Legend

I prefer UK layouts but I’m interested in others too . There was a fantastic US layout at Model Rail Scotland , either 2019 and 2020 that I spent ages studying . Similarly I’m very into Swiss or German layouts , but there don’t seem to be much of the latter - certainly not electrified mainlines with DB Class 103s , the iconic loco when I was growing up . To be honest I’ll pretty much look at any layout if it’s interesting and being operated well . Ones which I tend to ignore are Diesel Motive Power depots as really operationally all you get is locos moving on or off shed . Just don’t find the operation terribly interesting .

No because these were steps forward and promising a new generation of models . The Bachmann 31 will be of equivalent standard to Accurascale .

Still perplexed by this . I would have thought that although under development for years Bachmann would have pulled the plug when Accurascale announced theirs 2 years ago. The expensive part was tooling , so manufacturers say , which given that this is only now reaching market ,probably only happened after the Accurascale announcement , so I’d have pulled the plug then . If Kader resources are so precious why waste it on a 30/31. Most people will have already committed to the Accurascale one and unlikely to change . This is just a waste of resources. Unlike Hornby ,which have a following outside the mainstream hobby ,Bachmann don’t have such a following and will be known of by enthusiasts in much the same way as Accurascale, who have already got the orders . So pickings for a 30/31 must be lean . Meanwhile where is the 25 announced years ago ? Where is it? Wouldn’t they have been better bringing this to the market, both for enthusiasts and their balance sheet . In a similar vein we have the 170 . Bachmann produced it but an update is in abeyance or cancelled …..we don’t know because of vague statements , but it’s preventing others from producing one because the risk of duplication is so high . The dead hand of Bachmann is to the detriment of the hobby . Then there is the 313 . Revolution aren’t upscaling their N one because they’ve told me someone is doing it in OO . Accurascale have confirmed it’s not them that’s making it .I really wonder if it was Bachmann and if that is still the case . If it’s Bachmann then have they taken cold feet over the likely price ? But again wouldn’t you prefer something new against pointless duplication? Sorry but I’m viewing this announcement as a complete waste of time . So many other models available to model . And cynically look at the pricing . Once 15% discount deducted this will bring it to the same price as Accurascale - while we know Bachman. Typically charge top dollar £45 for an OTA or £60 for a mark 1! I wonder how much the 69 where there’s no competition will cost - I bet it won’t be £199 ! I really don’t know who approved this for production . I appreciate that there may have been man hours invested in the 30/31 but that’s not the point . The point is maximising revenue and given that the 30/31 has competition from Accurascale and Hornby in both Main stream and Railroad form the decision to progress is mad . It’s not a duplication but a quadruplication , and that’s not including those that are happy with their Airfix and Lima models . Truly baffling and not good for the hobby .

Chickens coming home to roost . Bet they wish they had Ballistic Missile Defence for type 45s now short sighted indeed

they thought it was strange they had to use reverse the whole way

I think the reason is we are embarrassed that we don’t yet have enough F35s for one super carrier, let alone both . And it’s pretty poorly defended with only CIWS . Much better send Frigates and Destroyers that have sea viper . Of course we really need more destroyers that work

I used to like the bumbling old admiral who never knew why he was at a meeting !

Good morning . Well that was a rough night ! Hope everyone ok

Have a look at the Locomotion article . Bottom of one page , repeated on next . Proof reader obviously lost interest

Ooops Left hand down a bit ! Quite a crunch . Are these GRP?

I occasionally buy both titles , but to me they are quite different. Either / Or purchases , rate;y combined. Obviously one caters to railway modelling . I will probably buy the next edition because of the Hornby interview , but at the time I may only have a passing interest in the D&E scene . If there is not enough advertising/interest to sustain Traction as a seperate magazine I think adding it to BRM may just prove a drag on that magazine . The combined magazine sound like a compromise that will suit no one

Do you really need a show with 90 layouts ? There must be a limit to those you can actually get round and see . I go to Model Rail Scotland . I think this year they are advertising 50+ layouts . It is so big that I go on two days , especially if taking in the trade offerings as well . AMRSS do this exhibition very well . I think there is a danger people read too much into the Warley closure . The circumstances have been explained . In Warley club the members are aging and no longer feel they want the stress of organising a major show . Completely understandable , but that’s it - let’s not predict the doom of the hobby because of it . It seems people always have to dig further and come up with conspiracy theories when in fact the real reason is there for all to see . As to YouTube , that’s not killing exhibitions . I watch YouTube lots but I enjoy going to actual exhibitions much more, I maybe then catch up again on the exhibition on YouTube . I suspect there is an effect in that YouTube is actually becoming the model railway club to lots of people and perhaps they don’t feel the need to go to clubs to the same extent . That might be an issue in the future . But that’s evolution not death of the hobby. I do attend exhibitions all over West Central Scotland and usually get up to Perth . Will do the new Dunblane show and possibly Edinburgh if I can get there easily by public transport /walking (suspect not) . The critical thing for me is that it’s a hassle free day out . For Perth you can drive it easily or take the train almost to the door . With Model Rail Scotland again it’s easily accessible with a train costing not much more than the fare to central Glasgow to the door . Cathcart , Greenock, Troon , Paisley, Falkirk all nice wee runs , so it’s part of the overall experience . I mention that because I feel that recently the NEC just became to much hassle , getting there , parking , the cost of the venue . Maybe that became a significant factor .

Have you spotted the whole paragraph that’s repeated twice yet ………

Interesting . An aspect of the Red Sea issue and ships going round the Cape of Good Hope is that Containers are being tied up/utilised for longer meaning that containers are once again in short supply . I hadn’t thought of this , although it seems very logical that longer sea times will lead to a lack of availability of empty containers . Apparently container rates have doubled since the new year ! I’ll wait for that as an excuse to increase prices , despite the fact there was no reduction from the last peak .

Like Robin I got all the catalogues since 1965 . The initial issues did not survive my childhood so I’ve gone back and got replacement copies off that well known auction site . I loved the catalogues of my youth , in particular the ones of the mid 70s , maybe 1973 and 1974 are my favourites. Andy any actually sums it up very well , the illustrations were great perhaps the models less so, although I still wanted them all . These catalogues were inspiring , used to look at the illustrations trying to figure out where all the tracks went off scene . I didn’t know but some were set pieces and not actually layouts! The 1974 catalogue was different though with lots of pictures of layouts in the new track plans book , trouble is that the track plans book didn’t arrive until 1975 by which time a lot of the accessories had disappeared . edition 3 of the track plans book had to be quickly replaced by edition 4 because of this . I still buy the catalogues and the latest one is in front of me now . To be honest I buy them to collect them but for the last 15 years I just find them intrinsically boring . They’ve looked the same with these infernal side views . I know someone in marketing is very happy with this , I can hear them praising the continuity of the images between box and catalogue …….but it’s just boring . I suspect that this might be the last year of the catalogue in its current format . I’m hoping it will continue but maybe in revised format . Maybe cut the size of it , have some layout illustrations and have smaller pictures of the actual locos / stock .

You know I’ve ignored this model, maybe even forgot it was being produced, but now they are arriving it looks sweet .

Sales up, margin up , inventory down . Sounds pretty good to me .

Because, rightly or wrongly, we are much more demanding . There needs to be facilities for sound , firebox glow , stay alive , maybe even steam . All adds to the complexity and need for electronic gubbins . But I’m with you , I think we perhaps need a simplified approach . I am concerned at these plunger pickups , well aware of issues on the Airfix 14XX from 1978 ! I hope the forthcoming Jones Goods doesn’t have them . This will be my first Rapido locomotive

I wonder how many they will sell now you can get the rolling stock separately . Who has the need for 2 Rockets ? Stand by for the bargain bin

Not really surprising given that Hattons have suggested transferring pre orders there

Probably reliving my youth in Paisley/ Glasgow . I wish I had taken pictures of what was then the everyday scene . Class 126/107/303 s etc . As well as a Time Machine I’d like to have a digital camera back then . Then there was the first time I saw HSTs in 1979 at Berwick . That Paxman scream ! As well as trains I’d take pictures of the Clyde Steamers and the aircraft at Glasgow Abbotsinch . Viscounts vanguard and Tridents

I’ve just been watching a DVD Railways of Scotland ~vol 6 Glasgow . In it there is quite clearly a Duchess with the stripe restriction but it’s under the wires at Glasgow Central. Later on there is a similar picture at Motherwell . I know initially some of the Scottish electrification was at 6.25kv , perhaps that’s the case at Central but I’d be surprised if it was 6.25kv at Motherwell . So my question is , was the stripe restriction just south of Crewe and if so why did it not apply to Glasgow /Motherwell area . I’ve watched this DVD several times and it’s never dawned on me before that these restricted locos are actually under the wires north of the border .

My dream unit is a 303 . I think I would go for 3 , maybe not all at the same time though . Caley Blue, BR Blue and BR Blue Grey . Just for completeness you could also do Strathclyde Orange and Black and Greater Manchester Brown and orange . At £350 a go I’d certainly sign up . If it was a 314 then probably 3 again Blue Grey, orange Black and Crimson Cream . And again for completeness you could do a Spotrail version . These are ones I’d really like . I’d contemplate something out of area eg 310 unit but probably buy only one . Contemplating the 323 but as units go I think that’s a strange choice , the unit being fairly bland , especially the front.

To answer Frans question directly . I’d say £300-350 ish for a 3 car emu , based on existing locos cost of £170 + £60 for 2 coaches as a baseline . Many emus actually are only 2 body mouldings ie the Driving Motor and the pantograph Centre car , so you don’t have tooling costs for three cars .But it depends on the model £300-£350 for a 3 car emu with £60 a car beyond that . I note dapols 323 is £350 . I am a DC Luddite so have little interested in through wiring and pantographs that raise or lower, but I accept that the market probably wants these functions . However I’d love to see stripped back versions and full fat versions for DCCers . You can charge them a fortune but keep the basic model reasonable 😀 I know you’ve said you are not making one - but I still think a 313/314/315/507/508 is low hanging fruit . Whoever that is that making it is sure taking a long time ! Suspect it’s Bachmann which is further bad news on the cost front ! Another vote for a 303 from me though . Stylish units

Dave Lowery wrote an excellent book “Build a Model Railway” , I think dates from 1990.While I was into model railways since 1965 it was this book that inspired me to build a layout in the loft in our new house . It’s still there and used (when it’s warm enough- it’s freezing at the moment !) 30 odd years later. So my thanks to him! I think the book just struck a chord . It was an interesting layout in the book with a terminal station and some really good but simple scenery . Very inspirational . In fact some of the track layout still exists on my current layout .My woodworking building the baseboard didn’t come from school . My teacher - who I think was just biding time to his pension , gave up on us, so Dave succeeded where others failed ! Railway Modeller , perhaps because it’s been around so long, is often perceived as stuffy and old fashioned . In fact I kind of like that , likening it to a pair of comfy old slippers . However it has updated itself , the latest edition being a case in point with some superb layouts in there , but it also has comment pieces , this time Simon Kohler and “talking Points” , so it has managed to update itself without alienating its long term clientele . A neat trick really !