Mike70

I don't think there is anything special about Book Law. But this is probably the first super detail A3 to be produced in the LNER livery as it was in operation. There have been some versions of Flying Scotsman in LNER livery. But they were all in the preserved state. Also I think it is the first time this tender has been produced in LNER in apple green.

The valve looks a lot better.

You also make a valid point, it's horses for courses. If Hornby had just produced a basic rail road model and a super detail version with all the bells and whistles, they might have lost a lot of sales to people who don't want Rail Road, but are not willing to go above £120 mark. I think this has been suggested somewhere else, but maybe they need three versions of the model, Railroad, mid range and top of the range? I wonder how feasable that would be? Yesterday I had a look at the Wishlist Poll. The Turbomotive and the W1 were on the list. If Hornby do end up producing one of these loco's, I do hope they give it the full bells and whistles treatment. I also hope they return to Cock Of The North at some point and produce a new bells and whistles version.

Has it been confirmed by Locomotion that the LNER version is based on the operating condition rather than the preserved condition (with LNER livery)? I read the comment by gr.king on 30th July, which suggested it would be the operating condition. But I haven't seen a confirmation. Apologies if I've missed it.

It's not up to the standard of an A3 or an A4. But in fairness it is not the same price as an A3 or an A4 either. I'd have been happy paying a bit extra for more detail (valves), a better motor and tender pick ups.

The photo below suggests they were chrome/stainless steel. http://d240vprofozpi.cloudfront.net/locos/P/p2_cockothenorth.gif Maybe they were chrome/stainless steel ex-works, then painted green at a subsequent works visit. Mike70.

I've just been looking at Service Sheet 260C for the King Class loco. The King doesn't have a flywheel fitted to the X9108 motor. So why does the P2 need one? Sorry if it is a daft question. Mike.

I finally got my Cock out this afternoon. Gave it a quick run on the rolling road, while SWMBO went out shopping. I'd given some serious thought to upgrading to the TTS version. But after speaking to Rails on Saturday, it sounds like most of their allocation is sold out to pre-orders. For £99 plus postage, R3207 is pretty good. My only 'buts' are the plastic valve gear, 3 pole motor and lack of tender pick ups. I'd have been willing to pay a bit more for something approaching the standard of the A3/A4's. The posts about retro fitting 5 pole motors are interesting. But I'm not sure I've got the nerve to tackle it.

Has anyone experienced problems with the main range version R3207 over points and do you think it would benefit from the additional tender pick ups on R3246TTS? I still haven't opened my R3207. I'm still debating if I should try and get the R3246TTS. In a previous post, somebody mentioned that the space inside the loco is a bit tight for fitting a DCC chip. Having the chip located in the tender, seems to be another advantage of the TTS version. I bought my R3207 from Hattons for £99. Rails are advertising R3246TTS for £136. Assuming I could sell R3207 on EBay and cover my costs, an extra £37 for the TTS version seems reasonable.

Just had a dispatch note from Hattons for R3207. Looks like their second batch has arrived.

Anyone got there hands on a TTS DoG yet. Just curious if it's got tender pick ups or not. That might be a good indication if the P2 TTS has. My R3207 has not arrived yet and I'm thinking of switching to the TTS version.

Hhhmmm.... Food for thought.

I thought the main range version had tender pick ups?

I think that is the date they have been quoting (on their website) for some time now.

If you do a search on Google for R3207 ehattons and follow the link to R3207 to the Hattons website, you will notice that the Product Title is Class P2 2-8-2 2001 'Cock O' The North' in LNER livery . "Main range"version. Etched nameplates & enhanced livery - allocation sold out to pre-orders. I think this is what you are seeing on your Hattons account pre-order page, i.e.. it is just the product title and does not mean you have missed out. Earlier this afternoon Hattons told me that they had received a small batch of R3207, that has been dispatched to some people with pre-orders. They are expecting another delivery at some point but are unable to advise when. My pre-order hasn't been fulfilled by the initial batch, so I assume I will receive mine when the second batch arrives.