Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Ground Signals Again

[Atlantic 3279]

Incidentally, hopping back to the streamlined 4-8-2, I found that some spare Bachmann B1 side-window glazing that I had was a decent fit in the Hornby Railroad A4 leading cabside windows. I therefore painted a "teak" edge on the glazing and stuck it in, saving the chore of cutting glazing material to fit

[Bill Bedford]

That's a quick reply Tom! Dunno the number of variations, I'm certainly not "THE" authority on these matters, but I'm just going by photos and drawings that I happen to have.

Mmm the drawings I have show all the boxes behind the division plate.

[IAK]

Now that rocks!
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[Saint Johnstoun]

Excellent work! When I get my Princess Anne finished I have now acquired a sick Replica B1 and another spare B1 body so here come the O4 and O1 variants.

The streamlined 4-8-2 is superb. I'm glad my drawings are inspiring some fantastic conversions.

[davidwest]

Graeme,

What filler do you use?

[Atlantic 3279]

What filler do you use?

Currently "AutoCare Easy-sand Car Filler", believe it or not!

The streamlined 4-8-2 is superb

Very kind, but surely it would look better with a Southern 2-8-2 Spam-Can cousin - come on Mistahjim, get your modelling tools out!

[Atlantic 3279]

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I can almost sense the words "Awe, go on go on go on, you know you want to" lurking just below the surface there......

[Atlantic 3279]

Reverting for a moment to the streamliners, both the W1s and the 4-8-2, I have just seen something on eBay that shocks me. As you know, where possible my conversions are based on the Hornby Railroad locos for economy, although they are then detailed up, quite considerably in some cases. Hence I am fully aware that a Railroad Falcon for instance can be picked up for under £50.
On eBay this evening I see that TMC are advertising "4903 Peregrine" and from the image it is I believe just a Railroad Falcon*, simply renumbered and fitted with etched plates. I can see no other embellishments at all*. Now bearing in mind that the tender is probably still the distorted-proportions Railroad version, the valve gear possibly chunky, maybe no lamp irons fitted and backhead undecorated, cab perhaps unglazed with moulded handrails and no sliding roof vents unlike the super-detail Hornby models*, PLUS the fact that you can pick up a Bachmann factory built Falcon relatively cheaply if you really want a basic Falcon with a dodgy tender, then how much do you imagine that TMC want for their item?


£160

Not a bad rate for what seems like minimal time and work.

*ALL WRONG , (edit 26/7/10) see below and pay less attention to my remarks up here!

[Tom F]

I have just had a quick look on ebay Graeme, and that isn't the Railroad version, it's the Mallard model.

looked at the other pics, and can see the finer body detail and slimline connecting rods.

I know they aren't cheap, but my dealings with TMC have always been good if im honest.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Yes, Tom is correct, in that it is a super detail model.

However that model can be had for £90 - RRP £120 at the most, surely?

£160 for a model, which I note is missing one set of cab doors - snapped off, no doubt, and for what is a relatively easy conversion of name/number.

I'm sorry, that's a ridiculous sum to pay. Even if you take into account "man hours" for the work involved

Basic gist: you are paying for the TMC box, and a renumber/name.

[mick b]

Dont forget they would be buying the loco at trade price too £50 or less ? It is no more than 30 mins work maximum what they have done . Nice profit if you can sell it !!

[Saint Johnstoun]

Yes TMC seem to be pricey. Whilst recently looking for a Hornby R2405 Great Northern I noted that they were advertising on their site for £150 and that is without any renumbering or renaming!

With a little practice you can do it yourself for a lot less!

[mistahjim]

I've always been stunned by the prices certain retailers charge for standard range items, an the larger groups seem to be the worst. In the North-west its TMC, down these parts it's Antics. I miss being able to pop to 53A.

[Atlantic 3279]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

For clarity this is what I was looking at, evidently through tired eyes last night as I see now that it IS the super-detail model as suggested by others above, so I must "pull my horns in" a bit and reduce my implied criticisms somewhat!
I'm afraid I didn't notice the lamp irons, and was fooled by the high shoulders of the narrow tender compared to the cab, concluding wrongly that it was the fat, high, Railroad tender.

Still, I see that it has sold - notwithstanding the fact that the tread plate appears to be missing from the top of the aerofoil slope ahead of the cylinders on the nearside of the loco! I hope they remembered to stick it back on, or at least put it in the box.

So the trade price is £50 or less is it? Interesting. Whether that is right or not, the selling price still appears to make the pay rate for the rebranding job not a bad one.....

[mick b]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT


So the trade price is £50 or less is it? Interesting. Whether that is right or not, the selling price still appears to make the pay rate for the rebranding job not a bad one.....

Well thats preseuming a retail mark up of 100% . £100 for 30 mins work !! I need a new job