JSpencer

I do wonder about the EKR 100 being black. We know she was definitely black when she carried number 2. However various photos taken in the 30s shown in Lawson Finch and Garret's book on the EKR all show distinction 2 tones and even possibly lining which looks more akin to other EKR locos that were painted in green rather than those we know were painted black. This is particularly evident between the tender sides and chassis. The text in the same book shows that it is unsure. One though is the loco arrived in SOUTHERN lined black with EKR number and lettering. Another is that it arrived in EKR green.

Interesting comment about Judy nearly being mistakenly named Cough. In the Rev. W Awdry books, Bill & Ben talk about "coughs and sneezles spread diseasels" story. So I wonder if the Rev. W Awdry knew about that and it inspired the story?

Wrong thread. "Cough" can be found in the Port of Bar Bagnall.....

These photos claim to be an O1 31065 at Sheerness but they look more like a C to me : https://pbase.com/luckytrev/image/100738034 https://pbase.com/luckytrev/image/39140619 This one definitely is (and I suspect the same loco in the previous photos): https://pbase.com/luckytrev/image/35748151 Still if a C class can go there, an O1 definitely can.

Indeed. An O1 with sandboxes above, an early Wainwright boilered O1, the Os.... are we are not far off from other SER types either.... A LOT of potential but clearly far too many in one go. The 3 on order are "gulp" but had the same when I brought four D class 2 years back.... 20+ years ago, I was expecting to have to build all the preserved SECR locos (I have done 31065) but now everything is RTR. Bit by bit.

Fantastic news. 3 SECR ones for me! Order straight in. 65 with sound (in keeping with all bluebell locos I collect), the others plain DCC. A lot to finance! But might add EKR and BR later..... @rapidoandy @RapidoCorbs Noticed that none have the "above" running plate sandbox type in the 3D images (example shown below). Are they purposely missed out? Or a detail variant to come?

The latest Hornby Mk 1s are somewhere in between the old mainline/replica standard and the new Bachmann ones. Shape wise very good, but not much seperate detail, they have NEM pockets but not kinetic (?) close coupling system and no sprung buffers. This was purposely done to provide a cheaper alternative to Bachmann while still being to scale and the correct shape (the older coaches were not). Both have metal fine scale wheels. Bachmann's are the best, with close coupling systems, lots of separate detail. Still no sprung buffers though (is it really important?) and maybe beaten on shape marginally by Hornby. I have mixed rakes with both with no issues visually or running wise. IF you are going for a small train (2-4 coaches), probably best to stick to Bachmann. If a longer train (6+ coaches), you can mix them to achieve a good cost vs quality balance. (If you are rich, just go for Bachmann, though some types are done by Hornby only). I do not ever mix mainline/lima/replica with the new Bachmann and Hornby as the latter have flush glazing while the former do not and this is instantly obvious in a rake mixed between the two (alongside bigger couplings on the former vs modern stock).

By Definition: a movement that lacks directional orientation and depends upon the intensity of stimulation. Which for trains could be an AI run layout with no action required by the user. Another blue tooth system would still be doubtlessly compatible with plain DCC. I have several of the TXS chips but it has been a bit of a tooth grind on some of them so I'm hardly wedded to it to not want to try a Bachmann system.

I don't think anyone has mentioned KINESIS and I'm sorry if I missed it. Looking forwards to Warley to see about that one. Speculating though, with a name like that, it could be an all new DCC system, maybe Bluetooth and yep, I think I'd be a taker if the case. 😊

Me too, I am also pleased, and had somewhat anticipated a full 4 car refurbished CEP appearing at some point. The announcement might be a bit soon as the 4-TEPs are only just being released and I wonder if any shops are seeing people changing their orders in consequence. The only point of disagreement - of course - is that I prefer a "Kent Coast" one over the others 😉 Equally I suspect few would be able to afford 2 sets at once so a breather between each might be welcomed. There was for me a slight dilemma of whether to go for a NSE or Jaffa one (as I have no EMUs in the latter livery, while I have the 4-VEP and 2-EPB in NSE) but I do feel that maybe a 4-CIG will eventually appear and will save a Jaffa for that. Bit of a risk I know.... The good news is a sound version too, as the bodies on the non refurbished CEPs and BEPs are a cow to get off!

Joining the party a bit late but congratulations to Graham, Kernow and EFE. I am so glad that you corrected Bachmann's error with the class 70. Not only was the shape wrong, but they even portrayed it as some weird diesel in post 2000 liveries! I had been hoping for a model of a proper class 70 for a very long time. Already ordered a BR Black CC2 and at such value, I'm thinking about CC1 in either Grey or Blue. Like others, I have higher hopes now of an eventual 20003 appearing someday...

Maybe do the same accurascale conversion above set the coaches at the distance you want and then apply a small dob of super glue on each link (or solder them if metal and there is no risk of melting anything). Then paint black. You only need to do the links, not the hooks that attach it to the coaches. So they will droop down when uncoupled and allow the couplings to pivot around curves.

You can pick up SECR grey N class cheap enough (with the SR version) on a certain auction site. A Bachmann rerun would probably cost more than the pair in a wooden box secondhand. The N class has not changed much (a tight inclusion for a DCC chip, maybe they could add sound...). The last releases were not fast sellers it seems. You constantly see the SECR grey C class too, always around £200 and - after seeing their last C class release - I suspect a new model would be about the same. The original grey version was a club special limited to 504 pieces. Missing would be the Maunsell green C class. In grey, we have also had, the Hattons P, Dapol/rails D and D1.

With the tender versions of the mainline Hunslets appearing only recently, even if exclusive to the club or the preserved line, I do feel that maybe most OO-9 pockets are feeling a little bit empty right now for yet another OO-9 loco purchase. Especially a big one like NGG16 which will doubtless be getting on for £300. Of course 4 new toolings does not mean instantly locos. They could be rolling stock too. Indeed a follow on from the Dance Hall could be the BR conversion to a Ballast break for example.

Definately 2 of these I will have. Now thinking about a 3rd in either LNWR or BR livery....

Thank you. That is what I was looking.

Working smoke is more useful than lamps. However a system whereby you can either plug in a lamp bracket or a working lamp is not a bad idea. Providing it can be pulled off without affecting the look of the model and adds more value without big cost increases. For years, firebox glow was seen as gimmick but is becoming standard on new RTR steam locos. The same can be said working diesel lights. Initially just the various lights on the nose, then cab lights and finally engine room lights and many others. Accurascale will allow you to trigger individual lights on their new 31. Working fans is another. Hornby were ridiculed for their system and stopped doing it until Bachmann's latest releases had them. Now they are appearing elsewhere too... The point is, when they first appear they are "gimmicks", they then get dropped, then re-introduced by someone else, and finally adopted wholesale. Naturally Bachmann have eased the flow a bit by doing standard models, and deluxe versions with the extra gimmicks. And it seems that deluxe versions sell out first!

Even more so when you consider that the SR used mostly discs.

The one wagon similar to a JXA that I have been waiting for are the wagons used on the channel tunnel segment trains. We've had the locos, just need the wagons ;-)

The TTS I find to be too big for these locos especially you will need a sugar cube type speaker which I am not sure are compatible with TTS chips. However I am trying to install a TXS decoder with sugar cube into the smoke box. Physically it fits fine, but I've not been able to get the dam thing to be detected by the app (2nd chip I've tried).

Strange livery for a MR loco, TBH I would have chosen the SD&JR given the amount of MR influenced loco designs they had, for a fictive livery here. Putting that aside, I wonder what Bertha related new announcement could be? They might surprise us with working smoke or something... We'll see.

Fair point. Personally I remain confident the news about the release date to be as accurate as the model.

The main things sticking out are rivets and coal. Coal is easy to address so I don't care about it. Perso, I think it is good they show the EPs. There is definate progress.

I have a Mainline 58 that worked the Sheerness line... Now 16 of these JXAs for a typical train is gonna by expensive....

I had a pair of Rails vans go through the letter treating machine rollers of the post office. The boxes were completely crushed. The plastic vac formed part of the packaging were completly reformed around the shape of the van. The vans themselves survived intact with no damage. These are some really tough 3D prints! Injection moulds would have shattered to smitherines.