Timsouth47

Got a reply back from Heljan re-buffer beam parts. "Sorry to see you are not happy with your Class 33/1 bufferbeam parts. We have always factory fitted these parts on our models. The only time we did not do it we received a large number of complaints was many people do not like to fit the small parts themselves. It's a very simple job to remove the buckeye coupler or trim the hoses to accommodate the tension lock coupler without damaging the model and should not cause any damage to your model. We're sorry that this is not an ideal situation for you personally. Kind Regards Team Heljan" Pretty standard reply form, but at least they did, so kudos for that. The text i've highlighted in red i'm not convinced about. Having bought a class 33 last year which had the buffer detailing in a separate bag. 🤔 I'm not going to question them further about that now i know that at least the buckeye coupling ( which was causing the biggest problem) can be removed easily. Regards the missing blue paintwork on the under chassis, i haven't a model (that should have that detail) in my collection. So i suggest contacting them on their website via the web form, hopefully you should get your answer pretty quickly. All in all, as i'm not that worried about the finite details (on all my models) irrespective of the manufacturer, i just want a good representation of the prototype that runs well & gives me that joy factor, i still like Heljan's Cromptons as they've always been good runners (for me anyway), which is more than i can say about other manufacturers products( no names mentioned ). Although i don't have the skills or the space to build a layout which represents a certain time or place, I still appreciate a good looking model though that runs well, they don't sit in cabinets collecting dust.☹️

Thanks for the info Re- buckeye coupling removal.👍 Will get the tweezers out tomorrow.

Got 33101 today & it looks fantastic the paintwork & detailing is amazing.....but that's where the problem lies. As a rule, i don't fit the extra detailing (usually in the packs with the loco) as i like my locos to run with coaches or wagons without the extra parts fouling the bogies.... Unfortunately, Heljan have seen fit to fit all of the detailing to the front buffer beams, thus making the loco un-runable without problems. While this may look fantastic for a static model, i want to run it on my track. There's no way i can fit a coupling in the NEM pocket because the fitted buckeye is in the way & the fitted pipes foul the bogies, see attached photos. I have now got to do delicate surgery on a beautiful model without destroying it's looks. 😬 Thanks Heljan, 😡 I now look forward to having to do the same to the four others i have on pre-order. I have just contacted Heljan about this via their website.🤔 Will post response when it arrives.

Shame the sound was out of sync at the end when it went past. A good bit of history, only a shame it didn't make it to full operation across the network. It's funny, todays trains don't look half as fast or futuristic when standing still, let alone going at full speed. RIP APT. :-(

Thanks for the info about him wanting to sell as a going concern. I found the shop online today (Sat 16th July) & bought a loco. Whilst selecting my delivery details, i realised how close it was to my home in Brighton & decided to collect from the shop in person (when open). Did a dry run on me trike to get my bearings to find it was closing. Got chatting to a dad & his young son about the shop to find not only had he shopped there as a boy but his father & grand father had also shopped there, needles to say, the shop will be sorely missed by many an aspiring train & model enthusiast. I would like to re-iterate that if anyone has the means & knowhow to take on this piece of history & maintain it for the future to please get in touch with the shop owner forthwith. There are so few classic model shops in the south that to lose another would be tragic especially as this shop has been trading there since 1964. His website home page gives more details. I hope it's allowed on this forum, i've taken some pics of the shopfront, showing contact details & also a close-up of the shop door which shows opening times. 9.30am to 2pm Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat only. I hope this helps to save this little gem for future customers.

Sorry to hear that Roy. Was hoping it was just a one off. Thank god for silver marker pens though.

Anyone else got missing detail on the TRBS box set. See pics showing the silver chrome slider detail for the coach doors missing on Sc 48401 & Sc 48402. Both sides of each coach have the silver detail missing which makes me think it "might be" a batch problem ( i hope not). Apart from this detailing & the capacitor problem, my coaches look great. Just waiting on the 7 car set to arrive now. Not going to return mine as might try doing the detail with a fine tipped silver marker. If it goes wrong..... then hay ho! it's my own fault. To be honest, i probably wouldn't have noticed it if i hadn't been looking for faults. Box set details. Coach with missing detail. Other coach with missing detail. Faulty coach numbers. Correct detailing on Sc 48302

All these differences with the rolling stock could be down to one thing. The Farewell Tour set is based on the LNER putting together a train that ( in livery only), replicates an iconic 70's 80's set. The problem is.... all the rolling stock from that era has had to be updated to new safety standards (including door locking lights & possibly the low level door locks). It was impossible (therefore) to exactly replicate a full train from that era with what they had to hand & what they presented was a pastiche of a train from that era ( which is still good ). Since Hornby chose to represent this special train as run over the four days. To replace the coaches with re-tooled 70's-80's stock would have been incorrect as this is not what was run. I suspect this is why the coaches look wrong for the era represented, where (in fact) they are probably correct to type, as the coaches would have had several coats of differing liveries put on them over the years of service. Also, i doubt the LNER would have taken the stock back to bare metal for a four day special, as this would have been prohibitively expensive. Therefore, Hornby have just replicated the train as seen for the tour,(warts & all). I am NOT a train historian by any stretch of the imagination, just an ex railwayman trying to capture a bit of history by buying & running model trains to entertain myself, so (for me) i don't count rivets, but do like to run good representations of the models i buy. My main worry is that in a few short years, the prices have risen to the point that making any purchase requires a lot of financial thinking. If this keeps up, model railways as a hobby will become an elitetest pastime for the well off, or the super model makers who make their own. The average person who just wants to (play trains) & enjoy the hobby, will be locked out & this would be a great shame for all.

A bit of a shock, but at least i was able to pre-order the APT set through another retailer. That's twice i've tried to get hold of it, guess i'm just jinxed (sorry everybody). I hope that pre-orders for other Hornby stuff are available at other retailers so nobody misses out.

Cheers Dave, got the e-mail & re-ordered today. Thanks for persisting with it.

Brilliant job Have you got a link to it on youtube please ? I've got me large mug 'o' tea & biccies ready.

Was the Sunday version recorded as well ? Just listened to the Saturday one & really enjoyed it.

This stinks of the ridiculous attitude of the nanny state wanting to protect everybody from everything & labelling everything as potentially hazardous. Young kids have always played with things they don't understand because that's how they learn (by mistakes & achievements). For Hornby to do this ( supposedly under the banner of Health & Safety) is wrong in many ways. Why deprive a child of the right to explore their imagination by building & playing with model trains. Thomas was the one way many children could connect directly with the real physical world, by holding the model in their hands & reconstructing the stories from the books & videos into actual working model worlds, in which they could interact with. This kind of physical & mental stimulus is essential for a healthy mind to evolve into a healthy & productive adult. I don't have any kids, but if i did, i would be straight onto my MP to stop this farcical behaviour. Undoubtably this move will help the "collectors" ( who never actually play with their trains) thus increasing the "so called" value of their models. The next step will be an age limit to the purchase of trains & train sets ( to protect the kiddywinks). Black market Thomas & Friends Sets will be popping up on eBay very soon (& they won't be the genuine Hornby approved one's either). Counterfeit toys are far more dangerous to kids than the genuine article. SHAME ON YOU Hornby.

Brilliant Mike. My favourite class, thanks for posting.