Just a quick thought - with Bachmann producing many fine Turbostar models - surely a market exists for a 357/375/377 model? I know the window config. and the ends are different - but if they have an existing relationship with Bombardier - why not produce a model that has a large 'real life' base - with nearly all Southern region Mk1 stock being replaced by 375/377s?
In message , Stu writes
My modelling time-period is mid-1950s to end-1960s, but that wouldn't stop me buying a few of these if they were available.
Last week I visited London and made a lot of railway photographs and got impressed by the appearance of the modern british trains. If Bachmann would produce a model of the 357 / 375 / 377 classes I surely would buy one or more of these models.
JD
I've often pondered the idea of Turbostar/Electrostar units being available in plastic kit form, likewise the 319/455/150/321, etc. units and the 313/507/508, etc. 'family', based in each case on a small number of bodyside panels (since a similar style was used within each of these 3 distinct groups of units) that can then be assembled to give complete coach sides. A common floor panel could also be used, with coach ends to suit, and roofs could similarly be assembled from a modular system of parts, with bogies, seats, underfloor equipment and such things as exhaust pipes and pantographs (where appropriate) being added to finish the model off. I think it was the modular plastic kit system for LNWR wooden buildings (indeed, the real-life LNW structures were modular too) that inspired the idea, along with a magazine article from a few years ago about a 4mm Class 507 (with opening doors, no less!) scratchbuilt from home-cast resin body panel sections. Not sure how practically/economically viable it would be, though.
David E. Belcher
This 'modular' approach has been used with some success for a few years now by Charlie Petty of DC Kits. The initial range was of the first-generation DMMUs, but has subsequently spread to include various electric units. Herewith a link to their web-site :-
Thanks for that (I don't model Southern Region, but their Class 71 model looks very impressive!) - some time in the very distant future, if I have space, I may revert to modelling the LMR in the West Midlands; their Class 304 MU kit seems very competitively priced and I'll certainly bear it in mind. Also, the following quote on the site from Charlie made me smile, in the light of recent Hornby/Lima developments;
"If you have bought one of our kits, then THANK YOU, if you haven't then there is no rush as unlike LIMA we are not going anywhere"
;-)
David E. Belcher
David E. Belcher wrote:-
If they can make a Class 71 and Class 304 you'd think they could make the much more common Class 81 and Class 310?
(kim)
Much more common? Class 71 fleet - 24 examples Class 81 fleet - 25 examples
Class 304 fleet - 45 sets (also 70 sets cl 305 and 43 sets cl 308 look similar) Class 310 fleet - 50 sets (also 49 sets of class 312 look similar)
Keith Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.
Keith Norgrove wrote:-
Much more common in the part of the west midlands where I live.
(kim)
"kim" wrote
Fine, if that's where you live, but none are terribly common here in Yorkshire where I live. I'd settle for a couple of quality models of 'heritage' dmus, which seem pretty much neglected currently by all ready-to-run manufacturers.
John.
And unseen up in County Durham where I am! A quality RTR model of a 101 (seen all over the UK network) would be more than welcome though.
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When Hornby gets its hands on the Lima moulds...
Class 81 had more widespread coverage, though, and could be seen on
25kV LMR/ScR territory anywhere from Euston to Glasgow. 310s and 312s could, as a combined class, be seen over a wide area, though the 304/5/8 family wins here, having been seen on a variety of LMR local services anywhere between Bletchley and Manchester, on the ex-GE and ex-LTS lines, between Leeds & Doncaster, on the Leeds/Skipton/Bradford/Ilkley network, and on the North Berwick branch.David E. Belcher
81s had wider geographical coverage, though, appearing 'under the wires' anywhere between Euston and Glasgow.
Though the 310/312 design has been scattered far and wide, the 304/5/8 family wins here, having ventured even further; on LMR locals anywhere between Bletchley and Manchester, on the ex-GE and ex-LTS lines, on the North Berwick branch, and on West Yorkshire locals on the 25kV network spreading out from Leeds to Doncaster, Ilkley, Skipton and Bradford.
David E. Belcher
In message , David E. Belcher writes
What about south of the Thames?
John Sullivan wrote:-
It staggers me there's never been a propriety third-rail system in the UK. (Hornby-Dublo and Trix were technically 'fourth rail'). Peco already make the necessary components. Surely it can't be that difficult to modify the moulds and assembly procedure to make RTR third-rail track?
Even those SR fans who run steam would benefit by having a cosmetic third rail.
(kim)
4-Vep would be a good choice, having ventured over most of the 3rd rail network on a wide variety of services (from Lymington branch trains to Kent Coast expresses) in the course of their careers. Plenty of livery options to explore, too (e.g. blue, blue & grey, Connex, Southern, SWT - did they ever wear NSE or 'Jaffa Cake' liveries?).
David E. Belcher
In message , David E. Belcher writes
Don't know about Jaffa Cake but they certainly wore NSE for many years (I believe one or two still do).
All the VEPs carried NSE, but none wore L&SE 'Jaffa Cake' AFAIK.
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