Brian D

Unbelievable! I can't get to grips with all the negativity above. For goodness sake - please can you all get a grip! The model looks super in the photos and I am seriously considering ordering one (should Hattons' web site sort itself out tonight), despite the windows not lining up with the grills or whatever. Perhaps the "rivet counters" should remember that the wheels of the model are only suitable for rails a scale 4 foot apart. That fact alone puts all other critism to bed! The Hejan mechanisms are superb (I've got three other diesels of their's and they are all great runners). As I understand it, there isn't a preserved version to scan with a laser and, to my mind, photographs can be misleading. So give HJ a chance guys for goodness sake!!! Regards to all. Brian.

This is absolutely awe inspiring and fantastic. I am so envious. Well done to all concerned. I'm not sure what predated the class 40s on Liverpool-Newcastle workings but it would be great to see an A3 on this layout from my (admitedly biased) point of view. Regards, Brian.

I am sorry to hear others are not pleased with their Sentinels. Mine, however, is a little cracker - BR early emblem. It runs smmothly all round my layout which is populated with Peco dead frog 36 inch rad points and powered by a Gaugemaster Combi. On plain track it absolutely crawls (wouldn't risk it crawling through the points though - a more respectable scale 10 ot 15 mph gets it through without a stutter). In comparison, I have a mk 1 Bachmann Drewry (Class 03) which hesitates at virually every turn-out on the layout. I have only used it as station pilot but it has more than enough power. Well pleased!

Have now finally removed the scale coupling links so the auto couplers could be fitted and also fitted the head codes. The performance is superb I think - fantastically low geared. Ideal for shunting the yard at Hawthorn Town on the pick up goods - see photo.

Q6s and J27s. Fantastic, right up my street.

Many thanks, Neal. I'll give that a go. I am so pleased that I don't have to take the body off again. I found replacing the cylindrical buffer retainers quite challenging to say the least. I've noted the comments about filing slots in the chasis to avoid this problem and may well do this in the future. Once again, thanks for the prompt reply. Regards, Brian.

Apologies if I have missed this but can anyone tell me how you are supposed to fit the paper headcodes supplied with the loco? The leaflets supplied in the box by HJ are entirely mute on this. I took the body off to have a look-see but the headcode illuminated boxes appeared to be firmly anchored in the plastic nose ends and blanked off to prevent the paper codes being attached internally. Are you supposed to just stick them on the outside of the illuminated boxes? Thanks in anticipation. Incidentally, my new (for Xmas - thanks Santa!) D8612 runs very well, as does my 2 year old HJ Class 26 but the Clayton has not done many layout trips yet.

Thanks for the photographic information Dave. Regards, Brian.

This is really great and thanks very much for posting (reposting?) it here for all to admire. As well as the standard of the layout, I'm really impressed with the photographs on here. Is there any chance you could add some more technical detail about how they were taken - what camera, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc? Thanks in anticipation. Best wishes, Brian.