Ian Hargrave

I can only speak from my own experience with R 3191 which after initial pick up difficulties,thankfully eradicated after much hard work and skill by Alex ( Lochnagar) runs beautifully. My other experience is with Silver Fox from the Silver Jubilee pack......newly released.That performs as well as any of its 5 pole main range stablemates...and I have a plentiful stock of those. I run on DC only with a Gaugemaster controller I like to consider myself a discerning modeller too and do not wish to purchase...or run...." Any old rubbish" as another member of this forum has quite recently posted on another thread. I think by now I am able to judge a model by both its authenticity in appearance and by its track performance and haulage capabilities. I suggest we all wait and see how R3207 measures up to our exacting standards.It's had a good press on Wright Writes.Thus I'm very much looking forward to the end of next month It appears that ,once again,we are 'poles apart'....3 or 5....

Sorry but R 3207 is listed as "sold out" on their website ATM.

And the 3 pole jobs in Silver Fox and D o G are equal to their 5 pole cousins.

Indeed ,Rob.....but I'm still going to be patient for the version with full lining...Good fortune attend yours!

Indeed I hope it gets 'sorted'....but the "point" has not been missed and the "aggrieved and annoyed" is questionably "natural".If you can't afford it...don't buy it. Are we not still budgeting carefully ? Heaven help us if we are not....we have a choice of quality products from which we must needs select those that suit our needs.There is no God -given right to access unless we are prepared to pay for them.There seems to be a culture developing here that the manufacturers of such products are here to serve the needs of those that are naturally "aggrieved and annoyed".....poor things.They have balance sheets to square...and capital to be set aside for ongoing development...for the benefit of all. In our haste to gain gratification of our immediate needs,we lose sight of the bigger picture

A guess...into crimson& cream c1950/1 ?. Then full BR maroon c 1956/7 ? 'Big Four' liveries hung around for quite a few years post 1948On holiday in Colwyn Bay August 1952, for most LM express passenger stock...including the newly constructed BR Mark 1's....crimson & cream was the order of the day...and Duchesses were in blue..or black as were Princess Royals..the latter not in black. Scots ,Jubilees & Patriots were in BR green. 46148 The Manchester Regiment was in original form Use

Oh dear,this model certainly has generated a powerful amount of angst.If Modelpara is really that anxious and has PayPal account,he might consider a purchase from Hereford Model Centre ....cheaper than Hattons and maybe a temporary release from financial embarrassment? Otherwise,I would have to say that he has already been given sound advice and it is indeed without just cause that he has blamed Hattons for his misfortunes.That stretches credibility to snapping point.

No idea. But yellow ends appeared in 1962---not before that.

Been a customer of theirs for years...always look there first. Nearly always cheaper for Hornby than the others and quick reliable delivery at a reasonable rate.

For those of you wanting the RailRoad version (bog standard) Hereford Model Centre Have them in stock at £72.95 plus £3 p&p....29 of them showing in stock as I post. There is life beyond Rails & Hattons etc. Don't panic.....

Me too.This is one I relish!

What about some etched plates to complete the job? To be really authentic for the immediate post war period.....which this loco represents....it should be weathered,quite heavily,I'm afraid.It was not the era of gleaming copper capped chimneys but of grime and shortage of labour and materials. The railways were run down after six hard years of war....Colletts and top lights rather than the new and relatively few Hawksworths were the main event in a veritable ragbag of GWR stock.There was little standardisation in the consist of any main line 'express' if you could call them that.

E mail from Rails informing that both the LMS & BR(M) versions are now in stock.

Hmmmm...there's a proverb referring to eggs & chickens,I seem to recall."Dates" in this neck of the woods tend to be subject to "slippage",crystal ball gazing and prayer mat prostration.Switch your plastic to "snooze"....maybe.....or not ? Remember the song from West Side Story..." Somethings coming,something good.....who knows ?"

Paid a visit to www.lavinyeta.es.Looked at wines & tasted. Result ! One doz.assorted returning to UK later next week in boot of the kids'Audi. ...Ryanair not being an option.Passed through Figueras...an unappealing place,though the Dali museum is apparently worth a visit.Heavy rain and thunderstorm sent plenty of customers to Lavinyeta,a relatively new and high tech Eco friendly place. Adjourned for lunch to nearby village. Nice...had Catalan version of tortilla,followed by squid.Test drove example of wine recently purchased...& was suitably reassured. Re: Mike's visit to Waitrose,we shopped for barbecue yesterday at a branch of Casa Tio,which is in the 'quality' end of the supermarket range.Nice fresh produce..Definitely in the Waitrose class. Ian,your problem does exhibit the symptoms of labyrinthitis.I once worked with someone who was hit by it and it sounds familiar.Unpleasant and frightening but not sinister. Needs care and time. Wellying down here again...The vineyard owner said it had been a poor summer!

Volcano duly climbed,assisting in buggy push uphill of insane incline,the buggy containing 6 month old great niece.The only other buggy seen was similarly Brit occupied and powered....only mad dogs and Englishmen etc.At the top a path led into the crater where is situated a bijou chapel.Buggy & occupant did not participate Am feeling creaky,stiff and sore.A swim followed by barbecue should be soothing.Tomorrow,a vineyard visit is organised.Fly home on Sat.

No visit to another part of Europe would be complete without a visit to the local chemist/ pharmacist.We have "collected" Compeed blister plasters in various cities/areas of this planet...so much so,that we could open a museum dedicated to them...Paris,Vienna,Madrid,Amsterdam,Stockholm...the list is endless.And this morning ? A short drive into the charming village of Santa Pau for the latest souvenir. Mindful ever of the draconian luggage restrictions of Dublin Corporation Aerial Buses,we again took weight saving a step too far and neglected to take part of the Euromountain stocks we possess.We are now equipped to climb a volcano.(extinct). Cloudy....but dry. The Tenderfeet.

Wrong call.Rain stops.Long walks around Croscat extinct volcano,followed by wonderful lunch at Masnou restaurant Santa Margarita...real food and genuine charm....heavenly local tomato salad,followed by duck,veal with mushrooms and baked lamb shoulder,accompanied by Santa Pau bean salad..a help yourself platter . Local Catalunyan cuisine. A day redeemed !

Thunder rumbling on in the Pyrenees this morning.Cloud level down.No views today.No morning stroll either....

No....not quite like that...a very well run,beautifully presented and thriving 21stcentury company which is a delight to visit and enjoy.

And right next door to that,you have quintessential England : David Austin Roses,with its wonderful displays,gift shop and cafe serving quality fare.A personal recommendation.

Storm over...hills now wreathed with mist and cloud....atmospheric.

Threatening cloud looming now over the Catalunyan side of the Eastern Pyrennees. Edit: now thrashing it down...thunder,etc. Götterdämmerung .