GordonC

There was certainly both Mk1 BSOT and MK2 BSOTs in use in Scotland, but I'm not sure which flavour of mk 2 they were

Not always, there was also BFKs and TSOTs as a pair on Scotrail services too

Are you sure the beige is lighter? That looks the same as the initial (retooled) releases and still too dark to my eyes

If it was 303s my credit card would literally melt! I would think it'd have to be something with a Scottish connection to be announced there. It couldn't be centre headcode 37/0s possibly? The first batch must be with us soon and they're bound to have been tooled up along with the others. Or class 86/87? I think there's be a lot of mileage in models of those, I know Heljan have some on the way but don't think they'd be as definitive as an accurascale one

Is there not old cine film footage of the Class 30s working the suburban services out of Kings Cross as they came up from the widened lines? I'm pretty sure I'd seen something like that before, possibly on the Diesel & Electric on 35mm disks from Video 125. Would there be enough there to work with?

is there all that much different about the new 26s than just the twin headlights on the front and perhaps newer PCB for 21 pin instead of 8?

So for the first 10 releases there, being LMR, are they modelled more 1970s as the coaches were built and on WCML workings behind the Class 50s? What services would they have been seen on in late 80s?

Where these ran interchangeably with other Mk2 types, would you make the lighting setup available to buy for fitting into coaches from other manufacturers to have consistent light setup in a rake?

Are the models only in blue and grey at the moment?

Presumably the 'lag' is on applying power and the brakes are still controlled instantly from the DBSO?

It certainly should be a gold mine if they get it right and not do an Oxford Rail

I'd suggest there would be a market for the Mk3 based Royal Train. Its been used since 1977 and while the prototype coaches are very modified from standard Mk3s, even on Hornbys standard Mk3 moulding some of the coaches go for silly money.

007 is pretty marmite with its renaming. The livery looked fine, but it should never have been renamed when there was so many other locos unnamed (of other classes) at the time - The 50s in general had some great names, but 'Hercules' really suits a diesel loco.

Not sure I've ever seen a photo of the phone area on a Mk2 RFB. Not sure it helps much, but it looks like there's a photo of a phone area on a Mk3b FO coach here https://twsmedia.co.uk/2019/11/10/british-rail-intercity-catering/

I'd suggest Mk2d BFKs are a bit of a gap as well. Obviously we've had the excellent for their time Mainline/Airfix/Dapol latterly Hornby tooling for the BSO/TSO/FO but never the BFKs and those are very visible in formations whether ECML or latterly Inter-regional services and would tie in with Deltics too ... hint hint ... ;)

Its nice to have the option of Skinheads, obviously there were some of them around and I have a Hornby 31110 already, but I'm probably cutting down on quantity to focussing more on quality these days and 31s are more 'nice to have' than 'essential' for the area and era I model so especially if I'm spending the money on sound fitted Accurascale models I think I'm wanting more of the 'everyday' locos rather than 'celebrity' or ones that stand out. Had the railfreight large logo model been a production run rather than skinhead I'd have snapped one up or 31432 not had its headlight I'd have gone for that and possibly even both. But I might just have to pass on this production run and wait to see what the next run(s) hold :(

I quite happily pre-order from most manufacturers with confidence on what will turn up ... with the exception of Hornby which I want to see before committing money for. If I miss out I miss out and can quite happily do without them

I hadn't actually realised it was as unique as that! I bought a second one when they were in the bargain bin then struggled to find an obvious renumbering candidate so was intending respraying BR Blue to another headlight fitted example. I'd suspect it was probably chosen with the prototype still running around the main line network in essentially the same livery with just the electrification flashes needing changed. More recent than BR Days, but ...

The central headlight must date 31 432 to being much later nevermind the orange cantrail stripe and its something thats very visible. I'm surprised there's only one offered in Railfreight Large Logo grey, but its a skinhead

.... before even seeing what you're getting with the Dublo DP1?

yeah I think thats the one I'd really want, not sure the choices announced really do anything for me. 402 too early, 409 with the white stripe must be late 70s or early 80s and 432 had a central headlight and orange cantrail stripe so would have to be a good bit later unless I'm missing something. I think its really a bog-standard grotty 31/4 I'd be wanting from late 80s/early 90s.

I'm a bit surprised we haven't had at least a pair of BR Blue and Railfreight Red Stripe in a mix of headcode and disc variants, but then I'm not convinced the initial releases sold all that well so either they produced too big a batch or the examples chosen were a bit niche. I liked the 20227 model, but it doesn't offer too many options for numbering. The BR Blue one would have been an early one with the BR logo on the cabsides wouldn't it? Not completely out of the realms of renumbering and moving the logo, but also not one to snap up when there are plenty of other models around that dont need that and I'd expect a later Blue one at some point

I've got a Bachmann DP1, but its already niche for my modelling era and location so absolutely no intention of buying a Dublo one

announcements or product to buy?

It stood out, if it was just a 'traditional' shade of green or red or blue would you still be remembering it 25+ years later? The Deltic looked good and I'd suggest it was the WIPAC lights that would have caused as many of the the complaints as the actual colour. I wasn't keen on the 87 version but the 47s looked good too