Mike Harvey

The instruction leaflet for the 9 car LNER Azuma Class 800/1 is now available to view and download on the Kato webpage. Kato 9 car LNER Azuma Choose the ASSY Table button.

There is another risk related to the Dapol JHAs. If they are run without a spacing washer eventually the paint will wear off the underside of the metal chassis. The wheels can then create a short circuit through the chassis.

Rivarossi produced the Nord 231 Chapelon in N as well in the early days of the scale. Admittedly not an SNCF locomotive although inherited in 1938.

You might have 2 unpowered cars. 🙂

Typical Kato. Scheduled release date for the Paddington Bear set is 29 February 2024. As i type this it is 29 February in Japan. :-)🙂

Gaugemaster have published some photos showing the variations incorporated in the new coaches for the 9 car sets. https://mailchi.mp/gaugemaster/kato-release-new-images-for-9-car-class-800?e=dd155d2c05

N’Tastic seems to have become a very useful conduit for getting some talented designers work to the market. Some excellent choices in these 2024 new releases.

Drawing up a Belgian Railways Dms full baggage car and bar-disco for N 1:160 I needed some extra photos to check details of the real things and the LSModels H0 versions. However I searched it was always Hattons which came up in the results with useful links and good quality photos of the models. They probably never stocked the models new so the images of the pre-owned versions confirmed again what a valuable and professional outfit they were, and how accessible their product and directory pages were.

I was thinking of the more esoteric types like the sleepers and at a push royal train coaches. Maybe Farish would make them as spares too.

The re-use of the Poole Mk3s offers the opprotunity for some skilled 3D designer to make suitable interiors with a way of limbo-dancing their way in.

I have been looking at some of the Italian N pages and found this Iveco Daily van. Not sure if it is 3D printed or resin moulded. https://lk-train.com/product/iveco-daily-la-stampa-esclusiva-lk-train-scala-n/ Page 13 of the Pirata new items catalogue for N also lists a Fiat Ducato van and minibus, plus an Alfa Giulia and Fiat 128. Again not clear if they are 3D printed. https://www.piratamodels.it/pdf-cataloghi/Materiale2024/Cataloghi/PIRATA-FlyerNorimberga_PRINT.pdf

@osbornsmodels Are you planning to extend the K2 range to include the National Fire Service version, ideally with a trailer pump. Would sit well alongside the Parker Models Fordson pump.

There are several dutch versions already available as 3D prints in a variety scales from Shapeways seller Visser 3D. https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace?type=product&q=austin+K2+Visser Kent Fire Brigade and the Kent County Council Ambulance service converted some K2s to service vans turned out in white and dark green.

Artitec’s 2024 new items include a number of Dutch vehicles derived from the Austin K2 Towing vehicle used by the National Fire Service in World War 2 and by county and city fire brigades after the war. There is an NFS version too. All in 1/87. Cover and page 4 of the catalogue:- https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturers/pdfs/download/1315/artitec_civilian_novelties_2024_pdf

For all my pre-orders of Arnold wagons for the past few years and including deliveries in December 2023, the default has been that postage is in the pre-order invoice for items under £50. When several pre-orders arrive at the same time they are normally sent in one package. A phone call to Hornby then generates a refund to my credit card of the individual postage charges where the parcel total exceeds £50. Bit strange that this seems to be different for some TT:120 pre-orders.