Tramshed

I believe this was covered by JaymzHatstand in March 2019. Answer is yes it should be possible as tooling includes P3 (LNER d. 57) boiler and tall(er) chimney (though on many of the class the chimney height was reduced twice in LNER days according to the 'green book' vol.5). I would certainly be next to wainwright1 in the queue if it was ever released.

Email from delivery company suggests 737 should be here sometime today.

In case my wife rings when I'm in my local model shop, the manager there has created a special sound file to make it sound like I'm down the pub!

I'm not sure if expressing a twinge of sympathy for manufactures is permitted within the RMweb rules (and in the case of a commission it is unclear where the blame lies between Dapol and Rails) but there is arguably a case that we as the informed buying public are also at fault. Many screen inches are taken up with people complaining about long lead times (I want it now!) and those who bemoan the lack of opportunity for constructive comment during the development process in the case of shorter lead times. In the case of the Wainwright D, the product was announced in October 2019. The livery artwork for the Southern olive version was displayed then (link provided by Graham Muz). Just under a year later the livery samples were revealed. Much reaction followed along the lines of 'urgh! I don't like that shade of green'. So the producers changed it to the shade we see on the production version which has since been well received. Perhaps if someone had pointed out the incorrect typeface for the tender numerals at the same time, this too could have been changed.

I too am 61 but ever the optimist! Following all the feedback from purchasers of the A2/2s, reporting poor build quality, missing parts, etc., Hornby may have decided to delay release until they run the whole batch through an additional QC check. It would be a pity if you had to send back a faulty one just as the grim reaper............

Alas, on the section south of the Great Bitter Lake there is no alternative channel. In the grand scheme of things another two weeks (if that is what it is) is neither here nor there. Speculation now is that they may have to remove containers to re-float the vessel. Then presumably they get reloaded. I suspect there will be wider implications for the economy than a few models being late to the shops.

Bishduram captures perfectly the position of the hopeless addict in (I suspect) many of us. The industry knows who we are and keeps us interested. Ever noticed how new items often slip from Q4 in one year to Q1 the next, just when the new products are announced. Before delivery of the A2/3 they announce a P2/2 thus ensuring our 'needs list' never gets shorter! I predict the latter will slip into Q1 2022, by which time we will see an announcement of.......K4? V4? B16? J6? who knows?

I guess another consideration that put Hornby off an A2/1 is the 'what does an 'LNER' version look like?' question. This class underwent changes to smoke deflectors, numbers, tenders etc in their early years and not all followed the same progression. All were built with 6 wheel tenders (V2 heritage) and outshopped in black with 'NE' on the tender and 4 digit numbers between May 1944 and January 1945. The most extreme case appears to be 3697 which underwent 7 changes in appearance in 3 years! In 1946 it had the letters on the tender changed from 'NE' to 'LNER' on 2/3 and the number changed to 508 on 20/7. In 1947 it had the wing type deflectors replaced with conventional type on 17/1 and was named 'Duke of Rothsay'. In 1948 the number acquired an 'E' prefix on 6/2 before becoming 60508 on 26/5. On 24/9 the same year it was painted in 'LNER' green but with 'BRITISH RAILWAYS' in full on the tender. Finally on 15/6/49 it was painted in BR green at the same time as it had its tender changed to the 8 wheel type. Some sympathy with manufacturers trying to pick a winner.

In the hope that this photo appears OK, I include one of a cigarette card inherited from my late father illustrating what appears to be a 6 wheel coach converted for weedkilling train purposes. Apologies for the indifferent quality but it is mounted behind glass with 49 others and inseparable. Curiously it appears at first glance to have lookout duckets at both ends though those nearest the artist seem to be cut off at the waist (so to speak). The card dates from the 1930's and is one of a series depicting 'railway equipment'. The train looks as if it might be GWR in origin but doubtless learned colleagues will confirm or otherwise and risk an off topic thread diversion. I post only in case it provides inspiration for someone with the requisite skills to try a model of it based on one of the current offerings (either Hattons or Hornby). Best of luck.

Indeed. This is what Yeadon has to say on the subject "2564's use of 'Knight of the Thistle' apparently came to the notice of Lord Lyon, King of Arms in Scotland, and incurred his displeasure. When that engine was in Doncaster for general repair 9th November 1932 until 2nd January 1933, they saw fit to remove those plates and substitute new ones showing 'KNIGHT OF THISTLE', which was meaningless, both for the Order, and equally, for the race horse. The engine then carried these innocuous plates to its withdrawal". I guess the moral of this story is that then, as now, its not the facts of the case that matter but who gets control of the narrative!

Both are correct. Or rather, both were carried by the locomotive. The Hornby model depicts the earlier form of 'Knight of the Thistle' as built in August 1924 but which was an incorrect title. The error was corrected to 'Knight of Thistle' in December 1932. However, the locomotive was paired with a corridor tender in July 1928 and was not paired with a GN type tender again until June 1937. It went into wartime black in March 1944. The illustration therefore is correct for the period 8/24 until 7/28.

It might come down to whether or not the front steps are part of the body moulding or come in a separate parts bag. 60893, 60896, 60908, 60917, 60917 & 60928 were the locos involved in this transfer and all 6 had their front steps removed due to platform clearance issues. The cylinder drain pipes had to be attached to iron bars fashioned for the purpose.

Many thanks BV. Tramshed is not always right about everything but is also delighted. Not least because the mid 2022 release date gives Tramshed's wallet time to go through counselling.

Forgive me if this has been covered elsewhere but the above post suggests that there will be 2 versions of the GN style cab. O2/1 with 'GN high cab' and O2/2 with 'GN cab'. If so this is excellent news as wisdom until now has been that the 'GN style' cab was going to be applied to both part 1 and 2 engines. Can anyone confirm?

After this years centenary 'releasefest', 2021 may see more limited additions to the range. At the time they released the 'as built' MN, Hornby said they had the tooling options for each of the class variants. We are probably due for a 'middle third' (21C11-20) version of this class. The Ivatt version of the Coronation pacific has yet to appear in LMS Black so I would not be surprised to see 'Sir William Stanier FRS' in this guise sometime soon. On the modern image front, there may have been enough time since their UK launch to scan and tool a Stadler 755 bi-mode. This seems to tick several boxes since it does not require a layout with catenary and is available in 3 or 4 (OK 4 or 5 if you include the power car) lengths which should fit on most layouts. The power car provides a convenient and authentic place to put a sound chip/speaker and by now someone will have had the chance to create a sound file. If I keep guessing this, I will be right one year!

Reversing rod missing from the LNER ones but present on the BR versions and also on the photoshop images so sure it is just a sample assembly error. Excellent otherwise. Looking forward to production.

I am not sure if this helps but I have found the 'Alan Godfrey' series of map reprints very useful in identifying sites. Doubtless there will be one (possibly several for different years) covering this area. They usually have some useful historical information printed on the reverse and are very reasonably priced IMHO. Late 19th early 20th century tends to be the era covered by these maps.

I think more learned contributors than I to this forum have covered this sub topic. 'Dance hall' vans though of SECR design, only appeared after grouping with the possible exception of a prototype. There are several SR brake vans e.g. Pillbox, Queen Mary, Warner and (soon) Road vans, as well as the elderly LBSC van available, that I doubt the RTR market needs another SR van for what was predominantly a passenger railway. Happy to be proved wrong though. Agree the D looks fantastic and amply justifies investment in dark lake birdcages!

I had a look at the video of the product launch at the NRM last year. One of the presenters informs us that there will be a blanking plate that will fit into the front NEM pocket to give a more authentic appearance.

davidw. Do you (or anyone else) know what became of the dedicated thread for the A2/2 & A2/3s?

The following is a direct quote from the RCTS green book vol 2A. "In 1958-59 all except No. 60501 were fitted with the B.R. type Automatic Warning System". 60502 went in to Doncaster works for a general repair between 2/12/58 and 9/1/59 so this is probably the best candidate if you are looking for a precise date.

And the change to a cast chimney if your period is post 1959. Then there are the spoked tender wheels to change to discs (if spokes are supplied, they were in P2 form). Given that there are effectively 3 versions of this class, 2 x curved cab, 2 x straight cab with truncated 'V' and 2 x 'full V' cab with retained early boiler (not modelled), it occurs to me that for those who are prepared to wait, Hornby might eventually offer a 'late crested' 60502 to make full use of the tooling suite.

At the risk of planting another mine in this already overpopulated field, the tenders of 60501 and 60502 were not identical either. Both engines kept their original tenders from building as P2s to scrapping as A2/2s. 60501 had spoked wheels while 60502 had discs (this also affected those attempting a conversion of the Hornby P2 from 2001 to 2002). The CAD earlier in this thread appears to show that Hornby have gone for discs so may be correct for 60502.

Fred You had me digging a bit further. The class acquired cast chimneys from April 1951 (60504) and four others between 1954 and 1958. 60506 was never so fitted. The above painting diagrams suggest 60501 is to be supplied with plain chimney so may be suitable for 60506. Just another thing to watch out for.

Diagram 118 boilers fitted to the class as follows: 60501 10/1952 60502 3/1951 60505 3/1952 until 9/1957 (dia 117 fitted) 60506 6/1952 60503 and 60504 retained their 106A boilers throughout Information ex-RCTS 'Green books' vol 2A. Hope this helps.