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In one of my super detailing moments I wondered if the Dean Goods snow plough is sold separately. I don’t want to have one attached to a loco and the Oxford DG seems an unfortunate foray into the world of detail Rtr modelling but maybe left by the buffer stop at the back of the shed (suitably weathered) for when it is needed it might be a useful addition. Does anyone know the part number and I will blag(acquire) one from Oxford.

The new Saint even with all its reused Hall parts will be more modern than anything diesel or electric but I take your point.

A Saint is the obvious missing link in express passenger locos and with the GWS rebuild due to complete in 2019, that seems like a reasonable bet. I doubt Hornby will take on a Manor unless they are sure Bachmann are not close to a retool.

There is also a bit about the LMS 8F locos built at Swindon and the USA 8 coupled locos used on the GWR. My preferences for books is longer captions when there are lots of photos which this book has but generally a good book and quite informative.

The Maidment book on GWR 8 coupled freight locos has a picture on p61 of 5266 mid conversion to a 72xx with straight frames and outside steam pipes. There is also a picture of 7239 which 5274 became on p73 showing the loco in 1938 with stepped frames and outside steam pipes. Not definitive but I think Hornby have it right with outside steam pipes even if the number as 5274 was short lived. The book also says 5274 was never stored and ran until conversion in Feb 1936. The number was therefore carried until this date and 5274 was the last 5205 converted as from 7240 onwards they used the older 42xx locos. Hope that helps.

I’ve always thought Hornby’s choice of number for 5274 was an odd one. 5274 was stored soon after construction and then converted to become 7239 and so had limited life as that number. The 5274 number was not reached when a further batch of 5205 locos were built in 1940. Whilst I have two 42xx locos I’ve held off buying 5274 as it doesn’t quite feel right. I could renumber one but with the ski jump issues I’ve been put off.

In one of the last photos, not the video.

Hmm, dilemma alert. My layout is nowhere near the Cricklewoid Toton sphere of Garrett operation but, and this might swing it, my grandfather was Shed master at Cricklewood Shed. It will definitely be rule one operation with a capital R. I resisted last time as I was wary of the Hattons Heljan link up which in hindsight avoided the resultant issues. This time however I’m sorely tempted! Releasing a new GWR RTR class like an Aberdare would have been so much easier to justify. At least it could hide in the shed with the other GWR locos when the snap Shed master inspection takes place. A rogue LMS loco won’t be quite so inconspicuous!

I’m currently scratch building a model of Ross on Wye station and have sourced a set of rooftop railings. Does anyone know of a colour picture or is aware of the colour of the rooftop railings in GWR days. Most photos don’t show them in close up and are black and white views. BR definitely painted them black and I’ve confirmed that in a 1960s view post repaint. I am aware Kidderminster Town is a replica of Ross on Wye and the SVR have painted theirs black but other photos of similar stations with railings such as Truro, Winchester Chesil or Dartmouth appear to be light/medium/dark stone. Any help would be much appreciated.

I’m fairly thick skinned but your tone is unacceptable. I sympathise but can see why Hornby are holding back on any easy fixes. I sorted mine for less than 50p and an hour of my time but am blowed if am going to share that. I also respect that you shouldn’t need to implement on a new model however cheap or expensive.1.

The Belle model is basically a loco plus 4coaches and unless you have some severe gradients a second motor will give little in my opinion and may result in the pair of motors jerking the unpowered coaches between. Good prototypical idea but in my view a waste of money.

I converted my 705 into the Swansea Harbour Trust version with Narrow Planet makers plates and, new 701 number plates, removed the gigantic shirtbutton and applied Great Western on the tanks and fitted an old bell I had between the cab and safety valve on top of the tank. I might alter the cab back sheet one day but for now I’m happy andRuke 1 applies as the loco has been requisitioned on its way back to Swansea Docks by the Shed master following its works overhaul.....

There are two separate threads for these announcements. Do we need a 3rd?

Not bothered about No 34 as the Hornby/Lima version is quite acceptable and the motor is well hidden. The twinsets however would be great although my Westward kit I have is perfect for me. I would be tempted by the other pair as I have 35/36. The railcars are a good choice for Heljan.

I’m a sucker for the GW diesel railcars! Heljan clearly know my weak spot with 9 in the fleet already including a Westward Kit No 18 and a Westward Kit twin set. The OO versions will be hard to resist! No1, a buffet car and No17 would complete all variants. Oh dear, time to hide under a rock and chant incessantly. Better start saving instead as resistance will be futile!!!

And the warflats?

Final CAD images posted on Dapil Digest for the Churchward Mogul. Look good to my untrained eye.

A man after my own heart!!!. An Aberdare would be a definite purchase and is one of the few Long lived classes outstanding to be done by a RTR manufacturer. Edited as had a blonde moment! Doh! Aberdares were a Dean loco, but still long lived.

That’s really helpful thanks. I definitely have Gw Green shirtbutton 8700 and an 8750 in Great western but my 3D printed 97xx is a bit of an unknown. I think I have the br black body somewhere as I was going to sell it on but never did. All my panniers were on my ‘keep an eye on list’ along with all my other Mainline locos and their Bachman brothers/sisters. Next time I do my cleaning I might hook them all out together and compare.

I have a few 57xx and 8750 panniers and I didn’t think Bachman had ever upgraded the split chassis on these. My Mainline 5764 and Replica 7768 are doing just fine with their split chassis but is there a definitive list of which Bachman panniers has/hasn’t got the new/old chassis. Returning to topic, none of mine have a wobble or try and show me their dance floor moves!

The Kernow email says it’s this: Cornish Traction by Stephen Heginbotham £14.99 Afraid I don’t know how to paste the picture of the front cover but there are lots of blue and grey diesels on the front.

In Fridays newsletter it said there ‘might’ be a new announcement to coincide with the book signing. As the book is a modern traction publication(I think) likely to be some sort of modern wagon I suspect. No harm in some unadultered frothing though..... Am hoping something pre nationalisation as there has been lots of post nationalisation stuff coming out of Cornwall recently.

The Engine Shed could be the most fabulous showcase for Hornby and the EP and painted samples are certainly welcome but it needs to be complemented by Facebook, Twitter, attendance at shows, website images and updates and talking to customers and retailers. Don’t get me wrong ES is great but it’s become virtually the only form of marketing communication at a time when Hornby needs to get its good news message out there and encourage sales consistently. Every new release by a competitor should be followed by a complimentary post from Hornby. For instance, the Heljan 47xx is out but Hornby should have followed that with “hey what about our toad from last year”. Hornby need to be in your face . Hornby Mag do it with their train formations pages and Hornby could follow that lead. Lyndon eloquently expressed his chairman’s message earlier this week in a straight forward way but the ES should have expanded on that and said here is our plan, this is the new way and here are the fantastic models, aren’t we great. Instead it starts with a negative message/apology, shows their wares and then says it’ll return next month but we don’t know when. I think my earlier post tried (poorly I admit) to say this months ES was a missed marketing opportunity. I am Hornby biggest fan and I hope they survive embracing the digital world is part of that.

After all the delay and anticipation created by the delay it is massively underwhelming! I’ll probably get shot down for being negative but it says very little other than it’ll be once a month but when we feel like publishing and when we can be bothered!!!

Well my Great Western 4705 arrived yesterday to join my shirtbutton 4704. There was a tiny piece of black Lshaped plastic in the box and i spent ages looking for where it came from. I had the advantage of being able to compare the locos but if am honest i can’t see its location. It is a round pipe like section so not a lamp iron and it’s stored now in case it’s location comes to light. The new loco and it’s sister run very sweetly and am very impressed. Yes I’ve been lucky re no damage and whilst there has been some criticism - some justified, im not complaining. Well done Heljan. Don’t desert OO gauge steam for O gauge and there must be something in the pipeline as there are no locos awaited in OO.