Although not a patch on the newer Bachmann version, this particular model will no doubt welcome it`s life extension, especially as it was so close to being put up on e-bay!

On my Stereo: Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger

I`m by no means a fan of Class 66`s, but if I`m totally honest, there`s no reason to dislike them except for the simple fact that they`ve displaced more classic traction.

Many people were saying how good the Bachmann model was, especially when compared to the 'defunct' Lima offering. Despite not having much need for one, I couldn`t resist getting one to play with. I settled for a Freightliner version as these frequently litter the bays at Rugby station! I have to say that it ran beautifully, and the day/night lighting option was a nice touch. However, I thought the model needed a couple of immediate and simple tweaks.
The warning panel yellow extends too far downwards on the model, presumably to disguise the seperately fitted skirting below the buffers. However, this didn`t quite look right, so I extended the black paint upwards by just over 1mm as can be seen in the picture. The cab-front windows didn`t quite look right either. A great improvment can be made by painting the inside of the window frames green with a small brush. The white lamp-irons were also painted yellow, along with a few other tweaks which took up very little time. The loco now awaits treatment in the weathering department....

On my Stereo: Beck - Mutations

This morning I put together this Kibri kit, which is to be a corner piece near the market scene. I Have previously built many Kibri kits (and other manufacturers kits of the same ilk) and I have to say that this particular kit (Kibri 8296) was a pleasure to build. Unlike previous kits I`ve assembled, the windows were already assembled with glazing, and the kit had a good snap-fit effect, a bit like constructing with Lego! Liquid cement was used in any case.

So, after a pleasing hour or so constructing a nice pristine model, It was time to tone things down a little with some weathering. Plastic kits really do look 'plastic' and scream out at me to tone them down! You have to remember that real structures are open to the elements, and It`s not just trains that get coatings of dirt. I think it`s important to recreate this in model form to create a more realistic effect. Here I`ve tried a before and after shot.... Nothing too drastic here, but the improvement is evident. I will tackle the paving at a later date......

On my Stereo: The Jam - Setting Sons

Between fiddling around with the fiddle yard construction, I have allocated myself a number of smaller projects. I find monotonous tasks must be divided up into sections, and little jobs inbetween are the perfect remedy.

One such job was to experiment with a Hornby Victorian house kit. One end of the layout features a length of low relief structures, and I thought I`d try to break up the Metcalf look a little! This kit was purchased in a sale, and was perfect to experiment with. Using a razor saw, I carefully cut the side wall sections in half, and also cut the roof in half across the top. I now had a low relief front building, and a low relief back building should I require it at a later date. So, two kits for the price of one, and even then in a half price sale!
I am currently in the process of trying different weathering techniques, hence the 'patchy' look to the model.

On my Stereo: Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

I have been laying down sets of track leading into the immense fiddle yard. Everything is looking well, and after much chopping and changing and re-drawing of plans, things are now becoming rather finalised.

Anyway, I thought I`d give Bachmanns Super Voyager 221 130 'Michael Palin' a stretch of the 'legs' as it`s never been run since purchase earlier in the year for clearance test purposes! It runs fine, but it is such a BAD boy! Michael Palin wouldn`t even get to Bombay in eighty days, let alone circumnavigate the globe if he was to travel on this train! It continually derails itself. And we have no sharp curves here! A variety of other traction worked successfully, even at excessive high speeds. I`ve spent a while using my noodle to figure out the problem, but to no avail.
Nevermind.... I don`t like voyagers, and didn`t want to play with it anyway!!

On my Stereo: Iggy Pop - American Caesar

Recent activity has included detailing and weathering some old Lima class 31`s. The ones that run well will be given extended lives until such a time that Hornby have several variants available. It would be a very expensive exercise to get the scalpel out to dozens of new Hornby offerings!
Anyway, I was looking for my model of 31327 on which I was going to do extensive work. However, the model is eluding me. All is not lost though as I found the above pictured class 37. I had forgotten I even had this one.... It`s surprising what one can find hidden away in boxes!

On my Stereo: The Supernaturals - It doesn`t matter anymore

Nothing of much interest to report I`m afraid. More Bachmann 20`s have been undergoing weathering, and more photos have been added in the 'locofleet' section. The latest two are 20208, and 20195, both of which are renumbered models from Bachmanns original release. The improved tooling from the second batch are superior, but the originals are still good enough, despite a few minor quibbles. I simply cannot justify replacing these with the latest offerings.

Since the last update, a few more buildings have been constructed, and are awaiting final detailing and weathering. This will have to wait until a rainy day....... Maybe tomorrow!

On my Stereo: Radiohead - Hail to the Thief

Monday lunchtime - 12th September 2005

Setting the scene.....

Yet another layout rethink has seen the alteration of the main townscene. This has now been scrapped and is to be started again from scratch. Several more shops and buildings will be required including numerous low-relief models of which a few are pictured here. Many of the buildings are adapted Superquick and Metcalfe kits, and a great deal of 'Anglicised' Kibri, Vollmer and DPM plastic kits. There is also the odd scratch-built structure dotted around here and there.
The 'backscenes' in the town area will also be affected, and will need considerable alterations. Again, I may start from the beginning, rather than spend a vast amount of time trying to utilise something now rendered unsuitable. Oh, don`t worry, the backscenes pictured are on loan from a primary school.... These will not be used in any capacity!

I`m also in the process of tweaking and weathering my fleet of class 20`s.

On my Stereo: Howard Jones - Dream into Action

Saturday afternoon - 3rd September 2005

Chopper Shopper!

Many, many years ago, I once considered the Lima class 20 to be a decent model, the moulded handrails being the main feature to let the model down. Before the original Bachmann release, it was my intention to super-detail a fleet of Lima locomotives. However, despite receiving criticism from some quarters, (yes there were a few errors,) Bachmann offered us a great model on the whole.
The latest releases incorporate some new retooling, and is certainly a great improvement.

I thought it would be interesting to compare Bachmanns latest 20132 (left) with an old repainted Lima model (right.) For the eagle-eyed amongst you, the Lima model is numbered 20135, which of course never carried this livery. The loco was purchased in this guise and was to be the basis of a conversion that never materialised. The only improvement on this model are brass buffers, and smaller couplings fitted. The Bachmann 20 is yet to have details fitted, and will be extensively weathered when I get round to it.

New Bachmann models have been purchased to replace the old Limas, but I`m sure some of the old favourites will linger on for a little longer yet.....

On my Stereo: Jean Michel Jarre - Equinox

Saturday afternoon - 27th August 2005

Uphill struggle.......

I am often asked for track plans. The problem I have with layout construction is changing my mind, or asking 'wouldn`t it be better if.....?' or 'How would it look if.......?' This has happened on several occasions, thus altering the track plan somewhat! Once I have the final layout plan, then I will reproduce it here, otherwise I`ll be wasting time.

The fiddle yard is an area that has been chopped and changed several times, and only now do we have the desired result.
Originally we were going to have 35 roads, but now we are going to have an extra fiddle yard below the layout. This basically features over 20 hidden sidings which are fed from a hidden gentle gradient. However, in order to pinch extra storage space, there will now be a few extra shorter roads, also hidden below the layout. However, access to these will have to have a significant gradient, but they are only to house a few short freight trains, or multiple units, so in theory a steep gradient wouldn`t pose a problem.

I`ve been humourously experimenting with the maximum possible gardient before woodwork begins. The picture below demonstrates the gradient which will lead down to the new storage roads. It was also a foresight into locomotive haulage capability. Just for fun, I tested various locomotives on a slightly steeper gradient. The load was a mere 12 HEA`s, albiet fully loaded with steel one inch nails! Bachmann 20`s and particularly the 25`s performed faultlessly. A Lima 20 also participated in the fun, and Limas 47474 was surprisingly superb. The biggest surprise, however, came from Hornby`s recent class 31 which was pathetic, and proved about as useful as a fart in a colander! However, this was only an experiment, and the loco runs fine under normal running conditions. Anyway, the fun is over, and time to get back to more serious work...

On my Stereo: Scott Walker - Scott 3

Saturday morning - 20th August 2005

DMU Review.......

I have been reviewing my collection of first generation DMUs over the last week. I await Bachmanns 108 with baited breath, but I have no indication of it`s release date, or even how far down the production process it is. We can only wait and see. And of course, hope!
The most important units for the layout are the 108s and 117s, so as I have no 108`s yet, I decided to turn to my 117s, and spend a few hours on them making the relevant modifications and detailing.

A class 117 DMBS is pictured above. Just a little work drastically improves the model, especially around the windows. The window edges are a ghastly white on the model straight out of the box, but a quick coating of paint eliminates this. However, there`s still more work yet to be done, including flush-glazing, renumbering, and a few more detail parts need to be added including guard irons and cab steps.

Unfortunately, Lima never produced a DMS vehicle, opting instead to get away with only producing the vehicle with the guards compartment. However, 117`s prototypically never ran in the formation forced upon us by Lima, so for authenticity we need to convert a vehicle from a DMBS to a DMS. The dummy car is the best option as the guards section helps hide the pancake motor!
There are two ways around this problem. Silver Fox produce a kit comprising resin sides. However, as I had some spare bodies, I opted for the traditional method of 'cut and shut'. The picture below clearly shows the three seperate sections which were carefully cut away from a spare body, and then reassembled to replace the guards compartment. After a small amount of filling on the roof, and emergence from the paint shop, you shouldn`t notice any of the joins. The only concern I have with this method is incorrect beading on the roof, but this can be rectified with small microstrip, and seperate roof vents are available from DC Kits.

On my Stereo: Gary Numan - Telekon

Tuesday morning - 16th August 2005

Resting weary bones.......

Yes, you`ve guessed it - yet another period of inactivity. Modelling tools had been laid down, and suitcases packed with silly bright shirts were instead picked up, and taken down to Cornwall for the week.
Included in our trip was a trip to the Bodmin & Wenford railway. Here we sampled a short journey on a class 108 DMU, which provided a great opportunity to take several interior detail photographs in anticipation of Bachmanns supposedly forthcoming model.

A visit was also made to the Mevagissey model railway. Amongst other things, they claim to have the largest collection of Lima class 37s in the world! Interestingly, for sale in the shop were pots of farmyard aroma.... Although tempted by curiosity, I resisted a purchase!

Anyway, during the well earned rest, I`ve had time to think about my next project. I`m not revealing too much at this stage, but it will require an extensive amount of scratch-building and kit-bashing.... Watch this space!

On my Stereo: Pearl Jam - Vs

Wednesday lunchtime - 3rd August 2005

Testing times..........

It`s been another period portraying a lack of progress. A few mundane chores like coach renumbering, and further class 90 bufferbeam detailing being the only signs of activity over the last week and a half.
However, I have been looking at my stock and fleet of locomotives, and have wondered why I even have some of them in my collection. Some of them have no place on the layout at all, either being of the wrong period, or from a totally different and 'incompatible' region! I guess some of these trains can have a sneaky run when no-one`s looking, and some can be kept for any possible future project or for display purposes only, but I think it may be time to bite the bullet and allow for a few departures.
The period modelled is generally late 80`s/early 90`s, but operating sessions will see stock from the early to mid eighties operating one week, gradually moving on in time to late eighties to early nineties, and so on up until approx 1997. This way, most trains should be in period with no major clashes, and over the weeks a slow transition can be observed. Likewise, a slow journey back into time would take place. Although not ideal in some aspects, I feel this adds a lot more interest than strict timescale layouts, and avoids 'silly' and unrealistic mixes of periods modelled.
2 loco`s which will avoid the 'transfer list' are 89001 and 91001. Although these are/were allocated to the ECML, they will put in the odd appearance on Test trains.The real test is to find an excuse to keep some of the 50+ engines that are surplus to requirements.....

On my Stereo: Feeder - Yesterday went too soon

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