John B

I think someone missed a decimal point... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hornby-R4385-PULLMAN-12-WHEEL-3RD-CLASS-PARLOUR-CAR-98-ORIG-BOX-FREE-SHIPPING/192396801831?hash=item2ccbbe3727:g:~gIAAOSwsI9aBzQJ Free shipping? I should coco...

Must admit I like the 67-68 option as the death knells of steam are rarely modelled to such good effect as this..

It's easy to set up a Shapeways account. Literally a 2 minute job. User name and password is all you need! To anyone considering one of SCC's products, just jump right in. Gavin has done an excellent job designing (and building - his instructional videos are fully descriptive and refreshingly honest), and the 3D print rendition of the Furness J1 (which I have had delivered) is terrific in FUD. No connection other than a satisfied punter and a fan of esoteric pre-grouping subjects...

The delicacy of the foliage in those photographs is absolutely amazing. As good as I've ever seen... Great work, John! (and the rest of the layout is lovely too, Tim!)

The P4 Ultras only have precision on their sides, though. For maximum damage, the OO boot boys keep a good stock of Lima pizza cutters to use as knuckledusters..

The main problem with anyone contemplating a Terrier is that of variety of tooling required to create all of thse tempting variations. It's far from simple, certainly not just confined to A1 vs A1X variants. However, I'd concede that a good base model of an A1 and an A1X (two rather different toolings) would be a good start. Then you begin to run into the minutae: IOW modifications, Col. Stephens, LSWR & SECR variants, etc.. and you realize that out of the original class of 110, there were variations amongst the breed a-plenty. And even pretty radical rebuilds of individual locos at various stages of their lives.

Oi! I resemble that remark!

I'm not dismissing the option outright at all.. I'm interested in hearing from Bill the pros and cons and rationale behind the decision...

I'm wondering about the decision taken to adopt an all-geared drivetrain for these, rather than one axle and con-rod driven. I must admit to not being keen on the valve gear being merely "along for the ride" and wonder why this decision has been taken? I don't particularly like it on the DJ J94 and Kernow 02, but as inside cylindered locos it might not be so noticeable as on an outside cylindered loco like the Hudson. I'd be interested to hear from Bill about the thought process behind this, and how the motion will be made to look like it's working and driving, rather than just being along for the ride? As a premium-priced model, I have to say I'm finding this a tad off-putting right now and I'm reconsidering my pre-orders. The "traditional" method has worked for Hornby, Bachmann etc for years, and works for those of us building steam locos from kits or scratch. Why "reinvent the chassis" now?

A red herring?

I subscribe to MRJ (I live in California) through Newsstand, online at the link below. I have no Sterling bank account any more. Their service is excellent, and I usually receive my subscription copy long before they are sighted at WH Smith in Ealing... http://www.newsstand.co.uk/ No connection other than as a satisfied subscriber. And thanks due to Beast66606 of this parish who put me on to this means of subscription many, many years ago..

I've worked in Houston and have many friends who live there and are affected. Whereas any directly affected folks will not be aware of anything being posted here (as they will have no power, no phone coverage, and probably no home) there are many of us who do care. I do care, and am dismayed by the attitude of those who plainly don't. Compassion for those less fortunate than yourself shouldn't be difficult.

More Gosturd extortion. How much for a few bits of plastic fencing, signage and a box? http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRIANG-Hornby-R187-PEDESTRIAN-CROSSING-SET-BOXED-mg/362062719279?hash=item544c9ea92f%3Am%3AmzdSVHu6reL9yTGGfY9lHnQ

I find myself nodding vigorously in agreement with Chris's comments above. I used to love the NRM, as a kid and then as a younger adult. I've been out of the country for 13 years now, and doubt I'd recognize the place. If the NRM is serious about creating an "immersive, interpretive experience" they could do a lot worse than look at the way the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento has done it - telling the stories of railroading without sacrificing the collection..

Quite simply the best executed, and most physically impressive, model I've ever encountered. Put into perspective, the area occupied by the model is larger than most two storey houses.. certainly over twice the size of my (not exactly small) house! I have been fortunate enough to get "behind the barriers" and operate it on occasion. It's a LOT of fun, not to mention somewhat daunting - however it did sell me on the ease of use of NCE controllers. Running down the hill, dynamic brakes screaming, it took about 45 minutes to run from one end to the other.

There are railways of a future and retro style in several of Alastair Reynolds' excellent sci-fi novels. Chasm City (future) and Terminal World (retro), in particular.. The late Iain Banks incorporated railway viginettes in some of his contemporary Scottish fiction novels (The Crow Road, The Steep Approach to Garbadale, Stonemouth), and the Forth Rail Bridge was the central theme in the dreamworld of the coma patient in "The Bridge".

I'm much happier with a delayed release of product if they are fixing the issues that the first batch has shown. It's only a toy, after all, albeit an expensive one - much better late and fixed than on time and falling apart. For me, with my nearest retailer 8,000 miles away, returning product is not a trivial matter..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hornby-SCRATCH-KIT-BUILT-SOUTHERN-SR-0-4-0-TANK-LOCO-556-WEATHERED-mw-/371994410650?hash=item569c983e9a:g:4RoAAOxyCTtTcRwd Even by Gosturd standards, this is a steaming pile.

That fire escape is a work of art in it's own right. The building, and layout as a whole, is jaw-droppingly good.

Yes, I'd certainly take a "Henry Cort" - first steam engine I ever travelled behind (aged 6, on the Foxfield, in a brake van, from Dilhorne Colliery, in 1973 - before the Colliery was relegated to open days only!).

Gosturd strikes again - how much for an empty class 31 box? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hornby-R2421-EMPTY-BOX-ONLY-DCC-READY-BR-ENGINEERS-GREY-CLASS-31-LOCO-31110-nf-/371988568764?hash=item569c3f1abc:g:TVcAAOSwcBhWYKA7 At least it won't have Mazak rot..

That 1001 is just gorgeous. Lovely stuff, Paul.

It also got a mention on the Highland Railway Society (Yahoo) email group in the last week!