olivegreen

Ref Re6/6's post and many others before it - I sympathise greatly. (and a bit off-topic, I accept, but…) I worked for a number of years in a risk-related business during which I spent so much time trying to get into too many people's heads that the 'P' in ALARP means 'practicable', and not 'possible' that I eventually gave up. (And now do something far more interesting and less stressful!) I must emphasise that I am not a railway man, but it is the 'possible' brigade that led to justifying (if indeed such justification ever took place) such utter wastes of money IMHO as, for example, the platform protections on the Jubilee Line extension, when the rest of the existing line (and, at the time, the entire UK rail network) had none and, no doubt, to the sort of things that the Stationmaster and others far better informed than I have referred to in the context of the GWML electrification among others.

The red bit: eeerrrrggghhh ! The blue bit: Good to hear! Mike

Having not even received my O2, which I have had on order for about 20 months, and reading that so many have received theirs, I gave in to impatience and contacted Kernow yesterday. Very nice reply, saying that I had not been forgotten and that there are still over 600 to go out. I feel comforted - in a queue, there are inevitably those who will be behind others, of course.** As to the complaints above about replacements not happening as quickly as usual… I think that a bit more patience from all is needed - myself included. ***Edit to add that the order of dispatch, (un?)related to when orders were placed, still defeats me…!

Agree, but a candidate for the 'prototype for everything' section, perhaps? Splendid pictures - thanks for posting.

From my examination of photographs (and only that), the model's chimney is possibly very slightly too tapered towards the bottom, and the ring of rivets seems to be missing, but I had to look hard to see that. Not something I would worry about - getting a RTR USA tank at all is pretty good!

And thereby hangs a very long tale…. !

The BBC article linked is full of 'could', 'might', 'if' and so on, which to me means 1) whatever happens, the writer can never be accused of being wrong, and 2) it is a non-story broadcast for the sake of (low-key, admittedly) sensation. A slow news day in the south-west, perhaps? I support Captain Kernow's first paragraph above.

No: I'm still waiting… but not complaining!

Luddites unite! Long live analogue! We stick-in-the-muds don't have these problems. Back to topic: when my olive green (what else?) O2 arrives, I'm sure it will run wonderfully on DC.

"Other than that, highly comparable to the UK situation." Hmmm… I realise you're being ironic but, having travelled on some of India's railways, I suspect that a high(er)-speed line there is actually needed, which remains a moot point in the UK despite - or perhaps because of - the political stakes involved. (Sorry to upset the pro-HS2 brigade. Retiring to darkened room) (Edited for punctuation)

If we read 'unmodified' as 'high-sided', then the picture on page 204 of the Irwell book shows 35020 Bibby Line with one, though this was apparently purely for a series of tests in May and June 1956. Others far better versed than me will be able to reply with greater precision. Mike.

I have just received the Irwell book on the Merchant Navys (Navies?) and I can also thoroughly recommend it. I never realised how many variations there were in so few engines (at the time, that is) as the MN design was developed - to some extent by trial and error - in the days during and just after WW2. As someone else on this topic has already mentioned, these differences are a minefield if you are looking to represent a specific loco at a specific time. An example, for what it's worth: I was hoping to represent 21C8 Orient Line (because of a loose family connection) in malachite with the original cab…which, until I read the book, I hadn't realised was not possible. As for the later differences during the rebuilding era…the minefield gets bigger!

Off-topic, but many thanks for the tip on 'bookfinder'.

In investigating this very point for inter-company shared services (Portsmouth to Cardiff, for example) I was fortunate recently to find in an Oxfam shop Vol 2 of 'The Great Western Railway in the 1930s' (Runpast Publishing, a 1997 reprint of a 1987 edition): it is a wonderful collection of very clear photos, many of which show the very hotchpotch-ness to which Coachmann refers and, of course, the Collett stock. I can only suppose that Vol 1 is of equal quality. Those in the GWR know probably have it - otherwise it is worth seeking out in a library. (Edited for spoeling mistaks)

And just when we all thought that the wait was nearly over…!

Same feeling here - I really don't need one of these but, having lived in North Devon just yards from the track of the L&B, I feel compelled to indulge….!

I heartily agree, and many thanks to them!

And at that price, a box you can store it in, too! Hat, coat……...

And the ballast and train are in desperate need of weathering. Typical continental modelling - everything pristine and so unreal.

Yippee !

There is no problem with the images here. (Using Mac + Safari 6). they look good!

More effective than discussing it here! That said, I think both you and ruggedpeak (and me, incidentally) have the answer already.

Have you represented you case directly to Hornby? Surely that is the thing to do if you feel so strongly about the inadequate packaging.

I absolutely agree. It seems that since there is nothing to criticise about the S15 (I am delighted with mine), people now have to criticise the box it comes in.

Many thanks for posting the photos, Andy. I'm going all wobbly with excitement, seeing my investment taking form. (I'll leave it to others to comment on perceived problems - no doubt they will, in the tradition of RMweb.)