3rd Rail Exile

I'd assumed that there would be two different sets, one for each release date... This would be logical, but needs checking once the running numbers are confirmed...

Graham Muz explains here: https://grahammuz.com/2019/01/07/Hornby-announce-2019-range-including-brand-new-bulleid-59ft-coaches-and-ex-lswr-diagram-1543-20-24t-brake-van/ To me this seems a clever, low-cost way for Hornby to pique the interest of the 3rd-rail fraternity (I've certainly ordered one) - it's certainly something a little "different"! James

Yes, mine arrived from Kernow yesterday. Running in at the moment - no problems so far!

Without getting (too) political, it's widely accepted that Britain is the only country that applies EU directives and regulations rigidly/properly (something to do with our natural rule-obeying nature perhaps) Maybe that's why a (small) majority voted as they did...

One for me please! 3rd Rail Exile

Skipper and Provincial please!

And they have (for me at least - I can't speak for others) honoured the £319 pre-order price - I ordered before Hornby's 10% limit was introduced, so was slightly concerned...

Are you 100% sure that the 812004 coach should have them? Watching this video very slowly (about 3:19-3:20) suggests to me that the 8120xx coach doesn't have them... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuA2bHLDbpw

Mine's very nearly great - the lighting in the composite coach works in one direction only (on DC - probably the contacts need more adjustment), but other than that it seems fine. Currently running round the outer circuit of a layout with curves of probably ~20-21" radius (the inner circuit was laid using an 18" radius Tracksetta), driven end at the rear (that's the direction in which all the lights work), with no problems. Well worth the full price pre-order from Hornby!

The Stationmaster is, of course, totally correct. I was being deliberately vague by omitting the "DC" as I wasn't sure where the boundary ran!

Minor pedantic point - that hasn't been Berkshire since 1974 - it's part of South Oxfordshire...

But he's right, isn't he?

Equally good (some might say better) tasting baked beans are made in North Cambridgeshire / South Lincolnshire... It all depends on the can...

I know a few frogs I'd like to juice with that!

Harsh - it's a rapidly expanding town that is already in dire need of a much better service!

It was a bit of a squeeze but it got there eventually - luckily both the rigging and the location points were flexible enough for a bit of bending. Agree the location pins are a tight fit, but they worked... The fun bit was finding the two bigger holes for the smaller bits of the brake assembly, and then ensuring they were glued in straight. Worth persevering though...

Mine arrived today from Hornby - easy to remove the buffers on the Trailer Standards and the Buffet, but had to cut them off of the TGS (reflects the Lima heritage of the tooling for that particular coach, I presume). I know that the tooling is all a bit dated, but they look very good to me (I don't want lit interiors). It's now clear (if it wasn't before) why the power cars had to be gloss - not sure how else Hornby would have recreated the matt livery detail at one end of each coach. I'll have to try to work out how to close couple them though. Just waiting for the belatedly announced First to arrive - that one has to come via Cornwall... One for the magnifying glass brigade - I've only checked on Trailer Standard No 42351, but what's wrong with the coach designation letter printing (D in this case) - you'll have to check both ends

Having been forced by work commitments to miss out last year, please can I book a place (just the one!) for this year? Thanks, James

First thing I had to do (as mentioned by others earlier in the thread) was remove the coupling hook and re-fit it from the correct side. Once I'd done that and actually fitted the couplings into the NEM pockets I didn't think they quite clicked "home" positively (bogie frame prevents them going any further back) and they look to protrude an awfully long way forward... Couplings with shorter mountings might be an idea if I can find some... And whilst investigating this, I just happened to notice the plating flaking off of the tread of one of the wheels - looks horribly brass-like underneath...

Wow - I bow down to your superior eyesight! With specs on and a magnifying glass I think I can see what you mean. I suppose having perhaps laser scanned an original with the wipers in this comparatively unusual configuration it was either a detail difference missed when the CADs were produced or (as you said earlier) a minor cost saving that they hoped they could get away with.

Just to add to the confusion, refer back to the 2nd picture in post #625 of this thread - wipers completely opposite to the way they are on the model! Both towards the centre pillar is "normal" but as Pete 75C pointed out other configurations are clearly possible. A flick through a copy of "The Power of the Electro-Diesels" by CJ Marsden (OPC 1980) shows a variety of configurations...

Surely Youngs was Wandsworth - Fullers is Chiswick...

Despite fitting into the category Andy Y describes as "not a brass and copper fan", I'd be interested in a decent tour round! Given it's within walking distance I ought to visit more regularly than I do! Just the one place for me please...