Ian Hargrave

Thank you for your transparency but regrettably it does not help enthusiasts who have ordered in good faith from their tried and trusted retailer only to be disappointed. We are becoming too accustomed to this from experiences with Hornby......well documented elsewhere on this forum.If the model weren't so damned good,then it wouldn't matter. I already have two....with the third on its way. I know.......it's a learning curve.

So ....... in effect,this is the equivalent of Bachmann's '504' Limited Edition,then? It might have been helpful if this knowledge had been in the public domain.Ah well......blink and you'll miss.I have been in the same position as Darren. 'My' retailer also hasn't,to date,had his allocation .( He is financially sound,by the way). Thus my order with him appears to have gone the way of all flesh.Fortunately,as I 've suffered a similar experience with the blue 52 and with the original release 22,I am 'ahead of the game',so to speak and have made alternative arrangements.Funny,though......there was one on e-bay yesterday. Wonder if it still is ?

Due,one would suspect,to circumstances beyond the control of either.However,a degree of realism would be welcomed...particularly from Hornby.Bachmann do their best to keep us posted and inform us when things go 'pear-shaped'---viz.the Modified Hall debacle recently. Meanwhile,time passes.....'When the boat come in' Which boat was that?

Yet ,curiously,they are still availble for purchase on Dapol's own website.Are we missing something here?

According to their website,Cheltenham Model Centre have 12 in stock at £110.

Cheltenham Model Centre. Their curious lack of availability is puzzling,however. CMC web says 27 now in stock

Yes....it is slower than some r-t-r but after careful running-in will attain prototypical speed ranges and 'crawl' delightfully. With regard to 'noise'.....this is a subjective issue.If it offends,then get in touch with your retailer or Dapol for advice.Bear in mind that there will be 'rogue' models in every release and Dapol are not trouble-free ( nor do they claim to be ) but they DO offer a 2-year warranty and I know from personal experience that DCC Supplies are 5-star on this. I had trouble with a 22 last year ( short on wheel set contact ). Tomorrow my D 1005 returns for a replacement.....lights not working......see my earlier posting. So things can go wrong.......BUT they can also be put right.

I think I'd check that all is in working order when you receive your model. The lights on my blue don't work. Thus tomorrow I'm returning it for a replacement. Retailer has been contacted.

Could this mean that we'll have to stop marooning about the long wait for its appearance.?........Intdapol now on the case.

Apologies for my humiliating schoolboy French 'gaffe'---for which i stand justifiably chastised. As a suitable penance, I have sourced a 'blue' (CMC) , which should soon be 'whizzing' its way to me shortly. Elusive creatures.....

Good point......'Ou est les bleus ?' The bigger retailers seem to have been allocated some (soon sold out) but a number are still awaiting theirs,it seems. Wonder what the situation is....

Bravo Barwell.....reminds me of the responsible manner in which they sent the first A1's back to China for re-motoring. Good news all-round.

R 3162 & R 3177 run easily and smoothly in multiple coupled together with a pair of Kadee 19's...DC Analogue Gaugemaster Twin......both cabs at correct ends and not back to back.

Also,try Hereford Model Centre.They have plenty in stock....at about £98. They always test before posting. Good,unfussy website.

A fair point.

A Hall in good nick was a match for almost anything. Stop Press-----'Swithland Hall' released. Now in stock at Modelfair.

As may be but you are talking about a different prototype

Imminent.Two completed samples at Coventry on Tues.

Take the wheelsets off and look at the contacts. The symptoms are those of a short .I had this last year.It took Alex (Lochnagar) an hour to sort it----but that's where your problem is.

Excellent news.

They deserve to be better known. Service is second to none.Prices and delivery charges competitive......and they test,as you say. 5-star sevice,indeed !

When all is said and done......and much has been said.....this is a beautiful model which runs as well as it looks. Praise be !

I think you'll find you might pay a lot less for it very shortly.

The S.R.to W.R. trains that used S.R. crimson & cream stock DID carry headboards....'Brighton,Southampton.........etc.' I have a very distinct recollection of that.

The caption on the photo is probably correct. That looks to me to be S.R. Mark 1 stock that ran on inter-regional Cardiff/Bristol---Portsmouth/Brighton trains in the 50's. Princess Margaret was indeed the last 'Star'.She received her last general overhaul at Swindon in October 1953.A Bath Road favourite.,despite entreaties,she did not work 'The Bristolian'.Withdrawn in October 1957 aftter 43 years and 3 months in service.....a game old lady whom I had the pleasure of seeing many times in my locospotting days.