VXDH92

Hi Fran, Will the motorised pans also be sprung as per the Bachmann 90 so that a) the pan moves up and down as the wire height alters (rather than just raising to a set height) and b) so that the pantograph can still be used on OLE for those using DC, and therefore not making use of the pan motors? Hope that makes sense... Dave.

Virgin mk3s look brilliant. First time they've got a livery right on the Mk3s? Has anyone emailed them RE the yellow line on the TSO? What a flop if they overlook that! I'll email them myself if no one has. Cheers...

Are Hornby planning some updates for the pendolino release in 2020? I see that the carriage renders have full height corridors, like the real thing, and unlike the earlier Hornby releases. The price is also well over double the original RRP, so maybe a couple of other tweaks?

Bogie frames are fairly easy to remove. IIRC from when I took mine apart, there's a small screw to undo, then lever the clip at either end of the underside of the wheel sets with a small flat head screwdriver.

I bought that mag for the 87 review and have similar feelings to you all. It gets a brilliant 91% total, and scores highly across the board, but I would argue (dispite the fact that 87s are my favourite loco) that it is neither good value for money or good for features. It is miles behind the Bachmann 90 on these fronts and I think by the time we have the Accurascale 92 and Cavalex 91, the Hornby 87 will seem very dated indeed. Even the revised Heljan 86 will be ahead on features with 21 pin DCC and a sprung pan. If you think about it, the Hornby 87 is no better for features than when the Heljan 86 was first released many years ago, albeit it is more accurate. That said, I have still bought a couple that I got for good prices.

Gutted I missed out on half price 87s!

Hi Cav, Yes I have, via your website. 1 x GNER 91, a few days ago. Dave.

I've registered interest but have not received an email confirmation. Is this the same with everyone else?

Will have to check with Hornby, but I think they will print STEPHENSON on one side, and Royal Scott on the other side, so we'll have to remove those printed names before you can put STEPHENSON name plates on both sides...

Yes, I agree, although they would have to not print the names on the side of the loco either. I want one with STEPHENSON on both sides and no crests, as it was in 2003 when repainted in BR Blue...

Just seen the new 87001 painted sample posted by Hattons on Instagram - they've put the correct TDM cables on the cab ends rather than the multiple working cables on the mock-up. Well done Hornby for noting!

Already a Virgin 87019 on Ebay unbelievably!

No worries, worth an ask! If you ever do go down that route, I'll put myself down for a few. Until then, I can save my pennies! Cheers, Dave.

As Accurascale and RevolutioN are working on the class 92 together, would Accurascale consider working with RevolutioN to bring out an OO gauge version of the 320 / 321 EMU? I imagine there would be a good deal of interest, but whether there's enough...

I was also successful with Halifax via Paypal, but I don't think people will be successful if they paid with Paypal using an existing Paypal balance.

I successfully got my APT deposit back from Halifax using Debit Card Disputes. I'm being told by Nationwide that they can't do the same for my class 92 deposits as it's more than something like 580 days - has anyone else got their money back for class 92 deposits done on Debit card?

Many thanks for the speedy response. Not too bothered about the OLE flashes, but don't ask, don't get!

Hi Accurascale, Couple of comments RE the pantographs... I would like to see the pantograph sprung like the Bachmann class 90 as well as servo operated so that the pan moves up and down a bit under changing overhead wire heights - is that something you can confirm without giving away your pantograph secret? Also, the only way I can see doing away with the unprototypical additional support arm is to have a chain / cord inside the lower arm like the real thing otherwise you won't get the upper and lower arms moving at the same angles which is crucial to a functional pantograph. I realise that you probably can't comment on this as it could give away your design, but I'm hoping this is what you're looking at. RE the Railfreight Distribution livery - I've ordered one, but could you produce it with the later OLE warning flashes? It's more in keeping with my era, and I would be grateful if it's not been set in stone. All the best with the model, Dave.

Hi all, Apologies if it's already been said, but are you planning on doing the earlier grey STVA livery? I always wanted some Bachmann IPAs but they've never done the earlier STVA grey, and I model early 2000's. Will definitely order some if you do! Dave.

Yeah, class 90 wipers tend to be hidden at the bottom of the windscreen behind a sort of wind deflector strip. Can anyone who has the RFD version tell me whether the jumper cables are glued to the front on the inner ends? The RFD one depicts the older style jumper cable layout, but I'm after one with the newer positioning of the jumper cables (affixed at one end on the buffer beams, as per the IC and Powerhaul versions), and I'm wondering if it would be easy to mod an RFD one myself???

Thanks very kindly. I look forward to seeing how this works. If it's as good as it sounds, you'd be on to a winner selling it as a spare!

Hi, Just a couple of queries RE the pantograph (apologies if they've already been discussed)... Is the pantograph going to have a secondary support arm, or are you going to run a tiny support chain through a hollow lower arm like the real thing? Also, although DCC controlled, will the pan be sprung so that it can move up and down on OLE? Finally, will the pans be available as spare parts? Thanks, Dave.

From the website mock up, it has the correct BW pan, fire extinguisher tanks, aerials, but looks like it's got multiple working cables on the cab fronts. Shouldn't it just have TDM push-pull cables? Might just be an oversight on the mock up...

Is 87001 as it was when Virgin did their heritage liveries? Didn't realise it had a different name either side on the prototype...

Sorry of this has already been covered, but is it correct that the wheelsets should have holes in them? I noticed that the Bachmann model does...