Islesy

And yet, with over 15,000 examples built across these four diagrams, they're hardly 'niche'...

The Slaters kit is one version, of one diagram, and still requires modelling to even begin to get near the sheer number of variants. I doubt Slaters sales will be affected at all.

The quoted price is correct, but is subject to 'local taxes' in this instance which VAT constitutes. So nothing to see here.....

Your view, and an opinion you are entitled to. We, on the other hand, disagree. All materials used are recyclable, if that a concern for you.

Well, as it forms a core part of our corporate approach to modelling, and the way we want to portray our brands, then yes, absolutely.

That would be shocking behaviour 🤣

Well Ian, that's the intention! It's great to have the support from you all that we do, and we hope to grow that relationship even further across the next 12 months (which will see a number of important model announcements and developments - in 00 of course) 😆

Even the Nelsons got into the act as well!

This picture, from Transport Age January 1959, would suggest otherwise @Cwmtwrch Proof, were it needed, that it is vital to reference photographs. It's the third similar variant of that Fyffes label that I have seen, although it hasn't featured in any of the photographs that I have used for artwork reference...

Well, obviously, if we had wanted to dabble in TT, we've had two years to develop a range to bring to market (the TT range was well advanced when I left Margate), but we're not looking to get involved in the SK ego circus. The range could have been so much more, and so much more relevant (warnings from the Dev team at Margate were aired at the time), but it's positioning is too 'traditional train set' orientated. At least it means there's an abundance of 12mm track on the market 😉

Hornby's runs are (or at least they were, 2 years ago when I left) 1000 units per livery. Sometimes higher (Rocket pack was 4000 initially) and sometimes lower (an A+B+C+D run of coaches or wagons might be 500 units per SKU)

As illustrated Matt.

There aren’t though, and market research and many, many interactions with customers over the years by the team has proven that. Quality and value-for-money are the driving factors in this hobby. As far as single wagons go, we’ll continue to offer an odd wagon from a range as an exclusive release as the opportunity presents itself. Best wishes, Paul

It was great to chat to you both, and the feedback you gave from a ‘younger’ perspective is quite valuable!

More mixed packs leads to more logistical problems for the factory in terms of assembly, painting and printing Chris, which is why there are only a couple of mixed packs (and only where absolutely necessary to reproduce a particular livery style for a triple pack). This, in turn, leads to increased production costs, which none of us want to see, do we? Triple packs are ‘our’ USP, it’s how Accurascale approach the market, and it helps to save a couple of pounds at RRP over the cost of single wagons, which carry more packaging and create more SKUs at the warehouse and logistical end. We do produce odd single wagons here and there in the range, usually as Exclusive editions and usually for one off type liveries. Wagons very rarely run as singles on the mainline and even in block trains with different origin wagons, there will be more than one example of a single type present in a rake. Hope that helps to lessen your objection, now you have an insight? Best wishes, Paul

Morning John, just catching up on some of the most sensible questions posed over the weekend! The reason for the emphasis on Geest labels over Ffyfes labels on the BR stock is purely down to the availability of quality photographs, which mainly show the Geest branding. In a similar way, the only photograph I hold of a van carrying the Jamaica Producers label has it ripped beyond reproducible elements. The majority of my photographs, outside of those reproduced in books, come via Mike King, so if you, or indeed anyone else, have odd photographs showing 1478/1479 vans, then by all means, please share them with me. Artwork will always be produced based on physical evidence where absolutely possible.

I have photographic, and documentary proof that this is indeed correct, and the subject has been discussed with Mike King.

At last, someone twigged 😉

I prefer something from the orchard 😉 #justsaying

Sorry, I don't get what you are trying to say here? All of our announcements are backed up by engineering samples, so our customers can see that we have invested heavily in actually cutting metal and as we progress through each subsequent step in the manufacturing process, we take great pains in communicating progress (including where any delays may have occurred). This puts Accurascale (and Irish Railway Models) far ahead of many of our competitors, some of whom are only too glad to continue with 'vapourware' announcements.

Resin coal loads for the Chaldrons will shortly be dispatched from the factory, and should be available soon. They do bring the weight up nicely. Best wishes, Paul

That’s an awful lot of letters being bandied about. Not sure we’re going to need all them where we’re going….

The nearest you’ll come to a similar waggon are the Chaldron-esque types of the Carlisle and Maryport Railway.

Somewhere, a village is mourning the loss of one of it’s inhabitants…

Well, you’re in for a treat then @Pre Grouping fan😉