Model Railway - What's your latest acquisition?

Polly!!

Just like I remember her 45 years ago!

Great hill climber as well - used to have Super4 track climbing up to chair seat level!!

Only my Blue Pullman was better, with her knurled wheels!

I'd be shot at dawn for some of the things I did to these 'collectors items' when 'I were a lad' !!

Moving on ...

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!

Jeff is in the building - OK, a Bachmann Virgin 'Jeff Tracy Class 57/3 57 306.

Good locomotive and a bit of fun at the same time!

Nameplates pre-mounted by the previous owner.

Only shows up a very slight mis-alignment with the camera zoomed in.

All working perfectly using my 9V battery test, at work - 1/2 day of course!

Will get a full check over, lube and grease, then gentle running both ways, before detailing the #1 end.

Al.

Check over a tad disappointing.

This is not 'the one' for me unfortunately - some issues I'm in contact with the vendor over and as I cannot resolve, I've asked to return it.

Pity.

Al.

Class 108 DMU.

. . . gave it the once over after running in, check tighten things and a relube. Getting the fairly big Lenz Golds into place was a bit of a struggle, as they have a large plastic plug on the harness and the sockets are tucked away in tight places.

Tomget the body off you have to drop the front bogie (single pivot screw), then remove a securing screw, before unclipping the body at lifting awy front end first. It was a bit of a struggle. Unfortunately I didn’t have any people or I would have filled a few of the seats. Maybe fit them later when Hornby gets its TTS act together and does a DMU retro kit and I have to lift the tops off again.

The trailer car has a dedicated slot in the toilet compartment for a decoder but the notch for the harness was too small and right next to a long upright brass contact for the lights, so a new bigger slot had to be made in the other corner. A bit of double sided tape secured the decoder but the socket is in a tight spot between the rear sets, making a direct plug decoder impossible.

The power car was easier but the decoder ‘home’ is a ‘just the right size’ tray in the metal chassis, albeit a painted tray. That was lined with insulating tape just in case and the decoder secured with double sided tape with an insulating layer of sellotape lightly applied over the top. Again the socket is in a tight spot right at the back end between two brass contacts for the roof lighting. Folding the harness up tidy was another struggle.

With the decoders fitted it took a lot of throttle to get the thing running at a reasonable pace and top speed was fairly realistic for the type, but it ran nice and quiet on DCC. F0 puts the directional lights on as well as the destination board lights and oddly the cabin interior lights, which are dismally dim. Exterior lighting is nice, subdued but nice. F1 & 2 didn’t do anything. I was expecting the cabin lights to be on F1.

Overall I am very impressed with the model.

Sounds good RAF.

Much overlooked units are the DMU's and EMU's, 'though plenty are available nowadays.

Al.

Ive just ordered the grey Peckett, Smokie Joe for the 6 year old and the As One 66 and three As One containers from Hornby. I will add a sound decoder and lights to the 66. 

Hornby R3596, limited edition, Black 5, purchased from the NRM Locomotion, cost £150 brand new.

same one used going on ebay for £222 plus postage

Could not resist another Wrenn R! 0 6 0T tank. It's a blue livery Esso tank (only 336 made), slightly rare. I got my North Thames Gas yellow livered R! working (only 600 made). I need to start looking for the Siver body Shell R1 tank as my next buy.

It's a nice model indeed.

Always take care of the heart taking over the purse strings - there's always an offer 'just around the corner'.

Disappointing that a major Yorkshire outlet is selling one for substantially more than Locomotion ...

As Tornado has had a repaint, I've just purchased a 'new' Brunswick Green one ...

They're typically selling north of £100 used, up to £140.

Mine cost £85.

It does have the old / early logo, which I can remove and replace ... making close to identical with the latest iteration ... which will change in a few years' time anyway, so perhaps best leave ... 

I have a few old tenders I'll experiment with first.

Al.

Another Bachmann Class 37 plus Tornado arrived today.

37 all detailed up one end, alongside R2339 Mallard - never know, they say it won't steam again, but it just has to .... he says!!

Al.

some more comet LMS coaches to build, 2 60'CK  diagrams 2117 & 1925. BCK daigram 1851 plus Bachman BR  0-4-4t  plus  dcc chip for the loco