Godfrey Glyn

A good selection of photographs on the excellent site - https://www.47soton.co.uk - of it coming out of the Eastleigh works. Quite stunning! all the best Godfrey

I picked up my BR(S) composite dining saloon today from Paul at Alton Model Centre and I am very impressed. Something which I was not expecting to find was a pack of magnetic couplers in addition to the Hornby version of the Roco style connectors. Is this a first for Hornby? I haven't had the opportunity to try them, they fit into the normal NEM pocket. best wishes Godfrey

I would certainly like to see the rebuilt Merchant Navy up dated. In the meantime as something different I have ordered one from Paul at Alton Model Centre. I gather he has a good allocation and some spare at the moment. One thing for sure, like it or loath it, it's certainly getting talked about and will bring some good publicity to the SVR, a donation to a worthwhile charity and additional sales in the model shops. Can't be all bad! all the best Godfrey

I do find studying the model railway industry fascinating and noting the certainty sometimes expressed on here as to how firms should develop their range of models in the coming months. One thing I haven't seen expressed here, and apologies if I have missed it, is that we are about to face a financial recession when a great deal of what is now disposable income will need to be spent on gas, electricity and fuel. Much as I love the incoming high quality models from the 'newcomers' to the business - I have plenty of items on order myself - I can't help feeling that high price items like four car DMUs and EMUs will not provide the commissioner with a good return on their investment in the immediate future. Neither am I likely to be giving my young grandchildren one of the new high fidelity products. We also need to remember that those of us who regularly log on to RMWeb and enjoy the discourse are a very small minority of those who spend their money on these delightful ranges of toys. all the very best Godfrey

I would have thought that the new Wascosa FEA-W wagons with their various modules would be a really good candidate for Accurascale. The link below to the excellent 47soton.co.uk site gives some details and demonstrates that at the present, at least, they have been used on intermodal by GBRf. https://www.47soton.co.uk/2022/02/new-wascosa-fea-w-wagons-at-eastleigh.html What I do not know is how different these FEA-W wagons are to the original ones produced by Dapol. I really can't recommend too much the 47soton site, it has some great photographs and links which keep anyone up to date on a weekly basis as to what is happening around Eastleigh. all the best Godfrey

I suspect that those retailers who do check their stock before sending them out and who have discovered damaged locos will have been on to Hornby straight away. Clearly it would appear that like a few other heavy loco models from other manufacturers the packaging is not adequate to the task. As regards those retailers who did not check their stock before sending it out; it takes the same time for a small retailer to check each loco as it does for a large retailer. I don't accept the argument that the large retailer cannot do it. The only reason could be that they are offering a more competitive price and so make less profit on each sale and have factored that into the customer care service they offer. In that case the buyer is taking a risk that may not be quite so sensible for them in the long term. All the best Godfrey

Picked up mine from Paul at Alton Model Centre this afternoon, very impressive and as per usual with Paul, it was given a good run around the test track - very smooth performance. For me it is definitely a Rule 1 purchase but one that really impresses and delights me. Well done Hornby and thanks for ordering it for me Paul. Looking forward now to the 'Prince of Wales' - that new 'train' according to Yesterday! all the very best Godfrey

Great to to see the 442 being given serious discussion. A great looking EMU, a variety of liveries and it would open up a whole host of potential modelling opportunities for those interested in building a third rail layout that could accommodate modern freight, DMUs and the 450 EMU. all the best Godfrey

Just released, I picked up my copy from Paul at Alton Model Centre on Friday, is a new and quite magnificent volume by Kevin Robertson on this experimental locomotive designed by Oliver Bulleid. As he says in the introduction, Kevin has written a number of slimmer books on the Leader but this is something quite different. He has put together a whole new set of information and photos - some colourised - and has included the development of the Irish Turf Burning locomotive - Leader2! There are some great photographs and a colour painting frontispiece by Malcolm Root of Leader steaming through Winchester on its last trial run hauling a 480t load. Hopefully the team at KR have a copy to help them design their model of this unique locomotive. A great addition to the railway book collection IMHO. Published by Crecy, ISBN 978 191080 9853 at £30

It's the task of model railway company reps at exhibitions to discourage any speculation by a member of the public. I remember suggesting that it would be a good idea to redo the Southern Bogie wagon and being firmly told by Paul it was not on the agenda when subsequently it was clear he had been working on it. Many moons ago at Warley Mr Hubbard basically told me that my suggestion for Bachmann to build on their excellent Mark 1 coaches and create a SR EMU was a very stupid idea that would never come to pass. At the last GDSF Simon Kohler spent at least 15 mins (it was a quiet period on day 1) trying various dates and demonstrating it was impossible to find an excuse for developing the Rocket when he would have known it had been in development for months. It must be a source of real amusement in the debriefing meetings following an exhibition and make up for some of the aggressive verbal attacks that they have to endure at times. all the best Godfrey

Totally off topic (sorry) but I certainly agree that Frydays is the place to go for fish and chips in Seaton though two fish and one lot of chips is sufficient unless you are looking to buy a larger belt and trousers! The shop at Pecorama is well stocked and the manager Mark is very helpful and capable of digging out old copies of the Railway Modeller if you need a hard copy of an old edition. Always worth a visit! all the best Godfrey

Certainly looks very impressive and good to see Bachmann upping the game and competing effectively with the new boys on the block. all the best Godfrey

How very very sad, what a shock. Mick was a marvellous guy, very talented and a real teacher of his art. I knew I was privileged when I spent a week-end on his weathering course at Missenden after meeting him and learning a huge amount on a one day course at Pendon. It was a great privilege to know him and I will treasure the chats we had whenever we met. My thoughts go to his wife Ann, his family and close friends. Godfrey

Yes they have arrived at Alton and first impression is very good, very smooth running straight out of the box. all the best Godfrey

Yes mine arrived too today. It's an absolute beauty, congratulations to Locomotion, Dapol and Rails for producing such a wonderful model. It deserves to sell well and hope it brings some much needed cash into the NRM. all the best Godfrey

Back in April 2015 I was lucky enough to be able to visit the NRM whilst S2464S was being exhibited behind Sir Winston Churchill in the main hall and was able to take a few photos.It had been beautifully restored. I picked up my three versions from Paul at Alton Model Centre on Friday; what a stunning model and many congratulations to Hornby for producing such a fantastic replica. Paul seemed to have all in stock together with plenty of Heljan 25s and 86s but seeing as I am trying to reduce my stock to the essential rather than the desirable I resisted then temptation! I do have some more shots taken at the time so if anyone wants more just let me know. all the very best Godfrey

I totally agree with 43179. The Class 442 was, IMHO, the best looking EMU ever produced in the UK with some very subtle shapes and a number of liveries. An ideal subject for the team and it would allow a lot of us who have aspirations to develop a 3rd rail layout covering more modern times. They were also the most comfortable units to travel in, far better than the Mark 1 before them and the Class 444 we have now. It would also provide Accurascale the opportunity to develop a definitive Mark 3. Please just do it! all the best Godfrey

ALTON MODEL CENTRE Paul tells me that he will be opening on Monday 12th April at 9.30. Opening hours for next week, Monday to Saturday, will be 9.30 - 5.00. The week after he will revert to the normal opening pattern of Tuesday to Saturday 9.30-5.00. Good to see him and all the other model shops opening next week! all the best Godfrey

I thought Graham worked for Kernow, not Hattons! Both great firms of course! Godfrey

Yes it was a wonderful show, and well worth the journey down from Darlington.The layout that made the most impression on me was Hursley, I had never seen any model so beautiful before. A good friend and wonderful modeller, now sadly dead, John Bridger who worked for PECO was very jealous of my attendance so I made a sticker for the rear window of my Beetle which proclaimed " I've seen Hursley". He was slightly amused when I parked outside his house in Seaton. Sorry to go off topic. I cannot justify a 94xx but I have compared one with the Model Rail 16xx and felt that the 16xx sample I have ran slightly better out of the box than the 94xx I was shown. Both very nice models though. all the best Godfrey

As above, its worth giving Paul a ring at Alton Model Centre. Last time I spoke to him he had good supplies. Good Luck! Godfrey

It's a lovely lovely model and I had the chance to test mine this morning and compare it with the Bachmann 94XX. I have to say the 16XX ran incredibly smoothly from the start; many thanks to the team at Model Rail for commissioning this little wonder and to the guys at Rapido for bringing it to these shores. Rapido have certainly established, in my mind at least, a reputation of outstanding quality that will surely guarantee the success of the many(?) models they have plans to introduce. I can't wait to see the next one! all the best Godfrey

Try Paul at Alton Model Centre!

Many thanks Graham for this report and also thanks for your contribution to what looks like some stunning new RTR Bulleid coaches. The long wait looks like it will, after all, be worth it. Hopefully Bachmann will take up your prompting that Diagram 2406 is an essential addition and I would certainly agree with abd968008 that a Tavern car set would sell well and not just to Southern fans. all the best and a Happy Christmas to all! Godfrey

Thank you so much Robin for taking the trouble to explain how to build it. I presume you were sent the exploded diagram when you bought them. I just received the etchings so was completely lost before I started! I shall dig them out and follow your guide, once again many thanks. all the best Godfrey