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John P

Thanks so much for the donations everyone.    And to Chris for piping up, a real help.

I had no idea that the donations was missing from the mobile site.  However, I guess it would take up a lot of room on a mobile, and would kind of make it pointless in having a mobile version.

Thanks everyone.   

Hi Admins,

I am pretty sure i have brough this up before, however now that the forum is stable it being a a while since moving, do you think "Recent Posts" might be moved back to the top of the front page as it was on the old page layout? (i.e. above the General Category) - it was rather useful in that position,

Cheers,

Colin.

They look good John. I see the scenery is cracking on.

 

This has made a realise I have 1 to many projects on the go and so little focus.

Locomotive: 1950's Railbus

There are more practical suggestions which I think will come eventually like the Class 170 or items which would be more useful to me like the class 73/9 but going with my heart I think the technology (Onboard DCC and stay alive) makes the little 4 wheeler chassis viable and it would be a impressive model if done right.
My preference would be Park Royal (Operating on both London Midland and Scottish Regions). As long as it operated in Scotland I would be happy. (Which I think only rules out the Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus). Alternatively maybe the Wickham Railbus would be a stronger choice despite only operating in passenger service in Scotland as consideration could be made to see what was required to also tool up the Elliot Track Recorder.

Coach:   Mk2d TSO

I do like jamespetts suggestion of the "Mark 3 TRFB", A 3 windowed buffet car would be a good addition and allow me to swap out the 4 window form something more fitting.
The MK2 brakes (2e BUO, 2a BFK, 2d BFK) are all tempting but I drop them down my Wishlist only because I can work around the lack of them. My choice is a Mk2d TSO as it would be the most numerous one I would buy in ScotRail Express, Intercity Executive and EWS Business.
I have converted a 2F TSO into a 2D TSOT but I would rather buy RTR than do that conversion another 12+ times.

Wagon: VDA

I Would support a modern HEA and RTR OTA wagons have always been appealing.
I like GlenEglise's suggestion of the "PTA Thompson Mag Lime Carnegie Montrose Side-tipping wagon". Sticking with the same theme I picked something different.

Repaint: Class 66 Royal Scotsman

Scotrail Class 47/7 is top of my list but feels a wasted choice as it has been done, I am just being greedy and wanting more. I have instead picked something I don't believe has ever been done despite 3 manufacturers.

Yes, not surprised at all; unique plug-door mk3s with external yaw dampers, different bogies, the MBLS as a totally unique coach (and two different variants thereof) with different underframe.

I think the fact it uses mk3 coaches is almost moot - I can't see much being reusable from an existing tooling.

For a SR EMU they're fairly versatile though; could ignore the original MBLS, and then you've got minimal variation (cab front cable covers on/off) and 6 potential livery variations, nice wide geographical spread, with plenty of drags away from the 3rd rail too.

Anyway, apologies for the tangent, that's just my thought, no part of me is surprised they've not been done!

Quote from: njee20 on Yesterday at 11:35:17 PMBeen racking my brains on this one for a while.

All I can really come up with that would have me throwing fistfuls of cash is a 442.

I did look at seeing if a 442 would be possible, using the existing Dapol Mk3 as a base. By the time all the mods had been carried out, it would be just as expensive as new tooling.

In the current climate, I cannot see this happening. The resulting train would be lovely but very expensive!

Here is my list.

Loco: class 71
Coach: CIWL type F and its associated vans
Wagon: OTA

For a new repaint, I would go for the class 37418 in Loram livery.
(I am lucky Dapol is already planning a class 56 in DCR livery.)

16 guests! Another record number of readers! Thank you.

Upon reaching the top of the lamplit Grand Staircase, they parted to go to their respective bedrooms: Giles to the right and Eli to the left. The moon, a silver sickle, illuminated the way. Its crescent winked through a corridor window as if conspiring with the snowflakes outside. Through the tall, arched, stone-framed windows, Eli studied the world beyond—a monochrome tapestry of snowflakes, each one a whispered promise.

As she stood gazing out, snow fell steadily, a celestial choreography. Each flake pirouetted, kissed by moonlight, before settling on the ground. The Castle Gardens, a canvas of white, awaiting new footsteps to write their stories.

Eli's breath misted the window's glass as she pressed her palm against it. The cold barely seeped through, thanks to the surge of warmth coursing through her veins—from her core, radiating outward. His profile, the strong jawline, and the curve of his lips burned bright in her memory. She wondered what lay beyond this moment—what adventures, what mysteries. The Castle held both answers and questions, its corridors winding like the paths of fate.

Memories of her first meeting with Giles flooded her mind. Eli had heard of Giles long before their paths crossed. Sylvie, her partner, often spoke of him—painting a vivid picture of a man who straddled the worlds of business and fine wines. Jeremy, Sylvie's boyfriend and a close friend of Giles, had shared something of their adventures together. But Eli had yet to meet him in person.

As Giles stepped into their advertising agency's Chelsea office, the surroundings faded away, leaving only the two of them. His presence demanded attention. His face was a marvel of angles: a strong jawline and high cheekbones combined with an enigmatic smile. Lines etched his features, revealing a life well-lived. Eli's focus narrowed as she inhaled his scent—the unforgettable fragrance of his cologne—a symphony of sensual notes. Verbena lay at its heart, harmoniously blended with bergamot, lavender, lemon, orange, rosemary, and ylang-ylang. And then there was the sudden warmth of his smile and the intensity in his pale blue eyes. As he extended his hand, a gentle but firm touch sent an unexpected electric shock through her body.

He stood there, 6 feet 2 inches tall—older, wiser, and just out of her grasp. His glacial blue eyes, sharp and assessing, held stories—ones she yearned to unravel. The creases around his eyes hinted at wisdom earned through life's trials, while the scar on his left cheek whispered of secrets buried deep. What secrets did he keep? What adventures had he seen?

His voice, like whiskey and silk, wove tales of vineyards kissed by sun and rain, of forgotten grape varietals and elusive blends waiting to be rediscovered. It was low, intimate, and sent shivers down her spine. She hung on every syllable, lost in the cadence of his words. But when he was gone, she felt the ache—a hollow space where he once stood. Yet, she knew she should not feel this way.

Could she let go of her own aversion to all men—the deep scars left by her father's cruelty—and embrace this unexpected attraction? As Giles withdrew his hand, Eli's pulse raced. Intuition whispered that this tall, supremely confident, captivating man, his neatly combed black hair parted to the side, was destined to become more than just a client. The contrast between his dark hair and pale blue eyes created an intriguing combination.