Quote from: RailGooner on February 16, 2026, 05:32:08 PMI note as well that all seven Maritime are in stock again. 

I think if anymore turn up I could be in real trouble.
Up to 11 now with Portillo special from Rails on order.

Quote from: Will_J on February 12, 2026, 07:59:06 AMI only recently got into sound and I think I may have been spoiled because I started with the Revolution 66 which is the best sounding loco I've ever heard in N. I think that largely comes down to it having a very good sound project and excellent design and QC for the factory sound fitting.

If I had started with the Farish 08 that I bought recently, which tried its best to blow up the decoder and wasn't even properly sealed so sounded pathetic in comparison, I would have probably dismissed it as an expensive gimmick.

I will probably not buy any more factory fitted sound locos, I think it's too much of a roll of the dice. I'm now confident fitting sound myself and making sure that it's done properly.

Because when it is, the play factor with one or two nice sounding locos on a layout at home is well worth 20 fancy coffees worth of cash.

I have a lot of factory fitted sound locos including an 08, and they are all pretty decent to my ear, so I wouldn't consider it a "roll of the dice" to get a good one. That said, I guess with any mass produced model there is always the risk of a "lemon". I enjoy running them, finding the sounds of different locos both steam and diesel prototypically distinctive.

Some of my favourites are fits I have done myself or had done, with sound files I have chosen, for example my Class 37 with Jamie Goodman sound is awesome!

There are though times when I run with sound off or some of my DCC silent locos, it just depends what takes my fancy.

My advice is to try one and see how you get on, you don't necessarily need to have an entire fleet sound fitted, you could just choose ones you particularly like.

Roy

This thread has saved me money in this regard:


I'm happy with my Graham Farish BR Class 40 and LMS 10001 sounds - they both have that deep chugging rumble. However, I looked up on youtube the Revolution Class 66... and that's not for me. That's more of a high-pitched whine and doesn't excite me.

So, immensely cool looking but I'd go without sound on that one, saving lots of $$.

Quote from: Graham on February 15, 2026, 10:32:21 PM..

Hopefully this will show the mirrors slightly better.

I like the detail of the mirrors, although I did have one still in the box after taking the 66 out of the box.

I think they have done a stonking job.

Thanks Graham! Yes, that helps a lot. I think in the images that had me concerned, the mirrors are indeed a bit squashed - maybe they fold in when parked, like on my car!    Your pics reassure me that even if I find them squashed on my purchase it shouldn't be a big deal to fix.

I have a bespoke 66846 Colas Diamond livery, and agree that RR are doing a great job of these.

I note as well that all seven Maritime are in stock again. 

Quote from: Nbodger on February 16, 2026, 03:31:48 PM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 16, 2026, 03:28:57 PMGood to hear you're enjoying 'club life', Bob

Sounds like he is enjoying the fish and chips more

His missus will soon put paid to that!!

This one never made it to the club today. It needs some acetate sheet windows added (called DS74 on the books, it never had any markings or numbers applied to it, so that's a win!)

The first ever (750V DC) electric Bo-Bo shunter, a Drummond 1899 design for the Waterloo and City (so to Underground height clearances) but used at Dunsford Road Power Station Wimbledon until 1965.

Its a @JimSan 3D print on a 3V TGW Tu-16A Bo chassis, with fake bogies and wheels on the 3D print, as you can see when the shunter is upended. The Van gives some idea of the size of the loco.

It's such a small loco, even the OO kit of this loco has non-operating bogies.

Sounds fantastic.

I live in BFE: so a weak poorly attended club and no shops for 150 miles... and obviously no British N Gauge.

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 16, 2026, 03:28:57 PMGood to hear you're enjoying 'club life', Bob

Sounds like he is enjoying the fish and chips more

Good to hear you're enjoying 'club life', Bob

Down at the club today I made some more new friends.

I have now found someone local to 3D print some modified driveshafts for my 63' chassis (ex China class 158) used under my SR multiple units.

This is the joy of club membership. Plus there's a fantastic chip shop nearby  

Oh and a couple of my earlier models made it onto the N gauge sea wall layout. Sure they would never have been seen there, but it's all helping me get my mojo back.

Below a brass 07 shunter on a Farish 04 chassis (Etched Pixels) and a resin ex LMS jackshaft shunter on a Minitrix V60 flywheel chassis (Parkwood), from when I was a modeller and not just a collector!

Enjoy!