Smiffy2

I've had a couple of cups of coffee and a closer look. Mallard - FUBAR. A bogie wheel off, the bogie bent up into the body, the bogie link seems to be cast metal, it broke when I tried to bend it into position... Not good enough, though I can fix it easily enough for a static model (and the motion is better than the first one I bought), Joe Public wouldn't like that. The printing may be slightly better - the white curved lining behind the smoke box is slightly closer to where it should be, and the LNER on the tender looks central. Will cannabalise the first to remake the second. Coronation - all looks good except there's no way of connecting the tender to the loco. I suppose that doesn't matter if you never take it off the base, and as a static model it's easily fixed. But still... Would look very good in wartime black. Scotsman - well, I dunno. It's a strange bodyshell with some moulding marks on the steam dome. Easily fixed, but it's a sort of semi-gloss finish - looks like the original plastic moulding is unpainted. At least it has a tender (corridor) connection. The handrails and pipework are moulded on à la Triang, but it has the speedo nicely moulded on the rear driver. Very nicely printed lining and lettering, apart from the nameplate which is pants. I also received two DVDs, 'Preserved Locos of the Southern Railway' and ditto LMS. Abut to look at them now. From normal viewing distances, and with a bit of fettling, they will make decent enough display models or background scenery. Looking forward to the 28xx and whatever comes with it (hopefully some more of my 'free gifts')!

Just received my first subscription locos - Mallard, Coronation and Flying Scotsman. Very exciting! I've not opened them yet, but at first sight the name plate on the Scotsman looks a bit dodgy - printing a bit low. Overall, they look good, though.

I've looked through and can't see this request: I could really do with a sheet of doors to complement the window sheet. Lots of doors...

I bought one on a whim, having had nothing to do with railways for several decades - I'm not a 'runner', but I would like a static collection. Here I have one, cheaper than Dapol! I want a Castle (and possibly a Star conversion), some Southern, Locomotion and Rocket (especially if the latter two come with rolling stock) so I've subscribed, at least for the first six months. No idea where I'll put them all. I've subscribed because stationers will usually only hold the first three or four issues. I suspect I'll get some extras for having fun with, and I'll do some detailing (though to my eye with the A4 that is minimal). I'd quite like an A4 in black, or Darlington green with the squared -off smokebox paint. One thing I did find when I took mine off the silly plastic stand - it looks so much better on a length of track - was that the right side motion is all out of shape, so there may be some hot water work required there. They are what they are, for me (and I think I may well be the target market) they are a great find, especially at the price.