theevilpupster

They do however have a media bench. I found this because after meeting you at the Taunton show and admiring your work I went on the Ikea site. Oooopps! You get 2 x 4ft x 14 inch boards. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/lack-tv-bench-white-30498890/

OO Works has just informed me that the invoice is in the post for my 0330 and I already have two terriers, in SR green, one from each maker, so a couple of these will make a good fill in until the Hatton's ones come out. I only caught up with this news today and I was a bit open mouthed about it. Time will tell whether two manufacturers effectively duplicating this sort of range is a positive, neutral or negative for the hobby. Perhaps a bigger and more pertinent question is the availability of suitable locos to haul them. OK I know there are kits. I'm pretty rubbish at them, so RTR is the way to go for me. Maybe for the GW Hatton's, Hornby or Heljan could toss coins and decide who is going to head on a 517 or or a 655. Makes wonderful sense. Doesn't it. (Also Col. Stephens type cameo layouts look like having a good couple of years).

Okay folks. I dropped into my local MR shop today and asked if there is anything forthcoming that might be of interest. The owner said that there is, to paraphrase, don't expect anything soon. I gather Hornby are still struggling and something may be going on at Bachmann as some 2018 products have been pushed back to next year along with other signs. I made the point, which the shop owner accepted, that although DJ leaves himself open to criticism through his marketing and announcements he does seem at the moment to be delivering products. OK there are long lead in times. Yet the products are decent and out there. I'm inclined to think that people complaining on this site don't necessarily appreciate the financial commitment required to design, commission and produce a locomotive, or for that matter a piece of rolling stock. Like many sectors the model railways are currently undergoing a period of consolidation. That we have the likes of Oxford, DJ, Peco (who have been around since just after the flood and are a thriving business) as well as some others are the best hope for the future.

Yes it is

I bought four today. Lovely. I have been waiting for these since the plain track came out and now I can start my new layout. I have built my own track in the past and it has always been pretty rough, in fact 'shonky' would be a fine description. Now regardless of the compromises inevitable in a mass produced item these look absolutely great. The big thing for me is that I can now achieve a consistent look (standard). If they aren't your thing then walk on by, nothing to see here. I hope they sell well and Peco expand the range. Finally Peco have been going for 75 years. They are a great company that exports across the world and employs local people down here in Devon. Often folk who have spent their entire working lives with the company. It is family owned and a stable commercial success. OK you can argue they are a bit conservative and maybe could innovate a bit faster, regardless I think the company is something to celebrate. And no I don't have a connection with them other than buying some of their products.

Here you are then. Not the best pictures by far. Interestingly from above the sleepers are the same size as SMP, but the deeper profile for the angle shown makes them look narrower. Ballasting will sort that out I suppose. One additional point. The track curves sinuously, without effort. Better that previous stuff.

Good afternoon. The track is in the shops (or at least my local shop in Exeter). It arrived this morning and I was there when Dave unboxed some. First impressions are very favourable. The sleeper spacing are a fraction wider than SMP. Chair detail seems fine. The plus is that there is no need to cut the sleeper webs as with SMP. I guess some people will be less than satisfied and the likes of C & L will still be there to serve them. This product, particularly with the new, will make it easier to achieve a more realistic look. I bought six lengths for a small to micro layout I am starting over the Xmas hols. I'm inclined to think this will sell well for Peco. Best of luck to them. They have been a bedrock of the hobby for a very long time and run a successful manufacturing business in the U.K. That should be 'the new turnouts'. Sorry