No Decorum

Bachmann’s Jubilees are decent models, although some variants would be welcome. However, a K4 has not been produced RTR before. If wide firebox LNER locos which existed in low numbers can be produced, why not a K4?

The project certainly seems to be going ahead with expected delivery in late 2024 but no word yet on when the order book will open. Scroll down. https://www.modelrailoffers.co.uk/pg/167/Project-Class-11-12

Hornby knocked the SNCF one out as R2358 as I’m sure you’re aware but I’m not keen enough to assemble the collection to get one, even to lurk at the back of a depot. If Kernow is selling the German example at 30% off, I suspect that we shan’t see either of the other two liveries produced by Bachmann. A bit of a shame because the Bachmann 90 is a stonking model. If ever you do tweak the livery to produce 90022, I’d love to see a picture.

Thank you for drawing that to my attention. I have had a hankering for one of these for ages to join the Belgian Bachmann Collectors’ Club one. I made the mistake of mentioning it to my daughter, who asked if I needed it. In truth, I didn’t, but the itch didn’t go away and there was always something else to buy. I’ve spent my budget for the month but what the heck. I just won’t tell her; she doesn’t need to know, does she?

This was one of the clever ideas adopted for the BR Standards. It meant that it wasn’t necessary to drain the entire tender to clean the filters. No-one realised that during winter, the large body of water in the tender resisted freezing overnight but the small amount of water in the sieve boxes would freeze.

Mine was hopeless out of the box. The cause seemed to be that it was choked with grease (which should at least help preserve it for a few months). Once cleaned up and sparingly oiled, it was fine.

Of course they were. My clanger and my apologies.

Except that Hornby isn’t making profits. A result, possibly, of not winning friends but more likely a result of putting faulty models on the market. There is a lot which is good about Hornby and improvements have been made, in particular paint finishes and DCC provision, but things need to be tightened up further.

An expert on here posted that the Hornby four-wheel generics were actually models of SECR coaches, even if they could be better. On the strength of that, I got four, omitting the one which was too short. It has been done after a fashion. All the same, I agree with your point. Particular or fussy people get authentic coaches if they fit with their particular interests and people who don’t mind so much get coaches in liveries which match their locomotives. There’s room for us all.

The main thing is that you got it sorted.

I may be wrong but I thought the Bachmann ones had the letters and numbers moulded on.

Talking about pixie snot, the NCC coaches might require different bogies.

Authentic four and six wheelers (and the locos to pull them) would be very welcome. My fear is that generic coaches will cause reluctance on the part of manufacturers to produce authentic versions.

It’s got out of hand when we’re discussing their behinds. 🤣

I’ve amassed pics of all nine and, after perusing them, I think you”re right. Acting with maximum restraint, I think I’ll go for this one and a standard GBRf one. I’m sure Bachy will do a good job. A Collectors’ Club issue is a good idea. I wonder if one will appear in GBRf’s Tunnel livery; that would be lovely.

https://www.google.com/search?q=video+harold+macmillan+at+the+un&oq=video+harold+macmillan+at+the+un&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABiABBiiBDIKCAIQABiABBiiBNIBCTEzNzUwajBqMagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a4b9f418,vid:tm7PY8GmeFE,st:0 0' 56"

Leaving aside the AI writing style for the moment, it claims that the loco and tender are close coupled. They don’t look it. The fireman could probably fall through the gap behind the cab doors.

I agree with that; plenty of room in the market for both Railroad and main range. I did wonder why Hornby bought Lima and a lot of obsolete tooling. What Hornby eventually did with the tooling was clever and remains popular. Where I think Hornby went wrong was to tool a Railroad model, then attempt to sell it with a few enhancements as a main range model. The result was neither one nor the other and unsatisfactory. It didn’t help that they were mired in the “design clever” debacle.

As I recall, the separate bits didn’t fit where they were supposed to. It was a bit beyond me then but I could cope better now.

I enjoy it on my Manor – I think it’s a lovely feature. The Manor chuffs heavily until it reaches the set speed, when it quietens, then when decelerating the chuffs cease and the vac pump is very clearly heard. I’m used to paying about £100 for manufacturer installed sound, so I have avoided Dapol sound, which requires an uplift of £125. (Skinflint.) Now that I’ve experienced Dapol sound, I don’t grudge the £25 extra. If Dapol ever produces Lady of Legend, I dread to think what that lady of legend Pru Leith with think of the imitation of her innards. 😄

I’m not loyal to any manufacturer; I tend to go by past performance. I have found Bachmann to be normally reliable but even Bachmann fails occasionally. Hornby has released so many faulty models onto the market recently that I wait to read here what the unfortunate first buyers have to say before I bite, which I often don’t. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has to choose what to buy each month (how the market has changed!) and Hornby would do well to consider that.

I fell for that one some years ago. After a panic-stricken buy, Hornby found “fresh” supplies from somewhere.

Ah yes! Stunning models apart from the first green ones which looked as if they were coated in powder rather than paint. It triggered a weakness for Standard 4 4-6-0s which I didn’t get under control until I had thirteen of them. I never could understand the fuss about Airfix. Plastic wheels which were obvious from 3' away and motors which sounded as if they were about to short out the entire neighbourhood. Then Mainline produced the Jubilees – truly wonderful at the time.

The tree is fruiting! I’ve changed my signature from, “Who will produce a Class 88?” to something else. Before the Class 88, I was asking for 10800, so perhaps there’s hope for my current choice.

They were built with Sulzer V 12 engines (12LVA24) but proved less reliable than the double 6LDA (12LDA28C) installed in the 47s. All were re-engined to become 47s before being painted in BR blue and before receiving TOPS numbers.