Fair Oak Junction

Yes we might well, although out of your list only the Accurascale Chaldrons are actually Era 1 suitable. All the other "Era 1" items from Hornby are based on 20th century replicas and rebuilds (in the case of Lion) which are highly questionable in their accuracy. Or in the case of the Hornby "L&MR" goods wagons mostly fictional. So any Era 1 layout using those items would be of very limited accuracy.

Having now seen more photos of the Lion model from people on Facebook, I will actually stand by my earlier criticism. The shade of green looks off, and the wheels are a slightly different shade. The "brass" colouring on the firebox looks very unconvincing to me. The wood colour looks far too orange. The strange grainy look to the smokebox, funnel and con rods is off putting. And to top it all off as noted on the FB post linked above it isn't actually correct for any era. Compared to other modern standard RTR locos, including ones from Hornby, it looks very plastic-y which I'm sure can be improved with some weathering but that doesn't say premium model to me. I can't look at this model as anything but a compromised rush job designed to try and humbug another manufacturer.

Able yes, willing no. There really isn't any point in me listing my issues with it, which would only serve to add unnecessary negativity. If the majority of people like the model then as I said that is all that really matters.

Consider my criticism withdrawn, I should know better than to question Hornby. Sorry.

Can't say I'm hugely impressed by the model in the pictures. Looks rather toy like to me. Certainly nothing in the images make me wish I had pre-ordered it over the Rapido one. But ultimately as long as the people who have pre-ordered it are happy with it that is what matters. I'm just glad this isn't the only Lion on the market. Edit: As stated below, I withdraw my criticism.

Received my two packs of the Stella Coal Company wagons yesterday and what little works of art they are! I really love the couplings system as well, it looks so good when the rake is formed. I think I may well end up buying some the separate coupling packs for use on some of my other stock. Well done Accurascale, you've done a stunning job with these!

The locos are now in stock at the Ffestiniog railway: https://festrail.mybigcommerce.com/modelling/peco/england-locomotives/ Still a couple of weeks out for other retailers by the look of it.

So we have a choice between: An old tooled, dodgy, long past their sell-by-date offering from Hornby with a new RRP of nearly £230. Or an all singing all dancing brand new tooled offering by a company who actually cares with an RRP of £170. Tough choice I reckon... Diesels are of no use to me outside a nice display piece, but these superb projects from Accurascale and Cavalex are severely testing my must not buy resolve. Now if either company wants to do an all singing all dancing class 50 I'll buy one, or five.

Rapido are doing the Wisbech coach as well (including the associated real world liveries). The 14xx is the only thing missing to complete the Titfield range, and the steamroller I guess.

Bold statement with zero evidence to back it up. Whereas there is plenty of evidence to say the opposite is true.

An understandable problem. Personally I haven't taken my decision to stop supporting Hornby lightly, in fact there are 4 or 5 items in the 2022 announcements I would have happily thrown my wallet open for. Luckily it is made easier for me being a collector rather than needing to buy for a specific layout.

I agree, but sadly the top of pile companies don't seem to care that much about public image any more. I see it across all the hobbies I'm in (wargaming, video games, etc) that the largest and most famous companies can weather these controversies because there will always be enough people who don't care and still buy the products to keep them afloat. Also as some people on this forum prove there are still plenty who can see what Hornby are doing but defend them to the death regardless. As much as I'd like things like this to change, it's getting worse year on year. I was already wavering on giving more money to Hornby after their recent behaviour and the W1 debacle, but this is the final nail in the coffin. Rapido and the other newer blood companies in the hobby will be getting all my modelling funds going forward.

Well if your theory is correct (which I must say I don't believe for a minute), then the underhanded duplicity is on the part of StudioCanal. The video Rapido have posted about the situation makes it very clear the they were given exclusive rights to the Titfield range, and it definitely sounds like SC are on their side in this. So for them to tell Hornby it's fine to make competing models, or even just turn a blind eye, would most likely leave them in breach of contract with Rapido. This situation seems like a very clear example of Mr Kohler's attitude that Hornby are untouchable, and I hope they get a public humbling from StudioCanal's legal department.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll give it some careful thought before attempting the work.

It's wonderful to see progress being made with the real loco. I really do hope this project still goes ahead one day. While I'm not big on "modern" locos I will always happily open my wallet for the badger.

Do the little "brass" details on the cab roof come out to make painting easier or is it just a case of being REALLY careful not to get black on them? Also really kicking myself about not getting Lucknow as well, missed that chance now. Hopefully more LNWR versions will be done in the future.

Excellent thank you, now I just need to actually pluck up the courage to attempt it!

What paint did you use for the cab roof? The finish fits very nicely with the rest of the model.

Hornby found out someone had already acquired the rights for the Titfield Thunderbolt, got worried about it and made a very knee-jerk announcement that they were planning to make a Lion hoping to steal a march on whichever company were also planning too (8th March). You can tell how rushed it was by the fact there was no info, no artwork, nothing. That then forced Rapido's hand in making their initial announcement of the Titfield range early (9th March) complete with beautifully done custom artwork showing they had been planning the project for a good while. But they still held back the details until the 1st of April (which was when they were going to fully announce) because in true Rapido sense of humour they knew loads of people would think it's a joke, and even timed it to go live at 12 when April Fools day technically ends. Rapido went into quite a lot of detail about the situation in one of their newsletters around the time. It's very obvious both companies had been working on their respective ideas for a long time and this does not seem to be one of those examples of one company hearing an announcement and then trying to beat the other out of spite, this is just a case of bad luck. However it seems obvious that Hornby were nowhere near as ready as Rapido were to announce, and I see nothing in Rapido's actions that indicate they are playing into the tit-for-tat game that is so sadly being played out across the hobby these days. Edit: Link to said newsletter: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rapido-UK-News---No--3.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=sGWrBCZGI0M

I'm shocked this announcement seems to have cause no excitement! These are looking stunning so far, up to Rapido's usual standards. The 1930s one would definitely by my choice, those red frames just set the loco off beautifully. Also there is a photo from 1930 showing the newly restored Lion sat next to the LNER Hush-Hush and it would be wonderful to recreate that photo alongside the Hornby W1.

The Victory is shaping up to be a fantastic model, and I cannot wait for it! But if a delay means we get a even better model at the end of it then great, can't see a problem. Whether it comes now, in 6 months or 1 year it won't make me any less excited for it.

What a stunning little model!

My W1 arrived early this morning and thankfully it is fully intact. I still wish the shop had been able to check it for me as it would have saved 4 days of worry, but all's well that ends well. My sympathies go out to everyone who has received a damaged one, and all the retailers who have lost sales due to this utter debacle. I would like to think Hornby will publicly acknowledge these problems and rectify them, but Simon Kohler doesn't strike me as a cap in hand apology type person. I'd be happy to be proven wrong. Anyway all that aside, the model is utterly superb and I couldn't be happier with it!

Yes well hindsight is always 20/20. Certainly in my case I didn't buy the W1 from the retailer I chose because of some sense of loyalty, or because they were charging less. It was purely because at the time I ordered they were one of the few places that actually had stock. Yes maybe I could have shopped around, but I couldn't have known when I placed the order that they wouldn't check the loco; and by the time I found that out the order was being processed. While I probably could have cancelled there was no guarantee I'd find one elsewhere. Probably I'm a complete idiot for taking it for granted that the shop would be able to help me or maybe I was massively naive in ordering a loco that I knew had potential problems, but whatever it's done now.

I must admit I'm rather jealous of those on here who were able to have their loco checked before dispatch by whatever retailer they purchased it from. When I ordered mine I immediately fired off a message to the shop asking if they could check mine considering the damage that was being documented, and was told that unfortunately they could not check models before posting them. I completely understand that for bigger shops having to check through huge amounts of models is too time consuming and I do not hold it against them, it just means that until it arrives I have no idea if it's going to horribly broken or absolutely fine. And then if it is I'll need to send it back and wait for a refund, by which time the only ones available will likely be the ebay scalpers.