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The photos tease to the cab interiors, any chance of showing theses off? The Deltic cab you have shown, had a mind blogging amount of detail! Are the cabs era specific? No worries on the delays, I am already looking ahead to when you launch Colas 37/0s and DRS Compass 37/4s!

It was reported in the magazines in Smiths as 21 pin at the time of launch...

I stumbled across this sample photo, must confess I am rather pleased I had a few hundred lying around. Thank you furlough!

Oh good! Dapol and KMRC have made up? I remember that very public statement from Dapol stating they are terminating all limited edition commissions with KMRC around the time the Thumper went from Dapol to Bachmann... Perhaps opens the possibly again for some OO commissions?

I was using WHSmiths as an umbrella today and read a fascinating article in this months Railway Modeller on Caroline, I did not appreciate it has had such a varied life and a continuing important role. I guess somebody has to be first over new points!

In the dairy to check in on RMweb!

No senior person in the railway industry who actually makes the decisions is going to be on the internet sharing confidential info (though some are on forums). Rule number one, unless you've heard it in confidence (and more than likely under an NDA or similar contracted parameter not to share said confidential information), from either a director, project manager or owner...it is not true! Would you expect M&S's till worker to know the companies strategy? All four of NR's 97s are receiving their major exams for many more years service and considering in-cab signalling is going to be rolled out further on the mainline, until a decision is taken on the long term future of NR IM equipment...you'd be safe to know the 97s are safe.

Are we close to seeing a livery sample, the Revolution Trains N gauge is tantalising and waiting in expectation to be suitably impressed by the OO version!

Thanks for these, confirms beyond doubt that the Hatton's original light pods are oversized and the wrong shape. I consider Bachmann correct here. The whole look of the Hatton's 66 front, in my opinion, is throw off by the overscale lights. I think retailers should stick to doing what they do best...retailing! As far as I am concerned, the following needs addressing on the 66 model. - livery accuracy (try focusing on 4-6 models per release and getting to know the artwork in and out. Embrace feedback rather than defend by going on and on about Pantone - the 66s are mainly painted in RAL!!!). - original type lighting pods (seen above, they are incorrect/overscale. Tooling needs modifying) - window frames on all types (Overscale, either new glazing tooling or just don't paint so much of it in silver) - axel boxes (New bogie tooling, ideally, without rotating axels) - circuit board (ensure the factory is confident, ie. focus on producing 4-6 models and only 2ish variants per release) - quality control/packaging (I do wonder, is a lot of the issue, down to the packaging) - humble and honest customer service/interaction Sadly, Hatton's are going to take time to shift all of the 37 different 66s they have currently. It's going to be a good few years until a batch three. One has to wonder, whether Kader/Bachmann and Hatton's shall make up, with Kader manufacturing the Hatton's 66 under the EFE Rail brand? I would trust Kader/Bachmann to modify the tooling and electronics suitably, along with releasing superb artwork.

I wonder, with the early arrival of the second run of the first run GWR 158, does this rule out further 158/159 in the August releases? Maybe new releases have arrived and Bachmann shall sit them in the warehouse for a few weeks? When is the August announcements? Retailers/Press attending does anyone know - ie...nice photos!

Just back from the pub and catching up with the virtual expo. What a treat, pubs and 20/3s today... looks utterly superb! Seen here near the end:

... That is because 43198 was not named Driver Stan Martin / Driver Brian Cooper until its last week's outing. 43198 was formerly named (ie prior to May 2019) Oxfordshire 2007. (The current plates have recently been painted red).

I had hopes for 800003 being right! But even if you can talk Rail-tec into the decals (not only 1st class white but you have bike, 'traincrew only' and wheelchair space signs missing), you are stuck with the doors being incorrect silver! I can live with 8 pin DCC (and the associated lacking in wow tech associated with more pins) if the livery application is spot on awesome (and I pay way less than RRP). Mr Hopwood was saying publicly at the 'IET' launch (800003/004) the livery/amount of signs was going to be revised before they were in service from Oct 2017. (For info...800003 was de-named last year when its nose vinyl was replaced).

Huh? I would have thought models can run with any model, all seem to have NEM couplings? Or you mean an actual Vossloh/Stadler 68? Seeing as they are fitted with DRS multi working system - which is based on bluestar. It is as simple as using a socket adaptor to hook up a bluestar socket with a DRS 68(88) cable. The 68/88s can multiwork with DRS 37/0, 37/4, 37/6, 20/3. (Just not the 66s, as these are fitted with AAR - well OK 68008-015 could). Remember, the 68s have hauled Mk2Fs which are bluestar socket and wired on both the East Anglia Short Set and up in Scotland on the Fife Circle...Oh and not forgetting most NR test train stock on bluestar. The Vossloh/Stadler 68 is a very versatile locomotive! Not my pics, but both locos powering.

I had wondered why there was a vertical line just above the yellow and why I never saw it visit Eastleigh or Bristol Barton in June 2019. You've saved me a trip to York! Agreed, it would have been far more special to release with 185 in a special 40 years of the HST pack! But then, what version of 185 would you go for? The early mistake on the cab red line or the revised? One thing for sure, no way Hornby shall know details like this!

It is with significant regret I am yet to own either a suitable GWR or LNER 800 from Hornby. I have the Test Train 2, simply as I applied rule 1 (and I was at the press release up in Newton Aycliffe). But I sent GWR 800004 back to the shop (livery errors, poor pantograph and bad ride quality), owned 800010 for a few weeks until a Paddington Bear collector at the P'lodge charmed me to part with it for a very healthy sum and I have cancelled both LNER versions. Why? Well, a minor point that I like to focus on the Westcountry and as such I am waiting for a GWR class 802... but mainly because.... For a RRP £394.99 model I take issue with: 1. 8 pin DCC 2. No working pantograph (or at least a decent diecast one which doesn't snap soon as you touch it). 3. Lack of attention to livery details. Both 800003 & 004 have been incorrect or with little care for the detail of the livery. They do not represent their Test Train 3 & 4 days, early service or now uniform service liveries. 4. Lack of added features that Bachmann etc have done. Working CDL lights would have been neat! 5. Lack of separately fitted detail. I would have really liked for the engine radiator grills to have been etched to allow more detail. Think the side of Dapol class 68! 6. The LNER releases are bonkers! Why oh why release a model based on a 800/1 when you do not either have the tooling or released the tooling to model a 9-car (not that I have space for a 9-car). The genius of the Hitachi AT300 series is most all operators have 5-car units and thus, why didn't Hornby release both a 800/2 and 801/1 as correct 5-car models in LNER. I would have bought both! If I was paying railroad prices, I really could not care about plastic pantographs, lack of detail or interest in the liveries and non-prototypical formations. But when I am forking out 'premium' prices I look at what Bachmann, Dapol and Accurascale are doing and go...oh. No doubt I shall buy a couple GWR 802s if ever released. But I won't be pre-ordering and Ill hover around until I find a good discount. And no doubt eventually we shall see correct 5-car LNER examples (seeing as both liveries shall be around for another 3+ years). But come on Hornby! You could of so easily sold me 800003, 004, 104 & 10. That thousands of pounds you could have had from me if you just cared about the details! I find it so frustrating!!

When 43002 was unveiled in its original livery at the St Phillips Marsh Open Day during May 2016 the nose had been hand painted and the body sides vinyl wrapped. The chassis had also been repainted with various detail highlighted in red and white. The vinyl very quickly gave a 'dull' impression to the side (as per what is noticeable on the Scotrail HSTs). Once withdrawn from GWR service after the 18th May 2019 and handed back to Angel Trains, prior to its donation to the National Railway Museum Angel Trains had the body side vinyl wrap removed and body sides were painted (I have never confirmed with hand painted or 3-pack spray). This, has given the 'preservation' version a nice gloss appearance and was show off at STEAM museum in mid July 2019. Thus, like classic Hornby (attention to the details lacking). The livery on the model neither represents the as in service with GWR between May 2016 and May 2019 nor the as museum preserved. Certainly, packing it with 43198 which ran with 43002 on the last ever Great Western HST service to Exeter St Davids is a nice touch for 'the collector' yet sadly by May 2019 the prototype had vinyl body sides which were fading and painted nose which was polished up quite nicely. I do not quite understand why Hornby continues to offer the class 43 HST in twin packs. I would have thought such a special livery such as this, would have done well as a single item (plus a lot cheaper!). As for me, I have utterly no need for 43198 in GWR green. Still, I have mine on order and I shall be happy with it. I'll eventually get around to putting a nice satin/silk finish as 43002 mainly ran with FGW dynamic lines Mk3s it shall stick out like a sore thumb being gloss! Near to the end of the HST on GWR, ie in the last 12 months...you would often have an intermix of Dynamic Lines and Green Mk3s. Certainly by this time the only full buffet coaches were in green as every single time I got the pullman both the 1st open and buffet were green, with the rest of the set being run Dynamic lines. I wonder has Hornby donated any money to the 125 Group who originally funded the plates, which later have been donated to the NRM. Would have been good sport of Hornby and a little disappointed they have not made better promotion of this!

Shame, I would have ordered 47813 (or 805, 818, 853) in DRS instantly. Hopefully on the OO variants, Heljan shall make sure the tooling covers all types - otherwise I shall be keeping my Bachmann and ViTrains/Rail Exclusive 47/8s.

As someone who has just bought his first 0 Gauge model, the awesome 37/4 in 37405 DRS with Revolution...I would be interested in one of the Colas Rail Freight or GB Railfreight 47/7s. I do not see these on your list. I am very uncomfortable putting a deposit down on a project that isn't go. But I shall confess, I am a little confused with the Heljan 47 here. As on Tower Models it says Heljan plan to make both original and refurbished variants of the 47. I took this to assume the 47/4 aka the 47/8 as in all honestly. If a DRS 47, say 47813 Solent, was offered I would give you £700 today! (subject to paying with Amex for my consumer protection) I 1,000,000% would rather have a DRS 47 over a Colas or GBRf (I cancelled my pre-order for the Colas Rail Freight 37/4 37421 to get the Revolution DRS 37/4 instead).

....and back to the Bachmann class 158.... Well, 159...if I am allowed to diverge from the thread? Who here owns the NSE 159? I would like to know is it possible to put an 'end' body on a 'centre' chassis? Why do I ask? I wish to model the GWR 158/9 and due to all the complex DCC inter-car coupling it is clearly not as easy as buying two GWR 158s. The NSE 159 centre car seems the way forward...

I am a bit confused with this, 8th June has past and I do not see any announcements? If wishlisting, an easy win for me would be the PFAs with suitable containers for current class 68 (88) operation. The previous container, the IP-2 2895 is a single use container. Where as DRS often transports either IP-2 2896 or IP-2 Fissile Bolted Door 20 ft containers. The IP-2 2895 has been road transported to Drigg for several years now.

Im not so sure, I would place a fairly significant chance on September... based on there appears to be more GWR 158s due then. This was delivered back late last year...it is clear these 'additional' GWR 158s are a new production run. It would be bonkers to have the Kader factory only manufacture one livery and not additional too?! Or am I bonkers for thinking this? As for 'wishlisting' liveries, it's been suggested on this thread Northern telegrey, TfW white and SWT swoosh might make appearances. Does seem logical, as bang up to date liveries tend to sell and SWT was around longer than NSE!! I do miss SWT, SWR is just so...you know...telegrey. Though I am personally hoping for a Wessex Trains Alpha...it would not be a Wessex Trains if it was ontime though!

I've PM'ed you

I love this opening post, reminds us that sometimes we get bogged down in the details when some are happy to have a yellow HST and call it the NMT. R2984 & R3366 represent the NMT between 2007 and 2010 The PC were 'de-branded' during 2010/2011 winter downturn and no model represents this period (2011-2016). R3769 represents the NMT since April 2016 to present day. Coaches are available to represent the 2007-2010 version 'NMT' and 2017-present day 'IYR'

Looking good, you gotta love NYK Line! What’s next? I’m seeing a lot of ‘red’ HC boxes on intermodals. Beacon, TEX, CAI, Touax, ICI and blue Seaco with Yang Ming Ys on the doors.