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The 'do not step' H&S decal goes on the aircon units. Dapol have confirmed they shall be produced in batch 2.

Incredible to believe the 350 was out late 2011! Six years and finally a 450. I am delighted. I did a few years ago now, get some 350s in a sale for £90, resprayed them and sold them on for £xxx. Certainly proves if you cannot afford new, easy to model! Very enjoyable too - but gosh those whooshes were a nightmare to mask (Ironically the re-sprays paid for my pre-order of the soon to be released 450). Ive got some spare decals somewhere if anyone is interested.

The dream SWT model for me would not only be an updated Class 159 (but what version? Red doors with lower white, full red doors but with cab doors orange or yellow doors?) but a Class 442 Wessex Electric. I have for a while now been suggesting to Oxford Rails to accommodate the 442 in the Mk3 tooling. Only then needs a motor coach! I think SWT has been a brand around for donkey years and certainly any model we can get would represent a very long period of time on any ones layout.

I doubt they would be announced yet, if they are at all commissioning them! The standard release of 2017 HSTs is due November, so perhaps any possible limited edition pack of 43002 and 43185 would be around this time. We can only publicly state as customers we would be delighted if Locomotion continued their superb range of interesting/special liveries on Hornby's HST Class 43s.

Got to love the comments! Why is everyone angry or negative on social media? Did make me laugh the post about "livery is out of date" etc. Considering SWT branding has been around for 21 years, it is remarkable how few models in the livery we have had compared to Network SouthEast which was only around eight years! Hopefully the 450 shall sell quickly and Bachmann shall be confident to make different running numbers. Note the destination has changed from "Portsmouth and Southsea" to "Waterloo" - I guess wider appeal. Superb livery application, those whooshes are not easy, I did re-spray some Class 350s into 450s and it was a technical challenge to get the whoosh right. The minor livery error, with the warning yellow wrapping around onto the corridor connector can be corrected with a black marker pen. Review samples are usual air-freighted into the UK, when the main production run is shipped. Perhaps then only 3-4 weeks or less for ours to arrive?

I vowed after getting the last three limited edition GB Railfreight Class 66s and pre-ordering Evening Star to be my last GBRf 66 that I do not ever need anymore. Luckily for me the small print said "Unless Sorrento is released". Fantastic effort from KMRC, do we know whether the cab tooling shall be adjusted to the two glazings rather than the three shown in the image?

Let's hope they won't be in gloss, if they do release them. Seeing as both previous releases of limited edition HSTs have been standard finish - which is more than adequate. I doubt there would be tacky gloss used?

Sorry to single your post out, I mean not to be personal but if I may use as an example. If we are to continue on talking about price increases, please be factual and use RRP set by Bachmann rather than discounted prices set by retailers. As policy around discounting has changed in the last severn years. I bought my Freightliner Class 70, 70001, for £116 plus £4 postage which was at the RRP at the time. Using an average of 2.7% inflation a year set as an average by the Bank of England inflation calculator to the last full year of 2016 - see: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/resources/inflationtools/calculator/default.aspx. The RRP of the Freightliner Class 70 in 2016 prices is now at £136.49. We now need to estimate how much inflation shall be this year. Looking at the CPI index, here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices#timeseries. the latest stats for May 2017 are 2.9% thus we can add a further £3.96 to the 2010 price. This totals £140.45 for a 2017 RRP price of the Freightliner Class 70 alone. Now it might of gone un-noticed that a slight majority of the country decided to vote to leave our biggest market, the EU. This has added at least 15% cost which puts the RRP up to £161.51. This does not account for the increase in Chinese labour over severn year period, even without the threat of leaving the EU, we would be looking at that 2010 Freightliner Class 70 in a circa £165 RRP range. Also important to note the Class 70/8 has had adjustments to the original tooling and additional tooling. This shall have a cost of both R&D and Tooling. Seeing as the new 2017 Freightliner Class 70 is has a listed RRP at £169.95 I would argue that such a price is perfectly inline with inflation, Chinese labour growth and allowing a referendum. If you do not like the unequivocal fact that price only goes up in a neoliberal economy, there are some realistic alternatives and some fantasy ones. Firstly, use your vote in an informed way to bring a real change in politics, voting for MPs and parties who are economically progressive and aim to drive wage up higher than inflation. Secondly, move to a country under a different financial political philosophy - only true communist places left are say Cuba, certainly nice weather! Thirdly, every time anyone feels like complaining about price rises on models, put a £1 coin in a piggy jar - before you know you shall have hundreds of pounds to spend on your new models. One more thing, I could say I bought my Hornby FGW HST back in 2008 for £80 and the last one I bought in 2016 was for £220. That comparisons means nothing if not based on a retail price to compare the actual like for like increase. (Point being, Bachmann is not singularly the only manufacturer with significant price increases. My other hobby, sailing, you used to be able to buy a boat for 20k, now its 200k. It is a hobby, to enjoy a life, not a necessity to sustain life).

Hopefully featuring news of a GWR 43002/43185 HST pack! Ive been saving up, since I decided not to get the GWR 43087/088 due to a gloss finish. Plus rather support a charity!

I disagree. Hornby's pantographs are fragile and flimsy plastic. I cannot remember how many spare Hornby ones I have bought for the Class 395. The last one broke when I merely tried to raise it! They are un-useable under a wire. My point was, not comparing the in-house Hitachi designed pantograph with the BW on the Siemens Desiro. But the two different paths taken by the model manufacturers. Both attempts at modern pantographs have had their compromises, though both do capture the 'look' of the pantograph. For me personally, as a modeller, I want to be able to use my pantograph under the wire - I cannot see how you could prototypically run an electric locomotive or MU not under a wire. By all accounts, the CAD of the Class 90 pantograph not only captures the prototype well, but is also useable. Compare that to CAD and EPs of the Class 800 from Hornby and I think I shall buy a pack of spare pantographs to go with it - or as the prototype, ban it from operating with panto up under the wire! Anyway, an academic argument, as aren't you a N gauge enthusiast?

I don't know is this point helpful. But looking at Bachmann's previous version of the BW pantograph on the Class 350, and compare that to a similar model from Hornby at the time, say the Class 395. The Bachmann one is far more robust, sprung and does not snap whenever raised. The Class 350 had the additional 'arm' to allow for the panto to be sprung. Clearly there is a trade off between usability and prototypical look. Certainly the CAD of the Class 90 panto seems to be an evolution and refinement of the Class 350 which works.

Sorry I could not resist doing this.... and the winner is? (top Hornby EP, bottom Bachmann EP) Photo credits: Hornby Mk2e from Hornby's The Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/officialhornby/posts/10151914416510843 and Bachmann Mk2F from this thread. Bachmann wins! Seeing as there is a RRP price difference of £10.04 (for the non-DCC/lights) version you get a wealth of more detail with Bachmann....notwithstanding the sole bar being correctly hidden! Though in defence of Hornby's Mk2E, it is not that bad! Wheels appear to be slightly smaller on the Mk2F, thus providing a more prototypical ride height. As for etched vs moulded handrails. I was staring out of the window on the Anglia Short Sets this week (when stationary at stations!), I would hazard they are a difficult shape to capture in 1:76 with a etched metal. If they were to be separate parts, I would suggest a plastic handrail would have to be made. This might not be preferential for many reasons, I can think of two majors in that they would be highly fragile and would have to be overscale to fit. So for me personally, I do not see an issue with the handrails being moulded. The Bachmann offering is clearly winning on all other details. And when you upgrade to the DCC coach, nice! I am looking forward to announcements for more modern liveries on them. Edit: Did Hornby place the air-conditioning roof panel at the wrong end - or is there a difference between Mk2e and Mk2f. Wikipedia is inconclusive.

It is not just the BR 50 they have got wrong, the Colas Railfreight still is red rather than Colas orange. Previously the Colas 56 was incorrect colour, but stated it would be altered for any further Colas releases. I was very excited about the change of direction Hornby took late last year, but now am getting increasingly disappointed again.

If you read the Weekend Financial Times or a decent board sheet daily such as the Guardian/Observer, Telegraph or Times, you would be very aware of price increases across all areas of the economy. Yes Brexit plays a significant part, but the drive by the Chinese Government to increase the minimum wage of worker as been beyond doubt the main driver of price increases for model trains specifically. Examples of imported goods since June 2016...hmm: Apple raised prices between 11% and 25% earlier this year. iPhone 7 increased by c.11%, iTunes c.25%, iMac 4K c.20%. Microsoft Office by between c.13% to 22%. Adobe Creative Suite by 25%. Timber has increased by 20%. Spanish Slate by 22%. My lunchtime coffee by 14%. Marmite increased 14.5%. I shall not go on, this is just one year.

There was a certificate issued with the first few hundred out of 2000 produced (Those with a certificate you shall note it is states out of 300). Such a number is certainly well below usual production runs and as such 'limited edition'. I made no note of any terminology in May 2015 stating the word limited edition/one off in any of the official information from the LTM (nor the press statements seen on Page 1 here), if you see post 495 you shall read the exact LTM belief on the S-Stock. What is merely mention is they are an exclusive model to the LTM of strictly limited numbers. Here is the original press statement, no mention of limited edition: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/99691-Bachmann-to-produce-s-stock-for-london-transport-museum/?p=1905163 And Bachmann: http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/details_archive.php?id=264 For the sake of a circular argument, and repeating myself as clearly the point was not heard in Post 483 & 495. Since May 2015 production costs have increased significantly year on year as well as a minor issue of the pound sterling dropping off the cliff.

This was never stated, actually the complete opposite was stated. The LTM stated that the S-Stock was chosen as it was a new design of underground train to take over the Metropolitan, District, Circle and Hammersmith lines for the next 35 years. As such the model would find itself suitable to future livery variation.

Not sure where the £70 figure comes from? Actual increase is £59.99 as previous retail was £280 back in May 2015. Lets not squabble over price increases again, it has been discussed to death on many threads. The arguments have become acutely circular.

Don't forget Wessex Trains! Though I would imagine many of the liveries which have been missed out on in the past decade shall make wonderful limited editions through various retailers. But yes, surely it would make business sense when the 158 is re-announced with spec, GWR and Northern liveries added. One of the problems of the 158 development must be the continuous adjustments to the prototype. Recently wifi aerials have been fitted to the roofs, not with standing the myriad of different air conditioning unit styles. Even "popular" current liveries today such as SWT, Northern (purple) and Arriva Wales shall all be changed within the next couple of years...

Most delighting to hear of this understanding. Well worth the wait, we have never had modelling so good!

The LTM is a charity and thus I would hope they can capitalise on the maximum return of the S-Stock to raise funds for this truly remarkable and extensive collection of the London Underground. I find 10% very generous for a charity.

Might I beg, plead, offer to sell my grans cardigan... for a photo of the Class 450 in pristine condition? Been looking forward to this model a lot. Also, was there any mention of: - 37099 tooling alteration to the front lamp - due Dec/Jan? - Production sample of the 70s (70805 and 70015) with tooled air intakes and smooth cabs - due Aug/Sept? - Any comments on the announced 20/3s? - Any mention of the GWR 150232, in terms of adjustment to the tooling which has seen the toilet window removed? Also, great to see the Class 90 CADs, fascinating to hear of the working pantograph. Did they explain how this mechanism works? Seeing as I cancelled my pre-order for the Freightliner 90, I shall now re-pre-order it!

They do look nice, but it is this subtle comment which fascinates me. Was there any further mention of later variants above and beyond CDL lighting? Namely the DBSO, I see in the photo the front cab is a separate slide. Did Bachmann mention that they have tooled or allowed the tooling to have a later slide without the central door panel. Thus allowing DBSOs such as DRS, Network Rail and Anglia to be modelled? If so, very promising. Was there any mention of a 'no-thrills' Mk2 coach with the lighting not fitted in the TSO and FO? If lighting in the S-Stock adds £20 to the price, surely a no thrills Mk2 would appeal to a different market - including me who has no interest in running with internal lights.... though those CDL lights do look grand.

The London Transport Museum has just released two further S-Stock 4 car sets with different running numbers. Retail price is £339.99 but if you sign up for the newsletter you get 10% off. Perfect timing for the reported significant increases in high spending tourists heading to our shores this summer. https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/models/trams-trains/Bachmann-s-stock-2017-4-car-set-35-990a https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/models/trams-trains/motorised-Bachmann-s-stock-2017-4-car-set-35-990b

You just need to turn to the Drax Biomass commissioned wagons to see this technique, nothing new. I think the results work out fine.

? They are designed to 140 mph on electric and 125 mph on diesel mode. In normal operating circumstances, the IEP supplied IETs Class 800s are specified to operate at 125 mph in electric and 100 mph on diesel mode. This is likely to be revised (discussion continuing between DfT and Agility Trains West) to up-rate the MTU power packs to allow a specified 125 mph on diesel mode operation until electrification of > 100 mph route sections is completed. Though it must be noted trials have suggested an IEP supplied IETs Class 800 can maintain HST diagrams without the power packs being uprated. Decision rests with the DfT. The Eversholt supplied IETs Class 802s are specified to operate at 125 mph in electric and 125 mph on diesel mode. Though in operational practice, their core route being Paddington to Exeter/Plymouth-Penzance only has maximum line speed of 110 mph outside of the electrified > 110 mph sections.