rembrow

The following statement was made by the Oxford Diecast MD, Lyndon Davies, on the Oxford Rail website during the build up to production of the Radial. They were already producing model rail models for other brands, so expanded that facility within the same factory. quote - 'We will produce the products at Oxford Diecast China Factory. We have carried out an expansion of our factory in the last 6 months to accommodate the introduction of the Oxford Rail range. Our clean rooms have already been updated in preparation'. I assume the reference to 'clean rooms' relates to the areas designated for model rail item production, indicating the both diecast and model rail products are being produced in the same factory, but in separate areas.

One benefit of the BR versions chosen is that you can get all 3 Lyme Billies by buying Oxford and Hornby versions, which is what I decided to do some time ago, albeit one will have the wrong boiler for them all running at the same time. I also want to support Oxford as they are an innovative British model design business, which they have shown in their diecast vehicle range, which I hope they will repeat in the model railway market. They could be a breath of fresh air and they are an already established business that owns its manufacturing facility in China, so less likely to have the Hornby supply issues, which hopefully have been resolved but only by switching to a multi manufacturer policy.

I doubt it will be fixed for the first production run as the Hornby magazine review is based on a sample from the production that they have purchased or leased from Hornby, as an 'exclusive review' and they indicated in the review that the production models would be available in late October (probably November realistically).

I have to say, that based on the photo added by 'Hilux5972' which clearly shows the under boiler part as very much proud of the rest of the boiler, this seems to be worse than I thought as Hilux's photo is taken from an angle above the footplate and the ledge created by the non alignment of these boiler parts is still very noticeable. I can't understand how Hornby have ended up with what seems to be a design error in mating up parts of the model. They have produced many steam outline tender models with a similar boiler parts mix for many years and have successfully aligned the parts on the circular plane of the boiler in most of those models. Yes there will be a slight gap around the edges where the parts have to slide together, but that is barely noticeable, but this amount of a pronounced ridge will be obvious. From Hilux's photo it looks like the alignment is off by most of the thickness of the lower boiler part, which is very poor model making and to me an issue you thought they wouldn't repeat having identified a similar problem in the J15 before they started tooling the King. For me, as there is a rival product on the horizon, I'll now probably wait rather than commit to this product, I had pre ordered one of each to hedge my bets.

One thing concerning me, after seeing the review in the November Hornby magazine, is that the models shown, King Edward V111 standard release and King George V Locomotion special, both show what appears to be a ridge on the underside of the boiler, visible in the open areas between the centre and front splashers and the front splasher and smokebox saddle. These photos are both taken of models with the tender to the left. Other photos as used for retailer adverts, with the tender to the right show a similar ridge on the other side, although these later pictures maybe computer generated, however the review samples are of actual models. I can't see what this ridge would be as it seems to thick for a conduit with no evidence of moulded fixings, and checking prototype photos I can't see anything similar, although its difficult to find side on photos taken at wheel boss height or lower. I'm concerned it may be a poor join line between a separate chassis mounted lower boiler part with the body moulding, similar to the J15. Anybody got any ideas.

luke_stevens advised he bought a late crest version from Jane's Models of Tooting, south west London and their website shows both the early and late crest versions as new arrivals and available. You cannot buy on-line from them, only by e-mail and phone, so no way to check current stock levels, but seems like they may be one of the few to get some. It's strange that Hornby didn't make them available on their own website, which they have been prone to do with initial shipments.

These are only on the late crest version, which I didn't realise was available yet as the Hornby website says 4th November for it. They are at the base of the cab sides, one lower than the other. They can be seen on the photos of the model on Hornby's website.

My order for 30182 was from September 2010 and it arrived last Friday. As it is 5 years since your order you may want to check if your credit card used for the original order has been replaced, as even if you haven't changed credit card account, the card and its valid from/to dates will probably have been replaced, if so you need to update the details with Kernow, as they will leave expired card orders to last and then try and contact those customers.

I'm hopeful that Hornby will announce a BR livery for these coaches in December for 2016 release. My logic is based on two pointers, 1. All other Hornby new release pre nationalisation coach types (apart from Pullman types) have been released initially in a pre nationalisation and a post nationalisation livery as first releases, going back to the release of the first super detailed coaches in 2001/02 and 2. The coaches are partners to the Adams Radial which is being released in 2 BR liveries. Is it likely that Hornby will miss that opportunity? Here's hoping.

This wave of O2 arrivals by sea seems like a seaborne invasion, with apologies to Winston Churchill '--- we will not fight them on the beaches (unless Hornby get those Airfix model 'E' boats built and sail them out from Kent) ---' and hopefully for Kernow, 'In the field of model loco buying, never has so much been owed by so many to so few ---'

S15 with BR early emblem now appearing in retailers, my local shop had their delivery today. Good day for me, S15 and Kernow BR O2 as well, managed to hide from swmbo, for my own health of course.

A similar situation occurred a couple of weeks ago, with the October Hornby magazine having what it called an 'exclusive review' of the new S15 model, which similarly was not released and not in the UK at the time the magazine must have prepared the review. The model has only been released at the beginning of this week. I put this on the thread for the non availability of Hornby free models for press review and wondered if it was a change of policy and didn't get a direct answer apart from the opinion that there was no change to Hornby's policy of not supplying free samples, but it was suggested I 'join the dots' by Andy Y, so I came to the conclusion that Hornby must be bringing in a sample or samples of new models in advance of release, and offering them for a fee (rental or purchase) to magazines for review in advance of release, such that one magazine gets an 'exclusive'

There has been some debate on the Kernow commissioned model, Southern O2, about pre orders being lost on the Kernow system. I checked mine again and found that 2 orders for the LSWR Gate Stock coaches were missing. I didn't have my original e-mail order confirmation as that was sent to an old e-mail account, now closed. I phoned Kernow and they confirmed that my 2 orders were intact on their background system. Apparently some pre order data did not transfer over to users accounts from the old to the new website systems, so its worth checking pre orders and contacting Kernow if any have gone astray. As usual very helpful support from the Kernow staff, despite dealing with an influx of new commissioned products.

Oh well, my order was 6th September 2010, so perhaps they are not strictly in order date. Maybe they are waiting as my other order, K2104, is due the end of October, to combine and save p&p. Keep waiting patiently, the S15 will help to keep enthusiasm going, not necessarily good for the wallet.

Kernow's site is showing that they have received version K2103, BR early livery, with push/pull at the shop and orders are being processed in date order. As before they request that we don't phone to chase orders. This is the first of my 2 orders, which celebrated their 5th birthday for ordering, last month. Not complaining, pleased that they have been produced. Well done Kernow.

The problem that manufacturers have, including Hornby, is the access to production slots to produce models, so the proposed dates of release seem to be very much finger in the wind. Take Hornby's 2014 new locomotive programme, only one new model from that years programme was fully released that year, the 2 HAL, and one of the K1s squeezed in at the end of December. The other K1s, Class 700, Crosti, J15 and D16 models all went into 2015 with the D16 and Crosti having only just been released. Already we see that the 2016 programme will be affected by some delays, with the Adams Radial, having been brought forward by Hornby from 2016 into 2015 is now scheduled by them for release in January 2016. Personally I think Hornby's recent practice of release information is more designed to increase anticipation and encourage pre-ordering via their own website sales outlet from the frothing that ensues, but hey, I'm just a cynic.

Hopefully Hornby will distribute the S15 models in the same manner that they did with the D16s, which was despatching them to retailers so they arrived on the same day or next, as the date they released them on their own website. If it goes that way, the BR liveried examples should be delivered to the shops from this Friday, although interestingly, no Australian based RMwebbers have reported them as on sale in Australia yet, which happened with the last 3 new releases (D16, Crosti and Drummond 700)

The Hornby website (just checked) has both the early and late BR liveried versions as arriving 2nd October and the Southern Railway version as 29th October if that helps

The chassis will need to be shortened, which is not so easy with Bachmann cast chassis. I used the Hornby ex Lima Class 40 chassis, which has the newer 5 pole twin drive motor on one bogie, so the chassis is easier to shorten, being plastic. This works under a Silver Fox model of 10203 that I made some years ago on a Lima Class 40 chassis. The Silver Fox Bulleids were good models, John Hazleton originally modelled 10201/2 and 10203. Unfortunately these are no longer available from Silver Fox, I wonder if that's a consequence of the original Kernow announcement. I also remember that Kernow stated at the original launch, that they were announcing the 10201/2 models earlier than they intended as another manufacturer was interested, I wonder if that was Heljan, who at the time were working through the British prototype mainline diesel types.

Depends, did someone see them float through the door.

The Dapol website has been updated and now shows the anticipated production of the 21/29 as Qtr 3 2016, so a year away at least. The GWR Railcar seems to have leapfrogged it with the first samples being evaluated.

The Hornby site is now showing all versions as now available, so they are in the UK. Also phoned my local shop who has my pre order and all 4 versions have been delivered to them this morning.

Mine was missing one of the electrical rectangular box pieces, attached to the chassis above each bogie side. I contacted Howes and they have plastic sprues to send out. They are not showing as spare parts yet, so I'm assuming they have a small quantity for locos like mine, with some missing parts. They are sending me a sprue f.o.c in the post. As mine is John Hampden I will need to paint the front face a matching grey, which is no problem.