melmoth

J3034 Looks like Allan Garraway on the footplate of Linda

The Germans have a history of needing more Lebensraum

Also theoretically possible but unworkable in practice

Motorised?

With the St. Leger run at Doncaster and the 1000/2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the LNER were on home turf with many of the names used.

Eric Gent's "British Railways Brakevans & Ballast Ploughs" is the book you want. Published by HMRS, isbn 0902835165.

Is it 'self-identifying' or just confused?

This is at least partly wrong. Hornby started to move production to China in 1995/96. Margate closed in 1999. The first new loco drive model was the Merchant Navy in 2000. The first loco drive 8F was in 2002. Lots of good information here http://www.hornbyguide.com/logo_menu.asp

I stand to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable, but I think the 1974 renumbering/reallocations were to do with the conversion of those vehicles for use in 4REP EMUs.

Personal opinion obviously, but frankly unlikely

The kit described as a 'Great Bear 4-6-0' would appear to epitomise MTK accuracy.

If there were though, how many people would have been nicked for aiding and abetting Minories?

You were doing so well until what seems like the gratuitous sarcasm here.

I bought this kit from Branchlines a few years back. I've still not built it so can't add much, but as bought it contained a Branchlines gearbox and a Mashima motor. Since Branchlines are the 'Partners' bit of Nucast, I'd suggest that the recommended gearbox was a Branchlines one.

Build two (or three) identical models of each structure/feature on the layout and finish them in an increasing order of decreptitude. Swap structures according to which era you're operating. It sounds really easy if you say it quickly.

Without knowing the nature of your relationship with the retailer you spoke to, I can think of these off the top of my head. 1. The retailer was mistaken/misinterpreted the information they received from Hornby. 2. The information from Hornby was correct at the time, but the policy had changed either before or was changed after that, meaning that both are right: i.e. different information was given to different retailers at different times. 3. Your retailer might simply not want to stock any of the range for commercial reasons best known to themselves, but do not see the need to elaborate on that to a customer. Plenty of others I'm sure.

Apparently the Lima model makers only had side and end elevations to work from. That made it appear that the vents were arranged in 4 rows of 3 instead of 2-1-2-1 (or thereabouts)

I think your mistake there is assuming that a dealer is going to be able to sell any given secondhand item for its new RRP. A dealer who is reputable and knows what they're doing should reasonably offer a seller a third of what the dealer thinks they can sell that item for.

I certainly don't wish to contradict someone as knowledgeable as @VIA185 but my 1980ish schoolboy memory insists that a lot of the doors and doorframes at Aberystwyth were painted in a gloss equivalent of Rail Blue. My memory could, quite obviously, be wrong.

Might this be down to the quality of colour film stock at that time?

2mm/N Gauge roundy roundy. Not even with a station perhaps, but up and down loops to recess freight while expresses go hurtling past. Era of choice, but I'd go for 1970s pre-TOPS Western Region with lots of diesel hydraulics.

Circular firing squad?

Anyone for pre-drilled holes and etched handrails to be fitted by the purchaser?

Indeed, the original plan was for TT, if I remember correctly...

Or a very strange ossuary