cctransuk

Jason, You are (deliberately?) missing the point - the core audience for TT120 is not the same as that for 2mm. scale - it doesn't WANT to know the difference between classes of pannier tanks. You may wish that your fellow purchasers of Hornby's latest scale were more discerning, but they're not! CJI.

I'm afraid that the introduction of BR blue spelled the end of my interest in the current railway scene - nothing in that colour will ever disgrace my model railway. CJI.

I would repeat my opinion that the CURRENT TT120 market is not YET as sophisticated as the 2mm. or 4mm. scale ones. No-one is suggesting that TT120 will not develop to the same extent as the other scales but, as a newcomer, it is inevitable that it cannot yet support such detailed differentiation that you advocate. Personally, I think that Hornby would have been well advised to have released regional sets containing complete, albeit short, passenger and freight trains. CJI.

As has already been said, TT120 is largely aimed at the 'don't know, don't care' brigade. To that market, a pannier tank is a steam loco with square tanks and no tender - end of! CJI.

Perhaps so - in that case, it might be best if they proof-read Hornby's press releases, etc.! CJI.

This is what happens when you run a model train company with people who know nothing about trains! CJI.

An excellent composition; do the head and tail lights really appear so brilliant, or is that a function of the photographic exposure? CJI.

I would be interested to hear how the existing 'generic' coaches have sold - not via heresay, but from someone who has had a financial interest in selling them. I am aware that there is a sector of the market that isn't too fussed about accuracy, and just wants coaches to match the livery of locos. What I'm not certain of is how large, or otherwise, that sector really is. CJI.

I am now at the painting stage of this Southern Pride kitbuild, and can report a couple more pitfalls to avoid. The visible solebars above the bogies are too deep, and are intended to be built up from a fold-up web off the floor etch to which a supplied brass angle is soldered to form the lower flange. Break off the fold-up webs and discard them, and solder 2 x 2mm. brass angle beneath the floor, to give the impression of a channel section. The plastic bogie pivot bosses are also too deep - discard them and substitute an 8BA washer and nut on the supplied 8BA pivot screws. A couple of 2 x 2mm. plasticard sections glued beneath the floor, either side of the bogie pivot screw at one end, will eliminate any tendency for the body to rock. Running is excellent, and I managed to fit NEM pockets to the bogies by cutting and bending one of the brass bogie end bars. I don't know how SP came to introduce these design errors but, if built as intended, the finished models would tower way above all other stock. Built as described above, they run with buffers and rooves exactly matching Mk.1 stock. Photos to come after painting and lettering. CJI.

I strongly suspect that the fairings will be mounted on the shared bogie - wasn't that how they did the APT? CJI.

No - but persons who have been, have stated the fact, and study of the drawings confirms this. CJI.

Now that is no-compromise, utiltarian, raw brute power - and you needed to be a contortionist to get into the driver's seat! CJI.

Sorry, that broken nose reminds me of a bottom-of-the-bill boxer! CJI.

Cellulose paint, contrary to popular belief, IS still available. Any good car factor should be able to supply it, either in tins or as aerosols. You may have to provide some evidence that you require the paint for professional use - a home printed business card for, say, 'Joe Bloggs, Model Railway Locomotive Painter' should suffice. CJI.

As I understand it, Midland / LMS / BR 'maroon' is Crimson Lake; BR 'blood' is Carmine. CJI.

I have today purchased a couple of rattle-cans of Ford Burgundy Red from Halfords, which is my standard representation of BR Coach Crimson / Maroon. This time, it is for a couple of Southern Pride kits of the ANGLO SCOTTISH CAR CARRIERs. To my eyes, it is a spot-on reproduction of what I saw at 1:1 on the 'big railway'. CJI.

Tony, My 'final opus' is a mere 5 x 2.4 m. with a central operating area. Ten operationally wholly independant baseboards, designed from the outset to hinge vertically, sitting clear of the wall-mounted storage cupboards above - which have the baseboard lighting mounted beneath them. This gives excellent illumination of the boards when flat, or in their raised position for under-baseboard work. CJI.

Presumably taken today - on Bodmin Moor! CHI.

The very reason why all ten baseboards of my first and final opus hinge against the wall, and can be secured vertically for under-baseboard work! CJI.

Yes, I do think steam is a gimmick - for the simple reason that you cannot scale the laws of physics. Particles of water vapour produced by a miniature vapouriser simply do not, and never can, behave in the same manner as exhaust steam, mixed with combustion products, under pressure. Manufacturers MAY be being asked to produce ever more gimmicks by a certain sector of their customers, but I suspect the real reason is ever more competition in an ever more crowded marketplace. Anything to attract attention to your products. Go to any heritage steam railway were steam locomotives have to work hard, and ask yourself if Hornby's wisps of water vapour in any way reproduce the exhaust of a heavily worked loco at the head of a train. I suppose that, if you cannot discern whether a model loco on a layout has a single or a double chimney, then we are fast heading back to Tri-ang trains, where models of nothing in particular were painted up as a variety of supposed prototypes. Ducking giraffe wagons, anyone? First it was fixed, flangeless trailing truck wheels; now oval single chimneys; I'm sure that I'm not the only one dreading the next compromise on the altar of gimmickry! CJI.

Invalid comparison. We are not talking about a range of anything here - just a single feature. Releasing it early / only part developed will generate a sector of the market that reacts "No way - not with a gaping hole where the double chimney should be"! CJI.

There would seem to be an unseemly rush at Hornby to bring 'gimmicks' to market. First, we had working loco headlamps that were going to have to be fixed. Now, we have 'smoke' generation - which won't work with double chimneys. For those amongst us who are attracted by such things, it is good that Hornby are 'pushing the envelope'. However, as in all innovation, it is important to 'keep your powder dry' - in other words, not to rush to market. If the end goal is worth the effort, the desired impact on the market will only be achieved if the result is 100% effective. By trying to sell half-developed products, one is bound to question Hornby's commitment to this project. True game-changers are never achieved overnight - longer-term commitment is essential, not chasing quick returns. CJI.

Black is far from being an ideal undercoat - far better to use something like Halfords grey primer. CJI.

I can't see either option being a good seller for KRM. CJI.

Not sure that I could agree with that at all - but early EE shunter liveries are not my speciality! Someone more well informed will no doubt put us both right. CJI.