Ian Hargrave

Yes it was a schlepp from the station toHall 12. But …at least for me….an opportunity to reconnect with those I’ve not seen for quite a while…Alex,now of Accurascale and Paul of the same chapter,whose creative talents make it possible to upgrade our game to maybe levels previously unheard of. The Accurascale Stand provided opportunities to observe and discuss and I took advantage of that…Many thanks. Also worthy of appreciation is the Heljan stand,ably chaperoned by Ben Jones who kindly steered me to a purchase of what must surely be the bargain of the show ..which was a Class 25 with a remarkable price tag on the day of £ 127:90. Also worthy for future reference is the development of Ellis Clarke Trains.In OO scale.Both the QuadArts and the WD are demonstrating that they are worth a punt . I enjoyed my day. I hope all who attended or participated in some way will feel as I do.

Which would be a great shame. The Caprotti was on display yesterday and looked very promising I have to say.

There is the distinct possibility of a breakage when removing a lamp for replacement/moving however skilled or delicate you may be. Then there is the problem of light bleed afterwards. Why on earth put the purchasing enthusiast to this bother when he/she has been encouraged to buy a premium model ? Yet this is the risk we must undertake….so I was informed by the Hornby rep……if we so choose. In any case these working lights are prototypically too bright and intrusive. Caveat emptor.

That would be the ideal scenario.However,as I have already posted elsewhere,my conversation with Hornby at the NEC yesterday leads me to believe that they appear to be in the hands of their factory…at least as far as the stuck on lights are concerned.So I’m not holding my breath as far as my pre ordered Caprotti is concerned. I saw it run yesterday and for me personally it fails as the “Ultimate Black 5” on the counts of both those silly fixed lights and the yawning gap between loco and tender

I notice the price paid at retail point,which is a good deal more than the usual new release discount. Is that indicative of an unease concerning this model ? It has been on the market for approximately 2 weeks and yet as far as I could ascertain,none were available for purchase from retailers at the NEC yesterday.The only example was on demo at Hornby’s stand.

The issue of Hornby’s QC is almost as old as time itself. The question is….how widespread is the malfunction of the tender to loco ? If Sam has suffered two such failures and others have been similarly affected,then it’s a red flag .

Ditto.No notification.In porch upon return from NEC today.

The only sighting I had today was of it on Hornby’s roundy and frankly I have to admit I have no cause for enthusiasm I regret to say. None of the retail traders appeared to be stocking them. The gap between loco & tender is too wide and apparently the lamps can only be moved with utmost care. Upgrade? I see little evidence of this presently I’m afraid and a washing of the hands over the lamp positioning by Hornby isn’t exactly helpful either. You pays your money and you makes your choice. I’m currently signed up for a Caprotti version.It does look the business in the display cabinet I have to admit…..BUT…..

These issues being the spade connectors between loco & tender and those lamps,I assume ? A conversation I had today with Hornby at the NEC leaves me with no cause for optimism on these matters I’m afraid.I had a distinct impression that they had to accept what their contracted factory has provided us with.Or am I missing something here ? Removing and changing the lamps seems to be a matter of serendipity and individual skill it would appear.

Mine were waiting for me in the porch when I returned from the NEC just. A welcome surprise indeed.

To traffic 1951…the Festival Of Britain…a time of celebration of life beginning to return to normal post war. I copped Oliver at Liverpool Street at the same time as Alfred the Great at Waterloo. There was no reaction and why would there be.Most of the population of the UK was historically and politically unaware.The Britannias were a symbol of the regeneration of the nation after the war and consequent austerity. No mass media and patchy TV coverage. It is difficult now to have any concept of life in the early 1950’s.

Great shot of the Crewe roof garden.Monty Don would be pleased

I’ve recently had two return trips Crewe-Chester and regret I’m unimpressed with the rough ride sadly.

And here lurks an honest man…

I’ll pass on that possibility as eyes & fingers ain’t what they used to be. As currently my operations are confined to a tabletop in a room with somewhat restricted natural light,I welcome this little additional brightness.

So no place for bling on your rails then ?

Ah,so that’s where and how Hornby sourced the “finish”. Basically a cosmetic photo shoot ex-works. Pretty I’m sure but in terms of subsequent authenticity of an in traffic loco a bit like glamour on the red carpet for an Oscar. So then,would anyone be tempted to weather this ? It would seem a bit of a shame really.The paint job & lining seem rather well done. Some nice images and I much appreciate that.

Indeed it does.But it needs bigger stuff than this…..

Thank you for highlighting that. The front end is the area that indeed is in need of improvement. I shall now know what to look for.

Thanks for the above positive comments.My first observation….and this admittedly from online images…..is that apart from the white paint ( Why ? ) on the smokebox hinges and those much debated lamps,I cannot observe much difference. This having removed from its box one of the later release originals R3453 BR l/c 45274, lightly weathered. This being a model of the loco wrecked in the Sutton Coldfield disaster & subsequently rebuilt at Crewe and returned to traffic….something that Hornby seemed blissfully unaware of when they released it. It’s a nice model which performs sweetly. For now,apart from a pre ordered Caprotti,I’ll keep my powder dry and wait until I can get up close & personal for any stimulus to reach for the plastic to consider the new release

As a sickly child recovering from one of the many infections I seemed to suffer,I remember being given one of the then scarce bananas….my first… as a special treat. I promptly rejected it as inedible. If there are any Giles cartoon fans on the forum,there was one featuring the redoubtable Grandma celebrating the return of the banana.

Wartime bananas. Were there any ? I know it’s a long while back but given the “difficulty “ of crossing the North Atlantic at this time,I seem to recall that bananas,a luxury in those times of rationing and shortages of foodstuffs didn’t reappear in the shops until the mid to late 1940’s. We needed Sherman Tanks& GI’s more than we needed bananas I believe. Yours etc. born 1942.and we billeted two of those GI’s prior to D-Day whose generosity with foodstuffs helped sustain a flagging dietary national economy. Wonder what became of them …

Yes,agreed. But the question still remains…..how to find a way out of this impasse in that feathers and egos are unruffled ,the legal requirements are fulfilled and the Black 5’s are on their way to Mallaig. Bon voyage with that one.

And WCRC have returned The Jacobite Mk 1 stock to FW ,still without CDL,to FW. Seen on Leslie Gilpin’s YouTube channel northbound at Carlisle yesterday.Is this some kind of Highland standoff,reminiscent of 1745….or what ?

No but I’m getting there. Enjoy 😊