Ian Hargrave

Do please enlighten me as to exactly WHAT groove that might be? Otherwise,this seems like a bilious attack.You might like to look at the reaction of others to some of the points the lately departed gentleman madeFYI,my 'groove' concerns fair mindednes,common sense and ,above all,good manners.....sorely lacking in your posting

Absolutely on the nail,Mike.

It would be an interesting challenge to all,Hornby and consumers alike,to put your concluding sentences to the test,Mike,to return to the quality of specification last demonstrated a year ago in their models of the B17 and O1.( Although it must be added that QC issues were prevalent then and have been for quite a while,in reality ) and market a model that was not dumbed down to a cost-level.Are there,perhaps,some assumptions that need challenging here ? Maybe the market will sustain building to quality rather than cost.

For the 'full story' of the climax of this Wagnerian saga,go to the DoG thread and follow post191 onto the final histrionic fit.

See my post 1244 above.I have no such issues with mine.In any case,if your local model shop has them in stock,you can easily examine what you are getting before parting with the cash,can you not ?

He has in fact followed your advice and departed this forum hence....in somewhat of a hissy fit,Larry.

4061 just arrived.Checked all over under LED torch.No gremlins....YET......in evidence. Cautious optimism on horizon.Dare I say this,colleagues ,I like it a lot. It plays the part authentically.In my memory bank ,cells are stirring.Could it be,perhaps,that Stardom beckons ? I dare to hope. Meantime,one happy bunny ATM.......Ian.(late of 87E,86C and 82A) Update.Now tested out of box. Nothing fell off. Hauled 7 Hornby Gresleys ( a rake just happened to be there ) without any sign of protest or wheelspin...position 50 on the Gaugemaster. Only slight problem is that it the rear drivers derailed in reverse on my long 30" curve.I would imagine that's down to a featherlight tender. Up and running in normal use,I would say this is a fine model of an iconic prototype,with good performance to match.

And you are not alone in that...

It is,of course,82A....Bristol Bath Road,just off Temple Meads station,the last home of the Stars

A set of etched plates awaits...

Bigger tender,different logo/print,suspect no new revelations here.....actually,in reality,there weren't anyway.Life continued at Swindon,much as before.,with GWR embossed on certain locos until their nemesis.Despite my outward cynicism,I am eagerly awaiting delivery of 4061....a celebrity,along with 4056,into antiquity...a much loved and treasured example of locomotive engineering at its finest.

All you need is patience and the cry 'Sail Ho!'

Drip-feed.

Do not give up on 4003 yet.As I posted earlier,My order was early November....arrived yesterday.Give them a ring to enquire. Good luck and enjoy.Despite all ,it is a sweet ,graceful thing.....I particularly like the rendering of the valve gearing & motion and the slim lines of the firebox.Not,it must be said,as I personally recall it.....the postwar grime-encrusted loco at Swansea High Street.Landore forever!!

An observation on so-called 'haulage capabilities',posted somewhere on this forum (can't find where). Tested 4003 a short while ago.Definitely not in the Castle league for 'clout' but very reasonable nonetheless.Original load 3 Hornby clerestory plus one Bachmann Collett. Increased to 6 clerestory plus Collett...7 in all..stock,frankly not that free running.4003 a little shy at first but then picked up ok..position 6.5 on Gaugemaster DC. For comparison tried Bachmann City of Bath.....which wheelslipped for England and would not move its load.Interesting.......

Mine is/was a late order....early November.....so I would think delivery on yours is imminent.I'll keep fingers crossed for you.

O,ye of little faith.....a lode of star has just 'Steam'ed in from Swindon.Now it can carol for me.

Don't Bachmann now operate a policy of supplying the smaller ( real) retailers first...giving them priority ? I seem to remember a discussion on this forum a couple of years ago on this very point.If that is still the case,it seems to be working,so, well done Bachmann.

Depends on which Atlantic you mean......he muttered mysteriously......

And please make it 58926.

Another case of 'he's gotta have it'.....even though I have the NRM special.A gem,this one.Roll out the superlatives ! Lovely images,Larry and thanks for that.

We already had the age of self-certification .Why not self-justification?

Future? A'present' version would be acceptable.No 'Stars' over the manger for me this Nativity....other than those I sing of.'Every star shall sing a carol,every creature high or low'One concert down,two to go....

I've had a DJH one for a few years. Runs beautifully ( Portescap ) but the cab is badly-represented,as with other DJH Standards. Unglazed cab,so I HOPE the Hornby offering IS glazed,unlike their Tornados. Interesting to compare the two,if & when it arrives.Saw the prototype parked outside Swindon Works in Oct.1954....yes that time when she was there on test. As a spotter of just 12,as I was then,a schoolboy's dream.Crewe comes to Swindon ? Unheard of..... Saw her again,6 years later,working North out of Crewe.

It is sometimes difficult to 'keep the faith',Rob,is it not? This year,even pre-orders have not been a guarantee of fulfilment,in any case.That said,I took the plunge yesterday with Hattons and ordered 71000 in full knowledge of that.If only we were kept informed.....