Ian Hargrave

An experience from 2011.Fancied a meal in Den Gyldene Freden...owned by the committee that awards the Nobel Prize for literature..smart cellar restaurant in Gamla Stan in Stockholm. Great meal. .great atmosphere,full of smart people.Three courses ,plus a pint of Swedish steam beer (lovely...even to a guy from Burton on Trent) and a bottle of Cotes du.Rhone. And the bill......equivalent of (then) £220. Highly enjoyable...would not have missed it...but not inexpensive.

A coffee and cake in Sweden.....shed loads .......Sweden is lovely but expensive.In Stockholm,Gamla Stan...the old town is unmissable,as is a trip to the Wasa ..the retrieved royal galleon....get there early to avoid queues.Cash machines are ok in Petersburg..A tip for a slice of the real Russia....visit the bookshop at the top end of the Nevsky Prospekt.Petersburg is gorgeous.

Lovely seeing these posts and glad you are all happy.With regard to the"weathering",just consider that you didn't pay extra for it.So,no bones broken there.

I just love that word "investment"

Explain its "unexpected" appearance by declaring the 101 is in fact theBG "support coach" & that Hattons had to deliver it in another package as it is an "abnormal load" by current Royal Mail regulations.

Old Chinese saying ..." Better to go round twice with small trolley than fall in head first if vertically disadvantaged by large variety"

For a rest cure,try the Bachmann 2014 releases thread........oops!

The nation holds its breath...

Go for it!!

Buy a Stihl pressure washer..that'll take care of the smell.......the bin as well,I imagine.

This is a perennial problem with factory weathering,which to be honest,doesn't have a good track record.I had feared that this might happen.Never mind...it provides a base for more effective weathering.if you don't want to do it yourself,there are lots of skilled folk around who will do a really effective job.You are still getting something none of us thought we'd ever see...at a bargain price.Talking of which,in contrast,there has been much controversy....don't I know it !...over the cost of the Bachmann NRM Locomotion Models Ivatt Atlantic C1. All in all Hattons have pulled off quite a coup. Enjoy.

I can vouch for that ,Bob......I'm still carrying the scars of the hangover after my trip to Shildon.Which,incidentally,I thoroughly enjoyed...quite an experience and a first for me.Now that the BG show is reaching its ( hopefully) spectacular finale.....I wish all of you the joy of this stunning model. I'm heavily into Atlantics.......

Looks as if you're in good company.

"Wish you luck as I wave you goodbye......"etc.etc.Bridegroom nerves the night before the wedding ?

I think it missed the lion & wheel era...so 'British Railways ' it is...62822...the last of the line.If unsure PM Sandra at Locomotion Models.She will confirm with Brian Greenwood. Glad to hear you are ordering....please enjoy.

More probably the adrenalin-fuelled run from Shildon to Durham later....

I am very sorry to hear of Matt's experience...obviously a negative one.I can only say that I have had excellent service over many years from HMC. and not once been let down.

Great sandwiches and wraps....great hospitality....good conversation...but I can dispel the myth that H.M. cracked a bottle of champagne over the C1 or that Mike and I consumed it on the footplate of 251 later.

If you really think that,you are not constructing a cogent argument and it is difficult to understand what it is you are trying to say.There is little evidence of profiteering in this small trade...because Bachmann is in no sense a multi - national.What evidence do you have that this level is unsustainable....do you actually have figures to support this assertion? Or is this a bit of crystal gazing? Please remember that what you post is read by others and is potentially damaging,causing doubt and loss of confidence. Do you really want to be without the cutting edge quality of the last decade.? I believe not.Do you want the role of the prophet of doom? Because on present showing Mick....you got the job

I think you just said you won't be buying one....

As a postscript to Tony's post 451 above,yesterdayBrian Greenwood said quite firmly that the one thing they would not compromise on was quality.

Then that will be your and their choice.Incidentally,who is "blaming " the workforce,,,,why use that word ? Everyone is entitled to a fair return for their labour.Do you seriously think that any of our Model railway companies could consider cutting their profit margins ? None of them are charitable institutions created solely for our benefit. Consider...where would any of us be without the quantum leap in quality that there has been in the last 15 years. "Scare tactics" ? I think not..And the many people with the same opinion ? No doubt we'll be hearing from them soon. The extent and quality of research and preparation over some years that has gone into the production of this model is awesome. You want something cheap....fine...then this is not for you. It seems we still want something without being prepared to pay a proper,costed market price for it.

That is a matter between Locomotion and myself and must remain so.

The "anything else" is,of course,that we have three editions/ variants,instead of one,as most of us expected.When my opinion was canvassed on which period Atlantic should be produced,I suggested the other two and one in wartime black. Not a bad result,I think? There must surely be no complaints over that?