rembrow

Interesting article in the May 22 Hornby magazine, about renumbering one of the original early DRS bodies with the printing error, as apparently it is correct for 20308. They used a Harry Needle version as chassis donor, and tgat is now on special price with Kernow. Seriously tempted as I kept the original bodies but do I need 3.

Looks like the dining thirds and dining composites are imminent. I was asked last week to confirm my order with Kernow for the dining composites as they were due shortly. I have now had funds requested from my card. Also due is the Maunsell open second.

The HOP AB and early HAA versions have been reviewed in the May 2022 edition of Hornby mag. They look excellent.

That's why I quoted the full paragraph, as it gave a chronological sequence of expected releases - A1/3, 2MT, 9F. The 9F is due late summer 2022. This was part of a large article covering all the known planned items of rolling stock for the UK railway scene,by all manufacturers in four gauges. EDIT. I should add that there is a table of the announced locos in the article and for the Hornby 2MT, it has April 22 as the expected release date.

Have reignited this thread, as I was surprised by the info in the May Hornby mag. In their new model guide, for Hornby, they state: 'Arriving as we closed for press were the upgraded A1/A3 4-6-2s with firebox flicker and diecast metal footplate, while the BR 2MT 2-6-0 is set for an April release. Next to appear will be the all new BR 9F 2-10-0 which is expected to arrive in August' I've typed the full para to show the context is a sequence of releases this year. There is nothing on the Hornby site to confirm the 2MT has been brought forward.

Thanks Gareth, have ordered an 'a' pack with load.

Rails has today posted Dapol's expected releases for April and May and the Manors are showing.

Rails update states they are expecting them early next week.

Rails have posted this afternoon, that they are on the way to them, so looks like it's all gone to plan

Have you ordered the Consett iron ore wagons as it's likely to be them.

Now your doing the Magnesite hoppers for the Irish model scene, what about the Prestwin hoppers and Anhydrite hoppers for the UK scene. Bachmann seem to have given up with their proposed Prestwin, due to the likely retail cost. For safety, there were two diagrams of Prestwins, so you could do the one not announced tgen suspended by Bachmann, which is the longer wheelbase version, which was lower in height the one in the Airfix/Dapol kit. The Anhydrite hopper, like the Magnesite hopper, was used in one flow from Long Meg mines, but when the mine closed operated out of Wellingborough.

The dcc ready Class 20s in BR green have arrived, my pre order was dispatched yesterday.

Thank you Jenny, really helpful. I notice each wheelset has a gear, based on the keeper plate having curved sections in the middle of each axle, did you confirm thst the model has all axle drive, wjich it will need if you remove the centre coupling rod, as I will want to, for BR green.

Spoke to Leigh on Tuesday, he's back working and the shop is open. He was clearing the backlog of on line orders. I placed an order on Tuesday and he sent it out on Wednesday. Sadly, he received a number of abusive messages as he was not contactable, and in his rush to get home, had not set the answerphone. This is appalling, people need to consider that there are likely to be urgent reasons why the shop isn't open or contactable, especially after what we've been through.

Unfortunately they may mess up, as the livery samples show one of the 'cycling lions' facing the wrong direction. They have them both facing left, the same issue as with the 'D' early BR. Dapol and Rails were alerted about the D early BR tender motif error, but production had been completed and they were unwilling to correct. The running plate lining was also sensitive to handling and I had to add a satin varnish coat.

With the Prairie, it's the rear pony truck that is the problem, as when the loco is on the level, the truck and wheelset are unable to move upwards, thus creating a long fixed wheelbase. The rear pony has slots and springs on each side, intended to give upward movement, but it doesn't work, as the slot is not long enough and the wheelset is fully in the slot when on the level. Hopefully Dapol will make a modification on future runs, to increase the slot length.

If it runs ok without the rear pony truck, then it's not electrical, as there are no pickups in the pony truck. If it continues, it's likely to be because the pony truck is too rigid, and causes the chassis to lift when it gets to raised sections on points. The truck is meant to have compensation, as the wheels are sprung, however when on the flat, the amount of upward movement is fully used, and the truck becomes rigid. The solution seems to be to lengthen the existing slots in the pony truck, by a couple of mm, to enable the wheelset to have upward movement, which will allow it to move over raised sections, without lifting the driving wheels. Have done this modification on my two and it's been successful.

Leigh has had to close the shop for two weeks, due to contracting Covid. Hope he is ok, website states reopening 21 Feb, but it has already been extended by a week.

Just been billed for my pre ordered NCB Stanton Sentinel, by Kernow.

If anyone wants to backdate the TOPS version to pre TOPS, the YCO markings and black backing rectangle are easy to remove with a cocktail stick or gentle use of the end of a needle file. Underneath is painted body colour grey.

If it is one of the older, split axle models, there is a fairly common issue that affects the wheel centres. They have a plastic push fit centre, which covers the wheel boss, spokes and a rim, that is a tight fit into the metal wheel casting. These were coloured depending on the loco livery. Over time, these can expand causing the centre of this moulding to move outwards and foul the coupling rod. I don't know if this is the problem, but I've experienced this on a B1 and an Ivatt tank.

That is surprising and very good news. Should put the retail price at around £63 per coach, where 15% discount is offered. I have 6 on order, from the week they were announced - a long wait.

Palbrick sets, both types, being advertised by Rails, who say they have been allocated a limited stock. No deposit required for pre order.

In fairness, after initially reaming out the holes so they were free to move side to side, I tried the ndms around 3rd radius and they didn't bind. I then elongated the locating holes as a precaution.

Strange, I'm using set track 3rd radius and have a section that curves more than 180 degrees, and my hunt couplings on the ndms manage without binding, with the development coach attached to one. What I did find was that the hunt couplings for the ndms were a very tight fit on the coach spigots, such that they didn't move from side to side. I had to ream out the holes in the couplings. I also elongated the holes in the couplings at the end furthest from the magnet. This gives a little backwards/forwards movement.