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One thing that has suprised me, Mike you said how you use to get penalties on early running services!! Now I understand if an early departure causes delays to on time services but if not why fine the operator. Plus couldnt the arguement be that a service leaving early ultimatly comes down to the signalbox allowing the service depart early?

Jim, Sounds like you had an interesting evening then by all accounts!! Although detonators at that time in the morning!! Bet the locals must have loved been woken by that!

Ok had to google ESR but, thank you very much Jim, everyday is a school day!

Jim, As always a great selection of pictures, I especially like the ones of Bescot. But what are the yellow panels on the ground in the Didcot pics?? I know the TSR panels but the others??

Great vids Jim, I like how 6 (IIRC) of the tanker wagons had the old Petroleum sector logos on!

Jim, As ever great pics and vids you never disappoint! Ok this has really struck me! Look at the Pic of Tornado above specifically the buffers, the look at the 60 below again the buffers. While I know they will be the right size is it just me or do they look strangely out of scale on Tornado wit the engine been such a big beast while the 60 look right even though the buffers will be broadly the same kind of size even if different in shape.

UREA?? That's found in Pee that explains why truck drivers don't stop for one!

Jim, Sadly mate the world has to many of these clown in, like you say hopefully he does p**s off the "King of the train", who gives him an education in manners because he will be left on his arse and no one will help him!

HI Guys, Just had a look at the charts and well there is a spread and a half but one thing has hit me!! While I haven't ordered it yet I will be getting a 5 car unit to go with my 11 car but what are the options number wise for them?? Are you stuck with 9 car set numbers or is it open to either?? Regards Gareth

Bomag, If you wanted to have every single number and name to choose from the selection process would be impossible. Ben and Mike have taken the most financially viable solution. You say the is a 85.7% chance of you getting lumbered with something you don't want???? Your getting a Pendolino!!! If the name / number are the be all and end all of your selection then not been funny but you must be upset very often by anyone who produces RTR models. While like everyone I would love to see certain names make the cut, some may most wont but the fact we at least got some input it's a rare and positive approach. No matter what names and numbers make the cut I am sure that 99 out of 100 people will be more than happy what ever the number they have. Sadly you seem to be the odd 1 who wont be happy unless you get exactly what you want. Which you wont get from any RTR maker, if you really have to have that very specific name / number the resources and people are out there to get that as long as you are willing to pay the extra

Not Sure if Ron has kept a running total, However been away from it due to his injuries I heard there was a noticeable difference in his personality due to withdrawal symptom's from his solvent addiction!!

While there are people upset about the choices, I think they should remember a simple fact..... YOU ARE GETTING A SAY!!! At the bare minimum that's a good thing you may not get the exact set you want may that be the City of Manchester in 11 Car or a 9 Car Virgin Pioneer, but at least WE are as a community getting a say!!! Plus you will still get a Pendolino that's the main thing, Ben and Mike have put the effort in for us to get a model which WE have wanted and other manufactures weren't willing to produce for us!!

Ron, Our modelling is what makes us happy but then we see your master piece and well I won't be the only one saying a go a little green with envy!!

Hi Ron, Glad you are better and able to get back to things, although like you say your injury has helped you dodge a bullet there! As they say you live and learn thankfully not before it was too late!!

Trust you to be looking at helmets!!

Robin, I think you are right things have come full circle, while I don't know the full story I know Hattons WAS a family business with an interest in modelling as to these days I don't know but from the outside it seems not to be the case anymore. Where as the smaller shops such as Waltons in my case there is an interest in modelling so (I can never remember his name) the owner of Waltons not only wants a business and to compete with the likes of Hattons, so he has a genuine understanding of our needs and gives a damn and the service is spot on! In a few respects I think Hattons is going down the same road as Modelzone and we all know how that's ended out! As daft as it sounds retail wise modelling is better for the most part (in a number of cases not really applicable I know) in the traditional ways small private businesses that are happy and not trying to out grow themselves as Hattons appears to be doing! The ones where you get some one who knows what they are talking about cares about their customers and well let face it everyone is on interent these days so you can always have a quick nosey elsewhere if you really want.

I can't and won't totally call Hattons everything under the sun, as you can get some bargins there which I keep an eye and do get. But for stuff that isn't on offer well I will always shop around, more and more I am finding that prices are becoming equal across the board and Hattons are no cheaper. My local model shop (Waltons) actually have beaten Hattons on a good few occasions and I haven't full ticket price on a good few things. My Dad got me a OO gauge Northern Bell 47 for my Birthday from Waltons for a Bloody great price, but alas I am N gauge, I took it back without a receipt and there was no issues, but tried it with Hattons (for a model that wasn't as it first looked) one time and was told sorry but we have no record all we can do is offer you second hand fair to say I was rather P***** off and said well I have a credit card bill and the packaging it was delivered in that has your details and a receipt so I want my money back. To make sure I had no more issues I went to Hattons shop (60 mile round trip) when I got there I was told that they had it on record and I could have returned it as normal as it was unopened fair to say I was rather annoyed. Plus with the entire Pre Order Saga well I won't be doing that any time soon and have cancelled all 7 of mine as I don't want to get stung and would rather wait and get it when it's in stock and then I know what I am paying upfront and can change my mind when I have in my hand before handing over my cash. While Hattons offer a good postal service in general for those who are unable to get to a model shop for what ever reason, and taking into account the Bachman / Farish price increases I honestly don't think they have much to offer compared to smaller model shops anymore. They have simply out grown themselves it's pure business now and no longer a shop run by a modeller which has meant the service is not what it once was!

Bloody hell Jim sounds like you had an interesting day for all the wrong reasons. But a pair of class 50s on the mainline and a ride in them must have made up for it a little

Well sunds like a busy run tonight then Jim.