The latest addition to my still-homeless fleet is this Bachmann inspection saloon in Swallow livery. Should help justify the handful of locomotives I have on a predominantly DMU railway!
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I've not even had it out of the box yet, and won't until I've some track to run it on.

My natural instinct was to go for the blue & grey version, but I decided to go against my gut feeling and go for the IC one. It adds a bit more variety and was also a good deal cheaper!I’ve got a blue and grey inspection saloon and I really love it. Makes an interesting little train to run occasionally.
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My natural instinct was to go for the blue & grey version, but I decided to go against my gut feeling and go for the IC one. It adds a bit more variety and was also a good deal cheaper!
Great to see... it means my own example won't be too far off once TMC have done their renumbering magic!Every now and again a model comes along that you just have to get. This one is both my favourite livery and on my favourite DMU, which I saw a lot of in my childhood
It’s a stunning model too and runs silky smooth.
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Lovely MLV, but from seeing my Dad's one, they don't half shift! Presumably on DCC you could just program to limit the top speed though to bring them in line with other stock?.Runs at a slightly different speed to the CEP's though (causing a bit of pushing and pulling), so I've removed it's motor and gearbox and run it as a trailer.
You can change the CV settings, but it's a bit of a faff and the MLV is permanently coupled to a CEP anyway, so it isn't really necessary for it to be powered. Also gives me a source of spares, as all the Bachmann southern EMUs and DEMUs have the same drive trainLovely MLV, but from seeing my Dad's one, they don't half shift! Presumably on DCC you could just program to limit the top speed though to bring them in line with other stock?
Postscript on this post- turns out I had to actually confirm my pre-order and pay up, something I thought I'd already done! TMC had emailed me, but of course this went into my spam folder and I didn't realise until they phoned me on Friday! All sorted now thankfully, so 158910 will be joining my fleet shortly.Great to see... it means my own example won't be too far off once TMC have done their renumbering magic!
Excellent! Well, there's nothing to stop you switching your stock over to represent different era's or even areas.Postscript on this post- turns out I had to actually confirm my pre-order and pay up, something I thought I'd already done! TMC had emailed me, but of course this went into my spam folder and I didn't realise until they phoned me on Friday! All sorted now thankfully, so 158910 will be joining my fleet shortly.
I may have also swooped in to snatch an all-blue Bachmann Cravens set off Ebay last night through the haze of flu-induced brain-fog, so there'll be plenty of variety on my as-yet-unnamed Yorkshire branch-line!
The aforementioned Cravens unit has arrived. Here's the (non-dummy) driving motor running in on the rolling road:
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(Apologies for the untidy desk!)
The layout I'm building takes inspiration from places like Clayton West or Holmfirth... which is close enough I guess!That's crying out for a North Woolwich/Silvertown-themed terminus to be built![]()
Love it! To my mind that was a BR that was looking to the future and experimenting.Darn it I spent far too much money at the otherwise excellent Statfold Barn model railway show yesterday - mind you, mine is still completely wrapped and I’ve long had a hankering for it (this, the original, rather than the rerelease). I still think the real thing is the most stunning “modern” traction to have run on British metal, and I remember seeing it once when it was operational and I was much younger.
My problem will be the forthcoming Cavalex 56s - the road to hell is paved with good intentionsMy latest was a Lima class 37. I'm sorely tempted by the forthcoming Accurascale 37. So sorely tempted...
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It's not exactly a railway product as such, but I've seen photographs of a similar thing on rail replacement work and it will fit in quite nicely when I eventually build the layout that's in my head!
I bought one of these:
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Oxford Diecast Alexander M Type Scottish
1:76 Scale Model of the Alexander M Type Scottish. Manufactured by Oxford Diecast the worlds biggest producer of 1:76 scale model vehicles.www.oxforddiecast.co.uk
Not sure I've seen a model railway depicting an RRB service before...That’s such a stylish coachybus (technical term). There’s a way of getting into model railways on the cheap - just a stretch of motorway and one of those on it.![]()
Not sure I've seen a model railway depicting an RRB service before...![]()
Love the windows. Reminds me a lot of the iconic General Motors New Look "Fishbowl"!It's not exactly a railway product as such, but I've seen photographs of a similar thing on rail replacement work and it will fit in quite nicely when I eventually build the layout that's in my head!
I bought one of these:
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Oxford Diecast Alexander M Type Scottish
1:76 Scale Model of the Alexander M Type Scottish. Manufactured by Oxford Diecast the worlds biggest producer of 1:76 scale model vehicles.www.oxforddiecast.co.uk




New arrivals for the WW1 diorama project were picked up this week, a rare case of me actually visiting a physical model shop.
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Apparently the "male/female" designation refers to the number and size of guns fitted... or as the bloke in the model shop joked "if you don't know the difference by now, there's no helping you!"![]()
Good to know. I generally leave the military knowledge to my friend who I'm collaborating with!WW1 "male" tanks had large calibre guns in the sponsons. Originally these were 57 mm guns.
WW1 "female" tanks had machine guns/small arms. Originally these were Vickers MGs.





Visited the Bluebell Collectors Fair today.
Most of the items from about 30 traders were steam era, so I managed to grab a few bargains as I model 1980s ish - present.
Can't resist a few bargains
Lima Dutch 31 for £30
Lima/Dapol Vee wagons for combined £9
Lima OBA for £5
Hornby BRT hopper for £5
Base Toys BR lorry for £5
2 x scatter bags for £4
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It might get the superglue slimline coupling treatmentNot a bad haul. The Lima 31 was a good model back in the day (apart from the very long hooks).