Chamby

We're not taking any delight in this at all. But Hatton's do deserve a kick in the pants for this mess. Clearly their problems are rather more than just the technical issues affecting despatch they have admitted to. And of course it cannot be any fun at all for the staff trying to resolve things - they have my utmost sympathy. But It is when problems like this occur that suppliers are put to the test... and giving repeated promises over the phone, that are not then met is just not the way to engender positive customer response! I have not had the missive from Richard Davies, but have received an unexpected 'courtesy e-mail' that my stuff has been placed on back-order. Given the state of their stock listing as well (no new stock listed for over a week now) I am still clueless about whether I will receive my order or not!

R3518 A3 "Gay Crusader" in 1947 condition appears to be arriving on retailers shelves now. Has anyone seen the actual model yet? I am interested to know what the green colour looks like - the graphic issued pre-issue looked more like malachite green than anything that came out of Doncaster or Darlington, so I would be grateful for some clarification before ordering.

I have done something very similar with my own Ge 4/4 III's. Main differences are that I used a 3mm LED filed to shape for the headlamps - gives a more even lighting, and I used a zimo sugar cube rather than the ESU one. I find that zimo sugar cubes give a much clearer sound than the ESU one you have used, even with loksound micro chips.

Is anyone else experiencing ordering difficulties with Hatton's at the moment? I was delighted to see some of those nice Hornby Gresley teak coaches appear on their website this Monday at a price of £35 each, so promptly rang up and ordered a rake of them. I was advised that due to the stocktaking, next day delivery wasn't available but they would be sent by normal delivery (Royal Mail). After I had placed my order, I advised a fellow club member that they had the coaches on sale, he also rang up and ordered two. We were both delighted that a few of these now rare items had become available again. Tuesday morning, I hadn't received the usual confirmatory e-mail and stock levels on the web page were unchanged. I rang up to check that my order had been accepted - "not a problem, it's just the stock check and every order is on hold until this evening" I was advised, and they reassured me that outstanding orders would be fulfilled in the same order that they had been received, after the stock check was concluded on Tuesday, so I had no reason to be concerned. That evening, club night, my colleague told me that he had received a confirmatory e-mail from Hatton's as usual, confirming his order was on the system ready for picking. At 8pm that same evening, I also received a confirmation of the balance of my order (one Peco point) but no mention of the rake of teak coaches. I received much ribbing from my club-mates about not being on Hatton's "preferred customer" list unlike my colleague... helpful chaps they all are :-/ So, I wondered whether Hatton's were not being straight with me. Another call at 9am Wednesday morning, another very nice person on the line reassuring me that everything was in order.... until I explained about my colleague's experience and the missing items in my order confirmation. I was advised that it would need investigating and a manager would call me back soon. Nobody rang me back during the day, so at 5pm I rang back for an update, to be told again that everything is OK and my order will be fulfilled, they are just waiting for the stock to be put back on the system following the stock-take, so the order can be picked. As a gesture of goodwill, they will give me free postage on the order! I have since received confirmation of my order, but only listed as 'to follow' and the order might be delivered split. I am a regular Hatton's customer and have spent thousands of pounds with them over the last few years as my retirement project progresses. Normally the service is faultless, although on one occasion I have experienced similar difficulties and in the end didn't get my order in full because after two weeks of chasing they finally admitted that the available stock had been 'over sold'. If I recall correctly, that was at a previous stock take. This current situation is spookily similar and based on previous experience, I am now experiencing deja vu and anticipate getting free delivery on an order I am unlikely to ever receive! Please Hatton's, when you say you will investigate something and call back, please be so kind as to do so. When you say that you will process all orders in the order that they were placed, please kindly do so (Your many customers do talk to each other and the facts do emerge). And if I am not going to receive my order, as now looks highly likely, please be straight with me... don't reassure me over several phone calls, then send me a courtesy e-mail afterwards saying that it is on back-order, when we both know that your chances of getting further stock of these items are highly unlikely.

Have you tried the Locoman 8F chip yet? That's a zimo and is the most realistic steam sound I have come across to date. It's a delight to drive. Phil.