locoholic

And a Merry Christmas to you, too, Coachmann! Are you having a laugh, or hasn't the turkey and sprouts agreed with you?Wombatofludham is entitled to state an opinion without being labelled naive and immature, however badly spelled. I also agree with Wombat about the presentation of some layouts as rather rose-tinted representations of the steam era, but as I was also at primary school in the late sixties, perhaps I should just keep quiet...

Sorry if this has been discussed already but, having finally received my Lode Star, I was amazed at just how flimsy the front of the loco was. With gentle pressure from thumb and forefinger the buffer beam and running plate forward of the smokebox saddle will twist through about 10 degrees. It looks lovely, but it's definitely the least robust model I own. Is this a result of the design, or is my model faulty?  

I agree with all that - I would add two items - a diamond crossing with one of the tracks curved, so that you could make a realistic double junction; and a three-way point.

What really annoys me is when the RTR manufacturers place their products on hand-built track for the photos in their catalogues, which says to me that they acknowledge their own track looks a bit naff, but they're not willing to invest in producing better for their loyal OO gauge customers. 

Does anyone know if there is likely to be another batch of L & Y liveried tanks, or was it a limited edition, never to be repeated?

How many perfect models have there been in the history of RTR OO gauge? If you don't like the Hornby Star, or don't think it's worth the price, then you don't have to buy it.

The Dapol D1000 that Steam Museum sold has been mentioned as a benchmark for excellence, but Dapol glued the cab interior in, so that you have to stick the headcodes on the outside of the headcode box glazing - oops...

And then from Bachmann, we've had the mistakes with Collett and Hawkesworth Halls, and when compared to the FIATrains LMS diesels, the Bachmann one is plainly not quite right above the windscreens.

What would be interesting would be some of the experts and critics on this site getting together and, using 21st century methods like 3D printing and crowdfunding, setting up a business to make the perfect models that everybody craves. What about it, chaps?

_{Would it not be possible to make a blue 2-car Class 205, and then make the centre car and sell them separately to whoever wanted one?}

I predict that the long-awaited Star will finally appear over Bethlehem around the end of December...

I wrote to Hornby as my D5512 in green (R2420) showed signs of cracking up under the strain of some dodgy mazak. I got a phone call from Margate and established that they had spare green chassis, so I sent the faulty one off in the original box and only a couple of days later received the replacement, which I duly fitted. Can't get the marker lights to work at one end, but I'm not too bothered about that. Several weeks later, and I've just had a refund for the postage, too. As Hornby get a fair amount of flak for various reasons, I just thought I'd let them know they have at least one satisfied customer!

Before I contacted Hornby I looked at buying another Class 31, stripping down the chassis and transplanting the various green bits below the buffer beam, but it looked like the screw holes weren't in the right place. Are there subtly different chassis for the more modern versions of the Class 31?

The Hornby P2 has benefitted Hornby already as, in anticipation, a rake of teak Hornby Gresley corridor coaches has mysteriously appeared in my collection even though that's not the era I usually model. After all, the P2 would look silly pulling maroon BR Mark 1s. And now that I've got the teak coaches, an apple green A3 and a blue A4 would be nice...

Downendian - I notice you haven't fitted the headcodes to D1000, just like me. Am I the only one to think that self-adhesive headcodes are a bit 'Triang Hornby' on a model that is otherwise meant to be the Rolls Royce of RTR diesels, with a (limited edition, admittedly) price-tag to match?

Whilst there are photos of Class 28s with revised windows but no yellow warning panel, they all seem to be on shed. I have never seen a photo of one in that state in traffic. The date of the photo of D5711 would have been very early for one of the fully refurbished locos.

By the way, has anyone seen a Heljan Class 28 that has been modified to have the wrap-around windows? Now that the price at Hattons is creeping down, it's tempting to have a go. What would be the best way of making the new glazing?

Has anyone else had trouble removing their lovely Hornby 01 from the plastic packaging? The one I got from Cheltenham Models was wedged in so tightly that I had to cut the rectangular "tube" lengthways before I could get to the innermost packing and get the loco out.

Looks like mine's arrived - but I didn't remember ordering in it. Now - How do I explain this to the wife?

I rely on the fact that almost all locos and items of rolling look the same to the less enthusiastic family members, so I just say I've had that one for ages. However, some items on the credit card bill have to be redacted "for security reasons".

Has anyone altered the cab windows on their Class 28 to get it to "as built" condition? The models seem to have a moulded rim around the windows, which might be to represent the prominent rubber seals fitted to stop the new windows falling out so often. Would this need to be removed, as when built the windows looked larger, as well as being wrapped around the corners of the cabs?

I've looked through lots of books and early 1960s magazines and whilst there are photos of modified Class 28s on depot with no small yellow panel, I've not found evidence that any worked in traffic in this condition.

In the December 2011 Model Rail, the price for the Birds Eye conflats was £29.99, and I ordered a set by phone at that price (not received yet). An increase to £34.99 is 17%, by my reckoning. If (!) I'm charged the higher price I'm tempted to put the credit card transaction in dispute.

When OO Works had to increase the price of their Midland 2F they had the decency to write and warn me, offering to cancel the order. I note that TMC has posted earlier in this thread, including the phrase "I am a man of my word". Draw your own conclusions...