BR Blue

Spoke to Heljan briefly today at Warley. Class 16 is not a rumour, it is true. DP2 estimated for first quater next year. Class 128 is much later in 2012.

I got notified yesterday that 4 had been dispatched so expecting them by the end of the week. Will post pictures if no one beats me too it.

My sympathies too. Very sorry to hear that Charlie.

To quote directly from the aforementioned e-mail: "Due into stock on or after Wednesday 1st June 2011"

The single locos have been mentioned on this thread and are mentioned in the PDF on the Rail Exclusives website. I did not see mention of the driver experience however.

I don't think the 0 gauge one is accurate, the shape of the cab roof has come in for criticism. However I agree, they could have released an accurate 00 33/0 using the same roof profile as the 33/1.

I would be pretty sure they would allow you to change your card details after you order. So don't let that stop you I have often ordered items which take a long time to come to market and have to change cards while I am waiting. I will probably have changed my card more than once before for my order for D600 arrives.

The more I think about it the better it is. The current 33/0 is not up to scratch and to fix it costs time and money. Here is a definitive 33/0 for £100, only slightly more than the current model. The sound option is £100, and this is for an ESU decoder and sound which will be the new v4 version. Of note is that Heljan have never done factory fitted sound before. The sound option offered with the Rail Expresses Bachmann 37/5s was sourced from SWD and you had to install it yourself. (I did not have a problem with that as the price was very good) I am getting more and more tempted by the blue and the construction pairs. I would be in the market for 33008 too, if they made it. As the saying goes, the only way to deal with temptation, is to yield to it. As regards other models that could have been done instead, well clearly the fact that a good chassis already exists for the 33 will have reduced the costs considerably. If this ever does become a regular Heljan release, it will be £100 at least by that time anyway. The other options mentioned were 59, 73 and 67. The last of those 3, I would not be surprised to hear announced later this year. Another good year for diesel modellers, the gaps are disappearing and the models at the lower end of the quality scale are being upgraded.

A very welcome development. I will certainly be buying some. I already have a couple of Heljan 33/1s bought cheaply for conversion into 33/0s. I will finish the one I started and just repaint the others but keep them as 33/s. Its far more than just fixing the roof as there are lots of other improvements. The improved 33/0 may well become part of the regular Heljan range in a few years as pointed out previously. I agree that prices will rise between now and then so I will not wait. Edited for spelling.

Less can often be more with track work. There is always the temptation to squeeze as much in as possible but it ends up looking wrong. Sounds like you are on the right track, if you will excuse the pun. As regards the 56, its a good model, but putting them back together can be more difficult than taking them apart. Mechanically its very good with pickups on all wheels and a centrally mounted motor. Not all diesel models are as good. This is something you may not be aware of having come back to the hobby. Some people do not like the fan and deliberately disconnect it as they say it can affect the performance of the model. Personally mine are all fine in this respect. As regards the buffers, that definitely came up in discussions on here previously. I just cannot find it or the solutions that were suggested. The buffers do tend to rotate a bit. Anyway, keep up the good work and I look forward to your updates.

I think the reference might be that Hornby did not have one of the bodyside windows replaced with a grille on 50027. I think it was the entire batch of that model. They did not make this mistake on any other refurbished ones, although I think they may have missed the beading around the frame on some other ones.

I just think they have not got around to changing it. I have the NSE 2H on order and it is still listed as 149.99. There are no 3 car sets available to order so that is not the reason. If they were doing a 3H set they would definitely be a blue/grey one. Eventually there will be a 3H but that is definitely not the reason for the prices as its states 149.99 for a 2H.

With the larger numbers I tend to replace them all as it can be very obvious if they are different. That said I have see real locos with mismatch numbers but not a 50.

This is the most expensive month ever. I usually have about ten items on order but as this can be spread over 2 years its not too bad. However its a bit much at the moment as I have a NCB class 14 and 4 Class 47s that look like arriving in the next week or so, ouch! I should have known the 47s would all be close but I ordered the Kernow 079 so long ago I cannot remember. It looks it and my Rails, Gaugemaster and Modelzone 47s will all arrive within days of each other. Unfortunately I feel it will be awhile before Bachmann produces an earlier 47 without the 57 elements. I suspect they will do more modern versions first.

Many thanks Bruce I will give them a go. I have been thinking of the Hurst weedkiller coach sides so I will probably order all together. I did not know Hurst did the radio pods. Eamon

This just reminds me of how much work I have to do on my fleet. Some have made good progress but I really must get a move on. I am modelling in the 88-90 period and sticking as close as possible to that period. Its amazing how many seem to have picked the same locos when renaming/renumbering. My current fleet and status is: 50002 Superb - NSE Standard Hornby offering. Needs a bit of work, nameplates, re buffer beam and the NSE blue is a bit too dark. 50003 Temeraire - NSE Original blue, almost complete. 50004 St. Vincent - Standard Hornby, needs weathering. 50007 Sir Edward Elgar - Nameplates added and done to late 80s condition. Needs a light weathering. 50008 Thunderer - LL - Weathered and sound added, my only 50 with sound so far. SWD chip used. 50015 Valiant - LL - Not complete awaiting numbers, nameplates and weathering. 50020 Revenge - LL - Roof grey changed and nameplates added, weathering needed. 50024 Vanguard - NSE - Still in paint shop, I remember this one well. 50031 Hood - LL - NSE flash added to headcones and nameplates fitted. 50035 Ark Royal - NSE - not painted yet, well become test bed for new Shawplan windscreen and want to try something with louvres too. 50036 Victorious - LL - Just needs buffer beam painted red and weathering. 50039 Implacable - LL - Complete (almost) 50040 Centurion - LL - Awaiting renumbering from 50011 and nameplates. 50042 Triumph - LL - Partly painted. 50045 Achilles - NSE - Standard Hornby. I need to add radio pods to a number of my locos. I bought some from A1 but they are massively overscale, look about right for 7mm in fact. As per previous thread on last RMWeb I will probably make some from plasticard but I was wondering had anyone tried the sjrmodels (www.sjrmodels.com) - R01: Roof Aerial x2 (Square NRN type)? Is this the correct type, I think it is? I do not have Lion due to the window issue, did Hornby ever do a batch with that fixed?