Tales from The Room of Doom. Dipping a toe in various bucolic backwaters.

[Flaxfield]

Well, things haven't gone quite according to plan.

The Accurascale Class 30 was delivered earlier today. Poor packing, allowing the model to move about in the outer box resulted in damage to the model box and minor damage to the model itself in the form of a detached valence. The valence was easily remedied by a blob of PVA. However whilst doing so I noticed a dig in the gangway doors at one end, clearly done during assembly. So, it's going back.




On a positive, it ran beautifully and sounded fabulous...



And to add to that, the RM attempted to deliver the Rapido LB&SCR coaches yesterday. We were out so I redirected the delivery to our relatively local post office, as I knew we would be out this morning. Delivery was apparently attempted at 19.41hrs, a full hour and forty one minutes after it closed..........

You could bet that had I not bothered with redirecting the parcel, they'd have tried to deliver it whilst we were out today.

However, all was not Doom and gloom with the welcome announcement by Accurascale of their intended production of a BR Standard 20t brake van, due for delivery in Q1 2027.

Rob

 

[Simon H]

Morning Rob!
It's a shame about the damage/defect on the Class 30, as it looks lovely on the layout...the livery almost looks luminescent. I hope it gets sorted out to your satisfaction.
The LB&SCR coaches look good...hope they arrive soon. Although I was quite interested in the history of the "Brighton" in my teens, and more recently worked in several of its stations, unfortunately I have very little knowledge of its coaches.
Cheers,
Simon.

 

[Flaxfield]

Morning Rob!
It's a shame about the damage/defect on the Class 30, as it looks lovely on the layout...the livery almost looks luminescent. I hope it gets sorted out to your satisfaction.
The LB&SCR coaches look good...hope they arrive soon. Although I was quite interested in the history of the "Brighton" in my teens, and more recently worked in several of its stations, unfortunately I have very little knowledge of its coaches.
Cheers,
Simon.

Morning Simon.

Yes, it is disappointing. However, I was contacted by Paul Isles, one of the design team at Accurascsle yesterday evening. His response to my issues with the loco was faultless. I await formal notification to return but informally, it's as good as sorted.

As I've mentioned 'up thread', the coaches will be hidden away until Crimbo, by which time they will hopefully have arrived.....

Rob

 

[Mike Walker]

Don't bank on it, Rob, not with the state of the RM these days.

Should you need inspiration for weathering D5579 I have several colour photos of it my collection ranging from near pristine to absolute filth. So happy to help if required.

Mike

 

[Flaxfield]

Don't bank on it, Rob, not with the state of the RM these days.

Should you need inspiration for weathering D5579 I have several colour photos of it my collection ranging from near pristine to absolute filth. So happy to help if required.

Mike

Thanks, Mike.

I have a few images but I'll probably be sending 5579 off to a proper weathering type, but it will be accompanied by suitable images......







Rob

 

[Osgood]

I like that.
The lower one Iooks like it might be Ipswich?
How long was it in this livery?

 

[robertm]

I remember both the Brush T2s in experimental livery. They always seemed to be filthy and so they offered no improvement in appearance over the standard green. The subsequent all over blue sans white stripes was even worse. My favourite was the initial batch without headcode board and white window surrounds. The blue era was the worst livery.

 

[Dog Star]

The lower one Iooks like it might be Ipswich?

Agreed.

 

[David Hall]

I like that.
The lower one Iooks like it might be Ipswich?
How long was it in this livery?

Agreed.

Definitely Ipswich. Spent many an hour standing on that platform when I lived in sunny Suffolk. Sadly, in far more modern times when the trains were nowhere near as interesting. Oh to be transported back to the time of that photo!

 

[Flaxfield]

Morning all.

Sadly the Type 2/Class 30 is packed up, ready to be returned to Accurascale. However, I have to say the racket it produced was rather nice. Probably the best sound I have heard on a model diesel loco. Clear, crisp and a proper clatter. Now I never heard a Mirrless engined job but it's certainly different to a ' normal 31' and I can understand why these were re-engined as it sounded as if it would let go at any given time.

I collected the LB&SCR coach pack, successfully delivered to the post office yesterday afternoon when it was open, and they are now tucked away to allow me to be suitably surprised on Christmas morning. They really are rather nice and they will certainly look the part with the Marsh Umber locos. So that pretty much takes care of the coach requirements for the developing LB&SCR project. With the LB&SCR vans and brake vans trickling in throughout the year, this, on paper at least, takes care of the stock. I am toying ( ! ) with ordering a couple of bespoke private owner wagons via Rapido. There is no rush for these, but I think it would be a fun thing to do.

Rob

 

[Simon H]

Morning all.

Sadly the Type 2/Class 30 is packed up, ready to be returned to Accurascale. However, I have to say the racket it produced was rather nice. Probably the best sound I have heard on a model diesel loco. Clear, crisp and a proper clatter. Now I never heard a Mirrless engined job but it's certainly different to a ' normal 31' and I can understand why these were re-engined as it sounded as if it would let go at any given time.

I collected the LB&SCR coach pack, successfully delivered to the post office yesterday afternoon when it was open, and they are now tucked away to allow me to be suitably surprised on Christmas morning. They really are rather nice and they will certainly look the part with the Marsh Umber locos. So that pretty much takes care of the coach requirements for the developing LB&SCR project. With the LB&SCR vans and brake vans trickling in throughout the year, this, on paper at least, takes care of the stock. I am toying ( ! ) with ordering a couple of bespoke private owner wagons via Rapido. There is no rush for these, but I think it would be a fun thing to do.

Rob

I've always thought that the Umber was a very smart livery.
Your mention of the bespoke PO wagons reminds me that at one time there was a proposal for a colliery inland from Bexhill...nothing came of it, which is just as well as it's doubtful that there's much, if any, coal there, but a BEXHILL COLLIERIES wagon might be an amusing subject for a commission.
Simon.

 

[ovener]

Yes, I've had a couple of the Rapido custome wagons made. there's very slight bleeding of the paint but only really visible if you use a lens. I've had them made with family ancestors which is quite a nice way to remember my forerbears I think.
Richard

 

[Flaxfield]

I am both pleased and relieved to confirm that I have been working on the small layout today. I can now join the fiddle yard to the scenic section, albeit on a temporary basis until the appropriate fastners arrive tomorrow.

Still some work to do before photos can emerge but I'm happy with the progress made today.

Rob

 

[Suddaby]

"I collected the LB&SCR coach pack, successfully delivered to the post office yesterday afternoon when it was open, and they are now tucked away to allow me to be suitably surprised on Christmas morning."
Hi Rob
That must get the prize for the first mention of Christmas!

Couldn't you squeeze a couple out as Easter Eggs?



Kevin

 

[Willl]

I am both pleased and relieved to confirm that I have been working on the small layout today. I can now join the fiddle yard to the scenic section, albeit on a temporary basis until the appropriate fastners arrive tomorrow.

Still some work to do before photos can emerge but I'm happy with the progress made today.

Rob

Good to hear things are moving along Rob. I’m sure you’d agree that the mechanical/electrical parts of layout building can sometimes feel like a bit of a drag, but it’s worth ripping the bandage off so you can move onto the scenics and whatnot.

Will

 

[Flaxfield]

"I collected the LB&SCR coach pack, successfully delivered to the post office yesterday afternoon when it was open, and they are now tucked away to allow me to be suitably surprised on Christmas morning."
Hi Rob
That must get the prize for the first mention of Christmas!

Couldn't you squeeze a couple out as Easter Eggs?



Kevin

Morning, Kevin.

Well, that could possibly be the case with the Rapido LB&SCR vans, depending on their arrival date !

They are, after all, smaller..........#scheming emoji.

Rob

 

[Flaxfield]

Evening all.

More progress. The fiddle yard is pretty much functional. Final track laying to be done but the temptation to play got the better of me so the layout was plonked on the dining table and the first through running, fiddle yard to scenic section has taken place.
I apologise for the quality of the photos. The lighting in the dining room is simply not suitable for train sets though perfectly adequate for locating one's pork chop.



There is still lots to do to finish this particular stage but, all said, I'm pretty content.



It's of course, very basic but, nonetheless, it's a bit of fun.



Rob

 

[Mike Walker]

Does help the carriage lighting to show up though...

 

[Pencarrow]

Evening all.

More progress. The fiddle yard is pretty much functional. Final track laying to be done but the temptation to play got the better of me so the layout was plonked on the dining table and the first through running, fiddle yard to scenic section has taken place.
I apologise for the quality of the photos. The lighting in the dining room is simply not suitable for train sets though perfectly adequate for locating one's pork chop.

View attachment 258640

There is still lots to do to finish this particular stage but, all said, I'm pretty content.

View attachment 258641

It's of course, very basic but, nonetheless, it's a bit of fun.

View attachment 258642

Rob

I think Annie and Clarabelle look lovely. Thomas seems to be the wrong colour though. Hope this helps.

 

[Flaxfield]

I think Annie and Clarabelle look lovely. Thomas seems to be the wrong colour though. Hope this helps.

I see what you're doing here.....