John Harris

Well, that seems a tad uncalled for or it is your "forum"? I have never expressed any opinions that could be considered extreme or even controversial, yet I get subjected to an unwarranted personal attack from someone I have never met. I would not presume to suggest that you "pipe down", but I do suggest you take yourself away from the keyboard and consider whether your comments are contributing to the general friendly tone of the RM forums, you are a "Moderator", the clue is in the name... jch

Since the persistence issue around EVs is range, though I think the more pertinent one should be the availability of charging points. There is a trial underway in the Netherlands to allow Ford EV drivers to use the Tesla network of superchargers, Ford's EV range is small at the moment, but soon to be expanded in Europe using VW technology. jch

Do Humbrol still do their "Glow in the Dark" paint? Probably really radioactive... ;-) jch

Making a dedicated manager look like an idiot is surely not "done for TV", it's not flipping "Love Island". jch

I take the layouts and displays in the visitor centre to be akin to the layouts that were a fixture in most department stores toy department's in my youth. To attract small boys and girls of all ages while Mum & Dad were shopping. I knew I'd see one every December to ensure I was distracted while Christmas presents were bought in the same shop! Indeed, my nearest department store (Roomes in Upminster) had one of best selections of models, of all sorts, in the area and a decent layout. jch

Having watched the series so far, I feel the editing in the programmes does Simon Kohler no favours at all. He is obviously an enthusiastic manager with the drive to ensure the company's success, but the way the programmes were made means he is presented as an annoying "micro-manager", which I'm sure is unfair. jch

I've seen the ORA CAT and the Alpha Ace https://youtu.be/FuKJ5fwToJg Both look better than the rest of the forthcoming EVs. Sadly, I fear that the "cheap" tag is based on directly converting Chinese prices, unfortunately prices seem to double once they reach Europe, an Audi Q2 E-tron is under £20K in China. I can't see Audi selling it for much under £35K in the UK. jch

I think hydrogen is the "way forward" for construction equipment, after all many will be use some distance from charging facilities, for example on the HS2 sites. I suspect it will also be the solution to heavy goods vehicles, the operators will not wish to lug a couple of tons of batteries around. I know Tesla is promising EV trucks, but long-term running costs are a serious consideration for the likes of Eddie Stobart. Cars and light vans will be electric. Personally, having seen idiots spilling petrol & diesel around at the pumps, I'm not sure I can trust other motorists to re-fuel hydrogen. jch

I apologise if I came over as dismissive, I appreciate the modelling involved, but it has to appeal to the general public as it tours the country, not just enthusiasts and even today small boys (of all ages and genders) tend to prefer steam trains. However, aside from an extended advert, I don't see the relevance in a programme with Hornby in the title, it literally "Does not do what it says in the tin!" jch

I suspect 170 miles is more than adequate for deliveries in towns and cities, which will be the bulk of the market, remember traditional electric milk floats delivered all day with a much smaller range. Remember these vans are for "last mile" deliveries, the bigger (hydrogen powered?) trucks will get the parcels to the local depot. Couriers already get told the most efficent route to take too. If there is a range issue, perhaps a side-effect will be the drivers getting a proper lunchbreak while the van recharges? jch

I agree that the series is settling down, but a lot of each show is nothing to do with Hornby. Last night's is a good example, the "World's Largest Model Railway" was Gauge O, so had no Hornby rolling stock. The idea, of using empty department stores as exhibition space, is sound, but I can't help the overall idea is "courageous" as Sir Humphrey Appleby might say, it seemed a very good reproduction of Simon's childhood memories, but is that of any interest to many other people? The costs of moving the layout will be significant, you are not going to get that in a back of a Transit. I remember Bertram Otto's "World's Biggest Model Railway" at Colchester Zoo and several display layouts at London department stores, notably one in Gamages, which was less realistic, but had a lot more going on, and dare I say more appealing to the general public than an authentic layout? I have seen videos of such layouts in Europe and "Pocket Planet" is still on track (sorry!) for London next year. jch

I suspect that Hornby's aim is look like "what people expect" rather than reality, you are correct, most steam comes from around the cylinders, safety valves and whistles. I understand too much steam or smoke coming out of the chimney is considered 'bad form' and some needs adjusting. jch

I have had "night storage" heaters for years, charging up on cheap (well, cheaper) electricity, so to be fair gas boilers are a mystery to me, but from the 'heat pumps' I have seen they all have big fans, which are going to be noisy after a while as bearings wear. Granted they are sited outside, but that leads onto my second question, does the efficiency and effectiveness depend on the situation? Does the heat pump work better on the South facing wall? That is always the warmest side of a home, even during winter in the UK. As '30801' mentions, insulation is the key. jch

Meanwhile in Japan... jch

My local authority "cured" that problem rather efficiently, they installed cameras on each such junction and automatically issued fines, I think around £150 less if you paid within 14 days. What was odd was that even after publicity in the local press and on social media they were still catching people, sadly a lot of people think that any rules do not apply to them. jch

The Italians copied the Daimler Dingo, the Lancia Lince, which was also used by the Germans. The reverse was also true, the Bedford Traclat was a copy of German ¾ track vehicles. One survived into civilian use post-war. jch

That, in a nutshell, was the problem, the UK and Europe was planning for a flu epidemic (remember the 'bird flu' outbreak in 2007), whereas Australia and countries in the Far East were planning for a SARS type epidemic, mainly because that is what they suffered in 2002-04, but as that left Europe virtually untouched. The UK had Exercise Cygnus which was a cross-government exercise to test the UK’s response to a serious influenza pandemic that took place over 3 days in October 2016 and involved more than 950 people. jch

Hopefully the discarded sequences might be on the DVD release? jch

In a slight defence of Sunetra Sarker (the "shouty" narrator), she is an actress, so was probably following the direction and script she was given. That said, I'd have thought they could have found someone a bit more interested in the subject. jch

True, there were none, but the manager was switching on the displays and the staff were not socially distancing either. If it was an elaborate pantomime for the cameras it seemed a bit odd. The clips of the chap researching the S&D had people in the background with "blurred out" faces, so to be consistent they would have to do something similar in any footage of the model display. jch

They are indeed, but it was an embarassing slip, given how much Airfix bang on about the research they do. jch

I did wonder when it was filmed, it was obviously not during the "stay at home" period as the display area at Margate was open. jch

Thanks for measuring, I did include a cautious "seemed" ;-) The Mk.IV included the spare wheel (and a proper full size one too) and up to a V6 under the bonnet. As I child I liked the 'bench seat', though those were lost when three point seat belts became the norm. The oddest was a Zodiac Mk.4 "Executive" Dad borrowed which had air-conditioning, that nearly filled the boot space. I don't think it was standard, possibly a trial as it was a company owned car. You are right on the mirrors of course, in the "olden days" the mirrors were on the wings and much smaller. John

The programme was a welcome change from the usual diet of "reality" shows and Bradley Walsh in something, and covered the creation of a new model well, but only up to a point. It's a pity that the programme makers did not (or could not) visit the factory in the Far East, as it was we had a designer in Margate creating a 'model' on a CAD system and then magically (I thought of the replicators in "Star Trek") a completed prototype appears on his desk, they didn't even mention a timescale, weeks? months? I thought Simon rather gave the game away, the Merchant Navy class model was firmly targeted at collectors, I'd wager a fair percentage never turn a wheel once purchased, which rather contradicted all the waffle about the old set his mother had bought his brother and "grandparents buying for grandchildren". Totally unrelated to railways, but Airfix's faux pas (six wheel nuts not eight) on their recent kit of the British Cromwell tank, suggests the trainee designers are used on some ranges. The rest of the series will be interesting to watch. jch

My Dad used to borrow a Mk.IV Zodiac from work, I saw one earlier in the year and it seemed narrower than my Fiesta (current model). The track on older cars always looks narrow as do the tyres. jch