Din

5 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Commercial 'success' of an item is not necessarily proportional to the level of accuracy. If you think it is please try and explain Hornby 37 and 47s to me.

A good point, mind I think my old Lima 37's not bad...

There's also the small issue of the 4DD apparently having some minor variations according to some photographs, some of which have even been posted here in this thread.

So then the question becomes which one do you model? Do you model them all in different years? It's very difficult when you do have an EP/proof of concept model to machine out the bits needed/not needed so that becomes a difficult and expensive moment. 

The survivors dont also seem to be in the best of nick, and I rather suspect scanning isn't the be all and end all magic bullet some people think it is, hence why we still complain about things being "wrong" on models despite them being scanned, or extensive reference photographs taken.

It also continues to amuse me that the Fell is such a woeful disaster according to this forum... when they're planning a second run due to demand from other customers!

30 minutes ago, Edwardian said:

 

The WNR has cascaded these once front-line coaches to branch work and has evidently not considered it worth upgrading further to gas lighting given the life expectancy of the vehicles.    

 

This is the part where its revealed there was still a rake kicking about in 1948 isn't it?

16 hours ago, Edwardian said:

 

A West Norfolk Railway branch service ... also very late. 

 

Hope everyone is having a nice time. I've been doing work and then Christmas full time. I do hope to snatch some modelling time soon, though. The little WWI diorama is to have a second building and 2-3 wagons built, at which point I'll probably leave it at that. It will have served it's purpose of refreshing the palette, but can remain open to the addition of items of rolling stock, WWI vehicles and personnel as the mood takes me. 

 

There is, or will be, an ongoing early railways distraction, but more on that later.  Recent Christmas presents fit nowhere in foreseeable schemes, unless and until resurrection of the scenic test-track brings freelance 009 back in play, allowing me free range in that gauge, but I have 3 motivations here: (1) I do feel it important to support certain releases, mainly pre-Grouping era in my case, (2) So often these days, once a thing is gone, it's gone, and, (3) Sooner or later fine-detail China-made RTR products will become politically, economically and ethically unsustainable (I already have guilt), after which the End Times will be upon us, so enjoy it while you can! 

 

Thoughts are returning, as they should, to the WNR. There are a number of aspects of stock that are surprisingly (for me) advanced, but no one thing has yet to be brought to fruition.

 

So:

 

In terms of goods wagons:

 

- The majority of the WNR's general merchandise fleet was built some months ago, so one final push should get me over the line in construction terms, then I'll be looking to get transfers printed next.

 

- There is a series of old WNR wagons of varying provenance that I intend to run as coal wagons from Wolfringham Staithe. About half are unbuilt, so I need to crack on with those.

 

- I have a rake of 8 early mineral wagons and a brake van for the Norfolk Minerals that need finishing.  

 

In terms of coaches:

 

- CAD exists for 4 types of the 4-wheel WNR 1870s 'New Stock', so I can now get these printed and form branch trains

 

- The 3 second-hand 1860s coaches the WNR uses for the Wolfringham branch service exist, but need finishing.

 

- There is a half-built rake of tram coaches for the WNR's Bishop's Lynn Tramway stock.

 

- I need to develop a Third to match the style of the Hattons Genesis stock, used for the WNR's 1890s mainline coaches, then I will have these at least to 'proof of concept' stage. 

 

After that, I have to consider locos and some station buildings, and CAD for some generic 1880s coaches! 

 

It's almost like I've come up with a series of New Year Resolutions.

 

Funny how the fit takes you some times. 

Any chance we can see some of the CAD or the tramways stuff? I'm interested.

15 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

The UK govt already indicated it will side with energy companies and use them as tax collectors…. Some estimate we will be paying £500 a month from summer.

If you're on a prepaid meter. I'm not sure you're worrying about the newest tooling if you're on a prepaid meter.

15 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

 

CNN is the US is forecasting fuel poverty for 80% / 57mn of the UK population in 2023.

CNN is the modern equivalent of bird cage litter. Some of their talking heads and presenters are about as trustworthy as a 1980s used car salesman. It also seems alarmist in the same way other media predicted we'd all be slowly dying and isolated of BSE back in the 90s. Alarmism sells, especially to some gutter journalist network like CNN.

15 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

 

Inflation hasnt gone away, neither has recession.

But did drop for December. Current predicted trend is it will fall back a fair bit during the coming summer. Likely by a few more percentage points as various alternatives come back on stream. The hope being it settles come 2024. A good portion of the current inflationary measures was largely caused by stupid policies in Californian Ports of all places and the Chinese have responded by stamping out new shipping containers instead.

15 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Interestingly I find model railways interesting to study, as what happens here, generally is a year faster than the high st.. the hobby already had high inflation.. 20% with Hornby you might recall between summer 2021 and Jan 2022… that beat the price of Butter, which caught up in summer 2022.

Except that wasn't really inflation, was it? Those were price increases to try and make up for delays to other products likely effecting Hornby's cashflow.

3 hours ago, adb968008 said:

If I didnt say sellotape, no one would know what i’m asking for.

My brain just echoed to about 20 years worth of Blue Peter presenters telling me to use "Sticky back plastic".

1 hour ago, Stubby47 said:

Not that I've got anything to do with this manufacturer or anything...

 

https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/bb017-micro-layout-baseboard-in-a-box-1-1102-x-250-x-221mm-7891-p.asp

 

Highly reecomend Justin's stuff.

I think we wont see much at all this year, a reaffirmation of TT 1:120 and probably announce some of the phase 2/3 stuff for that scale.

Mostly it will be more solid dates/quarters for models already announced, I reckon.

1 hour ago, NHY 581 said:

 

Well remembered, Din....I did. For Sheep Dip as it happens......it's on here somewhere....maybe

I was a little sad that never continued. It was quite a unique and amusing way to talk about your wonderful cameo layouts!

12 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

You do realise he reads all this *"';&£&:* (censored) don't you.

Didn't he once do an entire video as a small ceramic sheep? I think he's fine with all this flocking nonsense in here by now...

16 minutes ago, Roy L S said:

Hi Tom

 

Actually that is factually incorrect, British N is second only to OO in this country in terms of modelling, reportedly about 1/4 to 1/5 the size so not "very minor" as you say. There may be something in what you say about some exiting OO modellers trying 009,  but in terms of market size N is second.

 

Secondly, Bachmann do not have 009 to themselves, Peco (via Kato) produce a FR locomotive plus a lot of rolling stock, Heljan have long produced L&B locos and recently RevolutioN have revealed a V of R 2-6-2 tank loco is to be produced for Model Rail.

 

 

 

So in real terms. 20-25% of the size of 00. It's slightly larger than a "niche" scale but really not by much. It also has much stronger competition from more manufacturers who would compete more directly with it with stuff like Dapol  releasing GWR locos etc. Heck, there's even one of their own star designers now working independantly and doing a heck of a job. 

And you have listed a grand total of 3 other producers, one of which has never done 009 before (and as said above, steam is not their bag), one which has released two models which had a series of problems with quality control. And one who did well with their single locomotive release, but is a good generation behind in terms of modern "needs" of modellers with no real DCC option.

Versus Bachmann who have released numerous 009 models with a consistent high quality and thus are cornering the market and locking it down in terms of quality control and is interchangeable/able to be a "top up purchase" for that market which is 4-5x the size.

Someone is looking at the accounts, and seeing one product sells consistently and quickly (thus making a good RoI) while another has likely plateaud or has stronger alternatives for people to shop with.

Might it be worth trying to contact the Gresley and Wychnor Club? They built an 0 gauge model of Burton station for the Wychnor-On-Trent layout which so far as I know is fairly accurate albeit scaled down.

4 hours ago, ISW said:

There is one part of the photo (above) that's confusing me. Is that a large skylight on the LH side, just before the chimney? Or is it a 'patch' over the old slates? 

I can't really see it being a skylight for the platform rooms, as I'm guessing there is a flat ceiling for the room (and that's what I'll be building). Would it be to allow light into space under the roof? Storage area?

 

Ian

I'd say it was most likely a patch. One of the reasons my father said they demolished the old station was because it had become old, leaked like a seive in a number of places and had generally been left to run down completely as it had been slowly stripped of services in the decade prior. The other boards are roofing boards and the shadowing in the brickwork on the left hand side suggests this photo is from 1971.

No skylight or anything like that were in those positions so far as I can tell, but you can see others here, which suggests the NSR method was on long runs.

http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/wp-content/images/Railway/NewStation00.jpg

Taken from: http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/station-history

13 minutes ago, Edwardian said:

 

It is possible, I find, to forgive most things (though obviously not Rings of Power)

Ah a man of splendid taste.

Personally I think Hattons has certainly knocked things out of the park from the way these images show, and only some minor niggles around the NEM pockets.

It's fascinating how essentially freelance these coaches are... and nobody's moaning about how its not to pattern 68294 of the Wolverton/Swindwon/Derby works etc.

I'll participate in this un, didn't realise it ran yearly or I'd have been voting for a while.

20 hours ago, HExpressD said:

People have mentioned the Consett wagons but the Class 40 itself is an example of KR listening to feedback. They've listened to what people have said and responded.

 

I think sometimes, in all industries, people only consider feedback 'listened too' if the resulting action from the manufacturer follows it to the letter.

 

I saw quite recently a rather scathing declaration attributed to one of the creators of Pokemon, where the "feedback" they get is either impractical, silly, or both. This includes every region ever done in a pokemon game in a single game, but only the original 150 pokemon. He apparently reads the choicest ones out on the staff floor.

Its certainly interesting reading threads here on this forum, and its obvious if the feedback was listened to from here for every manufacturer, we'd all have individually customised models of our particular favourite locomotives or variation of type! Which is most definitely not practical or sensible from a business point of view were minimum runs are worth the bother. It also feels sometimes this forum gives off the impression it's more important than it is, when in reality it makes up a very small slice of the modelling fraternity and thus in turn, customer base. But this isn't unique to here by any stretch of the imagination.

A couple of the models, especially from KR, have the issue of the prototypes simply not existing in any form. (and is likely to continue into the future)

Meaning going off of alternative routes such as photographs and drawings is the only available option, and who's to say whatever the drafting office signed off for and approved, was what eventually went out? We know many examples of many locomotives received on-the-fly modifications as our forefathers didn't have the benefit of the CAD models and simulations we're seeing with today's locomotive designs.

At least with the Class 40, (and by extension Bellaphron and Big Bertha) they have worked with various owner organisations and resources to ensure the models will be more top notch than the issues that surrounded the (sold out) Fell.

Good shop, friendly staff and players, and the Barfield Brothers (who're big in the local tabletop gaming community and excellent modellers) tend to be between there and one of the Burton shops. Gaming geekery is really rising in this area, meaning we should be well served for tools, paint and other sundries from them for a good while.

Smaller companies have the luxury of picking their battles. We saw this most recently with Heljan withdrawing from TT 1:120, and even then, they're more "medium sized" these days.

Hornby has the problem of being a "large" legacy company to the point for a very long time, and certainly to the regular public, it is synonymous with toy trains in the same way Airfix is synonymous with plastic kits.

It has a number of legacy brands under its belt which aren't performing very well, with Humbrol and Airfix likely being the two with the best investment-profit ratio as its relatively cheap to make.

Hornby themselves obviously saw the fact large portions of their products were moving via online sales via "the box shifters" and wanted a cut of that pie themselves, hence the recent and aggressive move to try and exploit the general move to online sales which comes at the cost of retailers as they dont have to discount any sale to them. This has since cascaded outwards (via Simon Kohlers say so) to the tier system applied to all brick and mortar stores.

Which has largely annoyed their retailers and given them exactly what they want, more moving to online sales.

On 27/11/2022 at 08:15, papagolfjuliet said:

I am moved to ask how much of that loss can be ascribed to the legal costs of Hornby's decision to pick a fight with an enormously wealthy French mass media company.

Effectively zero.

All that would've happened is a C&D arrived from Studio Canal and Rapido, followed by Hornby seeking legal council.

Said legal council would've screamed at Hornby so loud that birds scattered around Margate in a five mile radius, probably explained to Simon that Studio Canal could've quite happily taken them to court, ran up their legal fees enough to bankrupt the company several times over.

It's why the whole range was pulled, it was going to get incredibly expensive to Hornby if he'd continued down that path.

The decorated Midland Railway samples had me making all sorts of Colonel Bloodnok style noises near to them when I saw them.

I suspect I am going to sell off some other attic tat and see if I can score a pack of four.

Bought. Read. Enjoyed.

Pondering layout based on "20 years later" now...

Couple of points, does feel a bit like you have to know the places they're based on to really "see" it. Which isn't too difficult as it's just Bristol and Monkton Coombe. The thing at the start reaffirming the characters was very useful as the whole swap back and forth of The Squire and Gordon became a bit cross eye inducing at times.

On 24/11/2022 at 16:13, Skinnylinny said:

Oh, I forgot to add - I'll be travelling down to Birmingham tomorrow for the Warley show, so if anyone's there and spies me - I'll be the one with the shoulder-length bright purple hair! - please come and say hi. I'll probably be spending most of my time working at the Rapido stand, where I won't be able to chat for long, but it's always nice to put faces to names (or screen names)!

Saw you zipping about while chatting with Corbs! Good work on the stand that weekend.

Well that was an unexpected kit.

From the PI Facebook Page:

Rio Tinto - Perhaps not the cab conversion you were expecting next, James is working on this conversion for a commission inspired by the North British tanks that operated on the Rio Tinto mine railways in Spain. Would anyone else be interested in this as a kit at some point? Ugly but a real character!

On 20/11/2022 at 18:35, 009 micro modeller said:

Didn’t some of the coaches go to the Lynton & Barnstaple some time ago, some for Lynbarn at The Milky Way and some for the main operation at Woody Bay? Although I might be getting confused as there was some other stock from an earlier line at Thorpe Park, which was the same 2ft gauge but a completely different design and on a different part of the site.

Said set operated at the L&B for a few years before coming to the Statfold Barn Railway, where they are known as the "Lynton Set".

The man in the waistcoat is Luke Ryan, who runs the TR's video and social media side, if I remember rightly he's also in charge of the Studi Awdry.

They're certainly a mad, and fun lot that group.

When Luke brought some of the Skarloey and North Western models to the first Statfold Model Railway Show, I remember chatting a bit with him at the end of the show on the Sunday, only for Richard Awdry to appear from nowhere, to lean in towards Luke and go "Plenty of bubble wrap, please." before vanishing!