What's your latest acquisition?

[Sun Chariot]

Arrivals 30-April and 9-May.
Rapido's sublime Great Northern Railway 8 ton (19 foot long body, 10 foot wheelbase) van.
The GNR-livery example, I ordered when the vans were first announced autumn 2024.
This LNER-livery example, a limited edition, was entirely on impulse last Tuesday.

 

[4COR]

Of course, I greatly approve of new van content

 

[D1511]

Has Stephenson arrived in all its banger-blue glory, @D1511

No not yet. I'm getting rather impatient, but I'll post a pic as soon as it appears

 

[D1511]

Finally .......




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This also arrived in the same parcel




As it's a Romanian one, I'll need to try some weathering that looks like there's been a small electrical fire!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Fabulous additions @D1511
87 101 is exactly how I remember it in the 1980s.

 

[Cowley]

Finally .......

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== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

This also arrived in the same parcel

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As it's a Romanian one, I'll need to try some weathering that looks like there's been a small electrical fire!

Fantastic. As with @Sun Chariot that’s how 87101 looked when I first saw it. Did it stay in banger blue for longer than the rest of the class or am I misremembering that?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Fantastic. As with @Sun Chariot that’s how 87101 looked when I first saw it. Did it stay in banger blue for longer than the rest of the class or am I misremembering that?

It was certaintly one of the very last. It was transferred (still blue) to Railfreight Distribution in 1989. It emerged in its RfD sector greys livery in 1990.

August 1988, the only blue 87s I saw + photo'd were 87 101 (Birmingham New Street) and 87 034 (Carlisle).

 

[D1511]

Fabulous additons @D1511
87 101 is exactly how I remember it in the 1980s.

Fantastic. As with @Sun Chariot that’s how 87101 looked when I first saw it. Did it stay in banger blue for longer than the rest of the class or am I misremembering that?

Cheers chaps.....that's very much my enduring memory of it too. Not sure how long it stayed blue before it went triple grey though......but someone will know. (Edit..... @Sun Chariot has already provided the answer!)

That's how I remember 56s as well actually, from when I first saw one on Tinsley shed in 1977. My first one for haulage on a WCML Sunday drag looked like that too. A BR blue 56 covered in fine coal dust looked more apt on a long train of MGR hoppers than they did in their big logo livery. It looked too fancy for the job they did! Dirty, faded blue with an almost unreadable number matched a long rake of filthy coal hoppers much better!

(56006 was the first one accepted into service I think.....albeit quite briefly before needing all its Romanian errors rectified!) I might renumber it to one in the low 30s, which are BR blue Donny ones. (But not 036!)

 

[Sun Chariot]

It's great to see decent-fidelity cross-arm pantographs have been modelled in N and in OO (crispness of 87 101's panto is superb). I think I only saw STEPHENSON and 86 103 still with cross-arms by 1988-89.

 

[xotGD]

Put the 56 on the front of the 87, and you've got a Nuneaton drag ready to run.

 

[4COR]

Have done almost nothing model related recently, but a few bits for future work - Ratio 594 (even planked SR van), Cambrian C7 (SR 25T pillbox).

Trying to get a couple of Masokits etches for lift-link brakes to go with the van (and a ply van already owned).



Also, related reading (lift link, top left pic!) - vol 4 of Southern Wagons:

 

[Masbroughlad]

Most recent was a Railroad Shell, 4 wheel tank wagon.

I have just pre-ordered a Hornby, INTERCITY Class 73.

 

[Sun Chariot]

(56006 was the first one accepted into service I think.....albeit quite briefly before needing all its Romanian errors rectified!) I might renumber it to one in the low 30s, which are BR blue Donny ones. (But not 036!)

I remember its large logo livery appeared on the cover of Modern Railways in 1978. Quite a stir for Young Chariot and I vowed.to own a OO model in that livery. A few years later, Palitoy (Mainline) obliged with 56 084.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

My first purchase for a good while- three OO9 War Department wagons from Rails for the trench railway diorama. I'll need to remove the WD markings for true period authenticity, but that's probably a job for winter time... A bit expensive really, but I had some points built up which took the edge off!

 

[4COR]

I have some bits arrive from Roxey Mouldings (grab rails etches, buffers, roofs) for a long term project in building up two ex SECR 100 Seaters...

 

[xotGD]

One more for my collection of Syphons. 37112 in a variation of blue...



The real thing now looks a bit different as 37510. However, 37610 currently has this livery.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I'm expecting a Trix Class 83. Anyone know what they are like; were they good models for their time?

 

[Sun Chariot]

I'm expecting a Trix Class 83. Anyone know what they are like; were they good models for their time?

Trix made an AL1 model, well-made for its time (1962-1964). What I've read suggests Trix's model was considered a finer detailed and more accurately-proportioned product, than the slightly later Triang AL1.
I presume you have Trix's 2-rail DC version and not its 3-rail (centre rail pickups) DC version?
I look forward to seeing photos!

Are you planning to renumber into TOPS class 81, or leave it with original E30xx number*?
Here's a Trix AL1 renumbered to TOPS:

Trix AL1 Upgraded

Another Trix AL1 upgraded - as Shields Road 81 009. Cheers Darius

irishrailwaymodeller.com

* The AL1 fleet was numbered E3001 to E3023, plus E3096, E3097 (the two higher-geared locos were initially numbered E3301, E3302)

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Thanks @Sun Chariot

I believe its a 2-rail DC version but I'll look at it in the flesh when it arrives + what livery it is in. I loved the roarers but never saw them pre-TOPs. If the livery is accurate for the period, I might leave the number as-is but see if I can source some raised numbers (if the model has printed ones)

Yes I'll post some pics when it arrives :

 

[Sun Chariot]

The two (DC operable) Trix OEM pantographs are, by modern standards, very coarse. That link I added in my previous post, @Islineclear3_1 , the 81 has a contemporary panto' and what a difference it makes.
I guess some flush glazing + wire handrails will also bring the model's fidelity up a notch.

 

[eyebrook1961]

I've decided to try and get rid of most of the items I have acquired over 50 years, only keeping the two things I have an interest for at the moment (US comics from 1960s up to Dec 79) and Airfix soldiers and poly vehicles (the soldiers being ones where I lost count of how many disappeared in the sand at Scarborough in the 1970s!)
I came across a box of model railway items, from Lone Star Trebl-o-lectric, some TT stuff, some OO items (Hornby Dublo plus more recent manufacturers) and also a couple of 7mm bits (an old kit built Terrier and a lowmac - strange combination to be the only two 7mm items I'd got).
I'm slowly listing these on ebay hoping that they all go to good homes where they can carry on being well looked after - there's no point in my keeping them as all they've done is to sit in a box for over 30 years . . .

 

[Islineclear3_1]

So my Trix Class 81 arrived today (@Sun Chariot). Obviously it's going to be a modelling project during retirement as a lot needs to be done. I assume the pantographs are not original; they certainly look the part. I like the detail on the wheels but (I assume, not a thing in the 1960s), no bufferbeam detail. The numbers will need to be filed down and replaced

 

[matt]

My latest addition to the fleet is a large logo Dapol Class 56, 56131.

 

[xotGD]

View attachment 209884

My latest addition to the fleet is a large logo Dapol Class 56, 56131.

A Gateshead loco. I approve!

 

[Sun Chariot]

A Gateshead loco. I approve!

Toton, surely? 56 121 was, I think, TO allocated all its service life. I am pretty certain no Grid was allocated to Gateahead.

 

[D1511]

Toton, surely? 56 121 was, I think, TO allocated all its service life. I am pretty certain no Grid was allocated to Gateahead.

Perhaps 56135 being named "Port of Tyne Authority" gives a clue here.......there were a few 56s allocated to Gateshead in the 80s for coal and steel trains to replace pairs of 37s, and 131 was one of those.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Perhaps 56135 being named "Port of Tyne Authority" gives a clue here.......there were a few 56s allocated to Gateshead in the 80s for coal and steel trains to replace pairs of 37s, and 131 was one of those.

My wife keeps telling me I need spectacles: I was convinced that was a "2"!

My 1980s teen, busily track-bashing on tours + Rail Rovers, yet I never realised that Gateshead had Grids. Every day's a school-day...
And Grids ousting 37s! Does @xotGD approve of that?

135 was the only one outshopped from new in Railfreight's "large logo" grey, wasn't it?

 

[xotGD]

And Grids ousting 37s! Does @xotGD approve of that?

Definitely not! They replaced pairs of 37s on the mgr workings but there was still plenty of coal and coke traffic to keep the 37s busy.

Gateshead originally had 56075 to 56081, but these were replaced by the last built batch.

Here is one of them: 56130 back in 1986 at East Boldon...

View attachment 209926

 

[4COR]

The fruits of holiday eBay browsing for cheap kits and a few other bits and bobs...

Airfix kits: 5 BR 20T brakes, and 3 16T 1/108 minerals. The former will make up diagram /504 or 1/506, and with a bit of work maybe the ex-LNER 1/500...
Ratio: A pair of LMS vans
Parkside: Two PA16 chassis - one is so I can build one LMS van as fitted on J hangers (the other I'll probably use for an 1/044 open - PC02)
Evergreen strip is to add strapping onto the LMS and brake vans...

And a few wheels and spindle/oleo buffers for other kits.

I also received a pair of etches for SR lift-link ("Monarch") brakes from Masokits - these are to go on SR (well, BR built) ply and SR even planked vans (Ratio 593/594). I have read the instructions and they do look fiddly!

Looking forward to doing some modelling again soon!

 

[Sun Chariot]

@4COR what a fabulous haul, G I really like how you give a new "life" to wagon kits I remember from the 1980s (and, a few from 1970s!). Yet, with your skills, kit-bashing, an etched part or two, plus your paihting and weathering seen upthread, you've created beautiful models and bespoke versions.

Your post mentioned Parkside's PA16 underframe kit. It's a 10ft wheelbase, as is Peco's R-20.
Do you know of any OO 10ft 6in wb chassis?
Parkside's LMS dia 1664 non-vent van (9' wb) is an identical body to LMS dia 1982 fish van which (uniquely for LMS fish) ran on 10' 6' wb (grrrrr!)