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Regarding labour costs, there must be getting closer and closer to a point where it becomes more cost effective to move manufacturing back to the UK. China are heading further and further towards equal pay with the West, so when you factor in the not insignificant cost of shipping, and flights to and from China to visit factories, we might not be far away from a gradual shift back to UK production. I can't remember where I read it now, but I'm sure I saw something about Dapol producing a small part of the range out of Chirk in the near future. What moving production back to the UK would do in terms of pricing to the end user, I don't know. Personally I feel the price increases would be more palatable if I knew the model was being manufactured in the UK, creating jobs and I suppose minimising the risk of transit damage as well.

I think what's likely is the development of new models will slow down in the next decade or two. Typically, older modellers have more disposable income, and younger modellers have less. The older generation won't be around forever, and younger modellers will move onto other hobbies as they'll be priced out. Couple that to the fact that there will be fewer enthusiasts in general due to the stigma that surrounds it, and I'd say the long term outlook for railway modelling is bleak.

Absolutely. This model seems very sensitive to it though - I merely brushed it lightly it with a cotton bud before I realised it had a bit of white spirit on, and within minutes it was white! Thanks for the tip Ben, I'd certainly give it a go, got nothing to lose. I can't seem to find the product you suggest though. I've found a Johnson's floor wax, but that's about it. Where did you buy it from?

Just posted a mini-review of sorts on the Dapol digest forum. I won't repeat it all here as I've not really said anything that hasn't already been said in this thread, but I will say this - do not get white spirit anywhere near your Class 68 windscreen. Unless that is, you want to model an iced up windscreen to suit the freezing temperatures we're seeing at the moment... Photographic evidence of my stupidity attached - I'm hoping I can get hold of a replacement easily enough and the factory weren't too over-zealous with the glue when fitting the glazing...

Was going to wait for the DCC models but caved in and ordered a 68007 today. Just need some mk2's to go with it.. I expect a few other impatient people like myself will have ordered DC models to avoid the wait. I can foresee the DC models selling out very quickly. The DCC and DCC sound models may stick around a bit longer. I can't see the ScotRail ones being re-run anytime soon, which was my logic for going for it. I will get a DRS one at some point but there are other running numbers I'd rather have so I'll wait for the inevitable re-runs. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it, from the photos they look superb. Recently many of Dapol's models have been let down by decoration issues, but these look spot on from what I've seen.

Hi Ben, May be too early to say, but what will the process be for selling the extra version of the 'standard' run of models? Will existing purchasers get an exclusivity period or is the idea to get models to people who missed out first time round? I can see arguments both ways. Lets take person A. They don't have a Pendolino on order as they missed the deadline for whatever reason (didn't know about it/couldn't afford it/didn't want one at the time). Person A would probably say they should be given equal opportunity to buy one as existing customers, as they will still be getting their Pendolino(s) that they ordered. Person B ordered a Pendolino, but would now quite like another to go with it. They feel they should get priority over non-backers as they put their money where their mouth was back at the start of the project. I'm interested to see where you sit on this, and what other people think.

I think we'll struggle to top eatus-maximus' photo at City Thameslink for lowest contact wire! Without going further off-topic, the highest I can think of that I've seen is at Copmanthorpe foot crossing just south of York, it looks impossibly high, but presumably there are many others like it (I think it was once a farm crossing hence the height) 91115 Copmanthorpe 01/02/2015 by Flash 3939, on Flickr

The airline would say you were crazy for sure. However, the key difference, and the reason your analogy doesn't stack up, is that the hypothetical flight would operate regardless of whether you bought a ticket or not. Crowd funded models would not exist without crowd funders. Hence the term, crowd-funding.

Isn't it the same livery? I always knew it as 'Regional Railways Express'

Yes, I'll be interested in a TPE 350 but not a chance at that price. They'll drop over time. Anyone know if its the obsolete purple livery or the new silver one?

I may be remembering incorrectly here, but weren't the railfreight and NSE models mostly reliveries of existing products which came to market in the same year as the announcement? As much as I'd be delighted with a new 90 or 91 announcement to mark 30 years of service, the reality is they wouldn't be on the shelves for 2-3 years minimum. I'm cautiously optimistic we'll see both retooled in n gauge at some point, but I suspect it'll be closer to their 40th anniversary than their 30th!

I may be remembering incorrectly here, but weren't the railfreight and NSE models mostly reliveries of existing products which came to market in the same year as the announcement? As much as I'd be delighted with a new 90 or 91 announcement to mark 30 years of service, the reality is they wouldn't be on the shelves for 2-3 years minimum. I'm cautiously optimistic we'll see both retooled in n gauge at some point, but I suspect it'll be closer to their 40th anniversary than their 30th!

Very modellable train in both 00 and N gauge. 68's on each end in different liveries, and 4 mk3's. About 1700mm in OO gauge and 850mm in N...

Modern image (surely all the old stuff has been done by now?!) Class 90 Class 158 Drax Biomass Hoppers And a big catch up on liveries of more 'mundane' stock... 66 - 718 & 721 in Underground liveries 150 - Northern white/spotty 150 - Old Northern unbranded 350 - TransPennine Express new 350 - TransPennine Express old 350 - LNWR I know the 350 in LM liveries is still sitting on shelves years down the line, but I think the TPE ones would sell. With the Revolution Pendolino and Class 92 due soon, modelling the North WCML becomes a lot more appealing. The TPE models would fit in nicely with this. The Northern 150's would be a good bet with the Dapol 142 imminent. I'm not sure how others feel but I'd like to see a bit of joined up thinking with releases.

Thanks Ben - I've removed my post as I don't want people to skim-read the thread and think that my comments were about the production version. I look forward to seeing it!

Post removed !

There's a few photos on there of painted (but incomplete) bodyshells, and then some photos of full length sets taken from distance, but that's it. I still haven't seen a close up of a fully completed production driving car. Not long to wait now anyway, just thought I'd ask if anyone took any at the show. Thanks

Still haven't seen any photos of the final production models, and I'm not at Warley. If anyone has any photos they could post, I'd be grateful!

Look good Jonas. What wagons are those? I've been weathering mine as well. Makes a big difference.

The problem with the Farish 350, excellent model as it is, is currently there's nothing really suitable to run alongside it. That'll soon change with the Pendolino, and hopefully the Farish 319 and Revolution 320/321 when they make it to market. I can see there being more of a market for other EMU's once these are available. Other than the sticking point of installing OHLE on layouts, EMU's make good models as they are usually 3-4 coaches in length which in 'n' gauge is usually less than 60cm, a good size even for compact layouts. What I can't understand, even though I wouldn't personally be in the market for one, is why nobody has taken a punt on a modern 3rd rail EMU in n gauge? They avoid the OHLE issue, and there are plenty to go at. Farish may look at doing the 450 at some point. Going back to the 320/321 project, I know C&M of Carlisle ordered some TEA's to sell at retail price, have Revolution been approaching retailers on this project to see if they're interested in taking 'x' amount of each livery to boost the numbers? Would a retailer entertain pledging money up front for a project that isn't at tooling yet or would they only be interested in coming in once it's over the line?

You won't get a high quality respray on a four car set for £60! You'd be looking at double at least. Graphic overlays have their place but not on an expensive new model. The finish isn't anywhere near the quality of factory finished or a proper respray. Personally, it looks like my choices of WYPTE or Northern won't make the cut. Understandable given the limited area of operation. Hopefully it'll still go ahead, and I'll switch to a ScotRail 320

Hi Ben, Now TINGS is out of the way, is there any chance we could see close ups of the driving cars similar to the above? Also some of the finer detail such as the removable nose cone and working table lamps in the first class vehicles if possible? I know we've seen some of these throughout the process but it'd be good to see the final, factory-finished model in more detail if possible. The pantograph looks excellent by the way, very pleased with that. I know some will bemoan the fact it isn't sprung, but for me it's more important that it looks right. Thanks

Another reason I'm keen to keep it as simple as possible is I want to build a 2400x400mm fiddle yard board which can be rejigged to suit future layouts and operational requirements. I currently use code 75 and will continue to on the scenic sections, but if code 100 points work out of the box I'd happily go down that route for simplicity. Absolute reliability is not a high priority anyway as I can't see me ever exhibiting a layout. I may do a bit of testing with a couple of code 100 points!

Quick query I think - if I wanted to save the hassle and cost of having motors for easily reachable fiddle yard points that I could easily switch by hand, would a frog juicer be suitable for this application? I can't see another way you could use electrofrog points on DCC without having some kind of polarity switch.

Looks great Cav. Just missing the 47!!