lee74clarke

Hi Tony, I suppose I made the suggestion half in jest, as you say, how many folks would want to see photo's just of Bytham? The real one I mean, not your layout, I suspect plenty would buy that. I would certainly love to see it though, maybe one of those book/magazine jobs would be fine. Copies of your photo's, Ian's, Wilf's, Willoughby's, etc, would make a good set, especially if Mr. Leigh would let you include some of Noel Ingram's? Without Wilf and Peter's snippets, I agree, a massive lump of local knowledge has gone. Couldn't rely on 'Swiley', especially after his views to BBC2 about 4468! So, what about the format of some of those collectors magazines, where you get a model/part of a model with the magazine? Nice little set, say each month, with one of Ian's Bytham models flat-packed in a mag full of Bytham info and photo's? OK, still a bit in jest, but it could just work........

I must ask him for a copy next time I see him. Swerved the Bytham book suggestion though Tony?!

Good Evening Tomy, Couple of good photo's of Bytham, where did you acquire those from? Another one where the gable end of my folks house shows up. What about a nice retirement project, collating all the photo's of the station into one book? Now, that would be good, throw a few of the Midland/MGN in for good measure as well Lee

Good Evening, Exactly the same happened to my first one, running fine, stood for a while, then ran like it was on half power. I sent mine back to Hattons, after a quick phone call, and to be fair to them, they handled it very well. I was offered a refund or a replacement, and went for the latter. Time will tell if this was a wise choice. It has run for about 4 hours and been fine, so fingers crossed. I have read posts on here about carrying out repairs, but if within warranty and at that price, my opinion is you should not have to. Also, the more of these episodes that Hattons, and ultimately Heljan know about and see, you would hope it may prevent future similar issues. I know they got it wrong with the Clayton, but as someone who works in manufacturing, you want to know when a piece of kit has problems, not have someone carrying out their own repairs and then saying it's a load of rubbish on a forum. Just my view, you obviously have to do what you feel is best, but it will be quicker to pack it up and send back to Liverpool than take the damn thing to bits! Lee

Hi Tony, Hope all is good and Christmas has gone well? Would certainly be interested if Ian released the various Bytham buildings. I wonder how many of the goods sheds sold under the Prototype Models label? Would the footbridge be feasible? Lee

Agreed. But maybe a higher price and no issues would have been the answer? Although, I know people with 'premium' cars, and they have plenty of problems with those as well! Garratt been running for an hour, sweet as anything. Mind you, I hope I haven't got to spend the rest of my days timing a flippin' model!

Got my Garratt back to Hattons on Wednesday, and a replacement arrived yesterday. The original stopped running suddenly, seemed like rear motor failure. I can't fault Hattons customer service, replacement or refund offered, with no problems, they were really spot on. Some opinion on here is that attempting to repair yourself is all part of modelling, my opinion is that how do manafacturers improve things if they never get kit back to find the issues? Sadly, I speak from experience on that one through my job. Don't forget, for most manufactures, carrying out repairs or mods invalidates the warranty, so even if you solve issue A, if an issue B crops up, you're generally out of luck. Anyway, I still hope (maybe naively) that this great model will be fine. 2 hours running yesterday and I'll run it again this morning. Fingers crossed then........

I know, caught out on the Clayton's as well! Wouldn't you think once bitten and all that? Anyway, not had chance to contact Hattons today, and after having another quick read of certain parts of this thread, I had an ' I wonder' moment. Unpacked the Garratt, whacked it on my test track after checking front & rear valve gear for any locked joints (nothing obvious, apart from lots of fiddlers elbow joints) and it briefly lurched back into life, on front motor only. After getting a bit of a warm motor niff, I quickly killed the power, but that looks like the problem. For two hundred quid I don't aim to investigate any further, so we'll see what Hattons have to say tomorrow. Apologies if anyone heard my blue language....... On the plus side, managed to get one of my old A2/3's back to life. Every cloud and all that. Those Millholme Pacifics don't seem such a pile after all.

I know, it has felt like that hasn't it, since we started hearing the bad reports? After a fair amount of running time, I thought I had a decent one. Has anyone had a Garratt repaired, only to have the thing go wrong again? As I say, I really want this model to be a success and to carry on supporting Hattons, but I am in two minds whether to ask for a repair or a refund. Made me think again about a Heljan O2, but then surely they can't let rogues slip through the net again?

I think I have been hit by the curse of the Garratt. Having had the model several months (one of those later weathered jobs) it has run beautifully without any hiccups, including several hours on Tony Wright's Little Bytham layout, until tonight when is was as dead as the proverbial. Ran it Sunday for half an hour or so with no problems, and tonight it's kaput. Does that sound familiar to anyone? If I get this thing back to Hattons, are they replacing the whole model, or carrying out repairs if it's the motor issue? I think it's an amazing model, at least when it's running and I really want to support Hattons on this, but at two hundred quid, I am a bit peeved. I get the impression that amended models are still going belly up further down the line?

Some nice models there Tony, like the J50, would have fitted nicely at Bytham as a pilot. Guess the yard horse was as close Bytham got to a shunter though? By the way, many happy returns Lee

Hi Tony Bytham looking good, when that fella makes The Willoughby Arms for you, that will make a massive difference. What about a road gang doing some work just up from the booking hall and finding the rails for the Edenham branch!? (Actually, I can't remember what year that was, but I am sure it was after '59.) Like the Brit. I had one of my old stodger tender drives versions, Morning Star. Yes, I know it's not ER, but it's one I had it as a kid. Remember reading your article about making it loco drive (was that before you were in Bytham), and being the lazy, cheating so & so I am, I took the easy option, albeit a few years later. A Hornby loco drive chassis from e-bay (30 quid-ish?) kill the motor in the tender and leave it in as ballast, drill out the brass connector and replace with a machine screw holding a brass drawbar, that hooks onto the new chassis. The easy bit, is the body screws on straight on using the same mountings Ten minute project and jobs a good 'un. The later tender drive body from the Chinese super detail ones take a bit more fitting though I have done the same again, using old tender drive body, loco drive chassis and new style Brit tender from e-bay again. All the Best, Lee

Simon Good to meet you today at Tony's. If you post some photo's of your P2 running, would you be kind enough to whack a piccie of my Garratt on as well? Many Thanks Lee

Don't know about leaning backwards or forwards, but that's a cracking looking A1/1.

Yes, I have had the Hattons e-mail to say mine is on its way. Looking forward to seeing the model, I really hope it's the start of a Hornby revival

Evening Tony Great photo's of Bytham. Ian's footbridge may 'only' be a mock-up, but I think it looks really good Regards Lee

Sorry Tony, only just seen this one. Presuming Graeme means my W1, I can drop it off sometime for you to take some decent photo's, but they would show the yellowing of the varnish up even more I guess. Probably won't make it on Sunday i'm afraid, but thanks for the invitation. Would like to see some photo's of your friends A2/1 & B16 though, and if it wasn't for present financial circumstances, I may have been interested in buying one of them. The said circumtances have been caused by timing belt expiring on car, killing the engine, and subsequently being stiffed by Nissan on warranty. Thanks for the MK1 coach by the way, gives me a great template for your coupling design if ever I get around to converting some of my stock. Lastly, and I know i'm setting myself up for a fall here, what are the main failings of my Millhomle A2/2's and A2/3's? Yes, I know you like to use the chassis as weights once melted down, but if the things run and I squint a bit, they don't look too bad. Will give them a blast next time I can run some loco's on Bythsam maybe? Regards, Lee

I have one of these on pre-order, and to be fair I am happy to wait and make sure the thing is correct, rather than getting a rushed not quite there version. There are a few thing that leave me a bit puzzled though. It has been said on here before, but the tooling must be in place to have made the protoype, and I agree with that. I am invloved with tooling for moulding process, albeit not for this kind of thing, and you simply don't just go changing this little bit or that little bit without incurring more costs to modify the tooling. So, lets assume that is the case, why can't Hornby put a statement out along those lines? I would have thought we would all be happy with an update if that were the reason. Secondly, again through work, we import some components from China, in actual fact hundreds of thousands of pounds worth. So, you place a scheduled order, the factory give you a lead time and production slot, the shipping company give you a transit time, and we give our customers an availability date. OK, I am making this sound simple, but you get the idea. I think what i'm saying, is why don't these manufacturers just tell their customers what is happening? Not sure about the rest of you, but I would be more than content to be told by Hornby that the availabilty has been put back to A,B,C, for reasons X,Y,Z. I just get a bit annoyed with the constant e-mails with changed delivery dates, giving no explanation whatsoever. Now, if Hornby do indeed issue such a statement on these matters, then my apologies to them!

Just as an aside to my last post, if anyone has problems attaching photo's to some text, I ended up using Google Chrome instead of standard Google, and the went on with no hassle.

Good Evening Tony Here we go another attempt at getting photo's onto a reply. If you recall, my camera packed up and had to resort to i-phone camera! Well, there is a photo of the Master fettling with the V4, plus said V4, original W1 and C1 hauling the fish vans. Considering they all needed a slight tweak from your good self, I have to say I was pretty pleased with them. In terms of horse trading, well unless you have any loco's that require adjustment with a lump hammer, I probably can't help masses in return. If Gilbert is assisting you with some model gardening, then the best I can do is help Mo with some of the real stuff. As for the offer of running some more of my loco's, well that is much appreciated. I am not sure if you will be quite so enthusiastic if I turn up with another box full of my old 'stodgers' that need a rebuild. Lee

Good Evening Tony A quick thank you for Sunday, a great few hours viewing Bytham and even better, some of my loco's have been given a new lease of life! Also, thank you for the 'goodies' that you dropped in to my folks. I have tried to get a few photo's uploaded, but the PC is not happy with them, will keep trying though. I was especailly pleased with the W1 and the V4, and after some fettling, the V4 ran a treat. The C1 was a bit like me, probably passed it's best, and slightly smelly and hot after some running. The A2/3 from Derek went well, even if a bit noisy. Derek, if you read this, Tony was interested to know the builder. Tell Mo I shall attack the garden with strimmer as soon as I get a minute. Will most likely see you at the weekend. Lee

Thanks for that Graeme, wise words and as you say, just get on with it. I think patience levels are taken to all new highs with having a 2 year old in the house! As great as that is, time of course is at a massive shortage. The skill thing I guess can come with practise, although as Tony says in a later post, some people may never quite get it. I am looking forward to seeing yours/Tony's A2 to A2/3 conversion, and have viewed the details on various forums with interest. I have a couple of kit built A2/2's and four A2/3's (to be fair, purchased when I had more free cash and different prorities), but would like a bash at one of your conversions. Can I PM you for more details, prices, etc? As I say, I get the idea but don't know masses about your concept. I suspect with the interest generated, you may have a fair waiting list? If you have chance to send me any details, that would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Lee

Good Evening Tony, Thanks to the guys for the vehicle layout of the Newton Chambers car carriers. I have a feeling I have read the details about the 4+2 arrangements, but couldn't find it again. I was sure I had seen some SP models of them on Bytham, but maybe I was thinking back to Stoke when it was set-up in the village hall? That was a great weekend by the way. I would like to see Graeme's A2/3 some time. Please let me know when convenient, would really like to see it running. Lastly, comments on the latest photo's. Well, I couldn't comment on the photography, my photographs are definately lacking some skill. Good God, I seem to end up with better results from a mobile phone! I think Bytham looks fantastic. As I have said before, I may be somewhat biased by the location, and it may not be down to the last mil, but it looks spot on. From a real life point of view, whenever I look north from the Marsh bridge, it seems amazing to think what was there 50 odd years ago. I am too young to remember, by quite a few years, but always loved hearing tales from family and family friends about the railway tales around the village. One of them being when my Grandad lived in the staion yard in one of the cottages, and my mum remembers the chimney catching fire and an avalanche of burning soot ending up on the hearth. Well, I bet my Gran was most impressed! All of the pictures and models look fantastic, skills I will never get close to. That takes us full circle to my questions about the car carriers. I have butchered an old Triang mk 1 full brake, into a sort of Newton Chambers type vehicle. I know, too long, and not correct profile, but for someone like me (i.e. not very accurate!), it's not too bad. Scalpel all raised detail from coach sides and roof, plasticard sides and well area, some loading doors again from plasticard, and it's something like. Found some transfers on the internet that would resemble the code boxes, lining, wording, etc. Well, not sure if i'll do much more with it, but it got me thinking about the complete train formation. Hell of a lot cheaper than brass kits as well. Hope to see you soon Lee

Hello Tony, Do you have one of Graeme's A2 to A2/3 conversions? They do look very good and I would like to have a crack at one, but knowing how damn clumsy I am, have not really looked into it too mcuh. Will have to contact Graeme for a few more details I think. Have seen various bits on forums, but I suspect Graeme has a lot more skill & patience than I do! Slighly off topic, but stil ECML, can I ask you about the Anglo-Scottish Car Carrier, with the Newton Chambers coaches/wagons? I know you have a rake, seen them when I have been lucky enough to view Bytham (I think behind an A4 from memory?), but I can't remember the formation? Is your complete train made up of them, or do you add other coaches? There's a Noel Ingram photo on the net, on the up fast at the back of Bytham School, with 6 Newton Chambers (+ 4 other coaches which I can't identify) behind a 40. I am sure the more informed may know what they are, but I don't can't tell, other than most likely mark ones. Stating the obvious maybe, but would the other coaches be for the passengers that had sent their cars in the Newton Chambers? Kind Regards, Lee

Apologies for miss post, stupid I-phone! Tony, just wanted to say another one of the Bytham old boys has passed on. I know Peter Windsor had some snippets of info for the layout, a real shame he's gone. Maybe with Wilf now discussing a bit of track laying through Bytham? RIP Peter. (Won't be the same going past his house without seeing his two do fingered salute)