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If anyone is still trying to get hold of these I just snagged a pair from arcadia @£136 each. They are closed now but you could try calling them tomorrow. They don't have a website you can buy from but don't let that put you off, all you have to do is call and they will take payment over the phone. It takes literally 2 minutes... fast and friendly service and you can review their feedback in the model shop section. http://www.arcadiarail.co.uk/products/Dapol/?page=1&type=Locomotive&themes=All&orderby=pricedesc Tel: 01706 882900 Cheers *gribble*

in the style of the BBC "reality check"... Sure the 86's sold out. So does everything eventually. In this case they sold out 2.5 years after they were released when Hattons etc reduced their prices substantially. To illustrate the point, Hattons had the VT 86 in their sale in August 2012 for £52, a price no doubt many on RMWEB took advantage of and well done if you snagged a bargain. The RRP.... £134.95. Prior to this it was available at 30 to 40% off RRP for nearly 2 years. I haven't done a poll admittedly, but I think most people when asked what sold out means would suggest something that was highly sought after and flew off the shelves, like the LTM tube livery 66, or Dapols DRS 68's, not something that had its price cut by 60% to finally shift it from the shelves. Given that the RRP hails from 8 years ago and most loco's have seen RRP increase 75-100% in that time, I kinda get why we haven't seen any more but I am disappointed not to have seen a re-run. I'd be genuinely amazed (and happy) if Heljan ever released any more in their main range. The only hope you would think is if the shop that recently off loaded its Ltd edition Heljan 58's on the cheap to Hattons were to commission a run. Oh... *gribble*

Spoiler alert? Surely no self respecting webadmin would use such a predictable sequence, or would they... Look away now if you take offense at such things. https://railsofsheffield.com/groups/2303/advent-calendar-day-11 https://railsofsheffield.com/groups/2304/advent-calendar-day-12 Ho ho ho. *gribble*

...and then they were gone. Trawling the stands at Warley today I noticed not a single GWR liveried HST coach available for sale, and I had a good look. A couple of retailers (inc rails) were selling combined loco and coach packs to make a 7 car set, and wouldn't split these despite being asked every 5 minutes it seemed, otherwise there were no spare coaches anywhere. If you dont have your coaches now you may as well start humming the mission impossible theme tune... (unless Hornby do another run) *gribble*

Quick question... I placed an order with dcc supplies to replace a body shell, well 2 in fact, but I dont remember having the option of whether or not to collect from a show or not. Does anyone know if it is possible to tell from the order confirmation email which option was selected? ie, is it obvious from the order confirmation if collect from show was selected or not. Thanks in advance *gribble*

It's an illusion. Actually, the volume of "FGW" or "First Great Western" items being peddled on ebay right now is at an historical low. I have been looking for a buffet car for a while and have noticed (apart from the overly inflated prices for buffet coaches - but thats supply/demand) that the total number of models for sale at any give time has fallen from well over 150 about 6 months ago to about 50-60 now. On that basis the facts show that FGW purple stuff is far from being dumped on ebay and is more in demand than ever. It's also now about 18-24 months since the last FGW purple power car set was released with coaches to match, and the sleepers too. Probably* a good time to sell your set if that's what you are intending. Now, would you happen to have a reasonably priced buffet?... *gribble*

A fine point. If I was a retailer who has just placed an order to find the same models halved in price (wholesale) the next week to clear the decks I'd certainly be questioning doing business with that supplier again. It's easy to see why so many retailers are refusing to order in much if any Hornby anymore. I guess in any business though, its not possible to rule out a fire sale from time to time and this presents an issue. Slow moving stock has to be moved eventually and this is a challenge facing any manufacturer. Feedback from retailers suggest Hornby need to be better (much better) at managing this process. When I hear the statement about no more discounting I take it with a pinch of salt, but maybe what they mean is they'll do it less often by managing their pipeline a bit better. If the numbers dont stack, there will be sale to raise cash. This is an unavoidable truth and a new chief exec with a press release doesn't reinvent basic economics. The bills still need paying after all. As Legend says, this press release is designed to win over reluctant retailers so they place some orders. If not enough orders are placed, well... *gribble*

Hornby's quote is certainly open to interpretation. I intepreted it as saying they were no longer going to clear the wareouse by selling off stock to retailers at a huge discount, ie we wont see the like of the current situation where B19's/K1's/Kings etc are available at knock down prices from multiple retailers because Hornby will tough it out until the customer buys them all at or near RRP. This logiclly means that Hornby will produce smaller production runs, as to do otherwise risks tying up capital on shelves in a warehouse for a long time, which doesn't genereate revenue or profit. Perhaps we are seeing hints of this mindset already in their return to smaller run limited editions and the return of various luminaries to the organisation, perhaps with a view to getting a better grip on customer desires and market saturation for each model? Time will tell. *gribble*

Respectfully, and for the sake of balance, Hornby ceased selling discounted products through their own website at the beginning of 2016, that is unless you were looking for an XXXXL Hornby branded T-shirt. They simply haven't undercut retailers by selling at huge discounts direct online for more than 18 months. Perhaps this is the most accurate post but only if it's 2015? *gribble*

Well, a lot of people bought them (pre-ordered) whilst not being aware of the error. It would be nice if Dapol offered an option to exchange at Warley - they have a large stand there every year. It is a well frequented event and I suspect a sizable minority of those who would exchange a body shell would also attend this exhibition. It would also happen within the proposed 3 month window. That said, I am chuffed to bits about the production of the corrected shells. I was considering selling my first run DRS and replacing with one from the next batch. *gribble*

What I see is that within most online retailers cut price sales, and at the Hornby Factory shop, the majority of discounted models are steam locomotives. Perhaps this reflects a greater number of different steam locomotives being produced relative to diesels but it doesn't seem to me that retailers are awash with modern image stock that can't be shifted. There's always the odd exception and I don't think Hornby producing 3 or 4 EWS 67's in the space of 12 months was the most sensible thing to do. Anyway, unless everyone's annual pay raise is keeping up with the annual inflation in model train pricing it follows that manufacturers will sell fewer models. If Hornby (and everyone else) keep churning models out at the same volume/rate there will be a lot of unsold stock in the warehouse. Volume has to reduce and that's awkward when there are so many new players in the market (Revolution/Realtrack/DJM) eating into that market share. Hornby did the right thing in cutting back the release program for this year and I'd be surprised if they didn't do the same next year. Give it another 3 or 4 months and this topic title might be relevant again. *gribble*

For anyone who hasn't ordered via the website and has been waiting to or simply prefers a purchase over the counter, it seems as of last week they are now available to buy from the London Transport Museum shop at Covent Garden. Both were in stock today. *gribble*

Yes, its a tricky one for a lot of people and not forgetting where this leaves the retailers of these special commissions too. Up to now Bachmann have effectively been subsidising freight stock (and multiple units) within their range and these are therefore seeing the relatively larger increases (substantially above 20%). Now Bachmann are charging a "fairer" price should i choose not to buy on principle? I dont suppose this will bring prices down so either i buy nothing or make a value call given the new prices. Certainly i will be buying less but i hope my budget will stretch to a couple of these... On a different note, as a consumer, i assume that if the preorder price changes before delivery, i have the right to cancel? If this is the case then the recent price rises wouldnt stop me from preordering (assuming the preorder price was reasonable) but they might stop me from completing the order. Seems the retailers are shouldering a substantial risk here. Might we see fewer special commissions as a result? *gribble*

Not strictly true. The weathered version of 50007 (R2499) did come with a certificate if you bought it from Hornby and not Rails of Sheffield. In an unusual twist the name of the original buyer was printed on the certificate so I expect a lot of people bin these when selling them on? *gribble*

Hi, you can review Bachmann's expected release dates on the Bachmann website. More specifically in this case use the following URL... http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/prod1.php?prod_selected=branchline&prod=4 In this case the item is listed as "on order". This usually means that Bachmann do not yet know when it is due into stock and it is likely to be at least 3 months away (there have been some exceptions to this in the past with models turning up unannounced but usually it will be at least 3 months away if listed as on order). Personally I'd be amazed if it will be here in time for Warley as that is only 5 weeks away and you would expect Bachmann to have been notified of them being shipped from the factory in China if they were to be in the UK by then. Perhaps you will find something else to tempt you at Warley? *gribble*

Received my loadhaul version in the post this morning. No certificate with it, contrary to the product description on the hattons website. I have emailed Hattons for clarification on this. Anyone else got a Loadhaul version yet and if so, did you get a cert with it? First impressions are I quite like it. I never saw the real thing in operation but I have to say the livery suits the loco. The cranks look a bit weird, almost bent if you are looking down at them, not sure if this is supposed to be the case or if other models are the same. *gribble*

Kernow called me this afternoon to confirm my order details so I dropped the question about an additional production run. Apparently there is little chance of seeing another set this side of the new year due to a lack of available production slots. Another run next year is a distinct possibility though. I must say I am most impressed with Kernow, very polite and helpful. I am glad this investment worked out for them and hope the future custom Dapol wagons are just as much of a success. Looking forward to having these to go with my weathered EWS 37! *Gribble*

Ouch-o-rama! Hope those wireless credit/debit card machines are working. To say Ally Pally is on a ruddy great hill it always makes me chuckle to see the store holders holding the card machines at weird angles trying to get a signal. For me, Ally Pally could be turning into a damage limitation exercise this year. These things are shiny and therefore even more difficult to smuggle into the house when the Mrs is around. If anyone has any suggestions (other than getting the weathered ones) I'd appreciate it Thanks for the heads up Dave. *Gribble*