Compound1000

Clearly some details still to be worked out but I am very pleased to see that Rails of Sheffield appear to have taken action to retain the product database 😊. I have found it useful time and again in researching which versions/liveries/running numbers etc of a particular model have been produced. This has proved helpful regularly to avoid duplication and assist me in building a collection which is appropriate for the layouts on which models appear. The "directory systsem" referred to I'm less clear about, maybe this is the means of sorting the data items by manufacturer/era/rolling stock type, etc. I'm guessing that's what Rails are talking about there and if so, retaining that is good news too IMO. Well done Rails and thanks for taking on board the feedback you've clearly had on this.

Had a thoroughly enjoyable day up at Doncaster earlier today. Returned with the bag heavier and the wallet lighter. Consenus opinion from the group I was with was that this show was really good. Quality of layouts was particularly of note and important given that this was quite a trade heavy show (nothing wrong with that). The variety on both fronts was impressive, I thought. Picked up a bit of a bargain loco (relatively so for a brand new one, anyhow) so came away happy on that score as well. Early Feb could have been miserable waiting to get in but it wasn't! Whoever's idea it was to hand out the mags/show guides to the waiting hoardes, well done, and well done to the folks who did it too. Good have queue time able to be put to use scanning the show guide!

Hopefully they do sell, yes. I'm in the "I don't get it" camp with the Beatles range too but if it sells and it keeps the money coming in for Hornby and so increases the likelyhood that they 1) stick around and 2) have an opportunity to produce something else in future that I do want to buy, then I'm all for it. If people really weren't buying the products surely they wouldn't keep producing them, this is about the 3rd year I can recall similar lines so some of their customers clearly go for it.

This was the Q&A rather than the range launch video. The new stuff is shown off more in the Range Revealed video with a pacier presentation and a more palatable running time of 26 mins Hornby Range Revealed 2024 I agree though, the Q&A video was pretty dire. Clearly a live Q&A is rather depenedent on what they get asked but the lack of energy was obvious. To save anyone who wants to hear for themselves the bit about Black 5 lamps sitting through the whole thing this question is asked at 35 mins in

Great post. I thought of this earlier but it seemed insignificant when weighed alongside the wider impact of this news but actually it isn't insignificant in itself. Hattons online resource of products/tooling information is hugely useful and I hope somehow it is not lost to the hobby.

My sympathies to everyone who works for Hattons and is being affected by this unexpected news. A bit of a shock to read about this I must say. I've been a customer since getting into the hobby in 2016 ish, so far shorter than some, but I can honestly say that they've been a pleasure to deal with on every occasion. The proportion of my collection which comes from their pre-owned listings or new models bought online from them must be significant, "this was a Hattons job" was regularly a phrase at my local club when someone opened up a new/new to them purchase. I've always had excellent service from them too and I'm very sorry to see them leave the market. I hope very much that as many of the excellent people they've employed as possible will quickly find new roles elsewhere that are fulfilling for them. All the best, and thanks.

Great pictures there Rob, thank you. Pleased to see someone captured a decent sized shot of the sweep of brickwork at Weatherbury Magna station. As well as being some very nicely done brickwork it does a brilliant job of drawing the viewers eyes into the scene I found, a very effective device for that.

Seems very likely to me, I mean trains that have lights are a great thing! I rememeber the first one I had was awesome, it was a Hornby HST set! (in my defence, I think I was 8 😁) They are trying to appeal to a wide market, including kids, adults with huge variations in their disposable income and collectors who likely never run their models at all. If H want to do the full "lights show", I suggest they put the feature on a "Railroad" version using an older tooling and sell it at a price that's more reachable for children's parents. A model with all sorts of fine detail retaining at north of £200 is aimed at a different market IMO. I'd wanted to ask some questions of Hornby's folks on their Warley stand yesterday about the Black 5 and the Standard 2 but unfortunately didn't get a chance where they weren't thronged. I've got several current Hornby 5s in my collection and had definitely planned on getting the new one, though maybe not batch 1, as of now I'll see.

The live steam layout had some era 1 stock on it and I remarked on that to a friend. When we spent some time there later they were running other things, a City and some GWR coaches and a long, long goods train but the era 1 rake did look lovely going round when I caught a glimpse of it earler. Also notable how the 009 thing has really taken off. Not my thing personally as a modeller but I remember saying to friends a year or 2 ago it would get more and more popular and it seems to have done. The layouts at Warley in that scale are certrainly worth a visit IMO.

Back home after a very pleasant day at the Warley show. I agree with the comments about space where even at the peak times on Saturday the hall didn't seem overcrowded, of course some of the layouts were very busy and trade stands a bit of a scrum at times but that's to be expected IMO. Layouts wise I thought the selection was pretty good, and there certainly were some standouts for me, across the scales too. To pick out a few, I found South Pelaw (D22) very impressive, with trains usually moving well and some great scenic work. The must see there IMO are, of course, the iron ore workings (headed and banked by 9fs!) and working their way up a beautifully modelled gradient. Copenhagen Fields (B35) well, I'll just say provides me new things to marvel at and enjoy every time I see it The detail on some of the street scenes in particular is fantastic. Very popular layout though so pick your moments. Bron Hebog (E70) in 009 is a model with such a lot of depth, which when you are used to scenes being compressed, usually of necessity because of space, is very refreshing and it seems to run beautifully. Not forgetting the O gauge, there are several really good ones but I'd go for Staindrop (C38) which boasts a magnificent bridge and some brilliantly built and painted rolling stock. My wallet came back a little lighter than it arrived too but I've managed to be fairly restrained. One slight downer is that the area for eating and drinking appears to have shrunk, in particular seats seemed to be at a real premium today. Managed to get one for a coffee in the morning (just!) When I went off to get lunch at a bit after 1pm though, I must have been 1 of 100+ people sat on the exhibition hall floor eating, owing to no seats being available. Thanks to all involved in putting on such a great show once again.

A good point about the "Making Tracks" 'effect' Paul and the potential risks for the organisers of misjudging the demand level and booking a venue that is either too small or too large. Having been to GETS at MK several times now I suspect the impact of Making Tracks on attendance was significant. Certainly it seemed to be the focus of interest for many early in the day but other layouts and stands were also busy due to overall numbers. Personally I'd not favour advance tickets only, having paid on the door for many a good show in recent years. We did have advance tickets for GETS'23 as it happened but we quite often don't do this. Also turning people away would be a really quick way to turn people off, which is the last thing shows would want to do. As another poster said, enjoy scenario that it was a popular event.

Went along today (Sunday) with a group from Market Harborough with most of us having been exhibiting one of our own O gauge layouts at a (rather smaller!) 😁 event at St Margaret's church near Leicester city centre yesterday. Overall a pretty good day! Very, very busy when we arrived at 9:15 and it stayed that way until well after lunchtime so I imagine the traders had a good day 😊 Not the fault of the show organisers, rather whoever manages the site, but the multiple ticket queues and 'register your parking with the person holding a tablet' thing could have been managed better. Needed some clearer explanation and a few more bods around to manage flow IMO. Numbers were by far the strongest I can remember at Marshall Arena, so much so that access to the balcony levels was being controlled later on and a good job too. It was nice to stop long enough for the crowds to thin and get a really good look at some excellent layouts, Burntisland was my personal favourite while the ever enteraining James Street won best in show. Spirit of Shap, IMO more than held it's own against the Waterman "Making Tracks" behemoth. Not sure about the decision to give one of bar areas over to more layouts/trade as this meant areas to sit and eat were somewhat at a premium. It was a shame that amid a show of such size there wasn't an O gauge layout or a general 'tools and bits and peices' type trade presence. Those minor issues aside though, it was very enjoyable and an event seemingly in rude health.

A big thank you to all involved in organising this show, which I visited on Sunday with friends. I hope it was enjoyable for those exhibiting their fine work and worthwhile for the traders in attendance. Our first show since March 2020 as well and it felt good to be back (generally). I can't comment on Saturday attendance but some friends who did attend that day thought much the same as us, numbers back to somwehere near normal not crazy crowds, only isolated incidents of crowding and occasional sense of discomfort COVID wise. Some people's notion of social distancing clearly differs from mine. Opening up more catering space was a good move, felt more comfortable than I expected to eating in an enclosed room like that at that level of patronage. On a more general point on COVID security I wasn't too impressed, the mask wearing discussion has been had and people are going to do what they want it seems, but some 'encouragement' of it would have been helpful IMO. Layout wise, seeing the fuller extent of Old Elm Park was a treat, Dentdale did a lovely job of a "railway amid the scenery" in N gauge and my personal favourite I think I'd go for Wimborne which I enjoyed seeing again very much.

Thank you @Hattons Dave for your explanation on this, very helpful. I will again be able to buy from Hattons pre-owned listings with confidence as I have done on many previous occasions. Never had cause to return an item yet, fortunately

Fair point that, could easily be something like staffing or a glut of stock, hence seeking an explanation. I think they have a specific description the use for “mint in box” unused type stuff... not sure if they are still using the “open box” category. https://www.hattons.co.uk/newsdetail.aspx?id=152

Hi @Hattons Dave hope it is OK for me to use this thread to comment on a recent change to Hattons preowned listings please. I have noticed over the last week or so that many items are being listed with a photograph of the item in its box. While the visual info about the condition of the box is useful having just “boxed” photos does make visually evaluating the condition of the item inside much more difficult. I notice inconsistency in the listings some items only photographed in their boxes, some unboxed for pictures. Personally I’d prefer “unboxed” or “both”. Can consistency be reestsblished or this change explained please. With thanks. Compound1000

I really enjoyed the World of Railways virtual show, many thanks to all involved. Thought the range of content was excellent. I’d particularly like to commend the people who prepared the practical demonstrations of skills, wagon weathering, basic soldering and coach kit assembly ones I particualrly found helpful. The utter brilliance of that format from my POV is that, to take the weathering one as an example, people can watch the video and follow along at home (at their own pace, replaying if needed) with their own stock. You have a great demo to follow without any of the nervousness about approaching someone physically at a show or interrupting what they are demonstrating. A great resource IMO. Well done.

Loving the brickwork on that diorama Tricky. Very effective look with the expanse of red bricks subtly dirtied up.

Agree with Swisspeat, a group of us attended travelling from Leicestershire and we were pleased we made the effort. Came away all agreed we’d had a good day. As usual in my experience of this one, this was a good club show, and generally very well put together. Thanks to all at MKMRC who worked so hard to set this up, I hope it works for you over the 2 days once again. Saturday certainly seemed busy until around 2:30 ish and I second the comment about lots of families, this was great to see. There seemed to be plenty to keep lIttle ones entertained I thought, with the Thomas layout, Minions Railway, Hawkins Halt and a couple of other things well suited to younger visitors, well done all. Special thanks are due IMO, to the Sea Cadets and some other similar cadet folks I think, who did a super job organising the parking in awful weather! A couple of last comments, the cafe seemed to work more smoothly than in previous years, still busy but they managed (more staff maybe were helping here). Lastly, sorry to end on a downer but I thought the state of repair of the toilets in the centre was awful. Really, no responsibility for that should be attached to MKMRC, surely this is the fault of the leisure centre and perhaps I was just unlucky. I would add, though, that at an event that is clearly successful in attracting young families a practical failing like that could really undermine the experience for some people. It would be a shame if good work was undermined by the poor repair of the venue. Thanks again to MKMRC.

Back home after a super day out at the Great Electric Train Show at Stadium MK. I and a group of friends all from Market Harborough Model Railway Group in Leicestershire have attended this show on several occasions in recent years, and I’d say overall, this was the best yet. This time we were “6 up” as a group of mere punters, and that only usually happens for us on trips to Warley or Telford! Among a very high quality selection of layouts I think we each found things to really enjoy, personal highlights for me among the OO the “Thumpers” of Shelvington and Rydes Hill with that fantastic bridge, the L&YR ‘end to end’ Wainthrop Bridge with its lovely low intensity, low speed operation and the superb Fenny Stratford. The last is a great true to life layout but also sticks in my brain thanks to a most helpful conversation we enjoyed with one of its operators, on the back of which we shall be altering our own layout plans. Some great O gauge at GETS as well. Among the O Gauge the atmosphere of Old Elms Park caught my eye and the superbly presented Grindley Brook held it for a long time. Long enough, fortunately, to enjoy the spectacle of a Duchess hauled express cruising past along those wide curves, absolutely top stuff. Trade support seemed very good, though as others have noted the absence of a “tools” and “materials” type trader was a drawback, but hey, if all the shows were the same, I’d go to fewer of them. Hope all those organising and operating had a good time and thanks for all your efforts.

I think this is a super project personally and would applaud Hattons for their bravery on this one, I hope it works out well for them. Pre grouping isn’t really my era, but the LMS options and post nationalisation peices certainly have appeal. I’d had a similar thought about the “chopping” potential of these @PhilJ W, potentially using several to create a “generic” but credible coach body of suitable dimensions to sit atop a longer “bogie” chassis. if I can think of a suitable donor chassis in RTR or attempt to build one from a kit, that is!

Thanks very much for that, most helpful!

A super job you have made of that Jack, I think. I like the contrast between the somewhat glossy black and bright brightwork and the very matt effect on the smokebox and cylinders. Can I ask did you cut off the smokebox number plate from the door? Assuming so, is that easy to do? I’ve been a bit reluctant to try it but to backdate a BR loco as you have done here it would be a “must do”.

Cost of parking was actually down this year. £3 this time against £5 last as I remember, which was a nice suprise to start Sunday. We were there from “doors open” to pretty much “doors closed” and still only just felt like we’d done the event justice, there is just loads to get to, esp if you want to have a ride too. Bradford on Tone and Reevey Road West appealed to me particularly layout wise, while James Street was a non stop feast of action. Lots of N Gauge this time we observed. I came away with a couple of books and a tinlet or two of paint, very satisfied. Well done all, and thanks to those who organised and ran another excellent event in very challenging circs.

Thanks and well done to the organisers of DEMU 2019. I attended on Sunday with some fellow members of Market Harborough MRG and we all agreed we’d had a very good day. As a first timer at DEMU I’ve no way of comparing the Swadlincote venue with Buxton but I thought Swadlincote was very good. Parking was a bit tricky but once there the warmth of welcome more than made up for any inconvenience (little things like that make such a difference I think). Among my collection diesel traction is very much in the minority but I thought the quality of layouts was excellent, Hornsey Broadway being particularly impressive, and your show guide is superb! I came away having spent a bit more than planned as well, a sure sign of well chosen trade support I think. Well done all.