nickb4141

The fact that it’s a first generation DMU as opposed to a contemporary DMU is irrelevant. The point I was making was that Hornby have a knack of choosing items of limited appeal, rather than items that have a wide geographic spread and multiple liveries and therefore greater appeal. The 120 DMU is continually high up in the wish lists each year, but has been ignored for more niche items. The same could be said for some of the steam items they have produced, which often end up in the bargain bins!

I think Hornby have always made some strange choices, the latest example being the 755 Bi-mode. One livery and a very restricted operating area, suggest these might be heading for the bargain bin pretty quickly. Had they released a Class 120, (with the potential for a Class 119, with a tooling slide for the front ends,) they would have had at least four different liveries to produce and they have worked in England, Scotland and Wales from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands! The 120 also features high up in the wish lists! Surely releasing something with more liveries and a wide geographic operating area is a safer bet commercially? It isn’t rocket science! Hopefully now a certain someone has left the company, we might see some better decisions made, not just concentrating on personal steam favourites. Hornby do release some cracking models and I’m sure even the most hardened Hornby haters wouldn’t want to see them disappear.

Hi Charlie, What is the current state of play with the 142’s? Have a few on order, so wondering when I’m likely to get my mitts on them? Nick

Totally agree! Producing a 153 could be financially very risky for Realtrack, when Heljan have already done most of the legwork and could have it up their sleeves already. Personally, as much as I’d love a new 153, I’d like to see Realtrack release a Heritage DMU, for example; Gloucester 100, Park Royal 103, Gloucester 119 or Swindon 120. Failing that, a TPE Class 185 would make sense and with them now operating in 6 car formations, an excuse to buy two, would help the numbers stack up.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Heljan release an 00 gauge 153, after their forthcoming 0 gauge 153. The response to the engineering sample has been very positive, so would seem a waste not to go down the 00 gauge route, particularly, as you quite rightly say, the Hornby version has quite a few drawbacks.

Has anyone heard any news on when the 9 car sets are likely to appear? It’s all gone very quiet? Thanks in advance, Nick.

A ScotRail Saltire set with the new revised tooling would be a shrewd move, bearing in mind that the previous releases were of the original tooling and all current sets in operation are of the revised window layout to accommodate the disabled toilet. To be honest, I’d expect these to sell out faster than some of the heritage liveries suggested, judging by the prices second hand ScotRail 156’s sell for on EBay.

Will everyone who pre-ordered a pendolino receive them before they are available at retailers? I pre-ordered an Avanti 11 car, but haven’t received or heard anything yet. Nick.

I ordered four class 156’s (and paid in full,) 2 years ago, but still haven’t received anything, yet I can now buy them from Rails! So yes, not that impressed!

Same here! I’ve paid for five 142’s, so slightly alarmed to here orders haven’t been taken yet - my money’s been taken!

Class 142 & Class 143 supposably in the ‘same’ Tyne & Wear PTE livery; Class 142; https://flic.kr/p/dzrTkn Class 143; https://flic.kr/p/6m6oJF If you compare to the yellow ends, the 142 is lighter and the 143 noticeably darker.

The colour on the 143 looks spot on to me. The T&W PTE livery was more of an orange/yellow colour on the 143’s, whereas on the 142’s, it was a much lighter yellow. Strange how this came to be, but if you look at pictures on Flickr you’ll see what I mean.

Hi Ben/Arran, I just wondered if you’d thought about accommodating an alternative Derby end in the 120 tooling? Then you could produce a Class 119, (bodysides were identical) The 119’s, despite being Western units, were surprisingly widespread in their lifetime ( I’ve seen photos in the Newcastle area and even Whitby!) Looking forward to the 120 by the way! cheers, Nick

I’d also like at least two, three car 144’s - so probably more than 10 of us out there! 😁

Hi Charlie, I’d also buy two of these, if they were available! cheers, Nick.

Hi Charlie, Live hundreds of miles away from Glasgow, so won’t be able to ask in person! I’ve got two Northern current livery and two Midnight Blue & Mauve versions on order with you - any idea when they might be available? Many Thanks, Nick.

Hi Charlie, These are looking great - any idea when I will be able to put my pre-orders in? Also, will you be doing sound fitted versions? cheers, Nick.

Hi Mark, Your repaints look amazing and the colours look spot on! Can I ask which paints you used for the Northern Midnight Blue & Purple livery? I’ve been searching the web for these colours, without success, so was interested in what paint you used? cheers, Nick

Would be great to have a couple of 143’s in original provincial livery. Have these been done before? (assume they have already, but would be great to have a re-run what with all the renewed interest in pacers)

Probably a stupid question, but all 142 models on Realtrack site are showing as ‘sold out’. Is this just because they aren’t available yet, or are all models actually sold out and nothing is available to pre-order?

Surprised not to have heard anything about the progress of the O gauge 117/121/122/120 models in O gauge today? Have they quietly been dropped?

According to Tower Models site, the first of the Dapol Mk1’s are on the water, so shouldn’t be too much longer now!

I couldn’t agree more! I can’t quite believe how hostile some people have been!

Actually I did grasp that thanks! I appreciate the issues with the 321’s as I had pre-orders like others did. When Mike suggested we prove the demand, I can’t see any other way around this, unless you or anyone else has any suggestions how you would do this? It’s not my ‘personal theory’ I was trying to be proactive and offer a solution, rather than being hostile as some people seem to be on here.....

Class 68 maybe, as something modern to accompany the class 66?