Black 5 Bear

Hardly over reacting, like many others I will not pay Bachmann's inflated prices. There is very much a ceiling as to what people will pay and I think we are pretty near the top. When you now look at the E4 in all liveries, they can now be had for a reasonable £85 at local shops not the usual box shifters. If you listen to respected media economists, they predict zero inflation with zero interest rates and tumbling commodity prices worldwide or in other words god forbid another recession. I'm well aware of increased labour costs, however that isn't the whole story and doesn't provide an acceptable explanation for these increases before a model has even seen the light of day. Bachmann may well be advised to remember that these items are a luxury and not a necessity !!!!

I've just cancelled my pre-order for this loco which has now risen to £131.95 with the 15% Bachmann discount already taken off. This item is still 18 months away from release, how much will it be then????? Seems a tad expensive given the new Hornby King can be had for a tad under £140. Think I'll take my chance and wait for the discounts, these will inevitably happen like in the case of the LBSCR liveried E4......

October, November and December says my local dealer. Please see post 180 for details. We may however be pleasantly suprised if Hornby pull something out of the bag. The fact that they are not available as yet in OZ or NZ makes the above dates credible.

Considering they are supposed to be a sell out at Bachmann,why is it that many dealers throughout the country have stock of each model ??? Good discounts are already available and will now doubt get better as time goes on where the emphasis will be on shifting them.

Rob, good to have you back on board. Nice piccies, you're spoiling us again !!!!

Sorry about the duff info, the replacement bogie unit for a Hornby Class 4MT 460 is X9987. It is available directly from Hornby for the princely sum of £1.99 + P+P.

From what folk have said, front bogie wheel set from Hornby 4MT tank are ideal. Hope this assists.

My local shop gives delivery dates of October for the SR Green version, November for the late BR and December for the early crest BR S15s. Even the Hornby engine shed video states that this was a signed production sample and that delivery will be very soon, so the dates given by my local retailer look credible.

Railroad since the P2 and Crosti now have a very different customer base, this can only be seen as a positive leap in the right direction. More of the same standard next year please Hornby, a well deserved pat on the back I think from most members of the modelling fraternity.....

Greetings, does anyone as yet know whether the smoke deflector fitted to the late BR variant of the Crosti can be fitted to the earlier version, or are they separate body mouldings ???

A new body for the current 9f would be welcome now that Hornby have gone to the trouble to update the chassis unit. Putting aside a later version Crosti for the moment, I think these would also sell very well......

That is a brilliant idea and a good compromise which should also keep manufacturing costs down...

More likely to see them first in Australia or New Zealand I think......

Definately the Railroad version R3171, looked very nice I must say. Separately fitted metal buffers at the front, however the tender still has the moulded variety.....

Thanks Callum, you didn't disappoint, another superb review on a quality product.Well done.....

Not the case I'm afraid, the original batch of both Railroad and enhanced versions of the P2 were moulded plastic as per the Duke of Gloucester...

Saw the newly released Railroad version of this loco in Model Junction in Bury St Edmunds this afternoon, looked really good. Hornby have updated the specification of this model,the front buffers are now separately fitted turned metal components which enhance it's looks considerably. It would be nice if the enhanced version be re-released with these features.

What replacement wheels for the front bogie did you use, If you don't mind me asking ???

Both versions have their own merits differing in detail.I'd like to make the final comparison after a bit of weathering on the Crosti.....

Look forward to your forthcoming Crosti video review Callum.....

If you don't believe what I have put on this blog please feel free to look at the traders website. I never said there was a problem with any of this stock and by the way I'm not in a habit of making things up thank you very much....

Agreed Ian, Hereford Model Centre for one perform this function, I personally have never had a faulty item supplied by them and their customer service is very good. I don't think for one minute there is anything wrong with the Crosti, at least Hornby are being pre-emptive and upping their game in the QC area. This as we're all aware has been lacking in the past. A pat on the back for Hornby I think.

I will be ordering at least two variants of these, absolutely superb detailing......