Redford73

To add to earlier comments on this thread I would prefer an un-named version as I cannot recall any release without a name on either the 87s (or for that matter the 86s). It seems Hornby and Lima missed out on a huge period in these electrics use when they were not named and it would be easier to add a nameplate supplied separately than to remove one fitted and 'repair' the bodyside. Am looking forward to the release in any event and will definitely buy one to add to the Hornby (Lima re-release) of 'Britannia' which I currently have.

I just paid a visit to the above today and what an excellent event! I am quite local to the SVR and visit every year or two but hadn't been to one of the diesel galas for a few years. Not sure if it was a bigger event this year because of the 30 year anniversary of the diesel galas but it was a really good effort. Saw my first ever Deltic ('Ballymoss') in the flesh (they were around when I was a boy but as I lived in the Midlands I never saw any) and there were a good many locos present at this event - Classes 08, 14, 31, 47, 45 and 50 and better still the Kidderminster Diesel Depot is now opened with several other locos under repair and the new Electro-diesel Class 88. They even had a couple of layouts inside the depot! There were also stalls at the station entrance dedicated to the Class 50, 52 and 55 preservation groups and others selling books and dvds. The turnout was also very big with platforms and trains pretty full (I mention this as it was unusual to see such numbers at D&E events at the SVR and I suspect other preserved railway galas). Apologies to those who were already aware of the features at this event but I was really impressed and it has brought home how the D&E scene has really taken off over the last few years and it brings it home that many of the preserved diesels are now 40-50 years old. Anyway well worth a visit to the next one for those of you who are D&E fans and live in/around The Midlands.

There are already solicitors on the scene - see the men in suits in front of the court? I have one of the buildings at the back as a solicitor's office (Bachmann Scenecraft Accountants Office with alternative name plaque on).

Back on topic I may just try some DAS clay or even some filler on some suited figures and paint as appropriate. I only need a couple of counsel and some police constables to set the scene and I know Preiser and Bachmann Scenecraft do police officers though they are generally more modern officers in their sets. I've already got a Bentley Continental as a Judge's car at the rear staff car park and the 70s police cars as per the photo above.

Yes, Horsetan - it is a bit like Harrow Crown too. Looking at the pic the walls are also like Inner London Crown which if I recall used to have a guard hut at the entrance. Thanks for the pic. Black Marias or perhaps the American GMC vans or maybe even Ford Transits? I need to put the Royal Coat of Arms and 'Dieu et mon Droit' motto on the front of the building.

8:DSC_2492a.jpg] Should have put up a picture given the comments/questions so here's one .

I am also a practising barrister on the Midland and Oxford Circuit and have attended several courts where counsel stand outside robed up (I know in London it is frowned upon). In fact my model is of Birmingham Crown Court (albeit reduced in scale) and there are often counsel robed up outside at the real location. There are also courts with annexes which counsel have to walk between and it is usual not to change out of robes. It is a 1970s layout so no assizes and in fact my model is based on Crewe where there is no Crown Court (and I know Birmingham Crown Court is actually a 1980s building opened in 1985)but I am taking modellers licence Incidentally I have modelled the rear of my court building with an entrance yard for prison vans. When I started practising it was Group 4. What kind of vans brought prisoners to courts circa mid 1970s? Were there any logos on the vans? In any event it is to mark the scene as a Crown Court setting and is also an interesting feature.

I have built a model Crown Court as a cameo on a scenic town section of my layout and have been trying (unsuccesfully) to find 00 figures of barristers in wigs and gowns. I suspect there aren't any and I will have to modify some suit attired figures but thought I'd ask if anyone is aware of any as it would add that individual and appropriate touch to what is hopefully a novel diorama.

Just seemed like all a rip off of all the glorified Top Gear road trip segments and was the reason I stopped watching Top Gear a few years back. It's not about the cars anymore but the presenters and silly and expensive challenges - like 'It's a Knockout' with cars. Not surprised it's internet only - this is the way of television for the future. I signed up for Amazon Prime when I got a firestick and got the free month of Amazon Prime but have cancelled my membership to avoid being charged as have no interest in 'The Grand Tour' or much of anything else on Amazon Prime. And isn't this thread a bit irrelevant to RMWeb?

£170 pretty steep but I will be getting at least one. Would like an unnamed BR Blue. Would have been happy enough with the Railroad one actually as didn't mind the ex-Lima 'Britannia' from 2007 but well done Hornby for taking the plunge. Just need a decent new 86 now.

I agree with those comments above that Hornby know what sells and what doesn't. I admit my eyes roll everytime I see the Christmas train sets and the likes of the Harry Potter and Olympic themed sets of previous years - those that are clearly aimed at a youth and fad market but the fact Hornby keep on releasing these every year must mean that they sell. The motive (other than profit at Christmas) must be to encourage young prospective modellers who, it will be hoped, move on to more serious models and take modelling up as a hobby. Even if they don't it is possible they will remember the train set in later years which might encourage entry to the hobby when they are in work and in funds. Having said that I have lost count of parents who have bought a train set for a child only to tell of a lack of interest or a short burst of enthusiasm before it is either given away or sold off on Ebay. My son is included in this demographic when at age 9 he begged for a train set after seeing my layouts and collection of trains only to lose interest within 2 weeks of Christmas. If my (and others) experience is a majority in terms of the seasonal/fad train sets then perhaps Hornby is missing something though I return to my initial comment - they must make money or the marketing trend would have stopped.

I would be inclined to use photos as I am doing on my WCML layout at junctions. On the gantries the practice varies a lot - some have registration arms in an upside down position to those on the single masts usually positioned hanging/pointing in the same direction and others have just small vertical arms with the coils. Mine is 00 and have used Dapol single masts and after waiting years for the double and gantry masts to be released I gave up and made my own with Plastruct and then bastardised some of the Dapol single mast arms. It's not as good and not nearly as sturdy as the scratchbuilt brass masts which many modellers create but I'm quite pleased with the results. I too am not modelling the wires.

Fantastic work Pete! Really nice layout. Have just seen the thread for first time and skimmed through it all. Will never get my woodwork as good as yours. Keep it up. Slightly off recent topics on the thread what/from where is the paving on the platform edge just behind the white lines? It looks excellent.

Stunning work Dave. Saw the article in BRM and then found the thread here. Absolutely fantastic. I remember your Waverley West MK1 which featured in MR (I think) some years ago. The new article and pics on the thread are awe inspiring. Keep up the great work!

I have bought three of the Bachmann 85s, the Hornby ex-Lima 87 and two Hornby 86s. I model 1970s/1980s D&E and cannot understand why Hornby (since the 90s) and Heljan never released BR blue versions of the 86. Even with Heljan's 86 being not very good I'm sure a BR Blue livery might have improved sales of this and Hornby just kept releasing the more modern and obscure liveries of their 86. As my modelling/painting skills improved I bit the bullet and re-sprayed a 2004 Hornby Anglia Railways 86 and I know it's not perfect and needs some work on the front ends and ideally a new pantograph but it isn't stopping me running electrics. I'm holding off on scratchbuilding catenary (double masts and gantries) in the hope that the Dapol releases will be out early/mid next year for my West Coast Mainline layout in progress.

I hope we get a BR Blue version and if the planned releases sell well I'd like a 1970s White/Blue refurb version which Lima did when they released the 117. I was waiting for Hornby to do the 101 in refurb but they just kept releasing the Strathclyd livery again and again and again .... I wonder if Bachmann will do the 101 in refurb livery? Glad someone has finally undertaken this release!

I always use the Hattons website not the ehattons and have never had any problems. Why everyone is drawn to the ehattons site which seems far more cluttered and harder to navigate is beyond me. Is there something you can do on it that you can't on the normal site?

Re above issues with ehattons I find the normal Hattons site much easier and user friendly. Never had issues placing orders on that and am always impressed with the speed of processing orders and delivery.

No response from Dapol? I have considered scratchbuilding but am a developing modeller and have no experience in scratchbuilding in metal. I am particularly put off by the intricacy of the fine metal on gantries and trusses which will be necessary for the masts. I wont be using any wire as want good access to tracks and wont need it for power. I may attempt plastruct masts as I am reasonably proficient in scratchbuilding in plastic.

Thanks lefrog97 - I missed that thread - it didn't come up when I put in Dapol OLE on the searches? I have emailed Dapol and will post any response I get.

I know they released the CAT 001 MK3 catenary masts (I've bought a load of them for use on my next layout) but what has happened to the others in the prospective range? Dapol announced these in 2010/11 and I saw them in the catalogue last year but still nothing? I am using catenary on my layout in progress - do I wait for the 003, 004 and 005 products or just start scratchbuilding? I'm also hoping (probably pie in the sky) that releasing a full UK modelling catenary system it might be a catalyst for a new Class 86 and/or 87. I'm sure Bachmann's 85s would have done better if there were a decent UK catenary system available.

Take whatever time you need Clive. Seen your 'Hanging Hill' which was great and looking forward to this. No point in rushing it. It took me 2 years to do the main TMD at Tinsley which was only 7 and a half' by 4' and that was just two thirds of the shed. Sadly had to dismantle because of house move and still hadn't really finished it. Good luck!

Yep - me too. Sat p.m. ordered and arrived a.m. Monday! Actually should say that Yodel have been excellent on all recent dispatches from Hattons with regular texts on progress and speedy delivery.

And I thought my weathering was bad! That is terrible - it has increased my confidence no end!

On a related topic has anyone seen the Railroad MK2es (images or otherwise)? What are the reductions in quality? Have they used inferior MK2e moulds or just the old MK2d moulds? Are the bogies/couplings different?