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"Discuss" - The Stationmaster's post above. Oh dear - that could merit a separate thread in its own right, woth outpourings from members across the globe! While I am sure the majors plan using poll results, I suggest it is unfair to say they offer no "other sort of originality of thought". Bachmann have been good to modellers of the GCR - hardly a major preoccupation of layouts shown in the national model railway press - with their O4, J11 and D11 Director. The one obvious GCR gap waiting to be filled is the A5 which, as has been pointed out here, also ran elsewhere, such as in NER territory. Hornby have been good to modellers of the Southern, and over the last 10 years the LNER (O1, L1, K1, J15, J50, D16, B12 and Q6). There are still some 'gaps' to be filled. For the GWR the 15xx with its powerful looks and Walschaerts valve gear would surely sell well; for the LMS there was one outstanding model waiting and that was the 0-4-4T announced by Bachmann a year ago; for the GCR there is the A5 already mentioned; I can't see anyone going beyond a J6 for the GNR; for the GER the gap crying out to be filled is the J67/69 0-6-0T. That leaves the NER where Hornby have started with the Q6, and the models that might become rtr are fairly limited - J21, J27, and G5. Then there are possible Scottish models, on which hopes are high that a J36 might be announced for either 2018 or 2019. I don't see many more Scottish models being commercially viable, but there is the graceful D34, and Caledonian 0-6-0 and 0-4-4T which, to my mind, could sell well. Many of these have been reasonably high on wish lists, though I have noticed that the GNR J6 was almost top of the wish list 6 or so years ago, but dropped greatly the next year. So polls aren't entirely consistent. Finally there are the 'outliers'. I don't think anyone guessed that Bachmann would do the L&Y 2-4-2T (a lovely model); and Hornby's Peckett was both a surprise and a sensation. Nor would Hattons SECR P class have been predicted by many. We wait to see if anyone bites on, for example, the LT&SR 4-4-2T. Overall it would be fair to argue that announcements of new models are rational, but that they don't slavishly follow poll results. And with Rapido on the block, it seems fairly clear that their announcements follow the completely random hankerings of their CEO for 'offbeat' models! So who knows what will be announced in 2018! So with such positive thoughts, a Happy Christmas and a wonderful modelling new year (2018) to you all! John Storey

Hornby Magazine January 2018 issue says there would be a new engine shed on Friday 15 December. When nothing happened, I put a note on Hornby's Facebook page. I've had a response today, which says "I'm sorry to say there has been some movement in The Engine Shed's dates. Unfortunately, this means that the blog will be missing December, but it will be back in the New Year with more exclusive news." Passing this on for information. John Storey

The current issue of Hornby magazine says the next Hornby blog would be out today, Friday 15th. I'm not sure what the "Hornby blog" is - I've looked on their Facebook page and on Engine Shed just now, and I can't find anything. Has anyone any other clues? John S

These drawings by Ian Beattie in the August 1982 issue of Railway Modeller are repeated in Railway Modeller for January 2018. The drawings have stood the test of time - this is 35 years later. The only 'trouble' about this is that I remember the August 1982 issue! I was impressed by these tank engines, and still hanker after someone producing them rtr for OO The new issue has, I'm pretty sure, different - and rather better - photographs of the LT&SR 4-4-2 Tilbury tank locos than were in the August 1982 article. I came across this thread the other day, and really like the photographs appearing above - they show well the impressive size, yet gracefulness, of these locomotives. John S

I'm not sure I understand what you hope to see. Not being familiar with GER coaches, I Googled GE 50 ft corridor coaches, and a specific design style doesn't come up - not in the way that Gresley or Thompson coaching stock has. Do you have a particular GE coach style in mind? I'm which case, I'd be interested to see links to an appropriate website, so we know what kind of coach you would like to see. Many thanks in anticipation, John S

I wonder how many items Bachmann will announce, and then find - the very next day - that Hornby is already well down the road with prototypes, and will have theirs on the market by June or September 2018! Not an ideal conjunction of dates for Bachmann? John S

Ian Kirk started off with 4mm models, As I recall it, he began with Gresley LNER stock that was unavailable anywhere else at the time - long before Hornby brought out their detailed Gresley corridor and non- corridor stock. Ian Kirk also produced lovely kits for others of the big four, including the GWR Monster. Jonathan Welleans posted on RMweb a photograph of his Ian Kirk Monster away back in January 2013 - here it is at post 61: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/66383-modelling-a-traditional-parcels-train/page-3 John Storey

Well, that may be your bag, as we say, but it looks horrible! Only in my opinion, of course - beauty is apparently in the eye of the beholder! John S

Many thanks, Bon Accord, for the link to the photo - excellent. I've found the article I was recollecting at 41 above - in Model Rail (not BRM) in the September 2007 issue. It had photos of samples Hornby put together for the LNER N7 0-6-2T, V1 2-6-2T, J36 0-6-0 and V1 2-6-2. The comment on the J36 was that Hornby realised in 1974 that it had no 0-6-0 tender locomotive currently in its range, and that in May 1978 the J36 was one of 5 locomotives approved for introduction in 1980. It was officially deleted, however, in December 1978 to make room for the APT. The article and photos were by Pat Hammond, so thanks to him for the source of this information. Pat also referenced proposals by Airfix to introduce the B1(in 1982) and J69 (in 1984), and by Palitoy to make the J94 (in 1986) and Peppercorn A1 (in 1985). Since then we've had most of these - to rather higher standards, I suspect - except the N7 due shortly from Oxford Rail, if this thread is correct the J36 might be announced soon by Hornby ...... but where is the J67/69! That is a 'missing', and much loved, model that must surely be coming some time soon? John Storey

Today, and today only, Rails Advent offer is for 3 BR Crimson Birdcage coaches reduced from RRP £179.85 to £134.50 - see https://railsofsheffield.com/advent-calendar John S

Probably even more years ago, Hornby had planned a J36 and made a mock up, photos of which have appeared in BRM in the past. Offhand I forget which year it was originally intended to be released, but didn't they decide to release the APT instead? Again from recollection, the mock up came into Pat Hammond's ownership, which is how photos of it have appeared in the model press. John Storey

I have to say I wasn't a great fan of the advent calendar either, but I note Rails are running a Christmas Advent Calendar. Perhaps a sign of the times - another sign of the disrupters powering ahead? The first day's offering is the DJ Models J94 reduced from £95.50 to only £64.50. Astonishing! John S

And it is interesting to note that the Engine Shed page on RMweb has currently disappeared to page 2 of the Hornby thread .... because there had been no trickle of news to keep us all interested. Rather sad, as they'd developed Engine Shed into a marvellous vehicle to interact with us, and to keep us interested in Hornby products. John S

Ooops, thanks! Is the Ballastmeister also responsible for dry stone walls? John S

Wow - absolutely wonderful! It's amazing that apparently no word of this project got out in advance, especially when you are regularly writing up Peterborough North for us. I don't recall long periods of silence on the PN thread! I'm drawn to the dry stone walling, which looks very realistic. Lots of it furthermore, just as in the real Shap. How did you replicate this in model form? Is there some quick method, or did someone really work solidly on 1/76 dry stone walls for 6 months? If the latter, I'm reminded of the ditty - "I'm a dry stone waller, all day long I dry stone wall, of all appalling callings nothing's worse than dry stone walling". John Storey

I'm intrigued by those tender rails. They look excellent, but must be quite vulnerable in handling. Does anyone know if they are plastic or metal? John Storey

There is - currently down at page 4 of the Bachmann thread on here! At http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/103522-45-ton-ransomes-crane/ John Storey

Yes indeed adb, many thanks for the various photos you've posted from Warley today. They are great for those of us who are unable to get the NEC. At the moment, you seem to be in a minority of one, so many thanks. That breakdown crane is just amazing - far beyond what any of us expected, I think! I see the new LNER J72 has made its first appearance. What we had from Mainline around 1975/76 was ground breaking in its day: no doubt this one is better, though probably not as iconic, but at least we will be able to replace those of our original versions which no longer work because of split axles or whatever. John Storey

DJModels were making a big announcement at noon today - what is it? There are good things showing at Bachmann, especially the breakdown crane which looks stunning, and the Brighton Atlantic is in decorated form for the first time - see the report on the Bachmann bit of RMweb. There is a new gunpowder wagon from Rapido. Is there any sign of the N7 at Oxford Diecast/Rail's stand? Keep the news coming, please, folks. John Storey in Edinburgh!

But from the photograph of their stand in their newsletter of last night, they have early EP prints at Warley! That photo wasn't a close up, so perhaps someone else managed to get somenting closer with their mobile phone? John S

Any sign of the N7 at Warley? John Storey

Jason has just sent me a newsletter - well, maybe it wasn't just to me, but I'm still chuffed - with first photos of the decorated Stirling Single and the LNER Dynanometer car. And boy, don't they look good! Museum quality are the words that came to mind.. I suspect the photos will migrate to the Rapido thread on RMweb in the next hours. John Storey

Bachmann have a new item on their website that they are attending Warley this weekend: http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/details.php?id=488 They go on to say that at "the Bachmann stand ... members of staff from both Bachmann and the Collectors Club will .... display new releases, provide updates on product developments and answer your questions. Furthermore, the Collectors Club will be announcing a new limited edition model over the weekend ...." Can RM webbers at Warley let us know of anything new that is on show, or is announced, please? We've yet to see: decorated samples of the Brighton Atlantic; CAD or EP samples of the GWR 94xx, first announced on 2 March 2015 as part of their 2015/16 programme, and the Midland 0-4-4T, though that was announced as recently as January; and the LNER J72, now showing on their website as due in September/October 2018. Any news on any of these would be most welcome, especially if it is accompanied by photos of anything that hasn't been seen before ... please! John Storey

Post 2 entirely confirmed by Friday's Engine Shed.. Engine Shed recently moved to a monthly issue, and the latest one said "We will be back before the year is out ....", which clearly implies one more issue this year. On this basis, we look for one more issue in later December, which hopefully will announce Hornby's new 2018 models. It will be fascinating to see if, and how, Oxford Rail is integrated into this. There has been a long silence over their LNER N7, with no sign of any pre-production samples - if Oxford Rail is proceeding separately, we would expect to see samples at Warley this weekend. But could the N7, and indeed Oxford Rail more generally, be subsumed into Hornby?? John Storey