rembrow

If it helps, Rails processed my payment about 3 hours ago and I've just had a dispatch e-mail from them.

It is well known that Hornby allocate across their retail customers if there is a shortfall. The issue of discount by retailers is irrelevant as Hornby set a minimum price of 10% below rrp, which most retailers now use as their selling price. The issue is when does the retailer become aware that they are not going to receive their full order. At the beginning g of the year retailers put in their orders, presumably Hornby know at the end of that process whether they have sufficient on order from the manufacturer, as manufacturing slots will have already been booked and levels agreed, certainly for an item appearing so quickly in the year. Hornby should be able to notify retailers fairly quickly that they have to allocate, the retailer should then notify affected customers. These coaches, having been advertised only a few weeks before they are released, has truncated the time that this notification could take place, as we are less than 3 weeks after the 2021 release programme and potentially some retailers have only just completed their orders. I don't think in this case, that customers could have been advised any earlier.

Will you be able to tell the difference? (hat coat)

Yesterday's Kernow Models weekly newsletter advised that they are expecting the A2/2s by the end of the month. Presumably this is from Hornby trade info.

I have 2 BR livery O2s, bought as soon as released from Kernow Models and have had no problems with either. It appears that most of the DJ brand tools have been purchased by Kernow Models of Cambourne (not the tools for models produced by DJ for other retailers eg Hattons 14xx tank) and are appearing again in the EFE Rail brand. The O2 was a Kernow commission and the tools were already owned by Kernow. There are only two versions still available from Kernow, so I would expect that they will reappear, but marketed under the EFE Rail brand, just like the Beattie well tank.

You can already get the 58 in triple grey livery from Olivias of Sheffield. They had a run of several liveries done for them some years ago and still have the plain triple grey (no sector markings or BR arrows) and also triple grey with 'Mainline' branding. I bought one of the Mainline versions 3 months ago and the order went through very quickly. Olivias seem to have raised the price of the Mainline version to £150, they are down to 8. The plain triple grey is £135.

Unlikely I know, but would love a BR Anhydrite wagon, another wagon operated in multiple in a single load flow and route for much of their lives, but used more widely in their later lives. But based on other Accurascale wagons, this would encourage multiple sets.

Hattons processed my pre order for 2 of the Hornby mk 1 restaurant buffets on Wednesday, I cleared them from my trunk straight away and they were dispatched Wed afternoon by Royal Mail 24 hr tracked. Did not expect to get them until after Christmas, with the known postal delays, however postie delivered them at 1030am on Christmas Eve. Well done Hattons and Royal Mail

All this talk of the Liffey water and the Guiness nectar, brought me back to the last time the wife and I were in Ireland, visiting family in Tralee and Limerick. We had a day out in Dublin, travelled their by train from Limerick. At the end of a lovely day, we walked back slowly to the rail station, along the bank of the Liffey, past the Guiness brewery, foregoing the tour. We followed pedestrian signs for 'Railway Station' which brought us to Connolly station, problem was we needed Heuston station, who knew there were two main line terminii in Dublin, yours truly didn't, so a very fast route march took place, as we had to change to a branch line at Limerick Junction.

As this is a Rails thread, they are getting KOYLI in LNER green and Durham Light Infantry in BR Late Crest green as exclusives, the Green Arrow is for Locomotion.

Agreed, received an e-mail from Hornby this afternoon, advising all versions are now available, original and refurbished.

Just had an e-mail from Hornby, where they have advised that due to the uncertainty of the negotiations between the UK and EU for trade from1 January 2021, they are pausing taking orders from non UK based customers from today until 4th January 2021, to enable clarity of the trading arrangements to be sorted out.

Just received the Bachmann electronic club members newsletter which had a link to a video where they showed progress on some of the new projects. The Bulleid coaches first ep samples had just arrived with them and 4 were displayed.

Sorry to hear about this delay. I had something similar within the last two weeks, involving a loco. My tracking info stopped progressing and after 3 days I contacted the retailer, who advised that they had outgoing tracked orders over about 10 days, that were stuck at RM Leeds Mail Centre. RM were not updating the tracking and in my case it indicated the item was still with the retailer. The retailer advised that RM, to get through the problem, were prioritising new mail and only tackling the backlog slowly. I did get my order, but the retailer told me that some of the items caught up, were ebay orders and in some cases the customers had claimed for delay through ebay and had a refund, yet will probably get the item when RM sorts itself out. RM were not updating the location of the mail on the tracking and therefore not showing that there was a delay with them.

As has been said, the import duty on scale model railway products is likely to be zero, the greater problem for retailers is the current method of UK retailer getting product from Heljan in Denmark, as Heljan have their distribution base in Denmark. While Denmark and UK were both in the EU and in 2020 for the UK transition arrangements, it was relatively straightforward as UK acquirers of goods from the EU, made their acquisition declaration via their VAT returns, and unless they were high value acquirers, they only had to declare the value of acquisitions within the tax period. However from January, UK retailers buying from Heljan in Denmark will have to import the consignment, which is likely to require a Customs import entry, this is still required for imports even where the import duty is zero. Retailers can get Heljan products from Gaugemaster, however according to my local retailer, Gaugemaster cannot supply new to market products for several weeks, so if the retailer wants to market new product on release, they have to buy from Heljan. Whether Heljan will look to set up a UK distribution, as Accurascale have done, we shall have to see.

I've received advice today, from Hattons, about the updated release dates for two of my orders for newly tooled Heljan 'oo' gauge products. GWR Railcar Jan to March 2021 Class 25 March to April 2021

Same for me. Ordered a loco from their ebay store Saturday afternoon, it was despatched Monday and arrived this morning (Tuesday). Excellent service.

Correct, typing error. I have ordered the correct nameplates and cabside numbers, but 5070 and 5080 are easily confused, let's hope I get the right numbers to names.

I was double tempted, as after buying one to become 'Defiant' ordered a second to become 5080 'Sir Daniel Gooch', the 'price was right'.

If it helps, I've noticed that the AC model spares website has not been accessible for a few weeks, showing an 'undergoing maintenance' message, which may indicate that the spares side has been suspended at present due to the shop logistics already mentioned. Ebay model sales are still operating with positive feedback, but I haven't seen any ebay listed spares. Have just ordered a Hornby Castle at a very good price. I've always had excellent service from AC and had no qualms about ordering again.

The latest Hornby Engine Shed video is just released. It covers the Mk1 RB and the APT running sample as a 7 car set.

Just seen that TMC Models has Abergavenny Castle on offer for £102 plus p&p, the best price I've seen. Was out of stock yesterday, but 4 today, which I've had 1. Planning to renumber to 5080 Defiant, one of the Castles renamed after aircraft in the Battle of Britain and preserved.

Dapol have posted an update on their website dated 26 Nov, relating to production delays and shipping delays affecting a number of 'O' and 'oo' gauge projects. The JHA O&Ks are now expected Feb 2021. The update says that production is underway.

I agree. I have joined the fixed axlebox group for my EWS and Freightliner models, as like you, I don't consider any of the fixes to be long term solutions. The problem is that the locating spigot at the axle end, is too short to allow a tight and straight fit into the axlebox shaft. As the axleboxes move within the bogie sideframe, they are susceptible to pressure when fully extended. Ideally the spigot needs to be about 4mm or more and the locating hole should be a tighter fit. I'd also prefer a cast metal axlebox and locating shaft.

I have the Beattie with square splashes, Late BR. I've found that it sits lower at the rear, so the rear buffers are about 2mm lower than the front, when checked to a common source. Only checked this as I thought that the boiler seemed to be off level, lower at the fiebox end. The front wheels are sprung, so you can't check if a set of driving wheels is seated wrongly. Is this a common feature?