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It's my birthday tomorrow and it's the big 70, so aww Bach must have picked up my anniversary from the Club info and they are producing a Billington K class mogul just for me. Thanks guys. If not that, the forgotten anniversary of 23 April is Shakespeare's and Shirley Temple's birthdays, so maybe after a Shakespeare play an 'n' gauge King or after Shirley, a replica of The Good Ship Lollipop.

When the blanking plate failed on one of my two first batch Westerns, I got a free replacement from DCC Supplies, who were Dapol's warranty and spares agent. I bought a second plate from them, which is in the box of the second Western, just in case. Afaik the blanking plates are no longer available. They had circuitry as they managed the lighting functions in dc.

Just a thought, was 1000 one of the first run of Westerns produced by Dapol, if so, there is a known manufacturing fault with some of the dc blanking plugs produced, whereby motor would cease working but lighting was ok. I had a Western with this issue from the first run. Might be worth testing the motor once seperated from the circuit wiring to ensure it is 'dead'

I was lucky then. Have been waiting to see if the Rails versions came down in price, but hadn't checked in weeks until last weekend.

Must have been a flash sale, now gone back to original price. I managed to get BR green Durham Light Infantry, which is the type I wanted without the long steam pipes to the cylinders.

R4886B composite, which I think pairs with R4888D and R4888E brakes, in BR southern green, is currently available at Sunderland Station Models for just over £35. Received one this morning, they did have 4 left.

Rails have advised that these coaches are expected today.

Rails have advised that stock of the two industrial versions, yellow and NCB green, have arrived with Heljan in Denmark, so expected soon with retailers who buy direct from Heljan. I assume if these have been manufactured, the Kernow/Model Rail BR departmental version will also have been manufactured and shipped.

Rails have posted on their website, Dapol's March/April release programme and the Stroudley coaches are included.

Rails have discounted the retail price of their dedicated V2s from Bachmann by 22% for dc and dcc versions. eg. Durham Light Infantry in BR late crest now £179.95.

It won't appear in your Orders database. That system was updated about 15 months ago, but does not show processed pre orders, these literally disappear from your accessible records.

Their pre order system is quite clunky. You don't get notification that payment has been taken, the only notification is when the goods are dispatched. Also the dispatch defaults to Royal Mail 48 hr tracked, but you don't get a tracking number and it may be that they actually send it by DPD. If it is DPD at least they contact you to give you the tracking.

Update on progress posted on Rails website today. Production is well advanced but delayed by Covid. The latest estimate is completion of production in April with delivery in June.

I think there is a misunderstanding about the role EFE/Bachmann have in new models sold under the EFE brand. My understanding from the original launch information, is that it is a vehicle to allow other tooling owners products to be made available to a wider retail network, by making them available to the Bachmann retailer network. I never understood that Bachmann/EFE commission runs of models, except for their own tooling. I have purchased several EFE branded models, all from Kernow owned tooling. The boxing clearly states that the model is 'Distributed on behalf of Kernow Model Rail Centre'. So my understanding is that EFE acts as a wholesaler, and does not commission the production. Obviously there will be negotiations and contracts in.place before the tooling owner presses the button. EFE acts as a hybrid wholesaler by distributing the models under a brand name that it owns. Recently Kernow went straight to EFE with new products, not previously released. The LSWR cross country coach set and the Sea Urchin wagon. Neither had previously been sold under their own brand. Heljan also used EFE for several versions of their Class 58 diesel. I believe this was due to them previously supplying Class 58 models to Olivias Trains under an exclusive agreement, which are still available at that outlet.

Or we could prompt you to do the right thing and make them, you know you want to.

On their Facebook site 3 days ago, Rapido commented that 2023 is the 160th anniversary of the Metropolitan Railway and posted a photo of a Met electric Bo-Bo and Dreadnought coaches with emphasis on the coaches. With the loco already in the Heljan fold is there a hint about the coaches?. Can't see any other reason for the posting and comment.

Don't forget, the advert would have been created for the date the edition closed for printing, so probably a few weeks old.

The Dapol advert in the Feb 2023 Hornby mag states that the suburban toplights are 'shipping soon'

The 4buf was a better runner than the 4cor. The reason was that the 4buf had the 4vep motor with traction tyres, which in my view is needed for a 4 car unit, with only one powered bogie. I changed the wheelset on the 4cor, which I think was fitted with a 2bil motor bogie, which didn't have traction tyres. I had to open up the apertures in the bogie frame as the 4vep axles are a wider diameter. The benefit of getting ready to run is the excellent paint finish which I couldn't achieve and you can specify the set number you want. You don't get a choice of the motor bogie, it will depend on what they can source. You will also have to wait for a build date as John Hazleton builds in batches. I also have Class 123 and 124 trans pennine models from SF which are also excellent. I had to do some corrective work on the 4cor as one of the resin moulded cab fronts was distorted where it joined tbe body. I masked off and used car body filler to correct the distortion and patch painted with Precision Paints Southern Region green. Hope this helps.

Yes I have a rtr 4Cor from Silver Fox and they also produce a 4Buf and 4Gri, which are not listed on their website. I have a 4Buf. They use adapted Bachmann Bulleid 63ft coach chassis and modified sides. The power bogie is a Hornby 4Vep. I'm not sure if they will be able to use the 4Vep power bogie on future batches as it seems to be unavailable from normal spares suppliers.

Not when you order the item, I've been caught out a few times when placing an order, with the initial price being tax exclusive, without showing that it is.

I placed Bellerophon in my cart, without using my KR account, went to payment and changed the default country from Canada to UK, without inserting any other address or payment details, the values changed to £160 for dc ready incl VAT and £4.95. So as I say, not a problem. I get a similar issue when ordering from Accurascale as the initial price is without relevant sales tax until you insert country of destination.

No lack of clarity, the website covers sales to both Nth America and UK, so prices quoted do not show any sales tax/VAT. When you put in an address it prices for your tax jurisdiction, and I was quoted £60 incl VAT and £4.95 postage.

One other problem is the overall height, as the model is too low. The buffer face top edge, locates at the middle of other wagon buffers. I've had to deepen the plate of the floating wheelsets, in order to raise the body. I don't know if this is caused by having wheels of a smaller diameter.

Don't forget, the retail price of the Victories increases to £150 from 1 January, as published in PI'S last newsletter and also yesterday by Rails on their website, so decision time, shall I get a green un to go with the black and red.