GreatWesternFan220

Quite sure. Those photos in the link are the digital photoshop renders. The photos below are of the actual model taken by Rails themselves. Hope it's ok to post these.

Observing the pictures on Rails reveals the smokebox door dart and top lamp iron are now molded as opposed to being separately fitted. Think I'll be sticking to the previous versions until a better alternative comes along personally. Had no intention of buying these re-releases of course but was only curious.

It has come to my attention that Hornby have fitted the LNER style speedometer to all of the Great Gathering locos (except Mallard as that is appropriate for it's preserved form) and 60030 "Golden Fleece". I discovered this while scrutinizing the pictures from retailers such as Rails, TMC and Kernow to satisfy my own curiosity as Hornby's own pictures are all taken showing the driver's side of the loco. I am quite certain that none of the preserved locos (except for Mallard again) are fitted with this particular speedometer but have the later BR style one on the driver's side (except for 4489) and same can be said for 60030. They have also done a similar thing with the 85th anniversary Mallard model where the loco is fitted with the inauthentic BR style speedometer on the driver's side when it's depicted in it's 1938 guise with the correct LNER speedometer. A small detail to get hung up on but as they say, "Once you've seen it, you can't unsee it". I believe the LNER style speedo might be authentic for 4490 and 4491 as well but do correct me if not. Apologies if this has been brought up previously.

Yes and I've also been frequently checking the website as well. Still saying "Due into stock December 2023".

I, too, am still waiting for my preorder from Hattons to be processed. I noticed other retailers had been receiving their quantities of the model throughout that week as well and have been keeping a close eye on my inbox in anticipation for the "Order Processed" email however I'm not in too much of a rush for it to arrive across the pond; It'll get here when it gets here I suppose (It's going in the trunk anyways). I had just assumed it was the typical holiday rush which caused Hattons to fall behind the other retailers in terms of receiving 78000 and the new batch of A4s (Dublo and Main range) although we are in the last day(s) of 2023 and still no word from them regarding 78000 (and the A4s too). Could be wrong of course but that's just my theory.

R30266 Sir Nigel Gresley back in stock at Hornby.

R3982 78006 now showing "In stock" over on the Hornby Website. I take it R3839 78000 will be arriving in the New Year then as it is showing "Winter 2023-24" currently?

Draycott Manor made it across the pond yesterday. Pleased to see the quality on this one a massive improvement over my 7812 and 7800 (the better of the three tbh). Was very concerned to see no bubble wrap but after seeing all is well inside and out, I can say that I am relieved. The outer box sleeve makes a return which was a pleasant thing to see. One thing that surprised me was seeing the fender lined out despite not being present on the decorated samples and artwork. I believe this was discussed on here some time ago. Looks like 7812 gets to keep it's flush sided tender until the next run of Manors is released Lol (would love to see the tenders be available on their own for this very reason but we can't have everything). The coal load is in the detail bag (good! 🤪) but no headboards unfortunately. Apologies for the shoddy lighting in the photos, was more concerned with looking it over for imperfections than taking decent pictures.

7800 (replacement/alternative for my cancelled 7802 and will be renumbered and renamed to said loco in due course) arrived with me a few weeks ago. Only just now getting around to posting about it. The smokebox dart is attached this time! Very little in terms of glue mark although there is the usual "misting" around a handrail at front of the smokebox and I didn't notice until later that the rear handrail knob on the driver's side had worked itself out of the hole which has since been refitted. I did notice after running in that the slidebars and a few of the crankpins had some lubrication applied to them, I'm assuming this was done at the factory? Many thanks to Accurascale's customer service team for getting this all sorted. I patiently await 7810's arrival in the coming days/weeks.

I received the same email as well. Gutted of course but there are worse things in the world to be upset about in my opinion. Perhaps it'll make a reappearance as an Accurascale Exclusive in the next run? (Wishful thinking I know) May those who have received their models enjoy them with much enthusiasm!

Yes it was "barely hanging on" so to speak. Nicked it taking the model out of the packaging and it just fell off. Thankfully it was easily recovered and I've placed it in one of the detail bags for safe keeping. I'll reattach it at a later date. To be honest, there doesn't seem to be much glue holding on to begin with. The other side is fine...for now.

A comparison of liveries between the Accurascale Manor and a relatively recent(ish) Bachmann GWR tender loco, the Modified Hall. Not as rich as I thought but it does come pretty close. Hope these are useful to some.

Update on my 7812, I discovered the missing smokebox dart hiding out in the detail bag during what I thought would be my final viewings of the model before packing it up for another transatlantic crossing. Whether this was a spare or the original piece that did not find it's way on to the model is unclear. What is clear however is the front of the loco looks a lot less "disturbing" to look at now. Upon viewing images of other member's models and Accurascale's own images on their website, I believe I have the dart at an incorrect position but I quite like the look of it myself. I'm not sure if I want to send it back anymore at this rate 😂 All's well that end's well I suppose (that is how the saying goes right?).

Email has been sent! Thanks for the quick response! 😁

My 7812 has completed it's transatlantic journey and arrived with me yesterday. I am at a loss for words with... 1) How much it weighs! 2) how good it looks (except for a few issues) 3) how well it performs. (Silky smooth straight out of the box) The finish is absolutely superb. The shade of Brunswick green and the orange/black/orange lining are enough to rival Bachmann's interpretations in my opinion. Unfortunately the smokebox dart is missing (nowhere in the box and not fallen victim to the carpet, I've checked both 3 times over), there are scratches (I think ?) just behind the front lamp iron on the fireman's side and there are glue marks on the sides of the smokebox and top of the firebox. It could be worse as I previously endured the recent iteration of Hornby's Duchess, "City of London", which was in a sorry state and had to be sent back to the retailer as it wasn't fit to be seen. The glue marks compared to that are much more subtle; nothing that an extra bit of weathering can't fix...maybe. Hoping that my next two (7810 and 7802 with the latter surviving it's encounter with Royal Mail of course) will be a bit more showroom worthy. Apart from those issues, well done Accurascale on your first Steam loco! Now who's going to be the first to tackle the proposed/cancelled batch (7830-7839)?