Karl

I think the problem now for manufacturers in upgrading models like the Britainnia's or any model made since the early 2000s is simply how good the models are. When introduced they were much better models than what there was so say the old tooling had been £60 and the (then) new was £110 modellers views were that the new ones were £50 better than the old so bought them. We're now at a stage where new tooled model are pushing £230/£240 and any new tooled next year are likely to breach £250 so modellers will be thinking the 2000s tooling you can pick up for say £150 (or less, last week I got a Hornby standard 4 for £85) is the new one going to be £100 better...probably not. So may not buy it, its a question of value. More of the as yet never done models may be necessary for companies to look at simply to get enough of us parting with our cash.

2 hours ago, MikeParkin65 said:

Whilst most definitely not wishing to promote a 'blue box/red box' debate I must say that in terms of robustness my experience is that Bachmann are exceptional in the 00 rtr market for models arriving complete and being able to withstand what I consider reasonable handling. At least part of Bachmanns secret is leaving vulnerable parts like drain cocks for the buyer to fit. 

That's an interesting point and your last sentence appears to be pertinent to the Std 2 particularly given the two that I have. My 78022 arrived yesterday and looks great and runs very nicely but unlike the standard releases (I have 78054) Hornby have pre-fitted the drain cocks to the Collectors club model which on mine (and in the photos in this thread of other peoples) have been bent by the blister packaging. Mine are quite firmly bent and so I am trying to think of a way to ease them straight without snapping them.

It's interesting that different releases of the same basic model have this slight difference. Perhaps there is an assumption that collectors club members won't be running their models...

For anyone else who pre-ordered in 2021 for the 78022 Club exclusive I think the question of are they being honoured has been answered. I've been charged for it and the order updated to Processing from Pending. So looks like the original orders have been kept which is great!

A second batch of manors could be on the cards given the first batch appears all but sold at Accurascale.

47 minutes ago, Kaput said:

Blurred image of the club magazine in the latest club email looks very like a maroon livered steam loco

I thought it looked like a maroon steam. Didn't they do the 8F in maroon as a club model in N... they do like to do the same in both gauges so maybe we're getting that! 😂

3 hours ago, stewartingram said:

No recent steam locos? Short memories, what about the V2?

I think the comments on steam outline are more that since Bachmann switched to the quarterly announcements there hasn't been an all new 00 gauge steam loco announced rather than none released since the switch. From memory since the switch in terms of non commissions there's been 94xx, Midland 1p and the V2 which were all announced prior to the change in announcement system.

Diesels I think there's been Class 20/24/25/37/47 announced and delivered since the move to quarterly annoucements and the 69 announced. So perhaps people (including myself) are hoping there's something coming for steam as it feels 00 steam is due a turn.

I was expecting the Penrhyn ladies as 2-4-0s but with those already done I think that makes the NG16s more likely or perhaps a single Fairlie 'Taliesin' but I don't know if there latter would generate enough sales as they're aren't many liveries. The Hunslet 4-6-0 would be a nice model alongside the Baldwin but again unlike the Baldwins only ran in black I think. It does feel long overdue for a 00 steam now so perhaps one of those. A L&Y A class would be a good shout with lots of liveries or could they go after something like an 8F.

I agree a 45596 would be very nice!

Wasn't there a tease at the end of the Chaldron launch video that they were off to measure something else at Beamish? Could have just been a joke. Although I'm thinking this'll be rolling stock rather than engine.

3 hours ago, cctransuk said:

OK - I'm going to break my own rule re 'Are we nearly there yet', as I am getting a little concerned.

 

I have 7810 'Draycott Manor' DCC Ready on order and paid-for, directly from Accurascale.

 

Simple question; has anyone received one of these yet?

 

CJI.

 

 

I'm awaiting a 7812, 7810 and 7820 direct. So you can rest assured I think that the black ones and 7810 are in the set expected at accurascale towers next week. So hopefully they'll start arriving with customers from the week commencing 4th. I'm certainly not expecting them before the middle of that week anyway.

Autumnal colour is definitely arriving at Tanyglaslyn, some quick phone snaps as the glue dries in the evening light in the garden.

25 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

I think that sort of marketing 'initiative' (based on pinching the ideas of others) might well have ceased at Hornby!

Possibly!

I'm just really happy it looks like we're going to get an S160 as I have always wanted one.

Delayed by enemy action? Keep an eye on Hornby facebook for their own S160? 😂

1 hour ago, Kevin Johnson said:

Karl seafoam is excellent stuff to model trees and bushes with. The trees look just right on the edge of the rock face.

I agree re: sea foam although this will be the first time I've used it and spent some time doing it properly with flocks and sprays. The bushes in the rock faces and along the top are actually Primotrees Birch trees that I've cut up having bought the wrong size for use on the model (they were more 0 gauge scale!). Very happy with the Peco announcement of Welsh Pony and Palmerston for use on this too.

43 minutes ago, Dunalastair said:

Seafood trees?

I didn't see that autocorrect error! Seafoam.

A tiny bit more landscaping tonight of Bracken and trial placing some seafoam trees ahead of flocking.

32 minutes ago, Kevin Johnson said:

Karl the work and modelling you have put into the micro layout build is just brilliant. I love the colours of the rock faces and cottages. The foliage work is spot on, well done.👍

Thankyou very much. The natural light helps quite a bit I think, there is still quite a lot of work to do. The rocks/rock faces are just a layer of dark grey spray paint, then a pass over with a light grey spray paint followed by numerous washes of different shades of grey, brown, yellow, black and a small random wash of red. Then lots of re-going over. I can't really take any credit for the cottages as these are Bachmann Scenecraft and apart from where I have wiped spillage of a wash off them are straight from the box. The foliage is a mix of primotrees birch trees (cut up to give me bushes) and bushes. With the grasses, berry flock and heather being from the WorldWar Scenics range of static grasses and heather clumps built up in layers. 

I want to add a few more bushes and trees in to the scene and then it'll be on to the river and creating the cottage gardens. The station building has had some washes but requires much more work yet.

A bit more landscaping work done this afternoon. I am going for an early autumn look so there is plenty of berries and heather starting to appear, although some of this is lost to the background that is the garden. Just some phone snaps like the others in some lovely light this afternoon.

15 minutes ago, McC said:

 

If anyone fancies a job packing Manors in Birmingham, let us know :) 

Sadly live too far away! I hope my post didn't seem impatient it wasn't meant that way at all. 😁

24 minutes ago, rprodgers said:

Is it the case that Accurascale have so far only received a few versions of the Manor loco, or are they all in stock?

I suspect they're all in stock but it's taking time to get through them, I don't recall any "the first ones have arrived". That's certainly my hope as I've 7812, 7810 and 7820 on order direct. The later pair haven't appeared anywhere, so I'm guessing that they're doing a batch then sending to retailers and those with multiple orders are having any from the first batch kept to one side pending the others being opened in the warehouse. Given they're a sell out at accurascale it's probably just taking time to get through them all and send shop orders out too.

5 minutes ago, MikeParkin65 said:

For info/acton Dapol have 7802 late crest in their next run. 

Thanks Mike but having looked at the two models the obvious tyres on the Dapol wheels just put me off. But thankyou for thinking of all of us who have missed out to make sure we're aware of that option.

I'm debating trying to get an Torquay Manor from Accurascale and renaming.

Update as I have had a reply regarding if any could be added to the next production run (assuming there will be another run of Manors from Accurascale). I'm told that there isn't any chance of this but that those with cancelled orders will be contacted in the event of anyone cancelling their orders.

Also, refunds are already being progressed, was contacted this morning so fair play to them for sorting that element out quickly.

The disappointment will be further confounded I'm sure when the first ones appear on eBay.

Anyway, what's done is done. But if I can reiterate my vote for a 7803 with an intermediate tender that would help soften the blow... 😂

I've been meaning to say for a while but this is a wonderful micro layout with great scenic work. It really feels like it is an actual place and I particularly like the low relief front of an engine in the shed, not something I would ever have thought of but it just finishes that scene nicely.

2 minutes ago, HExpressD said:

Really weird situation, especially to only find out once other people had already received the exact same model. Presumably one of the Accurascale lads can shed some light, quite quick to reply I find which is refreshing!

Perhaps it was just over subscribed but the system still allowed orders to be placed. Still, got three on order direct from Accurascale so still hopeful of getting those yet! The 7802 money can sit in the bank in the hope that there's another release from them with the larger tender so I can do 7803.