County of Yorkshire

Surely Hornby will go the route of PC Models and issue these coaches with a clear/neutral body shell and a selection of pre-printed sides for the owner to choose from? CoY

I just can't square the glaring front-end issue I'm afraid. It's utterly wrong. This was my view from a Queen Mary brake van for a delightful 10 miles last Saturday behind 6960 Raveningham Hall. A front-end which is absolutely nothing like this: Unless you possess the skills of Brian Kirby, and indeed the desire and wherewithal to take your hacksaw to what is a £100+ model, you are going to have to put-up with a really poor fudge on an expensive model of idiosyncratic class of loco. Surely this front running plate issue is akin to having a King class model fitted with Hall steampipes? Or a pannier tank without its famous large dome? If retailers struggle to shift this batch, then surely Bachmann will be forced to get it right for future releases? I do hope so, because I'd want a few of these in GWR livery for the 1944-1948 period. Such a shame! CoY

Further to my sojourn in the Cotswolds, I returned to Yorkshire via the Severn Valley, and happened to find myself at a country junction station in 1947 (ignore the jeans & Mk1 just creeping into shot!)...

As they were delivered from 1942 onwards, and the small 5'' lettering were brought in from 1936, I think we are safe to assume it's the small lettering! CoY

They were a Southern design, but also built by Ashford works for bulk orders from the GWR & LMS, not sure about the LNER though. I have a couple in both GWR & LMS grey - they are something different; and the esoteric planking arrangement gives them something of an austere sensibility! CoY P.S - According to Russell in GWR Freight Wagons, 650 of these diagram V35's were built for the GWR by the Southern from 1942 to around 1944, so you've got an excuse to pick up a couple and suitably renumber them!

Princess Alice as found in the recent WW1 Troop Train Pack is the closest you'll get I think.

Sorry Rob, I've been out with some kit in the Cotswolds...

Actually, now that you both mention it, you are right, this announcement still leaves the door open for other diagrams. Hornby followed up the Maunsell's with the Open Third for the push-pull sets, and LNER modellers got the fantastic full-brake (with corrected tumblehome) many years after the initial Gresley range was released. So, could we expect a K38 full brake in time? Sorry, getting greedy now! CoY

IIRC, it was the other way on actually, so that the Corridor was always platform side at Paddington Platform 1, making it easier for the expresses to be boarded. Thus the compartments faced north on the East-West routes in the main. I'm still deeply excited about these, but I'm eager to know the chosen GWR livery. A few stray observations (not moans!) 1) I think this announcement puts the final nail in the coffin of any RTR toplights for the next decade or so. I don't see them as Barwell territory and I think it's too much of a capital investment for one of the newcomers 2) If Bachmann were mulling over a retool of the Collett Sunshine coaches, I'd wager that they'll have pushed this back a few years 3) Hornby obviously belive that catering vehicles don't sell, hence no retool of the venerable H33 restaurant car. 4) As previously stated, it's a bit of a shame they couldn't stretch to an E128 brake composite. and given this carriage range the same breadth that the Maunsell range enjoys. Can we all try to petition Hornby to include the E128 before the final tooling is cut?! 5) My future kitbuilding/RTR modification pursuits will now be confined to more esoteric types - 70 footers, toplights, and fat-waisted 1929 Cornish Riveria Stock. This has saved me a lot of time, so thanks Hornby! 6) GWR modellers better get second jobs, as it's set to be a very expensive few years to come with: King's, 14/48xx's, Kernow's 1361, Heljan's 47xx, Bachmann's 94xx, Dapol's railcar, these Collett's... CoY

Oh my! The perennial refrain of us Swindon disciples on the announcement of annual product ranges is finally vanquished, SUPERB! This is the best news all year! How many C54 corridor 3rds can I afford to pre-order? What can I get for re-mortgaging my house? CoY P.S If I'm going to sneak a moan in here, is why not a brake composite? If they're tooling up for handed brake thirds and composites, surely it can't have been much of a stretch to add in a BCK?

How are your 'M set' Comet Kits coming along Rob? Last we saw, I think the C54 was built, and ready to be painted. Are you going to build all 4 before painted them as a batch? I will admit to my Bachmann Collett conversions with Comet sides having stalled many weeks ago, due to the demands of family and work! P.S is anyone on here going with the RMweb trip to Didcot at the back end of July? Best, CoY

It's a lovely piece of kit. I personally had my eye on this (!) but someone with bigger pockets than I has beaten me to it. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAWRENCE-GODDARD-GWR-KIT-BUILT-RESTAURANT-CAR-SUPERB-/371311257104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5673e02610&nma=true&si=6ALJpkW4LDUgTRvZQPQ7O7IrDEM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Hereford Model Centre also sell a limited edition triple pack of cattle vans, all with different running numbers. I have a set and am tempted to get another so my rake can begin to approach the length of Rob's! http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=286&products_id=5916 Given that Bachmann's latest release of the cattle van is knocking on for £14, this triple pack is comparatively bargainous. Cheers, CoY

A perishables (cabbages, carrots, strawberries) fitted fast freight using the cattle wagons? CoY

What was it Rob? I have noticed some Ebay prices arriving at silly street recently!

Sounds excellent! It will help celebrate me finally getting around to fixing a markits door dart to one of my Grange's that had been without one since purchase over 18 months ago. The smokebox certainly is the 'face' of any loco, and a loco without a door dart is akin to a person without a nose in my opinion - the eye is drawn to the vacant space! Cheers, CoY

Any suitable pilot locos on shed Rob?