Patriot87003

For me, a broadly positive range announcement and some good choices. I found the accompanying video useful with some context provided. This year is likely to continue to be challenging for manufactures and the supply chain with plenty of risks and outside factors, so will be interesting to see just how many of the outstanding 2022 range and the 2023 range will actually be delivered this year and caught-up, then will be interesting to see if the 2024 range will be more expansive again. For me, the good choices include releasing the re-tooled HST power cars and MK3 rakes in popular original blue-grey and Intercity Exec liveries, also the new wagon toolings. However, I do feel a few opportunities have been missed … such as not releasing the Arriva XC Power Cars (as there are many sliding door MK3’s unsold while the previously released XC power cars fetch crazy money 2nd hand). I’m also surprised that Hornby (and Bachmann) haven’t released bog-standard MK1 standard open and first open coaches in several popular liveries (like blue-grey, IC and NSE) for a long while … none seem to be available at the moment, not many pop-up 2nd hand … yet there are many loco classes from a variety of manufactures either recently released or planned to be released that hauled MK1’s for many many miles. It feels like both Bachmann and Hornby are at risk from another manufacturer taking advantage and scoring an open-goal … I look forward to seeing more details about the HM7000. With Gaugemaster recently announcing its new Infinity range and now Hornby’s announcement, will be interesting to see how the new technology evolves and how successful they are. In summary, some saving to do for a few pre-orders to be placed … will be interesting to see what the other manufactures have up there sleeves this year and an interesting year ahead!

Reminded me of this …

Well … I’ve tuned into Yesterday channel to watch the Hornby World Series 2 (to fill the time before 7am tomorrow!) … only to see a great ship sinking! Anyone else having this? I have a feeling SK isn’t having the best few days with some media!

In addition to the replies so far, there is also the option to chop-off the old large D coupling and attach a new NEM pocket. This channel on YouTube is a useful step-by-step guide and he sells various NEM pockets for different vehicles and manufacturers. I have used them successfully to convert a rake of older Hornby MGR HAA wagons to have NEM pockets (to use Hunt magnetic couplings) but other couplings can be used.

Go for it! I’ve not had any problems with any of the Class 90’s that I’ve bought and the RES livery does look good on a 90. I understand some loco’s in batch 1 had the bogie retaining screws over tightened and were prone to some damage during transit if bounced about, but subsequent batches haven’t had this issue. The real 90019 at King’s Cross before hauling a tour north during 12th July 1992 90019 again hauling a decent length parcels train through Stafford during 14th July 1994

Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures of the ‘old ladies’ at that open day (I wish I had a time machine sometimes … and with a better camera!) … the only other AC loco pics I took during that event were; 86261 92022 I did capture 82002 at the Crewe works open day during 10th September 2005 Along with 83012 at the same event … Also 84001 … Also 85101, with 89001 lurking behind!

That frustrated feeling when you have run out of these … I’ve been scanning some of my older pictures and a few of 87101 below; While at Milton Keynes Central during 15th July 1993, she whizzes through light engine along the Up Fast … A few weeks later on display at Worksop open day during 5th September 1993 … Another open day, this time at Crewe Basford Hall during 21st August 1994 Now in retro BR Blue livery, at the Crewe open day during 28th August 1995 … She visited Tinsley open during 27th April 1996 … The Crewe works open day during 16th August 1996 … During 3rd May 1997, Crewe Electric depot had an open day and as part of the event, 87101 hauled a Hertfordshire Rail Tour to/from the event. Here she is at Euston … Arriving at the open day …

Hi, a couple of factors jumped out at me when reading your message. The first … it sounds like you maybe quite competitive, therefore maybe striving to model something of similar or better standard to those other methods listed. Competitiveness is a good thing and totally natural … a human primal instinct is survival of the fittest, therefore competition against others, a big reason why sports and other competitions are popular in modern life. But remember to take a step back from time to time, to see the bigger picture, to add context … and in the case of modelling, you’re comparing your own modelling skills to those of professional (and expensive) machines! The second observation is that feeling of being overwhelmed. This is also totally understandable. The modern world has easy access to so much information (including social media, printed format, forums, YouTube etc). This has pro’s and con’s … it is very useful when wishing to source information, can provide inspiration etc … however it can lead to information and sensory overload, also be a time-waster and reduce our own time for productivity/trial and error, and the human brain in many has not yet evolved to handle such vast volumes of incoming information. It does sound to me like the combination of having access via social media to view the work of many others (produced by machines!), combined with your competitive nature to wish to produce something equivalent or even better, is then leading to that ‘mission impossible’ feeling and almost hopelessness of being able to compete and resigning yourself to fail. My advice … - Try not to compare your own work to that of a machine! - Perhaps embrace your competitiveness and tweak a few goals; eg build a better model than your previous model (or compare against other kit built or scratch built models) - As Rob D2 mentioned, perhaps try to compartmentalise things a bit better. Eg There’s nothing wrong viewing and even admiring the quality of 3D printed items etc, but recognise that they are a different methodology/different league to items that are kit or scratch built. Hope this helps and that your modelling mojo returns soon!

Happy New Year! Modelling time has been reduced in recent months due to plenty of work and domestic life interruptions. I was looking forward to the festive period to enjoy some shed time but catching Covid before Christmas then a flu-type bug since Boxing Day put paid to that! However, recent months have seen a few new arrivals to the layout and some running sessions … One of the first depot open day’s I attended was Old Oak Common’s during 1985 where several Class 47’s were on display in GWR green livery along with 50007. So when Kernow models announced 47484 IKB I couldn’t resist! I also like the ScotRail livery and remember seeing a Class 47 in the livery at Crewe during 1987, so 47712 has also arrived. Both of these 47’s will be random visitors to the WCML either on way to/from works and hauling inter regional services. Another new arrival is Heljan’s Class 45 45133. This will also visit the WCML on the odd cross-country and secondary service. I always liked the railfreight coal livery on the Class 58’s, so an EFE 58018 has arrived … Another Class 47 to arrive is the Bachmann collector club 47845 County of Kent. Finally, the most recent arrival is Accurascale’s Class 92 Charles Dickens, 92022. What a box! One of my first work roles back in 1994 was to print out the data charts sent across from the Class 92 testing over at the Velim test track in Czech to support the safety case. After some testing and running-in, the Class 92 hauling its first freight service on the layout … very impressed! I have a few things on the to-do list around the layout in the coming months and a few videos planned to be recorded. Finally, a few items pre-ordered and a few others on a wishlist (funds permitting!).

My pleasure … hopefully the Elite type will solve the uncoupling issues for you. I’ve just visited my layout and took a couple of pics … this one shows the difference in magnet size between the elite (left) and original circular version (right). The circular type has a single pole magnet (longitudinal) while the elite type has the magnet on its side. So when mixing types the circular type is only attracted to one end of the elite, so reducing the contact area between the magnets. Hence optimum performance it’s probably best to convert all magnets to the elite type.

By mentioning that the Hunt HST power car magnets are smaller … are they the original small circular magnets? It sounds like the HST trailer magnets being larger are the elite type? So it sounds like you maybe mixing magnet types? Westhill WagonWorks sell a separate pack of Elite buckeye style magnets for power cars … https://www.westhillwagonworks.co.uk/hunt-couplings-c-2/hunt-couplings-elite-oo-gauge-c-21/additional-pair-of-hst-powercar-buckeye-elite-couplings-p-133 I converted my HST to the Elite buckeye style and have had no problems since, although that is using the heavier/detailed tooling of the power cars. It looks like the recently released Railroad power cars have a similar coupling mechanism and NEM pocket, however the new releases of the full-fat tooling now have a close coupling mechanism with NEM pocket at a different height.

This link will hopefully work … https://revolutiontrains.com/2022-the-revolution-round-up/?fbclid=IwAR1LH1MXhIWTbtPXKfDmuJUfBPZCT81mWmdsATgA_1fKbVJSaz6UreZVkUk Congratulations to all at Revolution Trains on a busy year and best wishes for the new year! Also thanks for the explanation of the factors affecting production within China. Good to see the OO Gauge Cartics progressing and look forward to the promised update soon … and no rush for them as I need to save up first! 😅

Agree … but that can only happen if enough MK1s are manufactured! Hornby seem to have form for over producing some oddball items (such as the ballast cleaning support MK1s), while under producing bog-standard items (such as TSOs and even FOs in popular liveries). I’ve browsed various shops including Hornby’s website and TSO’s are sold out in many popular liveries across it’s MK1, MK2 and MK3 ranges. For me, this creates an ‘open-goal’ to Hornby for its 2023 range … to produce more batches of TSO’s and FO’s. This may also help sell more of it’s currently in-stock items that compliment them, such as the Blue-Grey and Intercity RBR’s that are currently in stock. With other manufacturers producing new loco’s such as the Class 37, 47, 50 and 86 etc, these hauled many bog-standard rakes of blue-grey, Intercity, NSE etc … so I think it’s likely that there is unfulfilled demand for these. Accurascale have identified this and are producing the MK2B, the sub-type not produced before … but if Hornby or Bachmann don’t produce more batches of the bog-standard vehicles soon, this could create an open goal for the likes of Accurascale to produce say MK1s? I think this is also relevant to Hornby’s TT-120 range. I hope they are intending to manufacture more FO’s than buffet cars and many more TSO’s than FO’s! Especially as it will be easier to model full length rakes in the smaller scale, so more TSO’s will be required. For Hornby not to have any blue-grey MK1 TSO’s in stock is a bit like McD’s not to have any big-mac’s in stock! A baffling way to run a business.

Agree … one such occasion being the Crewe Basford Hall open day during 21st August 1994. I just about managed to catch the three of them together …

There are a few items that I’ll be looking out for during the 2023 release that could tempt funds to be diverted from any family holidays! - Next batch of liveries using the re-tooled HST and slam-door Mark 3’s: Original blue-grey and Intercity Executive - Any further Class 87 liveries! IC Mainline and Intercity (with the full yellow front below the cab windows) would be preferred - Royal Train - WCML EMU I have a feeling my chances are possibly 50%, 5%, 1% then 0%

There was a small supplier on EBay that sold various lighting kits that also included a small pcb with a capacitor installed. I’ve just had a search but can’t find that supplier on EBay anymore … but other kits that also include a capacitor are available.

Peco have released this video onto YouTube today regarding it’s OHLE, including a teaser at the end that further developments are due to happen in the near future …. Possibly the long awaited portals?

From Bachmann’s YouTube channel … The description says; “Christmas is fast approaching and everyone at Bachmann is getting into the Yuletide spirit as we get those final orders packaged up ready to despatch to our valued retailers. However, as a special festive treat, we have one more special product announcement to make. Tune in to our YouTube channel on Monday 12th December at 1000 where our Christmas Announcement premiers - follow the link below to watch along and find out what new models we have lined up to end the year with!”

Haha! Good spot … the top secret alternative Pantograph trial! 😉

Santa-Fran has delivered … The box is lovely and HUGE! So clearly too large to keep under the tree until Christmas Day and much better smuggled down into my shed … 😉 (a nice bonus to receive a catalogue as well) Unboxed, tested light-loco and a lovely smooth runner … Time for a Speedlink haulage test working; very smooth and powerful, well detailed loco … very pleased! I started my career back in 1994 and joined an engineering consultancy that was working on the Class 92 safety case. One of my earlier roles was to receive and print the many test traces from the Velim test track near Prague in Czech Republic; time flies! I first saw 92022 at the Crewe Basford Hall open day back in 1995 (below), then bought the Lima version when released. A few comparisons of the Lima and Accurascale releases … The Lima release served me well, but time to retire to the display shelf … The new loco is superb! Look forward to running in future and giving many years service. Next job will be to learn how to raise the pantograph a bit while on non-DCC!

I visited the WSR for the diesel gala during 18th September 1998 and took a couple of pics of 50017 as 50117 before a ride behind her … 50017 arrives into Williton, passing 50015

Named after the most fearsome battleship of all … 50 666 HMS Mother-in-law

Hornby does confuse me at times! On the positive side … in my opinion it’s a clever announcement to release this loco. 2023 will see the first royal coronation for 70 years and the model is timed to arrive ahead of it. So potentially wide appeal. At first I thought the price was a mistake … only £139.99 (+ £30 to join the collectors club). Compare that to the £362.99 for the Jubilee HST power cars. On the negative side … a run of only 500 … that few? If they sell all with the collectors club entry fee, that brings in approx £85k of income … not going to pay the salary for too many employees, and that’s before costs, taxes etc are taken into account. Also, I did have to double-check that this loco is OO gauge and not TT-120 … but why not release in both scales? It feels like another missed opportunity to me. While as others have mentioned, it doesn’t match the feel of an ‘experience’ as stated within Hornby’s publicity in the build up. Lo and behold, the loco is now showing as unavailable … has it sold out already? 🤦‍♂️ It feels like an example of how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in so many ways!

Just when my list of future pre-orders had receded to a reasonable (sensible?) level … within a couple of days Class 50’s and Class 86/2’s announced … drats! Great news though … and BR Blue, IC Exec, IC Swallow and Virgin very likely to be added to Davidson Parkway, while 86261 in EWS does look nice and would compliment the EWS Class 90 on the layout. 86261 at Crewe Electric open day during 3rd May 1997.

I put together this clip with a few tips learnt from others over time as well as trial and error … A key thing is while there’s cleaning the rails and contact surfaces to remove previous grime, it’s also important to take steps to promote conductivity and prevent dirt from re-occurring, especially micro-arcing. Various techniques can be used to remove grime … with OLE around my layout, I use a tidy-track … I then use WD-40 contact cleaner (not WD-40 lubricant!) on both rails and wheels to clean and promote conductivity. WD-40 Contact Cleaner and Inox (mentioned previously) are both non-polar solvents; therefore much better at preventing micro-arcing. IPA is a polar substance … it’s good at cleaning, but can promote micro-arcing and grime can soon build again. I also try to minimise dirt and hair … also control humidity in the shed. Hope this helps …