Model Railway - What's your latest acquisition?

Hi

Having reached the age where I can now draw my works pension I have treated myself to 4 more locos a class 86, 2x Class 90's and a Class 91 all secondhand and under 50 pounds each, all have working pantographs also a 3 car HST in intercity swallow livery.

For 25 year old plus model their in a good condition for their age

They will fit in perfectly with my modernish themed layout.

Just got to sort out the catenary wires and gantries & masts I going to use.

How is the 'bundle of snakes' pipework under the RHS of the cab now

It’s still not great, but it does look acceptable. I think it looks passable and it’s certainly not ugly.

I think the pipework under the cab needs to be dulled slightly. Maybe on Evening Star in the NRM it's polished to death, but on the real thing, in use, it's a little grubby, and so does not stand out as much as it does on the model.

Agreed with BB.

Bit of an Evening Star only - a fair amount of 'tarnishing' is probably preferred if possible.

The Snakes do look a lot better - still finer on the Bachmann I reckon.

I'm aware of Sam's Trains' review, and the additional details now present on the Hornby, not present on the Bachmann, but I'm increasingly believing I don't like the rims of the Hornby locomotives - odd 'Heritage' locomotives have had these polished, like the double chimney Jubilee 'Bahamas', but generally these should be 'wheel centre colour'.

Al.

Another HO Class 66 to repaint into a British loco. This time a 5dr HGK version from Mehano.

Missing a buffer but I have suitable spares and a fair price on Ebay.

I think the pipework under the cab needs to be dulled slightly. Maybe on Evening Star in the NRM it's polished to death, but on the real thing, in use, it's a little grubby, and so does not stand out as much as it does on the model.

In reality copper pipe turns brown as it ages, e.g. within 12 months if my external gas pipe is anything to go by. If it corrodes then it goes green and you are in trouble.

Loco pipes would be kept more coppery by the cleaners rubbing them with a paraffin rag, but definitely not brass coloured.

I've been busy collecting DCC locos over the last few weeks as all of my 16 old ones are DC. Hopefully some can be converted to DCC.

I haven't started the new layout yet, but, it's in the pipeline for this year and it will be quite large.

The DCC loco's purchased so far are;

Hornby Brit' Oliver Cromwell with sound.

Bachmann B1 with sound. Both of those were my first attempt at fitting DCC and a speaker and they work really well.

Bachmann LMS Compound.

Bachmann 5MT,

Bachmann G2A.

I've got decoders and sound to fit to those soon.

Hornby 9F 92167. Need to get a decoder and sound sorted for that one.

Finally, I've got a Hornby black 5 & Flying Scotsman, both with smoke, on order with Hornby. Can't wait to get them running.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Nice collection there.

I love my 1000 Midland Compound - good runner as well.

I recently purchased a 'new' G2A which is a superb runner as well.

All others good choices. Ollie looks great but may take a while to 'break in'.

Al.

Picked up a beautiful Class 73 in Dutch Livery for a bargain price at GETS, along with a few matching ballast trucks and a brake van. Not my usual thing, but variety is the spice of life.

I added etched brass nameplates to my new Evening Star - they are not those that came with the loco. Placed exactly over the original nameplate (transfer), to my eyes they look a fraction too low? Now to add sound!