Great British Locomotives Magazine

[Kestrel]

This has been advertised on Sky this afternoon. Are they on general release again/now?

[Saint Johnstoun]

Yes, they are on general sale, but be quick as we Gresley affectionados are stocking up with Mallard bodies for a plethora of repaints and conversions!

[James Harrison]

The big WH Smiths in Birmingham had plenty of copies in stock yesterday. I would have picked one up but for the fact that I already have a pair of A4s (one of which is on my to-do pile) and I really couldn't be doing with getting yet another project on to the workbench yet.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Turned heads, incredibly tiny springs, turned steel intermediate rams, brass outer sleeves for painting to body colour:

KM streamlined buffers.jpg

Just a quick question Graeme - do you know where I can source these? Googling Maygib buffers is drawing a blank my end

[2002EarlMarischal]

Many thanks to all for the suggestions for weights.

It would be very interesting to see the sales figures for this first part work. The members of this forum must have contributed significantly to sales!

As my engineering colleagues at Tyseley streamlined the Duchess a couple of years ago, I will probably buy the Coronation Class loco as well, but I'm now really looking forward to seeing the A3 and what potential that has.

[Atlantic 3279]

Branchlines seem to have been the most consistent stockists of the Kean-Maygib buffers in recent years.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Branchlines seem to have been the most consistent stockists of the Kean-Maygib buffers in recent years.

Thanks Graeme ill seek them out.

[Saint Johnstoun]

Stocked up this morning with Mallards - the newsagent advises me that any further stock they have are returned on Wednesday! I now have enough bodies in stock to keep me occupied with A4 projects for some time!

Will be interested to see what the Scotsman has to offer? More scope for a few nasties like Humorist with cut down smokebox or one of the ACFI heater fitted ones?

[2002EarlMarischal]

For anyone feeling that they're not paying enough for the GBL bargain A4's there's always this one on eBay!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LNER-A4-4468- ... 19e934e33a

Starting bid £12.97 plus £6.60 "economy postage"! I haven't paid that much for the 6 I have bought put-together!

Seriously though, I've bought a couple more today, this time from WH Smiths at The Fort near Birmingham. There were 5 left and I believe I found the best 2. The quality is not as good as the first batch of last year as all seem to have nicks out of the top edge of the tender as well as slight distortion to the tender chassis or excess glue. Most loco's are "nose down" too. Only 1 of the 5 had the front bogie attached, and none were sitting on the track properly!

No matter though - still a bargain source of spares and bodies.

I very much look forward to seeing what you creative chaps do with them!

[2002EarlMarischal]

Here's another - I guess loads will pop up on eBay now!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mallard-Class ... 19e93f5a61

[S.A.C. Martin]

I think I have enough to be going on with, personally…! WH Smith in Bluewater were packing them up to send back when I collared them this evening. Relieved them of the last of their A4s for £1.50 each! Just for the tender bodies alone they are worth it, but I suspect the loco body shells will prove most useful for a number of other projects too.

[2002EarlMarischal]

I think I have enough to be going on with, personally…! WH Smith in Bluewater were packing them up to send back when I collared them this evening. Relieved them of the last of their A4s for £1.50 each! Just for the tender bodies alone they are worth it, but I suspect the loco body shells will prove most useful for a number of other projects too.

Well done Simon! Why didn't I think of that when at WHS earlier today - mind you I had no idea they would be returned tomorrow. Actually, is that at the end of the day tomorrow or first thing?

[Saint Johnstoun]

I suspect that the publishers will be offering 'back numbers' at an inflated price but I also imagine that the Ebayers are liable to catch a cold - it would be interesting to know what the production run is?

I've got enough to keep me out of mischief for now - one has become the donor body for 10000, and I am working on another at present - single chimney, new handrails etc. - I'm doing this one to cost out how much it will be to produce an improved version fitted to a Hornby chassis. I think it may become D of C if I can find a suitable Bell! Then I intend to get a bit more ambitious with a couple of Apple Green ones!

The tender body has its weaknesses but with a bit of fettling should turn out OK - I am also going to experiment here and will post the results in due course. Main fault seems to be the top edge can be a bit ragged in places. The coal space and water filler are a separate insert, as is the coal.

[mick b]

Ebay prices chassis's are going for silly money !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380847083146? ... 1426.l2649

[Atlantic 3279]

I thought that might happen......

Members of LNER forum could if they so desired devise a clandestine means of ensuring that at least they are not bidding against one another and driving prices up even higher than necessary - unless of course some of us are determined to obtain a chassis at any cost.