didcot

Gutted for all those affected. Its bad enough when you drop your own model but this.....!

So sorry.

Matt 

Took a stroll down to the Railway centre on Saturday and captured this. I do like the straight frames.

I would agree that we have never had it so good.

It reminds me of a birthday in the late 70s / early 80s. I wanted an Airfix Prairie, I was taken by the line drawing on the Airix box and 6106 was 1/2 mile down the road. Dad took me to Mr Miles shop in Didcot to get it on his Saturday afternoon off. We got it home and put it one the track.....nothing. 30 minutes of pushing and prodding wouldn't make it move, so back we went.

Being a smaller shop Mr Miles didn't have another, so off we went to Centre News where a Hornby Pannier was purchased instead.

Anyway 1/2 hour later we are back in Centre News to exchange it for another and then back again for a refund!

Off we went to Touchwood Sports (who also did Star Wars figures in the blister packaging) and another Pannier was procured.

You can see where this is going.

By now I was in tears, Dad was beginning to lose patience with model railways having spent most of his afternoon off charging around town. But back we went to Touchwood Sports and came away with a blue Caledonian 0-4-0. Not my beloved GWR, but the only loco left in Didcot we hadn't tried. It ran straight away and I still have it tucked away with my other model railway items waiting for the day when I finally finish decorating the new house!

I also asked for the 3 1/2" Rocket for Christmas. I could only have it if all the grandparents, Aunts and Uncles chipped in to buy it and other than some sweets from the man in red that was it! I couldn't sleep for weeks. I had the whole house up early, with my dad having to move his car out the garage at 6 am so we could lay down the track. He and my grandfather oiled and watered it, filled the butane canister, lost facial hair when lighting it. All to no avail. Seized solid. Queue Christmas melt down! The replacement only moved two feet and blew one of the cylinder caps off! My grandfather, who always seemed to have Araldite or plastic padding to hand, glued it back on. It still holds to this day!

Fortunately neither I or my boys have had to go through that exercise and 99% have been perfect out of the box with only a drop of oil needed.

I think we forget that the level of details and reliability were somewhat lacking back in the day.

Matt

Thanks Paul

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone had managed to get a dcc decoder into the likes of the Bachman Skarloey and similar sized locos.

Thanks

Matt

https://www.shapeways.com/product/769ENR6W8/ep75b-tyers-token-machine

Like this?

That's not a bad idea and does have some merit. I think the Festiniog single Fairlie had various people drawing various things from all over the world.

But the difficulty comes when trying to combine the various CAD models from different programs. Packages like Pro Engineer (the best), Solid Works, Solid Edge etc all have their own file types. The only way to transfer models from one package to another is through generic files types such as IGES, STL or STEP. The problem is when exporting from one software to another is that the feature creation process is lost. Unless you have synchronous technology and even then its a pain. You essentially end up with lots of surfaces or as we call it dumb data. Manipulating those surface can be very difficult and time consuming. The lower end software doesn't cope with CAD models from top end software very well and details can be lost. An extreme example would be a wheel looking great in top end software, but when imported into a lower end software it looks like a 50 pence piece.

Having said that I like your thinking. A crowd 3D modelled Model!

Matt

The Lord of The Isles sets from the 80's do appear to go for silly money and there is always a few floating around. One I have, but never see is The Rocket set. Although the box got lost when I left home! But I'm not planning on selling it and James May would through the box away anyway!

The old 4-4-0 Counties used to command a good price, but seam to have lost desirability against the new loco drive version.

Matt

I'm looking forward to seeing these in the flesh. The old Airfix Prairie was on my Christmas wish list 30+ years ago. Unfortunately it and several replacements latter meant I ended up with a Hornby Caledonian Pug! My Dad gave up!

On a pedantic note when referring to the CAD's that manufacturers show in press releases, they should really refer to them as CAD Models or 3D CAD Models from which 2D drawings are produced, or used in CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) to produce the tooling. Its like Numpty Clarkson referring to a car as having 500 torques. Its 500 Newton Metres ( or Pounds Feet) of torque.

Pedantic off.

Have a Merry Festive Season everyone. Lets see what 2018 brings.

Matt

A big well done to Kernow from me. Ordered a Railcar and Toad during Friday lunchtime, they were so quick in delivering the following day I didn't have time to make my excuses ready for the Wife!

For those old enough to remember the Children's TV Series/books by Avril Rowlands from the early 80's it now available on DVD.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gods-Wonderful-Railway-BBC-DVD/dp/B06XHMCVYQ

I watched the first four episodes last night. Even spotted Gordon Kaye (allo allo) in the first episode!

Happy Days.

Matt

No not moaning. Valid points.

My rather laboured point is these things happen. A change in temperature in inspection or the machine shop has the ability to make the difference. Most inspection equipment of quality says accurate at 20 degrees. So a change in climate such as we are experiencing this weekend can make the difference.

I just think a lot of people are giving Hatton's/DJM a hard time somewhat unjustified in my opinion. Like I said I wouldn't want to do it.

Just my opinion.

Didcot

I don't post much, but have been following this for some time. I have two of these and both out perform the Hornby version. None of the several I have owned have performed well or have the level of detail as the DJM model.

Sure some are having issues. With production runs like this there will always be the Proverbial Friday afternoon car that typified the British motor industry years ago. I say that as an engineer who deals with this on a daily basis. Remember it still does happen. Vauxhalls catching fire etc.

So whilst it is annoying to have issues, its a hobby for most of us. Enjoy it and give Hatton's/DJM a break. If not man up and try to do it yourself.

I'm trying to build a County Tank and if it's half as good I'd be well chuffed.

Didcot

There used to be a few in Didcot during my early years.

Mr Miles at the top of Haydon Road did Airfix kits and railway items. He was also a proper corner shop, so it was a toss up between moondust or an Airfix kit.

Centre News did Hornby for a while, as did a shop on the Wantage Road. Got my Star Wars figures from there.

I remember Howes when they where in Oxford, alas only Railmatch paint and sound chips now.

Motor books at the Headington Roundabout, alas gone!

Osbournes in Abingdon have gone to Bideford, which is now our holiday destination!

My grandparents lived in Westbury, so there was Macy's, then Barnes then the Gas Cupboard before they moved. Bought many a kit and my Mamod steam roller from Mr Macy/Mr Barnes. Also Junior Fayre (I think) got my 3 1/2 inch Rocket and OO Rocket set from there. They used to have a club where they reserved an item and you paid your pocket money in until you matched the price.

Happy Days

Matt

Now on my rolling road. Did the keeper plate tweak. Got to watch that front axle/crosshead though. Lovely model.

Now in stock at Hatton's.

Received my 58XX today. Well done Dave/Hatton's. 10 out of 10 from packaging to instructions and the loco itself. Goes places other 0-4-2T only stall, if you get my drift.

Could you do Wantage tram Shannon please?

Matt

A model of Horsted Keynes station named "Downton", Southern rolling stock and a collectors edition of Downtons figure to boot. Lastly a Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle track mat.

My Lode Star sat in the post office over the weekend. Having just collected it it looks a lovely model. No.24 in the production run according to the certificate AND extra bogie spokes as well!  .

As I said before I think its a great model and not nearly as late as the Heavy Freight Tanks.

didcot

Well I for one like it.

Mine ran nicely on its short test. I am a GWR man through and through, but wouldnt have spotted the spokes. The hand rails don't look too bad. I for one am greatfull that Hornby have listened to modellers and produced the heavy freight tanks and Star. I dont have time to build models with a young family. I would rather have one with 12 spokes and runs nicely than none at all . If it perfomed like the locos of my 1970's childhood I might have a problem.

I am also looking forward to Lode Star. I believe I am 17th in the queue.

At the end of the day its a hobby for most of us, something to enjoy and help us unwind.

didcot

Mine is winging its way down from Liverpool, so getting over excited! Must be all that sugar my sons gave me from last nights trick or treat!

Does anyone know the latest on Lode Star. I'm not sure the wife can take much more of "is it here yet"!

Considering the lateness of the Heavy Freight Tanks compared to the Star, maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Although it might be the train coming towards us. Even so it does seem that lateness is getting less!

didcot

I spoke to STEAM around 3pm. Whilst the Star had been promised, it hadnt actually materialised. Didnt sound hopefull for their festival tomorrow. They were VERY apologetic. Bet GJ Churchward didnt have the same problem.

didcot

At some point 4022 Belgian Monarch will happen (when someone makes or I specially order the plates), a Swindon engine, my grandfather drove many times and which, as a 12 year old, my father drove from Swindon to scout camp in Weston Super Mare.

Hi Mike,

Was your grandfather Frederick Wiltshire by any chance and brother to my great grandfather Ernest?

Regards

Matt