Forester

14 hours ago, Accurascale Fran said:

Hi everyone,

 

My, it’s getting a bit hot in here. First of all, apologies, in the last 10 days or so there has indeed been a lack of communication regarding the balance of the manors on our part and for that I would like to apologise on behalf of Accurascale.

Fran

Thank you Fran.

That clears the matter up as far as I am concerned.

I withdraw any derogatory remarks I may have made in frustration during my attempts to establish the facts.

Regards,

forester

4 hours ago, AY Mod said:

 

You are now moaning daily. I do hope a day gets added on to your delivery date each time.

 

They wouldn't of course; but I would give in to temptation.

Shows you've not understood the issue - which is not the length of the delay, but the very poor communication from AS About the delay.

I recognise you've not seen the unhelpful (just plain wrong information) emails.

AS say they want constructive criticism, but like most organisations that say that, they can't handle it.

But you are right that I'm not getting support from those who've received their Manors so time to move on - and back to placing my orders with dealers, who mostly value their customers.

12 hours ago, McC said:

We’re online in real time every working day. The website is pretty automated now and we always welcome constructive criticism.

In the line of constructive criticism, perhaps you might spend some of that time online informing your direct customers where exactly the delayed Manors are, replying to concerned emails with something more than go away you'll receive them sometime we're too busy, check with our website it explains everything  .... oh wait. 

2 minutes ago, Forester said:

 

Oh yes, but apparently I'm being "selfish" if I ask about it, so I won't.

Oh wait. I just did. Bother.

8 hours ago, reddragon said:

Is anyone still waiting for their Manor in the UK direct from AS?

Oh yes, but apparently I'm being "selfish" if I ask about it, so I won't.

Anyone seen a container containing 7810 Draycott Manors anywhere?

I checked over the fence where Hermes usually throw my parcels but it's not there.

14 hours ago, McC said:

 

For what it’s worth we’ve always had the option of just paying a deposit and on all announcements for the last year we take either no money down at all or a small

refundable deposit. Once you have an order with us we 100% guarantee you will get it and it doesn’t help us at all having anyone’s money for an extended period of time which is why we launch much later into the process than most. 

But this one was a little different. It was  your first steam loco. Some of us wanted to give early support to your entry into the market, knowing you also faced very strong competition with the Manor and the whole project might easily have failed, rather than the great success it looks like being.

Not feeling that support has been entirely reciprocated.

When you place an early order direct with a manufacturer and pay full price so they have your money a year, sometimes several, ahead of production, is it wrong to hope they might return the privilege by putting you early on the packing and delivery list so at least you can be sure of actually getting your item before it sells out?

Just asking.

21 minutes ago, Eddie the dog said:

 

Btw personal preference regarding ex works or weathered, I would vote for ex works as 

factory weathering is seldom convincing.

I was not making an "ex-works" versus "weathered" comment.

I was pointing out that by the time the loco was actually Ex works the brightwork was usually already dull.

It isn't an issue with earlier colourful liveries and it is not so glaring in BR green,  but it grates (for me) on a BR black loco.

Just my view.

19 hours ago, RapidoCorbs said:

Final artwork is still subject to change pending the CAD being signed off.

They might be ex-works, they might not be. There is always a balance to be struck.

Not sure about balance between ex-works and in-service. Would this be 50/50 in your view?

Because in real experience we would see an ex-works loco once in a blue moon. So much so it would be recorded in one's diary.

I also take issue with calling it weathering. Bright work dulled down within hours on a hot loco, long before the paintwork started to show weathering from trackside dirt, oil and grease.

1 hour ago, NHY 581 said:

 

 

Well, it's nothing a bit of weathering can't resolve if it is a problem for the individual. 

 

On a positive at least Rapido know who to approach for advice should they decide to produce a model of a posh 1950s gents' loo. 

 

Every cloud has a copper lining. 

 

 

Rob

 

 

Rob, I'm genuinely interested.

Why do you want a model of a black workaday loco with bright polished pipework when hardly anyone would have seen one in this condition when it left the works yard?

Disappointed Rapido follow the herd in having polished copper pipes on unlined black BR workaday minor steam locos.

The only place I ever saw polished copper pipes in the 1950s was in posh gents' loos.

Otherwise a nice looking model.

31741 : Quite nice but a bit glossy and - ghastly shiny silver rods. Why?

Now in stock at Rails apparently.

Please if anyone has had one to play with could you post a quick opinion as to quality? Thanks.

Fascinating thread. Thanks to all contributors.

May I now unashamedly highjack it to request someone actually produce a new L1 to modern standards as we SR Eastern people really need one.

Apologies - and back to Triang...

My point and concern is when the excitement and publicity of an annual big announcement, backed up by retailers' headline news and an enticing catalogue is removed then potential customers can easily miss the introduction of an item they really want.

If Hornby withdraws to its own little world only the most ardent followers will bother to keep signing in.

Is this not the first year the big box-shifters have been so underwhelmed they have none of them put up a headline Hornby 2023 banner article on their internet sites?

You have to delve into their News columns to find any reference to the Hornby announcement.

21 hours ago, RFS said:

 

Hornby have done this before with the "Southern Suburban 1957 Train Pack" consisting of a Schools class loco and 3 Maunsell main line coaches.

 

See this old entry at Hatton's for example. I have this set and it certainly does not run as a stopper!

Even in the 1950s (and earlier) people were commuting into London daily from all over Kent and Sussex. The whole area could be considered to be operating a Suburban rail service, apart perhaps from the boat trains. In matters not whether the commuters got on/off at Chislehurst, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells or even Hastings, it was still in essence suburban travel in character.

5 hours ago, peteskitchen said:

Yes indeed. I should have made my self clearer. The Accurascale one is IMO perfect rendition of BR dark loco green, and the Dapol GWR Brunswick green is not great.

Shhh!  I think you got away with it.

The green-police are out admiring the parched brown grass saying how wonderful it looks.

5 hours ago, Graham_Muz said:

 

Perhaps you should communicate your concerns direct with Dapol along with your carefully researched paint colour specifications / evidence rather than continually repeat the same 'muddy colour' posts over and and over again in every Dapol thread... 

Perhaps Dapol Dave would come on here and indicate he has at least considered the matter.

From someone who takes a great deal of effort in getting hisFisherton Sarum SR colour repaints correct I am disappointed with your attitude, Graham.

13 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

Must say, the green in Sam's video looks a lot better than the green in most of the publicity stills!

Filmed in a blue room which is reflected in the green livery.

4 hours ago, mikesndbs said:

Hi, I've seen a lot of negative comments and wanted to make sure my video is not misleading anyone.

 

1) Tender wheels, yes they are stiff due to the pickups, however these are super easy to resolve by pushing them up into the body which reduces the pressure they cause. 

2) Middle tender wheels, they do indeed touch the rails! they may be set very slightly up which is a good thing but they touch the rails and spin once the above has been done.

3) chipped paint fireman's side. It's certainly delicate and likely caused by me when handling, a small bit of black paint sorts this out.

4) Cab handrails bent, yeah they were but they are super flexible and just need shaping, no doubt they are made flexible so they don't break.

5) Colour. Looks good to me so I am sharing photos taken in sunlight with the cameras white balance set for sunlight

6) Running qualities, now super smooth and very controllable after a basic running in at 40%

 

 

A challenge.

Find a photo of any currently preserved BR green loco which colour matches your pictures of the Dapol Manor.

Kind Regards.

Look much the same to me -  and nothing like Dapol's representation.

Regards.

46 minutes ago, bigherb said:

 

You can't tell from a photo which is the right colour, how the light falls, changes the hue.

 

 

4 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

The original image may, at the moment of exposure, have indeed been BR green, but emulsion differences - Kodak, Fujichrome and Agfa all rendered differently, just as Canon, Sony and Nikon sensors do - age-driven deterioration, digitising and differences among monitors and PCs mean colours can never be relied upon with such a long chain of reproduction, sadly. 

Remind me again how many scores of locos Currently carry BR Green?

Then find me one Currently carrying Dapol Mud Green.

Regards.