Decisions, decisions

[guest311]

Need some help with a dilema ....

I need to get some mk.1s to fill out some rakes, but all the ones I've got so far are the china built clear shells with printed bodywork.

I know that the new ones are streets ahead of these, but do I buy the same ones as I've got already and have matching rakes, or do I buy the new style, and have odd vehicles within rakes.

I have tried switching carriages around to see if I could take old style from one rake and then replace the whole rake with new ones, but sods law, that won't work.

cheers
alan
class37025

[Sithlord75]

I have had the same decision to make - I am in the process of swapping over to the new ones.  Running them in rakes is a no go - stand out like the proverbial so not helpful.  I have my old ones in three rakes (M, B/C and B/G) and I am currently building up the replacement rakes.  I have also added a W and S rake to the roster - which I was going to do but the new ones came out first!

I guess it depends on how many you have, how many more you want and how far the beer tokens will stretch.  I am thinking of using some of my surplus as donors for either EMUs (but then there is the 4CEP so back to square one) or Bullied etched sides.  There is always ebay.

[tadpole]

I am in danger of having three types, going right back to the very old Poole ones with window inlays, although most of the latter have been converted into EMUs. I wish folks on eBay would make it very clear which production-era of Mk1 they are selling.

By the way, I'm wondering why you're running Mk1s at all on a continental layout - hopefully you just posted in the wrong section? 

[guest311]

By the way, I'm wondering why you're running Mk1s at all on a continental layout - hopefully you just posted in the wrong section?  

oops !

have I had another digital interface malfunction ?

class37025

[guest311]

It looks like this is going to be a decision most people will be facing.

perhaps it's going to be a case of the swaps section, but clearly stating the body type offered and required.

then as the beer tokens permit renew rake by rake.

cheers

alan
class37025

[EtchedPixels]

I'm keeping the old ones and as the budget appears will move but turn the old ones into stuff like EMUs, Bulleid and Thompson coaches with vinyls/etches etc.

Alan

[Chris]

The printed coaches are now appearing 10-a-penny on ebay so you could easily expand your rakes with matching stock, but depends if you want to go down the 'new-tooling' route (which I would recommend!) when you have the funds. It is true though that the new toolings are streets ahead of the old printed sides, and once the range expands at the end of the year with the FOs & RMBs being released, for me this would be the way to go. If only we could convince Farish & Dapol to release new tooling mk2s!

Vinyls are another option with the old coaches as previously mentioned, and would highly recommend Electra's vinyls.

PS did you want this topic moved out of the continental section?

[guest311]

yes please Chris 

[bluedepot]

yeh... everyone's in the same position...

at the moment i am sticking with the old mk1s.... eventually when the prices drop in a year or two i may replace them...

i have 6 mk1s in maroon... and about 7 in intercity and about 7 in blue / grey...

can you really notice that much difference when you see new mk1s and old mk1s viewed from 50cm away or further?


tim

[Mustermark]

Yep, me too.  Bit the bullet and got the new ones to replace my pizza-cutter MKIs.

[Chris]

Oddly I've just got one of the printed restaurant cars to match with my blue/grey mk2 stock as mk2s aren't available in the new tooling. The difference is noticeable when together in a rake.

All my other mk1s will be the new tooling though, and I sold all my other printed versions several months ago when the new ones were announced.

[painbrook]

I had a couple of Mike Howarth's Stanier coaches that became obsolete when Farish homed in on things LMS (any sensible manufacturer would have matched them up with a Patriot, of the unrebuilt kind). Sorry guys, on a one man mission  . Anyway Mike's coaches where weathered heavily and now form part of an engineers train, first train out on a new session, wagons have cleaning brushes etc fitted .