Clearwater

This is a serious issue for many modellers. I generally have purchases delivered to my office address however some retailers have delivered, despite instructions, to my home address. Cue "haven't you got enough already?" Next issue is arrangement of boxes such that the stack doesn't look like its growing...

Yes - exactly the point I was driving at. I guess part of it stems from each class being within relatively recent memory and a sense of what might have been. The P2s arguably were mismanaged by the lner and could have done sterling service on the heavy wartime trains and after. The d6xx given were only broken up in Barry in 1980... Personally I'd like to see more models like the SECR C class and, crucially, accompanying rtr rolling stock Suggestion - prince of Wales class, bulldog, lbscr b1 Gladstone, hardwicke etc

As a person with limited understanding of how a model is actually developed, some of the comments explaining the process and the challenges of getting something from the "it's a good idea" to practical commercial reality is fascinating. What's equally fascinating is the thrall that this small class, only in service for about nine years holds for so many people. Seems rather similar to the P2 class. I doubt many here ever even saw the P2 in steam. I suspect for a model to sell, and for ketone/djm to make a return, it will need to appeal to collectors, those who buy models because they like them as well as the narrower group that model 1960-65 Western region Based on previous comments, let's assume the fixed cost of getting a model to market is £100k. If a model retails for £150 of which half is direct cost of production, approx 1300 models need to be sold to pay for the tooling before any profit is made. Now my numbers are almost certainly wrong (I'm not in the industry) but it's simple enough to build up a spreadsheet to show how the numbers vary. However, given the retail price assumption they're probably not a million miles away. Strikes me as a pretty big risk to assume that you're going I sell 2000+ of a class that operated for just nine years. I suspect, though, that part of the business case for kernow is a)brand awareness b) that most people will likely order something else at the same time as their D6xx... Let's not also forge that if you're investing money, you're foregoing alternative return (the time cost of money). It doesn't grow on trees! If people are serious and want to accelerate time to market, crowd funding could help. However strikes me issue here is not finance but the work / resource/ skilled labour required to get to the production stage

Hi Apols if covered in the previous 20odd pages... I've just invested in a couple of these. I have one small problem. On both models the front two wheels on the tender seem to lock. Is this a common problem or just a coincidence on my two examples? Thanks!

Sorry - managed to post without adding comment. I now own a troop train pack - interestingly whilst the engine itself has the narrower taller safety bonnet, the cover illustration on front and back of box shows the later style

Brought a hand made shed via footplate. Excellent service and excellent shop

thanks - helpful. Wonder if next year's catalogue with include a pre-ww1 version. Think the BR period has been exhausted...

I meant in 4-6-0 form but in Atlantic form would be equally good......

Have Hornby ever done one of their stars in the style of the first batch as originally built? From pictures, seem to have narrower, taller safety bonnet and similar chimneys An original North Star would be good

However for all the comments on the thread seems to be selling well. Just went into Ian Allen near Waterloo. They'd sold most of the ones they'd been sent....

Unless I've not see pm it , I think Hornby mayhave missed a trick here. Would have made sense in my view to have done TTS engines. Quick samples of voices, chuffs etc would have been a big hit with kids. My three year old loves the TTS Gadwall - whistles, guards, chimes and he jumps up and down shouting chuff in time with the model. Can see how a TTS thomas or Gordon would have been great

With the new king makes sense to issue these. I always find it pretty annoying to buy a new loco and not be able to buy suitable rolling stock at the same time

I've just read the model rail review. Aren't we on danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water? I note they score it at 78%. The same as the lms non-gangwayes coaches on the next page which seem to get a reasonably positive response on here! Looking at the pictures, the front plate is obvious but I can see the issue with the coupling. In the same way as one mag (I forget which) had an interesting recent article explaining the design compromises sometimes required, it would be interesting to read Bachmann's views here. I'll probably buy one of these (black and weathered green) - overall i like the model. I will compare it to my old replica hall in due course. However, next to newer models, I have thought that looks a bit dated

Just on the smokebox opening gimmick, I agree with it being a pain but why not site the decoder socket there? Would make taking the body off redundant and I'm sure save a lot of swearing as the wretched thing doesn't come off easily etc

It's a good web forums didn't exist 25+ years ago to hear the shellacking would have got for some of their more heinous models!

I'm looking forward to the D6xx as well. Way too young to have seen the real thing but think it's a momumental pity the last ones were scrapped in Barry in 1980...

Thanks! Much appreciated

Hi Any tips on the best / most effective track cleaning systems? Are those ones built into wagons effective? Many thanks in advance!

Don't mock! My three year old loves watching these videos - in particular will at intercity82. As a consequence he's quite good at identifying different a4s, blue pullmans, eurostars and pendolinos.

Hmm - basically stuff that's not common to the red and blue box brigade. For those of us too young to have seen steam outside preserved lines, tie-ins with what we can see would be good or stuff that captures the imagination Suggestions 1) lner quad art set per the north norfolk set 2) lner silver jubilee set. Crying out for it given Hornby 's version is basically dreadful 3) 29xx saint / Atlantic - obv tie in with the didcot project 4) 111 the great bear - iconics/seem to sell well whether recent or long lost( cf P2)