ruggedpeak

Thanks for all the input After a lull and half term I've got back to track planning. The plan above ended up requiring me to buy 2 new points despite having quite a few knocking about. After more playing around with what I had to hand (a variety of Peco streamline points that are too long and lots of LH Hornby/Bachmann ones) and trying to work out how to build a track plan requiring lots of RH points when I had lots of LH ones, it eventually dawned on me (not the sharpest, clearly!) that if I flipped the plan over then all the RH points would become LH ones! Which means I can stick to using what track I have already, one of the objectives. The rulers show the length of key rolling stock, and using the short points and pushing points into the fiddle yard the Class 143 can now run everywhere on the layout. I then wondered if a 156 would fit but it doesn't and I'm not extending it again to fit. The format seems a bit more conventional but it is workable and all the scenic areas are linked via the fiddle yard, so stock does not have to be moved by hand. The fiddle yard board is the same length as the scenic area for simplicity. I was also toying with installing Kadee uncouplers but the electric ones are about £20 a piece (3 are required) and I haven't got Kadee couplings as yet (and reading up on them its a bit fiddly due to NEM pocket heights etc) so will leave that for now. Next steps are to lay out this plan and also cut a piece of chipboard to size for the fiddle yard.

My DRS version ships Tuesday, delayed from today due to credit card number changing. Retailer advises it has been inspected and apart from the known livery issue it is undamaged with all buffers attached and has non-wonky nameplates We will see what arrives next week.......excited again now I know its on its way.

Hopefully Hornby will turn out some Colas 67's in due course then Although I have a spare 67 body so.... Great news that 67's are getting used.

I pre-ordered a DCC ready version from a retailer and it has yet to appear. Somewhat frustrating to hear that they are sitting in stock at MRS yet I haven't got mine. I'm assuming that's a distribution/allocation issue. I agree with the worry about lack of stock and pre-ordering, hence I pre-ordered on this occasion. Off to my local model store later to see if they have any in stock. I wonder about the model of the 88 - if I were Hornby and I had capacity I'd be straight round to DRS with an offer to deliver the 88 100% correct and properly made. Probably with a suitcase full of Pecketts to hand out as incentives!

And lives on the moon? Or can they make a quick call to ask him how to fix it before next Thursday, and then perhaps do a quick Youtube video or something?

Tried to change my pre-order from DRS to Chiltern but the retailer has sold all its allocation (noting post above re Chiltern version!). Will wait for the DRS version to arrive and see how it is. Hattons seem to have plenty of Chiltern and Scotrail in stock but no DRS.

DRS 68017 Hornet dragging a single Greater Anglia Mk3 from Norwich Crown Point to Ilford for tyre turning (I think...)

Of course the wonky liveried first edition DRS models will become sought after collectors items in a few years time and worth a fortune! People will be trawling the stands at shows looking for the elusive wonky DRS 68's once Dapol release the rest of the class in non-wonky format..

I wonder which transfer maker will be the first to release 'one-side only' transfer sets for DRS 68's? On a serious note I note that my pre-ordered DRS 68 has yet to show any signs of appearing from the retailer. Are shipments staggered or have they sent them back? I am pondering swapping the order for a Bachmann 57. At full price I don't think the livery error is acceptable. Neither is the nameplate glue but I'd live with that, just look like all my ebay bought 2ndhand models! There is a logic to waiting for another batch as with over 30 examples in real life, no doubt more liveries to come and Dapol having tooling to pay for so there will be more made in the future. And despite the issues they seem to be able to sell them. Or perhaps just wait for it to arrive and turn a nice profit on Ebay!

As an aside, whilst enjoying a post-Granite Way cycle ride lunch at the Bulleid Cafe at Okehampton Station last week they have a lovely Bernard Jones print for sale of a BR liveried USA tank at Meldon station. Its on the wall near the ceiling if you want to see it. I have a photo but not sure about copyright.

Who is paying for the retailer's time in doing that, or indeed spending a lot of time dealing with potentially a lot of returns - something that is time consuming and expensive, and then perhaps arguing with Dapol about credit etc. Whilst a retailer will absorb some faulty items if it becomes a lot then they lose money, and the margins on a £125 loco (that's the VAT inclusive price) won't be huge. If as suggested they've checked those that arrived and found high proportion are defective it may make business sense to send the lot back and focus on things that do sell with limited returns. Not a retailer's job to spend time and money fixing manufacturing problems.

Thanks for the comments. Still trying to get rid of a bout of man-flu so no progress beyond buying some supplies for the scenery. I did look at the siding and as below there is just enough clearance. I also agree with JDW's comment about the platform- that's the thing that is bothering me as I don't think it will look great. There will be the big gap and an overly wide and one sided platform. I've made the top edge of the large platform area will be fenced as it is shorter than the other side and long enough for a Pacer. An early iteration was a straight platform instead of the curve, but you lose the length to get a 153 in and be clear of the points. I also tried a Y point but it was not good either. I think I'll revisit the entire station/platform area.

With limited prospects of a full size layout any time soon due to space, work and studying, I've decided to explore micro layouts using a piece of chipboard I found in the garage. I've been reading up on micro layouts over Xmas, and am keen to make one and do some modelling. The plan is to use what I have as far as possible, which means the chipboard, cheap but brand new Hornby and Bachmann track as well as 20+ year old Peco and other track I l kept from my teenage layout. I have a good selection of track from discounted train sets and track packs I've bought. This means insulfrog points but Hornby points are nice and short, ideal for a small space. The objective is to have a very small layout that has operating potential for my existing D&E Stock and be modern image. I envisage it being set in an urban environment surrounded by retaining walls and tunnels. One end is a terminus, with trains coming in from the left from a simple fiddle yard. It is not intended to be prototypical but offer lots of scope for movement. It will be set for DC but will allow DCC function as I have a few DCC locos. The chipboard is 683 x 250mm, and the plan is to have a very small terminus station with 2 routes, utilising my existing DMU stock of 153, 143 and 150's. Planning is a mix of placing the various track parts I have and using the very useful AnyRail software. This led to the following layout: The primary line is at the top, leading to the 2 car platform that will take a 143 but nothing longer (e.g. not a 158). The second platform will only take a single car unit like the 153, or a single equivalent coach such as a Mk3. The line off this platform will be a short urban branch service run by the 153, and a link to the sidings below. The line below will be the headshunt of some larger facility that will allow 08's, Sentinels etc to move wagons or coaches around. With a Wabtec Sentinel this could be a coach facility. Rolling stock appearing on these sidings can then reappear on the second line into the platform, to be left for collection. Perhaps single Mk3's are dropped off and collected by a loco, as per real practice, for repair. These are then collected by a shunter and pulled along the branch. The plan is for basic point motor operation by building a frame for the chipboard and using old Peco motors and switches I have. Signals will have to be bought new, with multi aspect at the end of each platform, feathers on the branch line. I assume ground signals may be required but have no idea what, so any suggestions appreciated. Track will be laid on cork and ballasted. The platform at the top will eb quite narrow so will have to see how that works out. I've bought Metcalfe kits for Viaduct (the left hand side scenic break) and platforms to experiment with. Next step is to dig through my old boxes and tins and find the point motors, switches, wire etc, and then build a frame.

Spoken to MRD, 68's haven't come in yet, it's the other item. Account history says order complete and shipped, but turns out it's only part. Apologies for the false alarm.

I have the "Diesel Hauled Passenger Trains - The Story of 2016" DVD and the flickering of the 68's lights is really obvious on that, looks like they are flasing lights rather than a normal headlight.

Just had an email from Model Railways Direct saying my pre-order has shipped. I pre-ordered a OO Defiant and the Bachmann Highland DTCL set at the same time, but order history seems to say both have shipped together. Website shows DTCL in stock and Defiant sold out. Somewhat excited.......

Hornby have twigged that people want decent length trains and cheaper wagons, so there is easy money knocking out cheap but relevant Railroad wagons - the 2017 Hornby HAA is £8 at Hattons pre-order. Who can make a kit for that price? If they shift (and at only a few hundred quid for a full MGR excluding motive power I think they will) we may see some more cheaper RTR. They are also re-releasing VIX Ferry Wagons at sub-£20 retail, much less than what is being asked for newly tooled wagons.

Oh well, thought it was a nice short consist to model! Thanks to both

The LU Museum webshop only has individual coaches left https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/models/s-stock#show=3 and still has its 20% off sale (code GLOVESOFF20 ) Is there any evidence that an individual S stock coach has been dragged on the mainline network, or is likely to in due course as they get older? My thought is there may be a consist of loco + 1 or more separate S stock coaches (as against a whole unit) much like we see with Mk3's etc, and thus purchasing a single S stock coach now at the discounted price before they go?

Swings and roundabouts - if the market moves away from commissions for whatever reason it could be a bit tricky. Some retailers will be getting clobbered by rises in business rates this year. And some of those commissions are behind schedule and competitors like Hornby have got products out ahead of DJM (71, King). And we've seen some commissions "cancelled" by commissioning retailers. On the crowd fund front Rapido are quite open about stalling production of items until there are enough pre-orders. It is arguably a precarious niche, especially if the red and blue teams get their acts together and fill the shops with sought after product. Whilst there is little doubt DJM are busy their business model may not be settled as yet. Hornby and Bachmann may have overheads but both have some good stuff in their new ranges, with Hornby selling out their pre-order allocations on some Pecketts, Hitachi's and Merchant Navy's, so customers may be busy buying those. On the D&E front there is more than enough in the new red and blue ranges to empty my wallet for the entire year without resorting to commissions or the dreaded limited editions! My commission and crowd fund purchases this year will probably be 2x Revolution TEA's and a Hattons 121.

In Hornby's case the decision is problematic as the previous management built their entire strategy and infrastructure (warehousing, ERP, trendy offices in Shoreditch etc) around a primarily direct sales channel. As silly as that was predicted and turned out to be, the current team cannot simply stop selling direct without incurring massive write offs and further expensive reorganisation. The company is not in a position financially to do that. So they will be slowly unwinding the previous strategy, and they have made clear their new approach, but it will take time to get there.

Hornby are listed on AIM rather than the main market, so the rules are more relaxed and the market less liquid, hence the share price has been static for months. They can be more open as it does not have the impact it might on the full exchange

Just ordered and received a loco from the DRS shop - bundled with a calendar wrapped in one layer of bubble wrap and brown paper (quite torn on collection). The loco seems to be ok but hopefully they will improve their packaging before the 68's arrive. I will be emailing as it wasn't ideal.