ruggedpeak

As the Unimog has been mentioned, can we get a motorised one of them please? As well as OHL renewal loads for the Bachmann MPV which are nice and cheap to make a full leccy train from?

Well it looks like a great little model to me. I am baffled by the criticism - if anyone else can do a better job of mass producing a motorised Wickham without a trailer, crack on. Even Mr D. Jones hasn't decided to go head to head on this one! What would also be good is use the moulding to produce unmotored trollies on their own, to dot around layouts, and allow those who want to demonstrate their skills for less money. I reckon unmotored would sell well too as a scenic item. Well done Bachmann. Good to see them (also with new S stock models) and Hornby producing some real innovations Sorry if that's a bit positive.

Was looking to find dates of operation for the Wabtec Sentinel, looks like game over by 2010 for H013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dan700/5251215287/in/photostream/

Certainly is "Network Rail Measurement Train Drive Units - Website and Concession Exclusive - R3366" from Hornby's website. Disappointing that it has happened again, although at least on this occasion the pricing is not as bad as before. The Hattons' price is a tiny bit above the Hornby Club discounted price so hopefully not too many people feeling hard done by this time. I still think the availability of coaches is a critical driver for things like this.

The September issue of Rail Express has a great pic of a short formation NMT with just 2 coaches on page 90. Ideal for modelling.

You Sir have inspired me to have a go at that on the Hornby 73 I have sitting in a box PS you wouldn't like to do an idiot's guide as to how you did would you?

Those pictures are stunning. I agree with jjb, if DJM deliver then there will be little more than nit-picking between the two models. Which is great news for everyone.

Am in exactly the same position.......have been pondering since it was announced.

Given Oxford have a steady business in vehicles, they can fund the Radial project and it does not necessarily have to make a profit. Not only do they have Hornby's model to contend with, but Hornby have coaches to go with them so can grab sales through train packs - I wouldn't be surprised if Hornby market these aggressively in due course. If Oxford can consistently deliver models at £20 below the general price level then all credit to them, and this will give them an advantage, but ultimately profitability will come from making things that sell. My limited view of Oxford's business model is that the vehicles are relatively low cost and low price (i.e. £4 to £30 say) and there is constant variation. If a model doesn't sell it has little impact as it will have been a limited run and its cost in the overall business is negligible. The model rail market is somewhat unpredictable, and values a lot higher. It is no good making something £20 cheaper if no one wants it. Both Hornby and Bachmann have huge stocks of certain models stuck in retail not shifting even at discounts. If limited stocks of a model of a particular Defender doesn't sell at £5 there is no big issue. The tooling has been used loads of times for lots of livery variations. If a £120 loco doesn't shift (and one that is relatively rare so opportunities for further variations is limited) then there is an issue. This will be a learning curve for Oxford as it is a major step up in complexity and cost/value. I hope they make it work.

It is, all credit to them for a bit of imagination and not taking it too seriously.

More importantly what about the Class 60 that lurks in the background around 10s and then in the foreground, a final version of the DCC Sound 60005 Skiddaw currently available to pre-order presumably?

More details here with video http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/news/the-engine-shed/class-71-and-the-d16/ and pre-orders now being taken http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/locomotives/diesel-electric-locomotives/class-71.html

Odd. They were working this morning when I looked.

Horlicks - haven't read the latest mag as I have the download option and it is stored on my tablet for a long journey, but you are being a bit unfair and melodramatic/hyperbolic. For a start, if you take the download option for £15 a year you get a choice of exclusive models with £20 off (yes, more off than the fee you paid) plus 10% on everything thereafter, and they throw in several magazines and other stuff on top. So buy an exclusive model and you are £5 up before you start, with ongoing discount and a magazine and other stuff thrown in for free. And still people moan! Join Bachmann and you might get a decent mag but you don't get any discount and pay full whack for the exclusive models, such as £75 for Sealink coaches. Mmmmm, not exactly sold out have they. Bought the Jinty as a bit of fun, £20 for something a bit different. Ideal for a fictional preserved railway. Can't go wrong.

Taken the plunge of joining the download version of the club, now that there appeared to be some activity. All gone well so far, online purchase worked fine, emails including £20 voucher/giftcard appeared quickly. Once existing account was linked to the Club Membership it all works well. WD Jinty ordered as it is a just for fun loco for £20. Magazine is same as before, needs improvement so hope that will appear in due course. Currently there is a survey to find out what members want as Club Exclusive models. Overall, £15 for the mags in pdf format, 10% off web orders, £20 off an exclusive model and the other bits is pretty good value in my book. Not perfect but at the end of the day you are quids in if you buy a model.

IIRC I think that was more wagons due to their low retail prices/margins (but won't be trawling forum to check). I agree Hornby have played a blinder here, they are tackling the competition head on and I can see it as a very smart move to bring out suitables coaches to support the Radial loco. I can see a variety of scenarios, but from a marketing perspective it puts the pressure back on the competition. If Hornby turn out a better or equal loco with coaches then its in the back of the net! I can perhaps now understand why Mr Southworth was so reticent last year on here, as the big H appears to have had a cunning plan and he was keen to ensure none of it leaked out so that the competition had no clue about what was coming. Fair play to him - getting some well deserved stick was inevitable and something they had to take on the chin! I had not expected Hornby to be so ready for the fight. This latest video clip shows that they are more than ready. Well done Team Red! I won't eat my hat/kilt yet until the models actually appear but I may have to start practicing. Perhaps a nice trilby with some Peppercorn sauce!

Agreed, no point releasing full price items for the pre-Xmas period as everyone's expecting Black Monday silly sales prices!

Apologies if its been mentioned but a similar DRS set up is happening on the Norwich - Great Yarmouth line, replacing DMU's. http://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/2015/03/19/class-37-hauled-trains-replace-london-great-yarmouth-through-trains

So as an engineer you arbitrarily decide on a different meaning of a word but don't define it. You then make a large and pretty fundamental assumption, waltz off into some alleged 'risk' calculations that are not entirely clear, before coming to the conclusion that you are almost certainly going to be unhappy. Given that you only have a 14.3% chance of being happy, ask Revolution to transfer your 9 car order to me (I assume it's just one and at the Kickstarter pricing) and refund you, and I'll pay the deposit so that none of us have to suffer any longer. If its DCC version then hopefully Revolution can alter the order to DC. Or just be pleased that we are getting N gauge Pendo's with a manufacturer who is willing to be innovative and look at new ways of pleasing their customers by offering additional choice.

It's that bl88dy Russell Brand again, telling people not to vote! Of course his latest book is called "Revolution", spooky or what!

Voted. Nice bit of interactivity.

Or may be just common decency given this fatal incident occured as recently as 2007? UPDATE - Ben has answered as I was typing. I'm with Ben. The relatives of the deceased may still be coming to terms with it, unlike those incidents which were a very long time ago. And renumbering isn't difficult for those who need to have that train for whatever reason. I'm afraid offering too much choice will be received negatively. That's life, a lesson I learnt when I had my own business and tried to be helpful/offer choice. It bites you on the backside. Business needs to be a benevolent dictatorship or it quickly gets out of control. Democracy and business are not easy bedfellows. Steve Jobs didn't become massively successful by letting his customers have a vote, he gave them what he wanted, and charged extra for often inferior kit that looked shiny! (not suggesting this is a model to follow) Offering choice after the fact gets the "If I'd known I wouldn't have....." statements as above. This is despite the fact that some of those making them hadn't actually thought about it or raised it until you offered them the choice. Had you just sent a randomly numbered Pendolino they'd have been as happy as larry.....

The digital version has now been available for a week or two and was going to sig up but seems little point at present if none of the models are available (not the ones I am after anyhoo) and presumably no sign of mags? Curious about exclusive info etc with launch of Engine Shed blog. Have any existing members had any mags etc since January?

Just wait for the magazine reviews. Oh wait..... I can't be the only one on this page getting Hattons King banner ads quoting £169.99? And what's wrong with competitive pricing? This is business after all.