wombatofludham

I think I might just wait and see if Accurascale are sniffing around especially as the two latest green with yellow bib releases from Bachmann have post preservation high intensity lamps and I'm not about to start hacking them to make them suitable for 1968! (edit) Having said all that, I've just found a fantastic image on Flickr of D292 (one of the current releases sans yellow bib) next to D302, the latter sporting weathered full yellow end livery similar to the recent 40039 release. D292 has a non standard yellow bib that looks like a depot job which would be easy to apply to the current model of D292, and a bit of T-Cut and some D number transfers on 40039 and Robert is your mother's sister's latest squeeze...

Am I missing something? I've just had something pop up from Rails in my Faceache feed about pre-orders being open for the KR Models Class 40, which is claiming "We have been working closely with the Class 40 Preservation Society to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate model of the Whistler that is possible." (other opinions may or may not be available) but when I decided to have a curious look all there were to pre order were a load of fictional liveries and preserved examples. Nothing from their days in normal service. I'll leave the discussion of the model accuracy and fidelity to those who have got their electron microscopes and photo editing software on standby but I must admit to being genuinely baffled as to the choice of launch liveries including no "normal service" offers and three two (can't count) comedy liveries.

I would be in for an original "Bedpan" 317 in OO as they worked briefly out of Euston. I could see a case for the 455 and 317 in both N and OO even with the additional cost of tooling up the pantograph and trailer composite vehicles over a straight 455, and minor detail differences. The 455 is an obvious candidate having a long life and many attractive liveries, and with the stabiliser rail becoming more popular there are a number of contemporaneous units from other manufacturers which would help sales, but the 317 could also make sense with them having moved around the greater London fleets, and I think they ran on London Overground routes for a while, which could give a nice opportunity for a London Transport Museum dealer exclusive. With experience of tooling up for the "Mk3" based units with the 320-1-2 sets (and thanks for giving in to the nagging from us OO gauge modellers to announce the model in OO!) I imagine you'd have some ideas as to the kind of work needed to bring a 455/317 to market.

Some of the Mk2f FOs were refitted with 76 airline style seats (actually if I recall to the design used in the APT-P) and used at first on Midland semi-fasts before moving over to Norwich and used in some high capacity sets which used a Mk2f RFB rather than the Mk3 RFM, allowing extra standard seating to be accommodated in the restricted platform lengths. I know I travelled on a couple when I lived in Norfolk in the Anglia era and found the legroom to be decidedly tight. That would make an interesting addition to the Bachmann range together with Anglia liveried FO, TSO and RFB to go with the Anglia DBSO

Having just watched two Bachmann FFA intermediate freightliner flats go for £123 and £132 respectively on Tatbay (when new they were roughly £50) I seriously think there is enough room for Accurascale to compete with Bachmann on the 1968 design Frieghtliner FGA-FFA sets, especially as Bachmann's models seem to have been a one-off and they do seem to have under estimated the number of FFAs that would sell. A multipack of 5, without containers, would I imagine be well under the second hand prices the Bachmann wagons are fetching and would avoid the scramble to get the outers and inners separately, whilst allowing modellers to pick and chose containers from a number of suppliers, although it wouldn't stop Accurascale from making their own containers if they wish. I've been watching the prices of the Bachmann FFA intermediates on the very rare occasions they come up on Tatbay as I'm one short of a five set and the prices are becoming rather over the top, which really does suggest there is some demand out there and the figures achieved (roughly between £80 and the latest record £132) must really indicate a commercial potential. After all even Hornby admitted that the second hand prices of their lemon 4-VEP units persuaded them there was enough demand to fund a retool, so these daft prices would suggest there is the cash waiting for a more readily available, full five rake boxed set at Accurascale prices, with or without the boxes.

Don't forget the Mk2b onwards were longer than the Mk2 and 2a, and were closer to 66ft long than the 64ft and a bit of the 2 and 2a types. The extra length was largely down to the larger end vestibules. That's why I think the 2d might be a better bet for the next release as it has exactly the same dimensions as the 2c, and all the internal design will also be the same as the 2c. Basically to move from the 2c to the 2d will require a new bodyshell and some additional underframe details. No doubt though a 2a shouldn't be ruled out given how Accurascale are not afraid to compete head on with Bachmann.

I'm about half an hour from Traws (my ex-Welsh language tutor lives there) in Fairbourne. Birthplace of Hedd Wyn, the Welsh language war poet who won the Eisteddfod Bardic Chair three days after he was killed in the same battle of Passchendaele as a great-great uncle of mine from the Midlands. "Byd Bach" as they would say locally!

Current plans are for the Heart of Wales line to have a new class of 153 "Active Travel" single cars running with one of the "superbog" fitted 153s as a two car set. The active travel 153 will have bike spaces and some seats similar to the Scotrail units. However, some of the PRM modified fleet will also work singly, and with non PRM units as two car sets in "West Wales" (no further details on that) until about 2040 where they will be replaced by 197s cascaded from other services, at least that is what TfW are saying at the moment. One thing you can say about TfW is they have embraced the "survey-analysis-plan-review-plan again" model we students of Town Planning were taught back in the 80s as their "traction plans" seem to have all the solidity of Mercury.

No offence taken so long as you are working up an 80 Class. You thought I'd stopped pestering you about that didn't you....

@McC You must have the patience of every Irish saint whose name has ever adorned something flying with Aer Lingus with all the discussion about the fulfillment process.

It will be sad to see the 323s go, I was working at Centro when the electrification happened and went to the mock-up at Tickfords in Coventry, plus following a tip off in the office did get a ride from Aston to New Street on the first public run of the units on the Cross City! Despite their teething troubles they have proven to be the perfect all-rounder unit and don't really owe the West Midlands anything, and the fact they will continue to run in the North West shows they still have some life left in them.

Would make for an interesting discussion in Sports Direct. "I've just retired and want to take up golf so I need a bag of golf bats and some Rupert Bear trousers. Do you have any in stock?" "Certainly sir but have you thought about what you will do when it is raining or the course is waterlogged? We've got a nice selection of space efficient Hornby TT120 model railway supplies perfect for an indoor bad weather hobby" Pretty genius way of boosting sales when you think about it.

To be honest the 2d would be able to re-use a lot of the 2c underpinnings and interior so probably could come to market a bit quicker. I wouldn't be surprised if the 2d will be announced just after the 2cs come to market. It's not a low hanging fruit - it's a massive hoarding screaming "Hello Boys". Having seen the 3d printed Mk2 seating and having used some easy to install lighting strips from China in other Mk2 coaches I will be happy to upgrade a couple of Bachmann Mk2a coaches to mix in with the Accurascale coaches using these components, the earlier Mk2a coaches were shorter than the 2b/c and the later marks were a somewhat different design so I would expect them to have a slight difference in look, whereas the existing Mk2d is older than the Railroad LMS coaches from Hornby so are overdue a new version.

Does anyone know if there are preview sound samples out there for the sound profiles? I'm interested to hear what the 4-VEP sounds like to see if it might be a useful proxy for a Class 310 or 312. Things like the horn sound and brake sounds would be the main issue for me as the motor noise and compressors would be similar enough.

I could see someone like Kader group buying up the name and some of the product range to launch a budget, junior range with an emphasis on train sets and cheap robust but attractive toy/model crossovers to capture the entry level/budget modeller market with brand recognition that Bachmann probably doesn't have, leaving Bachmann to concentrate on the high end market.

Thinking seriously and speculating for a moment, looking at his past business model, if he does a deep dive into the Hornby group to see what are the profitable bits and which need to be sold off, with possibly a view to taking a bigger stake (speculation), I could see him making a bid for Airfix who do seem to be doing well, I could see him him keeping Hornby but focussing on the cheap to make but good selling "train set" market (possibly including TT if it is selling as well as people claim) whilst quietly dropping or selling off the more expensive to assemble (but higher priced) detailed model range (I'd be surprised if they fit his buy cheap, sell high philosophy but no doubt the models could find a new home if the toolings can be sold off, depending on the usual who owns the toolings issues over in China) which would leave Corgi, which I suspect is possibly the weakest of the three big UK brands, and Oxford which as others have speculated could end up back with Taff's family (who might make a play for Corgi as well). I'm not sure where the Continental brands would sit if he adopts a buy cheap sell high philosophy as the brands seem to have the same mix of cheap to produce legacy models and some high detail, presumably expensive to produce models like Hornby. Brands like Lima and Jouef have resonance in their respective home markets for train sets and the like (or so it seems) but I wonder how big their markets are for train set sales? I'm probably wrong but I can't help thinking how he has worked his other brands and interests might lead to this scenario. Clearly though Mr Ashley being given the keys to the accounts and business details as a "consultant" must be more than just taking him up on a free offer of his business experience and changes will probably be coming. In fact if we hear of Mr Ashley crying "I'm out" then I suspect we might read into that even he can't make a go of the business which probably would make the majority shareholder even more concerned.

It's rather like giving Jack the Ripper a set of top quality Japanese filleting knives and the Met Police watch list of Evening Horizontal Leisure Consultants on the pretext he'll give some advice on combatting prostitution. Getting "consultancy" access to how Hornby doesn't work is pretty blatant for deciding whether to go in deeper or cut and run. But hey ho, he has a pretty ruthless reputation and it'll be interesting to see how things progress. Personally Hornby have long ceased to have any relevance to my modelling needs and sadly I wouldn't miss the company if it is asset stripped. The name would no doubt be sold on as having probably the biggest value. However, I have a bit of a dim view of Mr Ashley having read a bit about him although he does know how to make money. I was shocked to see he was born in Walsall and as someone who emerged into the world at the Manor Hospital in Walsall can I offer my apologies on behalf of the town.

Wasn't the issue with the Bachmann Mk1s that when they fitted the B4 bogies to them they pushed the ride height up compared to their Mk2as or am I mis-remembering? Anyhoo, I notice on tatbay someone is selling modified Bachmann Mk2 stock with wafty magnetic lighting and detailed 3d printed and painted seats which show it is relatively easy to upgrade them to a standard where they could run in mixed rakes. The 3d printed replacement seats look very nice and work out at about £12 a coach so it is something I will look at when I start upgrading my mixers.

This is your Loaf, where a famous baker is surprised by a man with a big red recipe book. Horrornation Street, where Chucky moves in next to Ena Sharples and battle commences. Play for Yesterday, where Play for Today gets a repeat showing on a +1 channel The Man with the Golden Shower, a porn/scat low budget spy movie Nit's Landing - story of a headlice infestation amongst super-rich sailors Buck Rodgers in the 17th Century, where Buck cocks up the programming in his flight computer and goes back in time Call My Buff, where a nude panel try to convince other nude panellists of the wrong definition of odd words. The Muppet Show (also known as BBC Parliament Channel)

In Ireland there was a class of guards/steam heat van made by Werkspoor in the Netherlands colloquially named "Dutch Vans". Silver Fox occasionally advertises kits of them on Tatbay, and often lists "Dutch Van Bogies" as spares on his listings, which to me sounds like an Irish-Dutch police inspector with an unpleasant nose picking habit.

Thanks, i really should have looked on there in the first place. Eejit of the week award in the post to Fairbourne...

I suspect Rails have had or are about to have a delivery of Mk2bs as I've just found a debit on my credit card for some NSE 2bs. As I made a pre-order of some 2cs at the same time, can I ask Accurascale if there is an ETA for the 2c models? I'm not impatient, I just need to make sure they are paid for!

Doctor Hoover, where a mysterious visitor travels throughout time and space in a time travelling enormous Henry clearing up after aliens. The Undertakers. A reality remake of The Office, only funnier with more laughs. George and Mildew, a comedy of one bloke's constant battle to keep his house free from Rising Damp (he's not a fan of Leonard Rossiter) Brown Court (at least it seems the set designer thought that was the working title) Tales of the Highly Predictable Jason Kong, where a giant moustachioed gorilla creates mayhem in a kaftan whilst puffing away on a cheroot.

Cash (for Granny) In The Attic Homes under the Bulldozer Miss Maple, where Miss Marple emigrates to Canada Inspector Morsel, the food inspector CSI Midsomer, where we finally get to find out why a small English village has so many psychopaths in their midst and how the population hasn't moved away yet. Jeux Sans Royaume-Uni, the post Brexit European version of It's a Knockout World of Spots, Dickie Davies introducing competitive acne squeezing. Snail of the Century

I can recommend the Railcar UK website for photos and information on the 116, Railcar UK Class 116 section and as @Cwmtwrch says the first batch had no headcode boxes but six position headlamps (three under the cab windows and one on the roof) which in theory should have been able to replicate the old steam headlamp codes, although the idea of a 116 hauling an unfitted freight or being used as a royal train must have been unlikely. Another page to wade through is the fantastically detailed research by the late @chrisf here on RMWeb with a pretty comprehensive list of formations, reformations and allocations which might give you a few ideas. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/132193-class-116-diesel-multiple-units/