rembrow

Rails have added a further post, that they are expecting the prairies to arrive with them today. They are also expecting a Bachmann delivery, so a lot of models to dispatch.

Hattons advise they are expecting them within a week, so Rails should have been clearer, as they are at Dapol and are being dispatched to UK retailers, it seems. The Rails pre order advert seems to use final livery models, certainly they have a photo of the BR green late crest, which hadn't been seen until recently.

Rails have posted on their website this afternoon, that the Dapol prairies have arrived with them.

Already corrected for spollchecker annoyance. Lucky it didn't change it to careless motor.

Also, as the motor used in these is coreless, worth checking that you are not using a controller with feedback facility or an electronic track cleaner, as these affect coreless motor performance.

I found the same squeeking. I have cured mine by applying some lithium oil from a spray can, put on to the pin point axle ends, by paint brush. The problem seems to be the pin point axle rubbing in the locating box. It seems even the light weight of the van, is enough to put pressure on the axle box surface.

I received my two replacement DRS bodies this morning. I can confirm there are no additional buffer detailing parts included.

Very extreme and clearly he failed in his original attempt to retain and use the cut off skirts. I have made mine R3 compatible by filing down the depth of the bogie side frames, on the inside face. I don't claim credit for this, I drew on another RM Web poster who had performed this. So although the bogie side frames can't turn any further, it gives extra width for the inner wheel bogie to turn further. I was able to get good access to the inside of the bogie side frames, by removing the body, which allows the side frames to turn further, giving a longer filing stroke. This won't achieve R2 ability, but works for R3 and leaves the side profile unaffected.

Received my two. Very nice model, I'm very impressed with the opening doors, they are much thinner than others that have been produced to open and are held in place nice and firm. When shut, there is no discernible gap at either the handle end or the other end where it slides over the sides. The later close fitting is very impressive.

Fraid not, you will be committed to buying 10 of each version of each product. Read the small print carefully.

Paying twice - to be sure to be sure.

They have arrived. Rails have emailed me to say my two have been sent by tracked mail today.

The other problem with this is the use of valuable hgv time and resources. One of the sites being used is Eye airfield, some 35 miles from Felixstowe, another is Ipswich port, presumably the West Bank terminal, just off the A14. Presumably hgvs have been doing shuttle runs with the empties. The build up of emties has probably occurred with the delays experienced at Felixstowe, leading to some shipping operators, such as Maersk, reducing the number of vessels that use Felixstowe on direct shipments from Asia, putting UK cargo into Rotterdam, where it them gets on to feeder services. This reduces the services available to ship empties

There has been an item on the BBC Anglia site this week, that Felixstowe Port has moved thousands of empty containers to off Port sites in Suffolk, including two old bomber airfields that are now industrial sites. Presumably to make space to enable incoming ships to be offloaded. Seems there has been difficulty in getting empty containers on to vessels for shipping to Asia. Must only add to the container availability problem.

I had an email from KR last night, advising that the GT3 second run, were on their way, I have an order. They say that unless there are further delays, they are still anticipating delivery before Christmas to UK customers.

I was going to order a Fourdees tramway loco, but diverted my order to a second of the Fairlies, Earl of Merioneth.

Sorry to come back on this Fran, but having contacted the retailer, Rails, about their process for the replacement couplings, this afternoon, they have responded that I will be contacted shortly by Accurascale. Are you managing the replacement for Rails of Sheffield customers?.

Looks like these are proving very popular. Rails have advised they have sold out of both versions of Livingston Thompson and both of the remaining sound versions on pre orders.

Just received an email from Bachmann, advising that the replacement early DRS bodies, will be with them later this month, and details of sending my evidence of purchase to them. Will be scanning my receipts.

I received the same response from Hornby, a couple of months after the apt was announced. The reply came from one of the developers, who has since left Hornby. Interestingly he advised, when I queried why they were proposing a separate powered ndm, the one just released, he advised that this was for expansion of the 5 car pack, as they (Hornby) envisaged that those wanting a full 14 car rake would use the 5 car set as a starting point. So at some stage Hornby believed that 2 powered ndms would be required for a full rake. It is still very muddled, as if they contend that only one powered ndm is required for the long rakes, what is the purpose of R3948, the powered ndm additional unit, as this could have been changed to an unpowered unit before production.

Thank you to Fran and all at Accurascale, for dealing with this issue so quickly and coming up with a solution. Please don't beat yourself up for not spotting this, I doubt anyone, including commissioners, would expect a factory to tool a new and unusual coupling. When you look at the coupling, you wouldn't know it was incorrect, as I'd challenge anyone to be able to say which side of centre, the hook pivot is traditionally placed. I certainly didn't notice until I finished making coal loads for my Bachmann/TMC 24.5 tonners and tried to mix them with the MDOs. Even then I thought the Bachmann was in error, as when I received some Bachmann/TMC plate wagons, all of their couplings were wrong sided, which was due to an assembly error.

Agree there is quite a lot of play, but that creates a problem, in that I've found it can couple with the hook on the wrong side of the opposing coupling of a traditional version, leaving little room to move on the bar.

I'm not, as I'm running them with 8 Bachmann/TMC 24.5 Ton wagons, at random positions.

I believe they will be supplied by Bachmann. I queried with them one of mine which I'd renumbered. They advised me that I would not need to return the old body (ies) to them, but would need to supply proof of purchase.

Agreed, however cost precludes this as I have 24 wagons that are all affected, which is 48 couplings. Bachmann replacement couplings are circa £10 for 10. I'll see what Accurascale can do.