sorabain

and trying another way with rails, by using search term "EMU" and selecting "OO gauge", I get some Bachmann EMUs, but they seem to be in a random order: 411; 450; 411; 416; 411; 410; 416 ugh, even for a modest number of results it's an effort to mentally group what classes/liveries are available. Not sure how Hattons sort things (whether it's by product code or something else), but they generally have the same classes in a contiguous block.

Bachmann should (and would) care. Hatton's was (still mostly is except for Bachmann) my first port of call when browsing. People get used to a website and how to get to what they expect, so whilst some may prefer Rails or <some other> website, I preferred Hattons by far and haven't had the time or inclination to learn another's website so well. Why does this matter? I may be browsing for a specific item, but with good search software/website you end up seeing "related products" and may buy more than you thought you wanted. As an example. If i go to Hattons I can select oo scale, then pick what "type" i'm after, e.g. DMU, EMU, electric loco, diesel loco then filter down by manufacturer and get a "clean" list of products. I try to have a "fair go" with Rails and hunt through "categoies" which itself comes across as a random assortment in multiple dimensions, and try "Diesel/electric loco". The first products are all DMU/EMU and non-UK (for me not what i'm after, not sure if the site "learns" what you're interested in or if it'd remain foreign). So i try to filter down to what i'd do with hattons, and select Bachmann+oo gauge, and am still presented with a first page dominated by DMU/EMU, not locomotives. It just doesn't feel clean or well categorised. With hattons even just browsing down the "long list" of OO gauge stuff with item counts you quickly spot if some new manufacturer has popped up in your "favourite categories". Those who are faithful to Rails may have learned their way around the above perceived shortcomings, but for me Bachmann not being on Hattons has almost certainly meant purchases unmade as I don't get as much info for my time from other's sites.

Well this picture is reported as being from 1997. An EWS 60 and from this page http://petertandy.co.uk/class31.htm this picture is stated as being 1997 too, BR Blue 31

I thought you had massive balls for taking on a class 91 + mk4s when previously I was only aware of wagons. The 91 didn't suit my layout, which is WCML based, although the day before the announcement I dropped an order for an early 91 figuring I could run it on test trains/commissioning/original light-loco run from Crewe to Bounds Green. I'm sad that it hasn't worked out for you. Now onto wishlisting, it's already been mentioned but how about a 317? It's had a long life, has been on many regions (ok only relatively short-lived on WCML but it fits within my era), and I don't think anyone else is doing it RTR in any scale -- i hold out hope that maybe the 319/320/321 'N' gauge from various manufacturers may make it into OO. If i'm honest what I really hanker after is a 304 or 310, but think the 317 might reach a wider audience; I appreciate this would still be a giant leap of faith. *Edit* alternatively what about some infrastructure, still crying out for decent "RTR" OHLE, which would help make a market for future models.

Those two pics are going to cause quite a debate in 50 years time about "what colour red was it really?"

fixed it for you

I think if you lower the roof (perhaps cut half of the upper section out), filling in the remainder of the upper windows at the same time you'd go a long way. Excuse the crude MSPaint hack job, but it's a start

I await the pantograph with many hopes, but also some fears. Pantographs are typically quite brittle and exposed on models, prone to damage. If spares are not available and the mechanism is "complicated" it might not bode well in the long term. I don't intend to be raising/lowering the pan in practice, just hoping for a decent looking one that can be posed, but one that wont be an achilles heel.

Nice work eric709. Did notice there seems to be a typo in one of the names "275 railway squdron" <- should be squadron. Not sure if that's what the previous few comments were obliquely referring to -- i can't see original post from Chard

My hope is that as we get more good quality electric locos it will attract more modellers to the joys of OHLE and the demand for EMUs will go up and make them profitable to manufacture RTR.

For the best advice we will need to know which era. By the last paragraph, it sounds like you're after the "big four" but good to confirm in case you actually mean to model a bit later and just assuming that "big four" signals were still present.

hahaha, for those who didn't get the reference

Would be interested to see any graphs of survey submissions over time as well. Has been a looong wait and wouldn't be surprised if they tailed off rapidly after July (and wonder if this post re-awakening the beast will give you a minor spike in mid-august)

I've decided to slightly spite myself and not re-order from somewhere else, to at least cost Bachmann some sales. This is one of those items of stock that I could do without, would have been a "celebrity train" that doesn't really fit my intentions of otherwise being close to prototypical timetable but couldn't help myself when they were first announced. This rift needs to end.

Those pantos look tasty. Doesn't give the game away on how it actually works but aesthetically great.

There are kadees similar to step-up/step-down. The terminology they use is "underset" "overset" and "centreset" (regular).

Sorry if this has been covered before, but does anyone know the exact problem with these bogie issues? I'm wondering if those models that "seem ok" are likely to suffer failures in future due to some missing screw putting stress on parts not designed to take it, and whether we should all be taking pre-emptive action to avoid such.

Have you heard anything since? I left my long standing pre-order (out of sense of loyalty etc), but heard nothing and the week is running out. Tried to call hattons helpline yesterday but gave up after being on hold for a while.

What era is your model? At least with modern image you can go and look at prototypes. If a bit earlier maybe there are still some areas that are still absolute block. I learned a lot about signalling from the SimSig simulator, an excellent piece of software. Some of the sims are also absolute block if you're modelling the not-too-distant past. The site has some introductory documentation on abs block which could give some hints on signal placement https://www.simsig.co.uk/Wiki/Show?page=usertrack:semaphores If modern image i'd dive right in and start with some simulations. I never knew about overlaps etc. until i started using it.

For me the best "wow" factor is a realistic overall layout where it all blends in and is operated prototypically. I admit that something like the steam crane will have something of a "wow factor", but only fleetingly. I imagine the steam crane will only hold my attention for a few minutes. I couldn't watch it go round and round for any length of time without getting bored; whereas a solid modern image layout can have me there for hours without any single item having to stand out. The class 90s will serve many a layout extremely well as an essential piece of the greater experience.

sorry i've just claimed IP on the design, you'll have to wait at elast 5 years now

This whole thing gives the impression that the company is struggling and he has been winding himself up and getting paranoid. The amount of monies mentioned as spent (£250k) exceeds the company's current assets etc. so unless he's been drawing a decent salary/paying himself a nice dividend perhaps this has been losing money for a while. If so the best choice might have been to retain some dignity and fold the company but end up working in the industry under the umbrella of another company. I fear that with all this he's destroying any prospect of being employed and he may be left without a company, or realistic prospect of employment. I fear this may not end well and a talent will be lost.

The one for the class 17 was more vague "Model locomotive" submitted a few days before the others. https://www.registered-design.service.gov.uk/find/6043225 But it's a pitiful set of drawings, would fail any prior art test just by showing pics of an actual class 17

Hopefully the concept of "prior art" will rain on this parade.