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I was at the LTM open day recently, surprised their shop and got chatting with staff. I think they appreciated the break from screaming children. (odd as you'd thought such an open day would be full of enthusiasts). Anyway... I did ask about the S-Stock and seems certainly they are not totally closed to the idea of a future release... so some hope for those of us who have the first release (refused to buy the re-stickered re-issue) and want to have a fleet of these things. Certainly for me, lesson learnt...buy a few as clearly not as popular as I had assumed. I cannot be the only one with buyers regret!

Whilst I patiently wait for my two GWR 150/2s, I shall confess as Bachmann have never released either a Wessex Trains or FGW 'local line' 150/2...these are my first 150s. How easy are they to open up and remove passengers from? I have never seen something as silly as plastic passengers, but I am worried they are firmly glued down. Anyone had experience in this? Naturally I shall be re-numbering both to more suitable units, seeing as the 'Angel 12' still are due to leave GWR...if the 769s ever work!

If one is allowed to wishlist, I would put my vote into the hat for the YEA to create both the Long Welded Rail Train and the Show and Ice Treatment Train. Though I have always held onto the idea of a WBB Mineral PAA wagon to follow on from your superb PGA...

Would Gaugemaster be keen to release some limited editions in OO? You really cannot make enough from the GBRf fleet, I am sure 73201 Broadlands and 73109 Battle of Britain with Spitfire would prove popular. Winter is coming, and I need some modern 73/1s to run the RHTTs!

Great to hear these are advancing, any idea when the ASF versions shall be released/available to pre-order? Very keen to build up a reasonable fleet of modern Salmons.

An intriguing development, would you happen to know what is planned for the class 18? Beacons original press release suggested a EU wide market for these, and certainly they wouldn't order unless they had a customer in mind. Have you received any hints, you suggest that these are to replace class 08s?

Very pleased with the PFA expanding its nuclear options, as makes for a nice 'mini-complete train' with just a few wagons. Have you given any further thought to expanding the 'PFA' theme out further, namely to provide up to date GBRf gypsum containers. Appears to be as simple as either 1. debranding current container and 2. removing the 'branding plate'. Can one assume rightly, the plate is a separate piece and thus allowing the wide spread GBRf containers? Pic, Hugh Llewelyn on Flickr:

Must say, though I had reservations about these wagons. On arrival, I thought I won a nuclear mine (I like mines). The weight is quite astonishing at c.420g! Certainly shall need a double headed 20/3 to ensure safe transport. I am pleased to see a number of previous 'quirks' ironed out and a rather pleasing wagon delivered (best to provide an understated compliment than all out praise) as you have done quite well!

I hope you do not mind me asking, this is more of an out of curiosity question. We last saw the rather promising 37/0 in December... With this 'upcoming update' hinted to us in May, I am rather confused as to whether we are going to see: a). EP(s) of the 37/4s & 37/6s b). Livery sample(s) of the 37/0 c). EP(s) of the 37/4s & 37/6s & Livery sample(s) of the 37/0 d). Livery samples of all 37s Not that I am worried as your class 37 chap lives and breathes 37s - so any EP vs CAD issue would have been ironed out. Just, I cannot be the only expecting customer (pre-ordered through preferred retailer) who is a little confused to the 37 status, acknowledging covid/CNY/supply of raw materials/labour/DRS rebranding to NTS design language/working from home fatigue/pubs re-opening etc has proven extremely challenging.

I am looking very forward to the OO FSA/FTA in FL Green, a key wagon, with a higher priority than the FEA. I have never seen a FL train without at least a twin. Though I am sure there are the rare one or two (like the 'shortener'). Might I enquire two things I have noticed on the CAD, as you mentioned still much to do... The spigots, are these 'retractable' as CAD seems unclear? Dapol's separate spigots are a good bet, Revolution's rotating spigots are a nice touch, but Hornby's fixed spigots are a nightmare! Would love to hear your thoughts on how the spigots are going to be managed. The bogies, I notice that though the central hollow circle seems to be a nice dimension, the two triangular hollows either side seem a little overscale with the 'rimmed welded-framing' too pronounced? Otherwise a very nice looking bogie! Pic found on Smugmug 'gingespotting' Do you know when we can start offering you money for these? Maybe with some 'HMM' containers...

Tomorrow (remains to be proven as it’s been promised before) is the last day of the Pacer in Devon. As such, thought to order the upcoming GWR release. But all sold out on the website! Surely not? Do you know can I pick one up on pre-order with a retailer....

Abellio Greater Anglia please!!!! (perhaps easier than before, as isn't the EWR just a few more layers of paint on the base AGA white?) Have you considered moving to a 'pre-order' model. I would be more than happy to cough up a few hundred in advance to ensure two things. 1. the 143/156 I wanted, actually happens and 2. (Most importantly) speed! I do feel, if you are short of the money, if you get customers to pay up front you could surely dash straight into production? I am sure I am not alone here, in long being a fan of you efforts but sadly only owning one model. My fear is, my interest in a GA 156 or a GWR 143 shall wander away if we are looking at a few more years (The Wessex 143 was once stated as 'for 2013'. I would have bought back then, but not now). Sorry I do not mean to be swiping, I just want you to swipe my bank card in your machine and get cracking on! This is an encouragement, not an attack!

A few years ago, whilst the DBSO was still 'in-development', I took the opportunity to pester a Bachmann rep at a model show. Asking "are you future proofing your DBSO to allow more 'modern' types?". Response was "It would be a smart move to do that I'd have thought". I took this as, all under hand! We shall know come June/July 2021 when the new batch are due!

I saw no where in the first post how many models were being produced, nor is it on the Bachmann website. Hence my genuine and reasonable question...seeing as sometimes Bachmann runs 750 unit limited editions whereby 500 are standard and 250 sound...Anyway, I have joined the club and pre-ordered. 'Tis only money!

Do we know how many units are part of the limited edition run? 500? Or this 'strictly limited quantities' a bit like Hornby's we shall start at 500 but make 3000? I could be joining the Club, first time in over 10 years. If it is strictly 500 units.

Why would the DBSO be released today, the Mk2Fs are next due June/July 2021. Thus I would be expecting Bachmann to announce a DRS Mk2F TSO, BSO and DBSO during their May 2021 release...ideally along with the Network Rail DBSO. It is fairly easy to 'guess' what shall be released in every quarter now. Looking at Feb 2021, you have a series of class 150s and 20/3s due in the 3 months following...thus likely more liveries on these... Agreed! As the GWR 57 was due in this quarter, I was expecting more 57s to be announced. But sad we have missed out on the 57/3 fade livery. Seeing as Bachmann can 'ink jet' print the 66 model and Dapol can tampo print the new compass on the 68...I was 100% assuming Bachmann would finally provide us a much sort after loco. Maybe, and a big maybe here.... seeing as we know from the 66s the ink jet printing adds considerable cost....perhaps we shall see the fade 57/3 announced as a limited edition this week? Kernow are good for limited editions... Maybe it is being produced and shipped for Dec/Jan and shall be announced either with a retailer or as the next Bachmann collectors club? I have a feeling, whilst they have the 57 tooling out, surely they have produced this one. Eagle eye on retailer's sites some Dec! Still, utterly chuffed with 57009 to run on RHTTs with 57011! It appears they have used the original artwork from 57011 so it shall match! Here goes my first ever moan about price! I would have thought for a £204 locomotive they would have cut off the Dellner rather than painted it yellow. Still buying one, and hopeful 57601 in the new Northern Belle livery shall be a limited edition with some retailer.

I am more a fan of this beast (though the new MedWay 4000 awaits me in Portugal): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10158265066513232&type=3&__xts__[0]=68.ARAvqajjqEMWrFneW78ovyoOgVRhop2q2Dj_1KEuurppo03uSepF25ntbgsPO-tROA3GNU6W1ppXu6VOAavJya3Pp8F9R03MMCQecVzD_A391pDzMF_S6lrcJS0SbmdxrhoWAUorQ-7EGU-XTQpzAQ-sBTm9MH6r-fx99h4CA3i8RMpqaqe3M0j8FgYolapXvSkSuw8zXWXRfmvnFDUPdsHqH8WO92OJ2V6afG5E1_t552eS08i-IcVJlODR1r9ni3zDSgza73oKL6Q8ttxq6wJF0yvo7fMOTprSH3ugw5CB78x6Kc0pA6psWoQaz8f6gfw8_iPURNGOXSawFwBm

Marvellous news, and great to see O now being offered as RTR. It's been an expensive year for me, having a Dapol Evening Star 66779, Revolution DRS 37405 and now a Heljan GBRf 73107 on order! I'm going to need to build a bigger house to make room for these. Looking forward to becoming an O gauge modeller and I hope we see many more RTR! (I utterly hate decals).

Can I squash this 88/93 synergy, please? If and ONLY IF the class 93 is ever ordered for ROG/Orion hire. Though the 93 shall share a lot of components in common with the 88. It shall not be of the same design (due to IP rights and Stadler design)! See attached the proposed class 93. I want to strongly note, the chances of this actually being ordered are slim!!! I suggest, if the 88 model is going to happen, it is not dependant on the 93.

Fantastic! The revisions thus far make for a visually more satisfying wagon. The cast Y25 bogies would be nice if the previously suggested extra detail highlighted around the bogie ends (best I have seen is Cavalex). Other than that, the key areas would be the handle bar base support which should be ‘thinner’ and with four bolts in the corners. The outmost spine should be flush and attention to the rather chunky brake panel and inclusion of the brake pull cord; could all be areas for additional improvements. Photos randomly found on the internet....Carl Watson (brilliant website) and Dave McDigital (flickr)

But it's not just the wobble! Yet then, I am certainly not (re)buying Bachmann's 66s (other than kicking myself for selling all my 66s in expectation Hatton's would address the tooling errors and following livery errors). I am going with, come sometime in the future one of three things would have happened... 1. Hatton's bravely correct the tooling and address attention to the liveries on a '3rd' batch. 2. Someone else brings to market the definitive class 66 model (whether new tooling or having bought the Hatton's tooling and corrected it). 3. Hatton's reduce the price of their 66, meaning at a 'bargain' price I can accept the errors and QC bends 'n' breaks on arrival through the postal system. Of course, 1. is very unlikely to happen until 3. happens... One thing for certain, 2. shall happen in the next 10 years... So no thanks. I won't be buying Hatton's (for now) and nor shall I be buying Bachmann's...plenty of other hobbies and joys in life to focus on than craving a 66 model.

I have spotted the livery sample for the upcoming Class 57/6 in GWR is up online, looks nice. This satin finish (as seen on the GWR 158) rather than the eye goggling gloss approach by Hornby suits the GWR green. Plus, I'd say Bachmann get the colour far more accurate... Thoughts? https://www.Bachmann.co.uk/product/category/153/class-57-6-57602-'restormel-castle'-gwr-green-(firstgroup)/32-756a

Where is it claimed he is the (sole) author? The very nature of the Engine Shed authorship is it reflects a team effort!

Is the livery sample on the 1st EP or a revised? I see a few revisions to the end detail tooling, yet more to do. Still looking nice for what it is!

Brian at Shawplan told me he is working on them!