3rd Rail Exile

Yes, "gimmicks" is how I'd describe most of those features, but as a DC user who would have great difficulty chipping the whole of a collection built up over many years, I would, wouldn't I. If it has the correct body shape in the correct livery I can happily do without all the other stuff. Fineness of grilles/slats is important, as is overall quality of finish and livery application (something I can never hope to match). I agree that increasing functionality is the way the hobby is heading as a whole. However, I'd wager that there's still a significant number of us who aren't quite so desperate for the latest features but still value the overall greater quality (generally) and running of current models over some of the previous RTR offerings. But over time we'll dwindle in number and get shunted into the great scrap line in the sky...

Each to their own - I'd have said "unnecessary gimmick", but some seem to value this particular feature... Maybe I'm being unfair as those rotating fans I've seen previously have been whirring masses of garish red plastic, whereas I hope these will be more appropriately coloured... Hasn't stopped me ordering two locos though - there are many other features to admire!

Another one here which arrived with a detached tender buffer rattling around in the packaging - nothing a small dab of glue couldn't fix whilst fitting the guard irons and cab doors (and working out that the extra vac pipes and fittings weren't appropriate for 488...)

Remember them well - still have plenty! No gimmicky lights, annoying sounds or chips to fry . Some of them even looked like what they were supposed to

My "Agree" refers to the commonly accepted definition. As to which side is best, I'm differently biased, coming from so far north-west in the county that some idiots subsumed it into "Greater" London just before I arrived... A town formerly well-known to @Oldddudders I believe, as the location of South Eastern Division HQ... But to get back on topic, whilst I agree with the detailed comments about the model (in particular the slightly wonky numbers), having had my model of 488 for a few days I'm still very happy with it. I can only really see the number issue if I look really closely at the model when it's stationary. I've managed to improve the alignment of the tender and body valences slightly by reseating the loco body (the chassis hadn't fitted into the body quite correctly) - it's not absolutely in line, but better than it was, and better than some of the pictures shown in this thread...

Vote and reasoning is unchanged... 3,7,8 please... Focussed choices 13: 3 SR 9ft wb 8-plank Open Wagon 14: 8 SR 10ft wb 8-plank Open Wagon I was planning to just observe these polls "from a distance" as I don't model the LNER (apart from the odd "visiting loco on a special working/tour"), but if you're going to put SR stuff in the polls then that's a different matter!

Exactly the same, both in choice and reasoning! I was planning to just observe these polls "from a distance" as I don't model the LNER (apart from the odd "visiting loco on a special working/tour"), but if you're going to put SR stuff in the polls then that's a different matter!

But were people putting masks on as they entered shops (which is where we're required by law to wear them). As far as I was aware, we don't need to wear them in the street as transmission is much less likely in the open air...

I'm not 100% comfortable with it myself, but as @John M Upton mentioned up-thread, "It's football. Money talks..." Any grief should be directed at UEFA, as you suggest...

The final was originally planned to be held in Russia, then in Istanbul when all the venues got moved a year last year due to COVID. When two English clubs qualified for it UEFA looked to move it to somewhere fans could attend. Wembley was definitely looked at as a venue, but (if I recall correctly) some of the UEFA officials, sponsors and other hangers-on would have had to quarantine so that wasn't an option for them. So it ended up in Portugal...

Or on carpet...

I'm sure that a lot of RMWeb members enjoy rummaging around in that sort of shop, but what proportion of Hornby's target market do we actually constitute? I suspect that they assume (rightly or wrongly) that we know what we want to buy from their range and will find a way to buy it. It's the "I'm not sure what I actually want" sector that will appreciate well laid-out shops and helpful staff and (presumably) result in increased sales.

Can you get vaccinated against the G*R? I'd be very interested in that, living where I do...

My 35017 also arrived this morning, but so far seems ok on its first few running-in circuits. Sorry to hear about yours - hope it's something you can easily rectify...

Loving the accurate observation and attention to detail - the way that users of the stile/steps in the foreground have worn away the vegetation... Edit: ...but hadn't considered the trespassing element @DeadRingermentions below...

On my regular trips out of Waterloo in the late 1980s the main things to look out for were a) anything of interest in Clapham Jn yard? b) anything of interest in Wimbledon depot? c) any locos stabled at Woking? In terms of a view or building of interest, Woking signal box, so I'll vote for that.

In particular a notorious pedlar of conspiracy theories...

The SECR grey livery has the paint on the splasher beading scraped back to show the brass, which (as I understand it) wasn't universally done... EDIT Beaten to it by @Pre Grouping fan, by a matter of seconds...

Yeah, another vote here for the Forth Bridge - simply stunning!

Assuming that "The Northumberland Coast" (all the bits that can be seen from the train, taken together as one...) is a bit too unspecific to be allowable, I'll have to vote for the view of the Royal Border Bridge.

Has the Government defined "essential"? Some cultures seem to regard attendance at family "life events" as absolutely vital, pandemic or not. Mere governments do not take precedence over the will of the deity... Personally, I agree with what you are saying, but a lot of people see things differently.

Agreed - 35022 and 35029 in Guildford but "expected soon" in Cornwall - they have to get to Cornwall before being sent to pre-order customers...

Agree the view along the Tyne is great, but I slightly prefer the view of Durham Cathedral.

21C7 was only bought direct from Hornby to use the 10% discount voucher I received when buying the "Capt. Tom Moore" Class 66 model (which was only available direct). I've got 35017, 35022 and 35029 on pre-order with one of my usual retailers, and am waiting (fairly) patiently...

If I understand it, it's cutting off their nose to spite Hornby's face (or an attempt to). The desire to support the local retailer (or retailers in general) outweighs the desire to have the latest spec model if having it means cutting out the retailer. Either Hornby sells via the retailer, or it doesn't get the sale. Unfortunately, that won't work if sufficient people do buy direct from Hornby, as Hornby won't see the reduction in sales...