ruggedpeak

Which is precisely how Class 360's pull away in real life. I travel on them regularly, and they creep away to get the train rolling and once it has all the wheels turning it floors it! I assume this is part of the control system as it does it all the time regardless of conditions, and presumably explains their ability to accelerate pretty fast without slip etc. I don't know if real life Pendolinos do something similar as I've only been on one once ?

Not sure 'naysayers' is necessary. For many consumers, still the vast majority, paper offers a better medium. I guess it would help the BRM team to understand a bit more on your circumstances and how you read the mag. As some of us have said, for those who read it at work or commuting, the magazine is far more convenient if we have to carry it around. That will help them understand where the digital market lies. My guess is that digital will remain a niche in the specialist magazine sector, maybe only getting to 25% of sales until there is a vast improvement in the usability and functionality of digital devices. I suspect the penetration of digital into non-specialist mags (Hello, OK etc) is probably higher as the content is lower brow and readers have no interest in long term retention (i.e. it is disposable content). Digital is simply a new means of delivering BRM's content, but for various reasons it is likely to remain a niche for some time. All credit to BRM to try to grow it, but it needs to overcome various hurdles around delivering what a broad range of customers require. I have to confess to being a little surprised by the double page spreads like the excellent photo on p40/41 having a line down the middle - I expect that on paper but on screen? Being a demanding customer (!) I'd love to be able to have a shot like that as wallpaper on my PC, or at least double click to get the picture clear of text etc. I know this is down to Pocketmags and not BRM, but hopefully they can find ways to leverage the tech to maximise the benefit of excellent photography. I certainly expect to be able to see Andy Y's great photography without the non-existent binding being visible! The line down the middle reminds me of Tom Petty's (RIP) comments half way through the CD version of his album "Full Moon Fever"

So I tried the digital edition. Long story short, I went out and bought the print edition as the content is really good this month and I did want to actually read it. Various issues with the app trying to get it to work, on one device it is trying to force me to link it to an MS account. No thanks. Text is fuzzy on double page mode, functionality of the app is very limited, video content needs wifi and can't be downloaded with the mag (no use a commuters like me - shouldn't need constant wifi to access already paid for content). Overall no real advantages over print and many disadvantages. Needs to match functionality of Acrobat Reader for me to use it. How do we print off the plan on p.38 for example? I read on the train, so I chuck 1 magazine in my work bag and keep it there until it is read, then swap it for another. Very convenient, no charging things or messing about or downloading or whatever. Magazine works now and will do so forever. For those who want to have a go the following may help: If you don't have a Pocketmag account, try downloading the app and registering an account. On the Windows version you get a free magazine (from a limited selection) In terms of purchasing BRM, put the mag into a basket (having created an account and logged in) and leave it overnight. You may find 5% off the next day in your email as they chase you to complete the purchase - does it work with subscriptions, don't know, but worth a try! Quite a common trick online, so for non-urgent purchases create a basket and leave it. If anyone knows why on my Win10 notebook it won't let me use the Pocketmag app without linking it to a Microsoft account, do let me know. Not wasting more time trying to find out but if there is an easy solution will give it a try. I may be unusual in openly reading railway magazines in public. However I don't get approached by people, odd or otherwise. But then I'm not a top celebrity modeller!!

Just noticed at Romford PW depot that Colas have 4 portacabins stacked 2x2 as per Bachmann or Knightway models(?) in full Colas black and orange livery with logos. Nice bit of modelling potential. Willl try to get a pic as I fly past at 70mph+!

My candidate for pic of the year so far in the latest issue of Rail Express. Two flask trains passing, both double headed by 68's in DRS Compass liveries. Great shot and easy to model (not cheap though!)

A quick Google shows that some retailers do 'encourage' Checkout staff to scan as fast as possible, and some report being 'let go' for being too slow. Indeed there is an entire Facebook page/site dedicated to overly speedy checkout assistants at Aldi. It is a thing.

A lot to do with China and Russia generating large amounts of electricity from coal fired power stations, cos it's cheap and they don't have to import it from other countries. 62% of Chinese electricity is coal generated. Not exactly helping on the global warming/climate change front.

Maplin were a poorly run retailer who didn't respond to the changes around them. To drift off into treatise about windfarms and the EU is bonkers! If you want to read about something even more bonkers, read up on what has happened to Homebase after it was bought an Australian company. Currently for sale but a real mess.

Here's Ben in action, this is what we were discussing at Warley! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-37940012

On reflection I think we need a new super detail 66. Bachmann's is tired and is now just a clothes horse for new liveries. It is arguably holding modelling back - it needs replacing so the Bachmann one can become the equivalent of the Hornby Railroad. The real things will be around for some time so there is longevity for tooling, and GBRF and others doing lots of liveries keep the options open. They are at an age where mods and upgrades on the real thing will create more opportunities.

To be fair I didn't do much of the talking.......... And my chat with Ben Ando was mostly about archaeological digs in Norfolk!

I got the last sets of Gibson wheels for 2 Cambrian kits I bought from H&A, who explained about the reasons for a lack of stock was due to illness. Not a trader or show issue. Glad to hear all is back to normal. I would say that even at big shows there is sometimes a lull on stands, and I've certainly managed to have reasonably in-depth conversations with the likes of Ben Ando of Revolution and Charlie of DC Kits at Warley in the past when they had a quiet moment. That said I had a long and interesting chat with Mark of Make Your Mark Models at the Colchester Show a year or two back - he does local shows rather than the big ones http://www.makeyourmarkmodels.com/page18.htm I tend to meander around shows and pounce where there are gaps rather than trying to fight through the hordes! Works well, especially on Sundays. I have travelled around the country on occasions to smaller shows as you do get to see many more layouts and a greater variety of traders. I think local shows are as useful as the big ones.

I think overall the model railway market is in rude health, as the sheer volume of serious investment in new models demonstrates, but it is also changing significantly. At Ally Pally there were quite a few larger retailers with acres of stock, yet Hattons had a large amount of floorspace but were not directly selling anything, despite being a well known volume seller. Instead they offered a spacious stand demonstrating all their new commissions. It appeared to be a similar size to Hornby's but was more impressive in terms of models on display. A statement of intent?

Are there any known problems with Bachmann 47 drive trains? Having run my 'Rebecca' in last week i started using it to pull a few wagons this morning and after a few runs it now has a graunching sound as it stops as if the gears are grinding over themselves. Sounds like the drive train is on the way out. As it is brand new and fiddling with fine parts in modern model mechanicals is now my speciality, I will seek a replacement but wondered if this is a known issue? Thanks.

I suspect there are several factors here, including better planning by manufacturers. Retailers are being more sophisticated in their pricing, no longer discounting everything. It makes little sense to apply maximum discount to products that are expectd to fly off the shelves regardless of price - that's an unnecessary loss of profit. Also remember all retailers are getting hit with major increases in business rates. Some boxshifters have considerable real estate, so will be paying a lot more in fixed costs.

Here's one that can be done in oo with RTR stock including Thomas (courtesy of WNXX.com) http://www.wnxx.com/18/1803/260318/66020.htm

I'm staggered at the complaints about show times. They were advertised in advance. As for traders, the bargains of previous are long gone, but there was plenty of variety of pricing if you looked. A Hornby FGW 08 could had at anything from £70 to its rrp. I rummaged and found some hard to find Heljan Cargowaggon flats. I attempted to haggle, resulting in the trader finding unweathered versions that met my price expectations. We have to accept the industry is (rightly) moving away from the dumping of stock, and expectations of ridiculously cheap items need to be tempered. I would agree that some of the secondhand prices were taking proverbial - several items could be bought new on other stands for less than the secondhand price! It was a good day out. Not only did my £13 get me in and provided a guide I will refer in the future, but also generated the same value in free stuff including magazines (acquired legally!). Great setting, easy parking, quiet on Sunday morning, and plenty of good layouts. By the time I've accounted for the free stuff, postage on purchases I've not had to pay for and a free weathering demo I'm quids in. Excellent value for money.

Enjoyed the show today. Thanks to the chap at the DEMU stand who talked me through weathering an OCA. Learnt a huge amount in 15 minutes

A quick look at the WTT will show it more like 10 to 1, but as I've explained here before, the GEML has plenty of opportunity to run all sorts of unusual trains that do run on the line using RTR stock. Have been admiring the MRC's new OO layout which is a scale replica of Ingatestone station on the GEML. Looks good and will watch it being built with interest. I tihnk this will be a great GEML layout. They are trying to make it as accurate as possible, replicating the OHL as it exists today. http://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/layouts/ingatestone

Picked up my Colas 47 from the post office, very pleased. First time I've bought from the Hobby Shop, Faversham. Won't be the last. Fab deal on this model

I see on WNXX.com that the latest GBRF 66 repaint is in Biffa waste management colours! I thought 67's were called skips.......

The ebay seller has dropped the price of the loop to £15 Bought some more and got 2018 Roco catalogues included in the delivery

One smaller indie retailer is offering a good deal on one of the dealer editions. Won't say who but they advertise on here but you may need to be quick. I've certainly bought from a retailer I've never used before. Nice one Bachmann.

Link seems to have been changed and getting a 404. This one seems to work. http://www.directtrainspares-burnley.co.uk/stockists.html

Thanks chaps. Lesson learnt, only use colours that you will fit with the ballast in future e.g. brown and black. I think some wet felt tip will resolve.