Kelly

8 hours ago, DavidB-AU said:

 

It could have been done even earlier with the Mk 1. Any of the Thumpers based on the Mk 1 with 6SRKT instead of 4SRKT engines should be able to do 90-100mph. Once you engineer a DMB or DMBSO with the larger engine you could probably adapt any Mk 1 as a trailer with the appropriate MU wiring. You'd probably only need a small number of types, e.g. TFK, TSK, TCK and some sort of buffet.

 

 

They effectively tried this in the 1980s with the Class 210 prototypes. It proved too costly unfortuately.

Also, I suspect that had they tried it earlier, they might have gone with a Sulzer 6LDA28 over a 6SRKT to have commonality with the 33s. Though the 4SRKT had commonality with the 73s. The traction equipment was the more important aspect I expect.

1 hour ago, The White Rabbit said:

 

Does anyone need to be a doctor to know that the answer is highly likely to be 'some sadist sticking needles in my leg'? Now I bet if they tried that on Donk, the survivors just might come up with a better, less invasive procedure. Perhaps you could send him an invite for a little holiday on the mainland? 

 

 

I had a similar access problem recently - I found a manual override option mentioned in the handbook and after some crawling about, managed to get it open that way. 

Will have to see later if we can find the manual for the car and figure opening the boot, as it'd be much easier if that were possible. The car is pretty much scrap, but it is not a priority to deal with presently.

24 minutes ago, Delta_Who said:

 

They would be difficult in terms of tooling and labour... for sure. But I think if any EMU that would have a chance at selling like hotcakes... it's a properly tooled Electrostar. Their modern-day dominance is too large to ignore.

They also sadly are rather dull, like a lot of units sadly. Theres a reason things like the HST and APT get done.

10 hours ago, TomScrut said:

 

There is that. Although Revolution doing them in N does mean at least somebody knows they exist!

I've heard it said from a number of sources that E/DMUs can be difficult sellers unless they're something iconic (such as APT, APT-e, 800, HST etc) and the more hum drum types are often difficult sellers, especially after the first or second batches. How many people are buying Bachmann 4CEPS at near £400 each I wonder? the EPBs and 350s were getting heavily discounted, as were the 2Bil and 2Hal after the initial batches. So a 4/5 car Electrostar is going to be a difficult proposition I think. Maybe we'll see a 4mm one eventually, but for now we'll just have to be a touich jealous our 2mm friends get them (and the 319, etc). Who knows though, there could well be one in the works somewhere (note, I am not saying I know this for sure, just wishful thinking!).

1 hour ago, ProjectRedcar said:

Annoyingly, they're doing one in TT:120. Whether it's up to current spec, I haven't looked
Either way, doesn't help

Baffles me why Hornby haven't done a full fat original HST this time around...and also baffles me why InterCity is relegated to the Railroad range. Doesn't make much sense

I'm sure eventually they'll get around to certain liveries, but the 'flashier' liveries are probably the focus i guess. Theres been a lot of the special/one off liveries the past couple of years for a number of units though, so maybe that is their current focus. Unfortuately with their state of finances, they are more than ever likely to cater to the collector market than the modeller market I expect, which means BG/IC are last on the list if they're doing that. Accurascale and others are much more modeller focused (being modellers themselves) and so they are likely to do the likes of BG etc first as they'll know there'll be demand.

On 07/10/2022 at 22:46, 57xx said:

 

I dropped off a whole load of books with Cancer Research today, they were very happy to take them.

None of the local ones here wany any books or otherwise sadly. Moving out of my flat into my other halfs house has rather forced a downsizing of the book collections and DVD collections. CD collection trimming and vinyl collection trimming will probably have to follow when we get to those boxes. Not something I like doing, but needs much. At least with the DVDs and CDs I can get something, even if it is pennies sometimes compared with the books which I can't really get anything for.

1 hour ago, StuAllen said:

 

Think their FB post has TT:120 covered

 

We can never accurately predict the future and we might get surprised with how popular it might be (or might not be), if theres money to be made most companies are going to give it a serious consideration. Of course they probably have plenty on their plate atm, but down the line, who knows?

Heljan seems to be quite keen on it though, though they're pricing higher than Hornby are which might be interesting to see how it pans out.

Anyway, back to the suggestions...

How about the first nuclear flask wagon, from the 60s, would look impressive alongside the KUA in a old vs modern thing. That or of course a 501 unit (and other 57ft stock of course).

Sad news indeed. A very inspirational modeller who will be much missed.

1 hour ago, Classsix T said:

The white tower of power not performing at optimum level right now frankly. I'm having game breaking issues so far with GT7 and GoT. Graphics glitches followed by crashes.

 

Google brought up this page:

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmanager/ce-108255-1.html
 

... which seemed to fix issues with GT7 initially. But GoT has started playing up something chronic. Both games are physical disc versions so I guess all I'll get off tech support is that the disc is manky.

Hoping it isn't actually a hardware issue.

 

C6T.

These days the discs are not much more than drm checks as the content on them is outdated before they even ship. 

Sadly either a new update has broken something or you have developed a hardware fault. 

11 hours ago, Barry O said:

Ey up!

 

 

 

I hope @Kellyis progressing Welland that @Natalie is also OK. Two more ERs I have met face to face. Nearly all of the ERs I have met so far are very nice, friendly people and we are all slightly"nuts"  which, to my mind is the way to be.

 

Enough of my drivelling.. Time for my mugatea...

Now then, hopefully @chrisfwill pass by shortly..

 

Baz

Natalie and myself are doing OK thanks. We're both tired from a busy weekend at SCaleforum. That and in my case trying to get the moving out of my flat finished off (including getting the washing machine today as Richard's decided Friday was a good day to die!).

I saw ChrisF briefly at Scaleforum, though I didn't get chance to talk with him.

2 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

The emission warning light has come on in the car. Now searching the internet for easy fixed to try before booking in with a garage

If it is a diesel it might be the EGR or the DPF. Sometimes a good blast along a motorway to get plenty of heat through both can clear such problems. YMMV however.

Kelly

38 minutes ago, scottystitch said:

I’ve never bought a DVD, CD, LP or game for that matter with any consideration of what it’s worth after I’ve bought it, so I’m not sure I see the relevance?

 

I take some comfort in knowing that no-one, with the flick of a switch, can stop me from re-reading Asimov’s Foundation nor listening to The Queen Is Dead with my physical copies…
 

Best

 

Scott. 

If you plan on keeping them forever then it is not relevant for you. But it can be for others. 

People are increasingly consuming digital media sources,  especially streaming and so being able to buy a physical copy might not be possible in time. Quite how long that time is is unknowable precisely,  but probably fairly soon in terms of decades as demand declines.

13 minutes ago, Classsix T said:

Whilst I'm in agreement with the gist of that I don't think I'm able to agree society in general is about to wholesale ditch ownership of physical "stuff" in favour of binary code on subscription.

 

I'd concur that the big bucks are being pulled in by the likes of Spotify and Netflix, however I believe if you drill down into the figures, whilst each company's turnover is impressive the actual profit they're making is largely offset buy the loss-leading business model they (and Amazon) started with.

 

Meanwhile, I'm regularly popping in to purveyors of recorded material on vinyl (ask yer Dad) and Blu-ray movies as I replace favoured flicks previously owned on dvd.

 

I mean, newspapers are largely irrelevant nowadays, but the Daily Wail does fullfil a purpose in lining my cat's sh!t box. I can't do that with Julia Hartley-Brewer's podcast (more's the pity).

 

C6T.

I have a pretty decent vinyl record collection thanks! no need for asking my dad about those particular items.

DVDs and CDs are virtually worthless after you've bought them in a lot of cases, the same is true for paperback books. Pre-pandemic charity shops made a good amount off of these products, but with the lockdown and people doing clear outs, they've pretty much all stopped accepting books, dvds and cds and places like CEX will give you pennies for your DVDs.

Second hand games hold some value (Nintendo especially), but only for the latest console generations. PC games are pretty much entirely digital already, the DVD in the box these days if there is one is pretty much just a paperweight as the code and account is the real product, often via steam. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all get 30% of every transation on their console stores, they get a much smaller cut of the disc games. Simple economics for those companies will see why they are all wanting to and pushing to subscription or digital only. It is not a matter of if, but when now.

Of course retro gaming has had somewhat of a blow up in the last few years, so older games on cartidge especially have shot up in value (Super Mario 64 for $millions??).

2 hours ago, Metr0Land said:

 

??? only if it's fixed.  Overnight rates are unregulated so if you're not on a fixed tariff now then we don't know what the overnight rate is as no supplier (unless you know differently) is currently quoting  post-Oct rates for new customers on those tariffs.

I wonder if those still with Economy 7 meters will get the best of it in terms of rates, though I suspect they're slowly becoming less common. My flat still has one, but it won't be my flat for very much longer I expect.

I'd imagine the BoB/WC/MN would be seen by Simon as a range staple like they viewed the Terrier, so anyone proposing a new one has to weigh up if there is already one being worked on by Hornby, and if Simon views it as strongly as the Terrier, then they'd go ahead regardless of competition.

On mentioning the Manor, didn't Dapol just release a new version?

2 minutes ago, Venator said:

I loggedin to my Hattons account to check on the status of my orders in response to the RM web discussion above. I note a number of items I have pre ordered, including the 4 packs of SE&CR and SR coaches, now say sold out on preorder.  It is dissapointing when people have waited for many years only to be told they cannot now have the item a few months before its actually released. I have x16 SE&CR coaches on order and x8 SR and I really hope Hattons will fulfill this given I've had some items on preorder for almost 2years. I'm hoping no news is good news!

I'm guessing they've been under supplied by surprise or there has been a problem with the production causing less than expected acceptable models. Equally costs could have increased to make the batch sizes difficult. All speculative of course though. 

Hopefully they'll do further runs and satisfy customers. I guess the Hornby offering will still be available to fill some of the gap.

Afternoon all.

Hope everyone is doing OK? If not usual best wishes. 

This morning was physiotherapy appointment. Physiotherapist happy with progress and that I'm not needing the boot anymore. 

They were considering discharge,  but as I put my back out last week I was a fair bit shaky and unsteady with the crutches,  though the ankle movement was deemed good. 6 weeks time and assess again for discharge. 

Otherwise see the consultant next month,  possibly the last time as long as the xrays look OK. 

In other news yesterday we went over to the flat and shifted the last of the boxes. Not much to move now,  bookcases will be moved by Richard's sister with a van while I'm in Telford with Natalie for guilder. Then just final bits before arranging for a house clearance,  no idea how much that will cost! 

NER P4/P7 and NCB hopper wagons would probably be a good option, especially with the variety of NCB locomotives being produced in recent years (Hornby, Hattons, Dapol etc).  They were both long lasting and a pack of 4 would probably be good for a number of potential small layout plans (including my own admittedly!). Coupled with a suitable NCB industrial locomotive with widespread use it could be a joined up thinking success I think.

19 minutes ago, MyRule1 said:

As @jjb1970as correctly said this thread is very much a discussion relating to a very very small number of people in the first world.  Continuing the discussion my view is the first casualties will be parts of the publishing industry. Paper, printing and distribution costs have gone up. The Warner group and key publishing seem to have got ahead in their differing mixed internet offerings but the other publisher, both magazine and books are well behind. Others in this thread have already mentioned they have cut back on subscriptions. For these reasons that is where I feel we will see drop outs from the market.

 

 

The print magazine industry in general has seen a decline over the last 5-10 years especially, possibly also hastened by the pandemic. A number of publications have ceased operating (mainly Tech and Craft related, no hobby related that I know of yet).

26 minutes ago, Classsix T said:

I believe MS are thinking way beyond that now. Punting GamePass as a loss leader to garner subscription fees above all else.

Series S being a digital only interface with the MS system I believe is a prototype for the eventual aim of an XCloud dongle in a TV.

 

However that's never gonna work whilst (specifically) the US has sh!t internet. Perhaps rather than ActiBlizz MS should be buying AT&T?

 

C6T.

Xcloud in TVs already exists. Samsung Smart TVs come with it preinstalled now. Theres rumoured of a Xbox Series Y HDMI stick coming later this year or next year.

Afternoon all. Hope all are well, best wishes for those suffering. iD hope you're not too sore for too long and Baz hope your family member has some good news soon.

Nothing much really to report. Another day where I'm feeling decidely achy with my back and too hot most of the time.

Another quet day resting I expect today.

On 21/08/2022 at 08:41, billbedford said:

Back in the real modelling world...

The price of brass etchings has increased by around 30% since February. 

So I can see modellers having to rely on what they have stashed away in their "maturing cabinet"

Plus yesterday it was announced one of the photo etching companies (Photo Etching Consultants Ltd. IIRC?) has ceased trading. This will cause some ripples of disruption to etch kit suppliers as people scramble to retrieve their artwork and source their etching elsewhere, which will naturally cause a bit of a bubble effect of delays. Hopefully most people will be graceful about such delays and understanding of price increases if things are clearly communicated.

I wouldn't want to be a small business or sole trader right now though!