Chris M

From what I have seen a fair number of local model shops are competitive on price with the big online retailers. The main problem with local model shops is that they can't carry the depth of stock that the big boys carry.

I recently joined the Readly subscription service at £7.99 per month. I assumed this was like Spotify and the magazine owners would get a small payment every time someone reads their magazine. Indeed I hope that's what happens. I rather like being able to dip into the odd article that catches my attention across a large number of magazines. Its very much a low level read as there is nothing more than a PDF like file for each magazine. So great for dipping in while on the PC/tablet but not so great if you like to be able to relax in a chair and read at leisure. My Readly subscription won't stop me buying magazines but it does add to my knowledge by being able to see articles I wouldn't normally see. I don't blame magazine owners for not joining in as each company will have it's own business model and has to make a profit somehow. There are some great magazines on there including Model Rail, Hornby Magazine, Railways Illustrated, Steam days and Steam Railway. There is no RM or BRM and I guess this is because physical sales and their own subscription sales are strong enough without Readly and that's a good thing. It seems that Key Publishing and Bauer are very much into Readly. Warners Group do partake in Readly as Garden Rail is there, which is nice for me. So while this is not a free service like the library one it is a useful one and I trust it is an ethical one. I have used the library service to look up articles in Which magazine which is useful once in a blue moon. I have often wondered how the libraries can provide this service for free.

For me, and I think many others, the single or double chimney is kind of hard to ignore; it is something that you can't help but notice as the loco goes by. On the other hand and for instance, whether the loco has the pre or post modification front bogie doesn't worry me at all; you have to look pretty closely in good light to spot that. Anyway, how many modellers could tell which was which?

A great looking project all round, well done.

Two active projects at a time seems very sensible. Also I completely understand and accept that events outside of your control have affected delivery of GT3. I guess I misunderstood the purpose of EOI, you aren't saying that you plan to make any of these models, you are saying you will start a project to make one if/when there is enough interest. Again that sounds sensible so my earlier comment was unfair - sorry. In fact it sounds like a very good plan to deliver models of unusual prototypes (in the case of 00) in the order of the interest shown in them while keeping risks down to a minimum. I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing a GT3 even though I do N rather than 00.

"simply produced by 3D printing" maybe if I had a 3D printer and any knowledge of designing shapes for 3D printing. Single chimney is no good for me. Providing the model with two separate chimneys so the owner can attach the one they want sounds like a cheap option. KTM making all these announcements of new projects before any project has actually made it to the customers make them start to sound like someone whose name I won't say aloud.

It's a shame we don't seem to lark about so much nowadays. The all time best was the SVR repainting City of Truro black.

Hmm, from an exhibitors point of view, two solid days wearing a mask....

I have found visitors to exhibitions love seeing a model that attempts to be a model of a place they know. In my travels with Little Aller Junction it was always well received with no negative comments, even at the Exeter show. Yes it was only a caricature but everyone who knew the area, especially BR drivers who drive through there, seemed to be genuinely enthusiastic about it. The only time anyone pointed out a fault was a BR train catering manager who told me I had the wrong type of coach next to my catering coaches. Although this has drifted off topic I would say modelling well known locations is a great thing to do and you will receive far more love than criticism at exhibitions. Everyone seems to happily accept that compromise has to be made, including tunnels that just shouldn't be there.

I spent 30 odd years managing IT projects and I don't recall ever seeing an application produced without errors . That's why there is always a Beta test. I do recall pressure to go live even though there were still a few minor glitches unresolved, that's why there is always a version 1.1, 1.2 etc. So in my experience the IT world is no better than the model railway world when it comes to being error free. One very,very minor glitch in a project I was managing caused a front page headline in the Financial Times - that made for an interesting day at work! The thing is the correct people had checked out what the app was doing and passed it off as correct.

Have you thought of offering your consultancy services to Bachmann, Hornby and Dapol? I'm sure they would welcome your expertise on making perfect models and improving profits.

You are assuming that there are designers available to do this. In reality these designers are under pressure to get things ready for tooling kick off and get working on the next model. I don't work on the industry bit I do know of at least one model a manufacturer is very keen to get started but they just can't get a time slot allocated for the work to be done . From what I've been told funds are available but designer's time isn't. So a perfect model of one loco could but the next one back months.

The Llangollen Garden Railway Festival was postponed in May but has been rearranged for October 3rd. This week the organiser has said the show is "all systems go". It could possibly work out for them.

I would love to see this get enough support to go ahead and wish KR Models all the best. I'm tempted to show an interest but, having been bitten by DJ, I really don't think I would be prepared to part with cash up front at the moment so in fairness I can't register an interest. There aren't many details such as what amount would be required up front (100%, 50%) or at what point this would be paid. I guess if I payed by credit card any funding would be protected by the credit card company so maybe there is no risk. I paid by debit card with DJM which, on reflection, was rather stupid of me. I suppose one problem with this project for me is that it reminds me of how gullible I was with DJ. I know KR Models has absolutely nothing to do with DJ (apart from buying the CAD from the administrator) and I I have heard that the business plan for KRM is more sensible than DJM in that this is is not the main source of income for the folk behind KRM. This makes a very big difference to the chances of long term success. It sounds as though the KRM set up is more like Revolution than DJM in that respect but I don't have first hand knowledge. Anyhow, if this project appears to be getting plenty of support I could well become interested in having a king again, but not just yet. I bought a Britt when the king died so I have all the locos I need in my roster. Has the 00 GT3 actually been produced yet? I know there are pre production samples so it should be close if not already there. I think seeing customers receive (and praise) this loco would be helpful in drumming up support for the king. Apologies for being a little negative but being taken in by DJ still hurts.

It's down to each individual's perceptions. I would really have liked a large prairie for my N layout but the old Farish one was so far from right that I couldn't bring myself to buy one even though there were plenty of cheap ones around . The Farish class 50 wasn't close enough for me to buy one either (close but no cigar) but as mentioned above the Dapol 50 is very good so far as I am concerned. The headcode box could be better but it doesn't bother me. When it comes to the accuracy of any model I feel the worst error is to leave it as it comes out the box. A little light weathering, removing the front coupling and adding the separately supplied bits make all the difference. This is far more important than the usually fairly minor errors on modern models. I'm always surprised at how many layouts at exhibitions and in magazines run locos and stock in "straight out of the box" condition. Surely no serious modeller would run a loco in that condition.

Here's a comprehensive list of all the exhibitions that are confirmed to be on:-

A choice of class 45s!!! Us poor N gaugers don't have even have one available.

I'm sure all manufacturers do the best job they can within whatever constraints they may have - design time being one of them. All labour time creates costs that have to be recovered from sales. Also there is demand for models that have been announced to be made as soon as possible, while the CAD people are making one model perfect all the others behind it in the pipeline are being delayed. Models will always be a compromise. The quality of models in nowadays is quite astonishing. The Dapol class 50 in N got quite a pasting from some but I find it to be quite acceptable, well very good actually, and am happy with my pair. This is a much better model than the old Farish model which on itself was better than their earlier models. It would be nice if models were perfect but I like to appreciate what we have rather than spend my time trying to find fault. There does seem to be a lot of expertise in this thread. There is nothing stopping anyone getting down to it and designing a perfect model and getting it made. There is no risk as it these experts can be sure it will sell better than the inaccurate models currently on sale.

I'm the other way round, I miss exhibitions more than I miss the club.

Covid has been hard on my wallet. I've spent more on model railway stuff in the last three months than in the last three years! I suspect I am not alone.

I've jumped off the fence and votes for oval. I can't wait to see my current project running when it's finished. It's at the exciting stage where I can really see progress. I do like to see a train on the main line.

Wow.

Blimey your glass is so half empty. I can't see how an exhibition can take place while there is a need for social distancing but that won't last forever. When social distancing goes exhibitions will return. I think a lot of the trade are surviving ok. Nobody is saying much but the few snippets I have picked up suggest online sales have been going reasonably well. Anyone without an online presence or with a poor online shop will be struggling. I agree that trade exhibitors are essential to model railway exhibitions. They provide essential income for the show and also attract visitors, I always check the list of trade stands before deciding to go to a show. Many of the trade exhibitors are great characters who really enjoy being at exhibitions and they like to meet folk who they may deal with online. If you see a trader at an exhibition you may well have more confidence to buy from them online in the future and exhibitions are a great place for potential punters to see the quality of the products they make. For instance would anyone know the great range of N Brass Loco etchings if the owner didn't take his stand to exhibitions all over the country? An online presence is fine but you need to know these items are available in the first place. These small traders also provide inspiration for all those important little details. I'm quite optimistic that most trade exhibitors will be keen to be "back in the saddle".

I guess postponed fits because, like many shows, all of the layouts invited for 2020 will be invited to 2021. Obviously some won't be able to attend so it won't be exactly the show but it will be close. As the floor plan will have been worked out a few months ago it will save a lot of work if all the layouts can come.

Your layout is looking promising, the bridge at Dawlish is very recognisable. You have a big challenge ahead and I look forward to seeing progress. My project is much smaller. It's still a challenge, especially making buildings in N gauge. I'm getting on well though, well at least I think I am!