JimF51

Perhaps it's those 2 particular models that are having issues? There seems to be just about zero issues with the HOn30 models. If there were, I seriously think they would have been, or be, discussed on the Yahoo HOn30 group, or the HOn30, 009, HOe facebook page. I have of the Forney's, and one of the small F&C tender locos. It has only been test run, and is now waiting for a Toma conversion kit. The Forney's, however, have been run quite a bit, on my test oval. Jim F

So, some are saying the new MREmag is up and about. For myself, I don't see it in that light. I see 2 different items (yes, this might just be me) First, although the old MREmag was called a magazine, I never considered it as such. To me, it felt like both a 'letters to the Editor' thing that occurred 3 times a week, or, perhaps more so, a group of friends and or acquaintances who met 3 times a week, to "Have Their Say". I would open and read that day's page, but I don't recall ever going looking for other content (was there any?). I don't think I ever clicked a advertiser's link, as any I might have, I already had bookmarked. So for me, the new MREmag is just that, a new emagazine. Haven't read all of it yet, but have looked through it. Quite a bit of varied content, seems assembled well, but I also feel it is sort of a rushed job. The appearance reminded me of early issues of newsletters from various Guild, Associations, Societies, etc... From all that was touted earlier on, regarding the forthcoming magazine, I guess I was expecting something a bit more polished, more like the above mentioned US MRH. Secondly, as for "Having Your Say", we are told it will be back, but as a moderated forum, and one will have to register, to post anything. One has to ask, A) is a new forum of the type already out there, in large numbers, really going to take off, and B) won't having to moderate it take up the same amount of time as Pat and Phil had to spend on the old version (I mean total time, no matter how many moderators)? For myself, RMWeb already is more than sufficiently filling my need for a general UK rail modeling forum, and the N Gauge and narrow Gauge forums cover the rest of my interests. Jim F

Have received mine, not just need some N/009 track to give it a run. Was about to cancel my order, a couple of weeks ago, and use the funds for items needed for other model projects, when I found it was in stock and shipping, at Walthers, so let the order stand. Not sure where I will go with it, maybe a fictional NG line, built by a couple of towns after being bypassed by the major railway, somewhere in Kent. Jim F

Hello Martin. Perhaps I should have added "...that is reasonably priced, and will be more readily available to overseas modellers". Yes, I'm aware of SMP and C&L. I've been exploring scale/gauge with regards to doing UK modelling over here for a few years. I have come to the conclusion that working in OO is by far the easiest, and that I can live with the narrow gauge 'look' of the gauge, but that distinct BH rail raised up from the sleepers was still missing, if I used readily available OO/HO FB rail track products. Over the last few years, I have read some mixed reviews regarding the SMP point work, enough, along with the £27. per point price, to keep me from ordering any. The C&L point kits, at £48 each, are way too much for this modeller's budget, and I suspect many others, as well. And neither is readily available to overseas modellers. There is the possibility that Walthers (a large model rail supplier over here) will stock the new Peco line, or at least be able to special order it, and one Canadian dealer has stated they will be carrying the DCC Concept line. I suspect that all those modellers out there, who have been happy running their trains on Peco FB OO track will give this line a serious look (as well as Peco's offerings, if and when they reach market), when they are looking into building a new layout, or rebuilding a existing one. I also suspect, again, that their numbers far outweigh all the folks who go on and on about missing or 'wrong' details, or the odd .xx mm variances. Cheers. Jim F

Perhaps it's just me, and being on the other side of the pond makes me have a different take on it, but I am very glad there is ready to lay, more typical looking UK OO track becoming available to the market. As long as any stock I have, or plan to buy, will run on it, I am not about to get my knickers in a twist regarding whether it is 16.5, 16.3, 16.2 (blah blah blah), how many bolts, or if the bolts are correct type, if the chaisrs look 'correct', if it has thin or thick sleepers, or any other of the nonsense that seems to be in this thread. OO gauge track is too narrow to be correct regardless of any other details, so if one is into said details, one should wander off and get into P4. Thanks to both Peco and DCC Concepts. As I have not read anywhere that Walthers will be adding the BH line to their inventory, but that Model rail Imports will be carrying the DCC Concepts line, it will be the latter that I end up using. Then again, perhaps I am one of a vast, usually quiet majority, who for years have used peco FB track for their OO needs, and not worried about all the more picky folks. Jim F

Sigh... Skarloey model delayed again, now the Walthers site states "No info from Vendor", regarding due date. Oh well. Jim

Walthers, the big US model rail dealer/distributer, has it listed due on May 31, with a sale price. Of course, it was April 5, then April 19, so who knows. Have one reserved through my fav online shop, and will probably reserve Rheneas when it gets listed. Jim

Perhaps a lack of searching on your part? I looked at going EM over a year ago, and very early on had found both C&L kit info, and the Marcway products. To Richard, Thank giving your clear responses, to all the questions/issues that have been brought up. I think that goes a long way towards this thread NOT going haywire as the Peco BH track thread has done. Jim

A bit surprising that news like that, and now out to all via Hornby magazine, is not on the website? Jim

Yes, the website was up again about a week ago. The owner has posted on the N scale forum. The hold up, I believe, was the new revised point kits not panning out as hoped. Jim

Not necessarily. Though my laptop is 4 years old, it is a high end Alienware model that came with Win 7. Has a fast Intel processor, a high end nvidia graphics card, full memory. I have tried upgrading to W10 3 times, since last Sept. Each time there have been issues. Searching for solutions online, one gets convoluted, jump through these hoops to attempt a fix. Why bother? So I have reverted back each time, within the 30 day window, to W7, and I plan on staying with 7. As BG John says, why fix something that isn't broke? Especially as the 'fix' is broken, as well. I hope to buy a new desk top in the near future, which I am sure will have W10 on it, but at least I'll have warranty support then. My older laptop, by the way, which did come with XP, and that I updated to W7, took the W10 with no issues at all, and runs just fine, for what little I use it for. Jim

Hmm, perhaps peace of mind regarding track gauge they use, but there has been a constant ongoing discussion about poor performing layouts for this past year, at least. I must be reading a different forum, and reading a different Society's journal. There is concern that many members are not being true to the 'code' (or whatever) and building said correct gauge track to the level needed for untroubled running. Or not building their locos and rolling stock to that 'code'. To be honest, it was all the negative back and forth over this that made think about not renewing. Then I was told by a member, via email, that 'anyone' who looks at real track and then at commercial OO track on a layout will 'immediately' notice how wrong it looks, that check rail gaps are way over wide, V rails wrong, etc, etc.. Well, aren't I a dummy! Because when I look at track, I bl***y well don't notice that. I look at the overall effect. I will notice if it is FB rail as opposed to BH raised up on chairs, mainly because the former would not be correct for the period I am interested in. That email and Tony Wright's guest article in the last S4 News issue I received made me realize I can be perfectly happy with 00 gauge track. And you can say the same about OO, I think, as there are thousands out there happily using 00. This topic is this many pages long due to input from all sorts who do not use 00, not because of those who do. Jim

Peco shows a section of OO "gauge" track made to 1/76 "scale" and says they are looking for favorable reaction before committing to points. I took that to mean favorable reaction to the said piece of track, NOT the announcement itself. To that end, I sent off a email to them soon after seeing the announcement, thanking them and giving my positive reaction. I also did not take it that they were looking at favorable sales. If sales were going to drive the decision, I think they would have made a large amount of the plain track and gotten it on dealer shelves right away. As for the Peco track affecting C&L and SMP's sales, perhaps, but difficult to say without knowing just how much they sell of OO gauge track. I would think it is their least selling items, and their core business is the EM and P4 buyers. Unlike we OO gauge track users, they do not have a alternative, other than building their own. For myself, the price savings is more than enough to make me wait and see what develops with Peco. The new track may come in at a higher price point, but I doubt it will be up as high as that from C&L. A C&L point kit is more than 3 times the price of a Peco point, and flex track is more than double Peco's. Unbelievable how convoluted a route this whole topic has gone. Jim

Anything new in the development of this range? Went awful quiet after 2 Feb. Jim F

Alan, those are no longer available, though, are they not? Jim

Ron Ron Ron wrote, earlier on... "" I rather suspect the practical reality of battery powered model trains, gives it very limited appeal. How many people would relish the prospect of going to their layout to play trains, only to find they'd have to put them on charge for an hour or two first; especially in the evening after work, or in a limited time frame?"" Really? If people were incapable of getting into the simple habit of plugging a loco in to re-charge after a operating session, cell phones would never have caught on, I think. Jim

Went to the website this past weekend, wanting some point templates, and saw the notice the site is being updates, back this week (starting Mar. 1), but nothing yet. Anyone have any further info? Jim

I've read through this thread, great stuff, excellent items, Eddie. I may have missed it, did see you could do these in 4mm, but what about N (1/148)? Is that do-able, and anyone know if the W irons and other bits are available? Or could the bodies be plunked onto existing RTR frames? Thanks. Jim F

Walthers is a full Peco distributor here in the US. Unless things have changed in the last few years, they can order in anything Peco makes, even if the do not stock the item on a regular basis. Much of the O gauge track components are listed as Special Order. When I inquired a little over a years ago, I was told there was no extra cost, just extra waiting time. I suspect one will be able to get it from Model Railway Imports and Britannia Models, 2 Canadian shops, at decent prices. However, even if one had to order this track from some place like Hatton's, I'd be willing to bet total cost would still be less expensive than the equivalent order from C&L It's on my future shopping list. Jim F

I requested that quite some time ago, John. My model interests are the late 1800's. This request is in connection with some military modelling I'm doing. However, I fear neither wish will come true. Jim F

Think I 'wished' this before, but would like add-on kits to back date many of the structures to earlier periods, like the 20's through the 50's. at least. Window displays, signage for earlier and different businesses, etc,.. Jim F

PhilJ W, Stadden has some seated passenger figures in 1/43. Just a FYI, as you hadn't mentioned them in your post. Jim F

I did the update to 10 on my older laptop, it is pretty baic, no extra graphics card and such. Has been stable, works fine. My better laptop is a Alienware, with high end, for it's time, graphics card, as well as a high end wifi card. I have attempted 3 times, now, to go to Win 10. The first time, all seemed well, but after a week, it no longer aw the graphics card. So, revereted to 7. Read up on it, then gave it another go. This time, didn't see the gc at all. Back to 7. I then read, one must give the computer 15 to 30 minutes, without being used, AFTER it tells you that you are updated. Seems Win 10 continues silently in the back ground getting drivers and such. Ok, so tried that. Never bothered to find out if it worked, as it had dropped a good number of my desk top icons, and a few of the programs. So, I am back to 7, and really have no plans to try again. Why fix something that ain't broke, anyway? LOL Jim Flynn

Peter, haven't had a full read through yet, but what little I have skimmed, I think it will definitely be useful, and in more ways than one. My interest in WW II modelling re-surfaced a few months ago, and have been catching up all that has changed in the last 20+ years. One thing I have found is that I would most likely have to make my own decals if I wanted a few different vehicles of the same unit. I'm going, in the near future, explore your methods for doing these markings, as opposed to having decals made. I'd do decals myself, but much is in white, which basically rules that out. Jim Flynn

Mine did arrive, and have only given it a quick look through, as I have to head out for a bit. But from that look, I have to second Michael's statement. BG, not sure how any of this works. Was going to suggest perhaps all printing is done over here, but as Michael has received his, guess that's not the case. Jim Flynn