60800

Very pleased with the chosen prototype, I couldn't resist ordering the DCC sound version and have done so, but I am a tad disappointed to learn that the £49.99 for the separate trailer car requires payment up front. Maybe looking at closer to the deadline for ordering that one - can't wait to see a prototype model at Warley. Now there's just the dilemma of rebuild, reprofile and repaint my APT-P, or wait to see if Bachmann or Rapido do one in the next three or four years.......

Which I do and have already outlined, therefore I would prefer that you do not continue with the assumption that I don't. I have done my research and I see exactly where the nose is useful, where it is not and I can also see where it is a pain in terms of an advantage to waiting for Hornby to produce it. It's not just the plug and cab situation that has to be considered when we look at the base model - the moulded on boiler fittings immediately behind the smokebox on 2001's RHS could produce a rather large problem as they are not applicable for even 2002. There's a rather large chunk there that will have to be cut off and re-profiled, effectively scuppering the chances of saving the factory paintjob in the whole.

Yes, it is. I'm a modeller too Hence my point of the masses of dimensional errors when contemplating a conversion from the start of an A4 smokebox / nose If you have a photo of your P2 nose, I'd be interested to see it, instead of an off-topic A3 that has had no significant smokebox surgery. I'm not knocking your modelling skills for one moment Simon, as I'm particularly a fan of your model of 62768, but my final query / point of concern regarding this, which cannot be definitely answered until you have a P2 to work on, is how will the actual mating surfaces of boiler / smokebox and running plate compare?

I'll be most interested to see how you've tackled the bufferbeam of this one then. Must be about as much as a pain to shape as the wing - fuselage join on an Airfix concorde.

You've completely neglected the fact that the running plate, shape of the valances, curvature points of the valances and height of the valances are different to the point that the A4 running plate and valances are completely useless for this application. Add to this the curve down to them and everything bar the upper half of the smokebox is useless. It's no good if the radius of the actual nose itself is right (which it isn't given the shape and positioning of the chimney), as the valances are completely off. Unless you're happy with the compromise, why not just wait for Hornby to do the work for you? It's clearly catered for in the design Sorry to to disappoint you Simon, but maybe you should have looked at those drawings and photographs closer...

There would be little point in trying to fit an A4 nose as the shape is almost completely different

Very nice models and all, but until Golden Age Models can get the nameplates right on their 'OO' A4's (I'm yet to see a single one with them right) and until their show representatives can learn to be polite to me, they will not be getting a single penny off of me, which is a shame as I see that there is a very nice V2 on their website.

My order for the P2 from Hattons still stands although there was an alteration in December 2013 with the first part of the order (an A4) being delivered

I emailed Swindon regarding a replacement, also noting a few aesthetic discrepancies that I'd picked up on, and was told that it would be replaced. After this, I decided to give my 'Star' one last run.... and the b****r decided to work perfectly. From other examples I've seen, the aesthetic problems are concurrent with both batches - so I've ended up retaining my example and have informed Swindon so. I feel awful for making it look like I'm messing them around, but at the end of the day, if the factory that Hornby contracts the work to would build the chassis right in the first place, we'd have none of these problems. If the P2, K1 and J15 cause the same teething troubles, Hornby will lose another customer The first bogie axle is off slightly, so perhaps I'll outsource my 10-spoke replacements. I'll shuffle off and start detailing 4003...

Presumably, once conserved, those chairs will be put back in-situ? What is left is technically a memorial to the line and therefore should not be removed Edited for typo

It seems to be a constant funny story with Hornby APT-P's on eBay at present. I'd been watching a few sets, bidding here and there on full sets and weighing up the options of trying to get individual cars. I gave in on a buy it now set that popped up at £150 last week (well maintained and a runner in the description, good selection of photos). Offer in of £125 and pipped by someone else's offer at £140, so I just went for the buy it now price and I'm kind of glad I did. Mint condition bar one missing cable on the power car (no matter as it'll all be modified anyway). It turned out to be the cheaper option, as another set went yesterday for £165 and individual cars have been fetching £50 each, i.e, someone somewhere is forking out circa £250 to make one 'standard' APT set. Makes the Olivia's 'backstock' £200 offer look good..... It does make me wonder just what people do to all those pantographs and trailer bogies before selling on the remainder of a set / car...... - EDIT for grammar corrections

Scratch that, the pile of c##p just shorted out again.... I'll contact Swindon during the week

Well, my 4003 is re-insulated and running, but on a half fried decoder.... It'll do for now until I can get a decent Lentz decoder in it (that I'll hardwire)

As noted, the loco is currently a non-runner. It's killed two decoders and is currently sat on my workbench stripped down and undergoing a re-insulation job, and I'm hitting some more areas that Hornby missed. It's fair to say I'm not happy

The Silver Jubilee set could be 2509 / 2510 / 2511 or 2512 with a matching rake. You'd think that if it was that, with that price tag, it would either be a new tool A4 ( very unlikely) or finally a proper articulated Silver Jubilee rake

Video as promised ( Red Dwarf on't telly );

She either shorts out after five minutes or becomes completely unresponsive to the controller. I'll sideline her for a bit, but managed to get some video on a Mk.1 / Thompson Compo set

Not sure if this has happened to anyone else, but she's immediately shorted and subsequently cooked the Hornby decoder.... runs perfectly on analogue but the decoder is kaput

No aesthetic problems with mine, but I'm yet to run her. Once she's run in I'll start to detail her. On Bottesford turntable;

Caistor loco had a Glastonbury Abbey in a week ago, two sentinels too. It would be nice to have an update on when the second batch of Lode Star will be delivered.

Been informed by Swindon that my 4003 will be delivered in the second batch of 500 mid January. Payment was taken immediately upon ordering, so I better hope it's coming

Looking brilliant Rob What varnish are you using?

I sure hope so - I'd be in the market for GNR somersault and LNER lattice type signals. It's the previous comment from Dapol Dave about lattice signals that stopped me getting some midland region ones

No offense chaps, but I'm checking this topic for news / updates on Bachmann's modified Hall, not book reprints that don't even feature the said class.

My calculations come up with a scale normal running height of 62.1mm above the rail, the mod I've done gives a level contact head from 58mm to 66mm, and even then for 5 mm beyond that it corrects itself with only the most miniscule amount of downward pressure. As far as running is concerned, if that's not good enough then the afformentioned mod could be tweaked to allow the contact head to sit level a bit higher (the unaltered pantograph's contact head sits flat at 81mm above the rail on my loco)