Nighthawk

Outstanding! You have achieved your goal.

That is a brilliant light show, what have you used, and how? I need to copy!!!

Thank you to all the friends I have made, advice I have been given and knowledge I have gained from all you very special people contributing to this thread. It has been a great journey and one that I really will always remember fondly. Happy New Year to you all. All good wishes for a safe and healthy one.

Darrel. Do you have a link for the lights?

I certainly agree with securing to the wall even when standing, but the load on the wall will be minimal compared to trying to support 33kgs!

They do have feet.

Perfick!

You've had better luck with your eggs than my kids have! Share your source please.

A dramatic and rather sad ending.

The difference is magnified in the second photograph as the GBL body is further from the camera. It doesn't look nearly as obvious in the top picture.

There was an empty rack in Eastleigh again today. This is getting serious! I have an order with GBL for issues 25 and 27, but those are out of stock! GBL wouldn't take my order for #28 last week, and now #29 is absent locally. Given all this, I can't see the little Pannier showing up. So, if anyone has spare, or unwanted issues #25, 27, 28, and 29 and will be able to lay hands on a #30, I would be really grateful to hear from you to discuss a transaction for purchase of the models with combined postage to try to minimise those costs.

I do find it amazing how plentiful the models are in some parts of the country and the incredible drought in others (mine!). Very poor marketing / buying strategy by major retailers in Hampshire!

I phoned them today. They have a back order problem outstanding with issues 25 to 28. They claim to expect more to come but have no idea when. it appears to be correct that they are a third party as well! They took my order but I have no real hope of it being fulfilled. Unable to order 28 until next week.

Thanks for the tips chaps. I'll have a go with 'Brasso' and 'Klear' later today in the first instance I think. Cutting neat replacement clear windows will be a bit of a challenge!

Picked up the last 4MT at Eastleigh today. Generally good, but glue fogging on the cab windows (I guess why it was left by the local predators!) - is the old Johnson's 'Klear' application still thought to be the best cure?

None in Eastleigh this pm. Either v. popular and all snapped up or else Sainsbury has given up.

I could have sworn it was only last week I bought a 'Peak', so shouldn't it be the 21st?

One large and several small cases remained at Eastleigh this afternoon. I hefted the big one a couple of times before walking away....... It really is a nice and solid piece of kit. I was so tempted, but I reckon all the GBL models wouldn't fit in anyway. And most importantly, I would have been in so much trouble if I'd brought it home on Christmas Eve!

Thanks for the tip. I'll look out for them.

I managed to pick up the last one in Eastleigh this afternoon. I could see why it had remained on the shelf - a lot of chipped / missing blue paint patches on the tender. I am sure it won't be too difficult to find a match and touch it up. Felt it was better to have the bird in the hand though!

Picked one up from Eastleigh Sainsbury's this morning. Gold lining somewhat over painted in parts on the two remaining. Mine has a slight curve on one of the coupling rods. May be fixable, but haven't had time to take it out yet. Otherwise, it looks nice to my eye - with my very limited knowledge!

Many thanks. Have pm'd.

Pete. I was in Eastleigh Sainsburys on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and today, and there were NONE. I'm becoming a suspicious lurker on their CCTVs. Confused mate! Gareth

T9 unobtainable in the Winchester, Eastleigh area from day one, despite my repeated visits to all known outlets. I have attempted to purchase one from GBL themselves, but was robustly refused this evening. Apparently, I cannot order issue #20 until December 1st! It is an interesting business plan that makes it so difficult to part a punter from his money. I welcome pms regarding swapsies (limited to early issues) or a straight buy of a 'good un'!

I am very, very fond of her, and will look to a bit of a clean sir, but I do aim to create a static doppleganger memorial (courtesy of GBL) to smile at on my desk every day!