About Me

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When i left school back then i was lucky enough to enroll on an engineering apprenticeship. I think this lead me in good stead. I was always one of those children that pulled things apart but actually put them back together again. My first engine given to me at the age of Seven, a Triang Princess Elizabeth. The rest as they say is History. Later in life i got back in to Model Railways and started building Pine Road. This could lead anywhere so i hope you enjoy my Blog.

Sunday 18 July 2021

New Road, a bit of progress.

There has been a lot of white plastic on New Road of late. Now the Class 74 is complete, thought it was time to get back to some actual modelling.
The arches are brick colour and one of the arches has an industrial unit now (only 10 more to do)
A view of the terminus.
One of the industrial units.

Sunday 11 July 2021

Class 74 complete.

It's taken a while to build this one.
Class 74 from Silver Fox Models but, I can safely say, she is complete.
im going to regret doing this but here is a list of all the parts bought to build her in to hopefully, something  approaching todays standards.

silver fox models kit £52.50

Hornby Class 90 diner chassis from eBay £40.00.

Dapol Class 73 buffer beams. £9.60

Hannets grill mesh S09 and S12 £10.40

Alan Gibson wheels G4-847NW 3'11" 12 spoke tender wheels £20.40

Extreme Etchings EEDP47-00B welded roof grill and fan set £11.50

Replica Railways RA102 cab interiors £1.95. http://www.replicarailways.co.uk/spares-and-accessories/spares

Coastal DCC esu mini power pack stay alive. £37.25.

Strathpeffer junction Ha6 CD motor kit eBay shop £15.55

Component shop blue LEDS £3.00 https://www.componentshop.co.uk/

Bachmann MLV main PCB this is for the headcode lights £12.50 Just ring bachmann service department.

DC Kits class 74 sound project from Legomanbiffo
£120.00

I shall never complain about the price of a ready 2 run loco again. Not forgetting to add to this list which I already had in stock so, not included in the final cost, Also not including any postal charges.
acetate for the windows,
Lead wieght for the body,
Reistors for LEDs,
Railmatch paint,
Varnish,
Also, making up the windscreen wipers,
Handrails, fitting mesh grills, wiring, soldering up pick-ups, adding a driver.
Time taken, god knows.
Total price, are you sitting down.
..........£334.65p........
The next time you see, say a Bachmann class 37 sound fitted for £265 It's cheap.

Would I do it again ?
No. As I specifically wanted a Class 74 and one to a certain standard. It's the only way to go, other than that it's not worth it but I do now have a very nice model of a Class 74.
Let's just sit back and wait for hornby to announce there's.

Sunday 4 July 2021

Nearly a month since the last post.

It's been a funny month, I usually like to post each week but not a lot has been done.
The Class 74 has stalled as I am waiting for an ESU stay-alive to arrive. I don't really want to put the body on properly till the stay-alive is fitted.
Other than that she is allready to go and runs well.
She has been fitted with a third rail arch.
Watch the video Here
I have also fitted it to both my EMUs from Bachmann, another video HERE
Fitted a couple of 'Sprat and Winkles' to my NOV wagons so we now have a parcels train to pull.
Talking of the Dapol Class 73, there has been a major upgrade, something that I have wanted to do for some time, the age old problem of its cab lights being on permanately.
Cut the 'track' to r1 and the track from r1 to r2 and solder 2 wires from the resistors to the aux outputs 1 and 2. Your cab lights will then work independently via a function button. To confess, I have to thank the guys at DC Kits for this little mod.
So, it's been one of those months of little jobs, not that I feel that much has been achieved but it's all progress.
Oh, one more thing, something else that I have been thinking of purchasing for some time. Well, it happened.
I have a sprig, well, it was going to happen wasn't it.