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Rails website advises models due in to them today. When models are imminent/arrived the change from pre order to available usually causes the items to be frozen and unable to order for a short period

I've bought and received three different models from Cavalex and have one on order. Their system, from my experience, is that you can pre order by expression of interest, when a new proposed model is announced, with no payment. Once they confirm it is going to tooling, you can pay the total amount or 50%. Once the model is going into production, they request the remaining 50%. Payment is by cheque or bank transfer.

Like most powered bogies, the wheelsets sit in a box where the gearset is positioned. The box is in two parts, the upper part has the gears and slots to hold the wheelsets and a lower part that is a push fit to allow for maintenance. The lower part also has the bogie sideframes as part of its moulding. The lower part is held by 6 clips, two on each side and one each on the ends. This needs to be removed. As some pressure is needed I would advise that the body is removed to avoid damage to the pantograph. Also suggest working on a wide flat surface, as one or more wheelsets are likely to jump out, so need to be close to a work surface. Start by using a pronged file or similar to release the clip at one end, the clip is over a raised moulding on the upper part. Then gently pull the lower part and it should release along it's length. Each wheelset has two pick ups, the front and rear wheels have long pick ups that are bent towards the wheels at a point about half way along. So part is flush to the sideframe and you need to avoid bending that away, so I held the pick up at the bend point, with a needle file, so that the adjustment happened at the point of the bend.

I was just about to post an issue I've found with mine, that maybe affecting your model. I have found two issues with the bogies and wheelsets. 1. Several power pick up wipers didn't travel to the full extent of the side to side movement. These can be adjusted by dropping the cosmetic sideframes and lifting out the wheelsets. 2. More problematic was that I found that on both bogies, two wheels on each were not in contact with the rail when on flat rail. This was one wheel on each of the inner and middle wheelsets, on the same side. The inner was quite significantly above the rail and could easily cause derailment. This affected the same side of each bogie, so that when on the model with the bogies at 180 degrees the affected wheels are on different sides. This indicates to me that the problem lies with the bogie inner subframe that holds the wheelsets in their bearings, with the issue appearing on the same side of my models bogies, when they are facing the same direction. I looked at whether the inner subframes could be twisted to adjust, but was concerned this could distort the gears. In the end I have raised the seating of the bearings on the affected wheelsets. I used very thin plastic sheet, no more than printer paper thickness. This was cut to sit in the base of the bearing location slots in the subframe. This was done on the inner affected wheel. For the middle affected wheel, I thinned the card down further, as the amount of gap to rail was less. The plastic was sufficient length for just the top of the bearing. The width to go fully into the recess. This has resolved the wheels being lifted and now all sit down on the rail. The keeper plate fitted back over the wheelsets with no adjustment needed.

Did you get one.

In Hattons '12 day's of Christmas sale', today's is the Class 22, last set of releases, with dc ready at £125. Have ordered D6356 syp. dcc versions are also in the sale.

Wot no 5 pack of Weights ciggies. You was robbed. Waiting for my ordered BR green booster from Rails. Expensive month as I should have a green 25/3 coming as well.

Yes it's with retailers. I received mine from Kernow, last Friday.

I'm not sure Bachmann made a wise decision to issue the current versions of unrefurbished 4 ceps, mlvs and even beps. The earlier releases were very sluggish sellers and I bought my two cep sets at a much reduced price. The mlvs were also slow sellers. I recall that Bachmann sent some stock of the second cep releases, back to China, to be reworked as weathered, retaining the same running numbers. So to produce more at plus £400 price seemed madness to me. I've been regularly checking to the price for the beps, was nearly tempted when some retails went sub £300 at around £299, but held off. I no longer pre order Bachmann or Hornby as have found that virtually everything I want is available 6 months later at reduced prices, so have had to cure my fomo anxiety. Recently purchased Bachmann green class 37s and 20s at £50 less than most retailer discounted prices. I do feel for retailers who have stock on hand when prices fall significantly. With the example of the bep, I don't know for certain but would suspect that Bachmann have made stock available at a heavy discount.

Just flagging up that now might be the best time to get a 4bep. TMC models have the standard dcc ready versions at 50% off Bachmann current full price. They have more than 10 in stock of each. Think there may be similar reductions on dcc versions. I've just ordered the green dcc ready version for £248.

No, not prompted, but I knew they were imminent and that my card had changed expiry date, so thought best to update. Jenny was grateful as it saves them trying to make contact.

R3839, BR unlined green - 78000 is now showing with Hornby as 'in stock'

Just had an email from TTC diecast, that they are expecting the Craven RTs by next Weds.

No, there on the new ship Ever Broad, designed to be as wide as the Suez Canal so it hugs the sides and can't get jammed. When it exits it gets a suction boost that speeds it up to 50 knots till past Gibralter. Or as I haven't paid yet they could be on tbe Ever Never.

Updated my credit card yesterday and was advised that the first dispatches are expected to be the sold out versions in blue and green in January.

I've had an email from Cavalex, advising that the manufacturer has scheduled production to commence next month, and as such have requested the final payment.

I don't think we'll know until it arrives and we see any branding on the model base or the statement ' Distributed on behalf of -----' on the box. EFE operates as a model commissioner or distributor. Recently the LSWR ventilated van in 'oo' was released for the first time under the EFE range, but is branded as a Kernow model. This was the first model that I can recall, that Kernow released straight to EFE and not initially under it's own box brand. This may be a Kernow model, but we'll have to wait to find out I suspect.

Sorry to divert from the topic, but managed to find one of the original photos I posted before the crash, of my Silver Fox/Hornby Class 74

They were in the DJ Models Class 74 thread, but seem to have been lost in the last site crash.

Sure have. Used Silver Fox Class 74 body, bogie sideframes and underframe, mated to a Hornby Class 71 chassis. I previously posted photos.

The last update from Dapol was that 3 versions were due to leave China in early Sept and were expected to be with retailers by mid Nov. This includes the BR crimson version that I have on order. So if the sailing is on time, not much longer.

Advert in the Nov RM shows production samples of the 'bowsiders' and advice that they are in production.

Just received my late crest 15xx back from Rapido warranty. Must praise them for their speed, as was only with them 8 working days ago, thanks to Dan. They have replaced the chassis. Mine had an up and down motion, which indicated to me that one or more wheels were out of true, and they seem to have agreed. Haven't had time to test yet, but their report advises it was tested with the new chassis and much improved.

Rails dispatched mine yesterday and this morning DPD have advised delivery this morning. I never expected to have this prototype in model form, we really are going through a golden period. Am going to use Rule 1 and run them with my maroon Thompsons and a green Class 40.

Heljan have posted on their Facebook site, that the 'oo' parcels railcars have arrived with them in Denmark and will be checked then dispatched to retailers over the next couple of weeks