 69 for the body (on grey primer this time), Halfords Grey Primer for the roof, nose ends Halfords Rover Inca Yellow. Working out the colour match for the LNER Mk3. I think I’ll be going with Halfords Red Primer as a base to Halfords Volkswagen Mars Red No2, then Halfords White Primer and Railmatch 1206 Rail Grey again… Pretty close to the VTEC power car and given the non-availability/silly prices fo the VTEC coaches a worthwhile try! /media/tinymce_upload/cf15a2185e3c6b6f8be712b965f6f0f4.jpg

A Lima Class 50, Eagle in Large logo blue. Model upgraded with: Headlight hole and surround added (model didn't have a headlight)Head code light holes drilled and headcode box painted grey to match roofWorking lights fitted: independent fronts and rears. Wired it so I could switch headligths off from markers too but for now the chip doesnt have those functions...future...Motor replacedAll wheel pick ups21-pin MTC socket addedEM2 speaker fitted/media/tinymce_upload/1674984f4a465fab7fba0a16dd863fc5.jpg Now to reblow the Loksound chip so that she doesn't sound like a Duchess....

Here are a few shots of my TMD scene which I was using for practice... /media/tinymce_upload/e00c110602dd99d1921409f07255d3fb.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/ecafe6714aedb144228e4808613bf377.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/e8d0d36b37cea5dea94ac758e45e11b7.jpg

R3509TTS, City of Brirmingham 46235, arrived yesterday after being on pre-order for a year. Looks great, sounds great and runs great! The variety of whistles is nice to have alongside City of Sheffield (the XS loksound sound version)

More the whole workbench. I decided I'd make a lightweight, transportable TMD that I can run programs on with Railmaster and sit back and watch! So far so good... A couple of slabs of insulation foam, holes through it sleeved for the droppers, etc, to protect the foam from wire insulation. Electrofrogs, modified Hornby turntable, all ballasted and painted. Now making a modern shed, and different buildings/features for different periods...before getting to grips with all the minutae and detail work. Pattern maker dowels set into foam to make to locate the 2 pieces. Minus all the scenery, each board can be carried in one hand! /media/tinymce_upload/ca596c441cb4b4b23a780fa56c72c69c.jpg

Making a Network Rail DBSO - 9702 I think... Still got roof to do, then the underframe. All freehand mods so far. Quite pleased!/media/tinymce_upload/a8c4dbab494153552e07030719ef8b42.jpg

/media/tinymce_upload/ae2f964a6f98a6a0952b69a911ce6f3c.jpgSome track mimic diagrams on 6mm perspex fitted with red/green LEDs and miniature SPST switches to operate my points! These will work in conjunction with both my select walkabout/elite and railmaster using my DCC Concepts solenoid decoders...... A lot of soldering (this is the small one of 3!)

A series of extra pickups for my Class 08s and my Lima Class 47. The 08 ones just get super strong blu tak to the chassis bottom. It's amazing how well it works. No wire connections needed as long as there is at least one original pick up in contact at each side. Worst case I have to solder the wires to the original connections in the futuere but I havent needed to yet!! The Class 47 get glued inside the chassis so that the contact on the wheel outer faces./media/tinymce_upload/359c588cd73b05ae3bffd539ca6c723b.jpg

Well, I had a spare ESU HST decoder and an old 3-pole ringfield HST, so, I thought I'd see if I could make it an acceptable performer! I have added pick ups to both sides of the front bogie, running on top of the wheels, and an additional set of pick ups to the ringfield's insulated drive wheels - these are bonded to the side frame and run across the outer faces (see photo). Frankly, I'm amazed! It crawls amazingly well and the sound is brilliiant. I haven't needed to use my homemade stay alive, but I might. Top speed seems low but I haven't checked the CVs yet. I know the decoder is worth about 10 times the HST, but, it's surprisingly good!!! I'd recommend the pick up method to anybody..... /media/tinymce_upload/0884d1236100633fb791b808630b7e87.jpg

Just took delivery of R3339, the very beautiful Duchess of Hamilton as preserved. Great looking model. Looking forward to giving her a run on the mainline as the NRMs locos go out on specials...

Well, my investigation into using an X6100 Class 60 sound 21-pin board to convert my HST to 21-pin (and so use a reblown sound chip that I already had) has worked beautifully. I have simply replaced the main board with almost no modification - just shifted the plastic board spacing plate a few mm. It did need a light board from a dummy car to be used in the power car - or a case of disassembling and de-soldering the LEDs and refitting with reversed polarity. (Be warned, Hornby now supply spare light boards that are all common negative for the HST whereas when new the board was common positive in the dummy and common negative in the power. If you have an old spare it's a straight switch. If not you need to desolder the LEDs, turn them around, and re-solder them as the Class 60 board is common positive for the lights. If I can upload a photo I will, but havent been able to for a few days... This also opens up the options to fit switchable day and night headlights as the pcb will take it.....

Here is the newer Class 67. This one is getting more independnt functionality on the lights. Required rewiring of the light boards, adding new contacts and a new PCB.. /media/tinymce_upload/f5d163cf2766ad40e86a9095664e1092.jpg

/media/tinymce_upload/fcb67160f46187483a0c4a73a5b45e42.jpg Here we are with the image!

Well, all done. I have side and top marker lights always on if lights are on (F0), switchable headlights - for day (F1) or night running (F2) and switchable tail lights (F3)...only thing I wonder is if in real life with the class 67 pushing the train whether the front marker lights are always on - I assumed so, but, now have doubts! Cant post a picture - getting the disk problem!

The delicate task of replacing the head lights on Class 67 Royal Diamond with independent rear lights and running lights so it ismore realistic running in formationon the EWS manager's train...../media/tinymce_upload/1aae5719d864e617a57d952ec68b573d.JPG

A number of digitrax sound decoders and programmer so I can play around with sound files.... Class 25, 67, 37, DMU here I come!

Quite a lot...! Still building the new "G" shape layout to go round the edges of the room. Here is the 16 arch viaduct that will be a removable 2.5m long section, and my modified Hornby turntable - see separate post./media/tinymce_upload/2b45b34a8aef84e542e48c87a60cd268.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/92cd01fd301376461af93dd969cf3ad6.jpg