Downer

Definitely the LMS's turn. I would personally prefer a Fowler 2-6-2T, but the Stanier version had a wider spread.

I don't think so, but I'm not sure - I think I'm going slowly mad trying to work out the permutations. If they're modelling the N7/GE, then I think that only the three I mentioned ((6)9602, (6)9609) and (6)9618) will fit the bill, and then only for a year or so. All locos after 67622 had left hand drive and lower cabs and fixtures.

Dunsignalling: 'Making them the prime candidates for BR-livery models from the announced tooling.' Ah, but only if the cab height and other differences don't prove problematic. I suspect that the only BR ones they can do from the planned tooling are the three N7/GEs which I mention at the beginning of my last post, and that they can't find photos of any of them - hence the stopgap use of the fictitious E9621 number.

A bit of info, taken from Yeadon's Register: As far as I can tell, only three of the original N7/GEs (9602, 9609 and 9618) still had Belpaire fireboxes at Nationalisation, and all three were exchanged for roundtops before 1949 was out. I don't know if any received BRITISH RAILWAYS or early crest branding. Of the 46 N7/1s and N7/2s still with Belpaire fireboxes at Nationalisation, 17 had lost them by the end of 1950 and a further 15 by the end of 1953, leaving 14 still with them. These, with the dates they lost them, and their allocation when they did so, were: 69624 12/55 30A 69626 4/54 30A 69627 9/56 30A 69629 4/56 34B 69631 3/55 34C 69637 10/55 34C 69645 5/55 30A 69646 5/54 30A 69662 2/55 30A 69683 12/54 30A 69689 3/57 32D 69690 1/55 32A 69694 11/54 37B 69695 12/58 30A Hope that's useful. Apologies for any mistakes.

You make a good point, and, despite my disappointment at not getting the N7 I wanted, I'm pleased that the pre-grouping fans are getting a decent shake of the stick for once. And if it's true that a round-topped version will eventually appear, then we'll all be happy. One possible caveat - as one of those who much preferred the Hornby Radial on account of the space provided under the boiler, I'm hoping that Oxford raises its game in this regard for the N7.

It may come to that, but I think there are also issues with different cab shapes. More research needed. I hope your second supposition is correct.

The more I think about it, the stranger it seems that Oxford have gone with a Belpaire firebox version. I can see the point of a GE version for collectors, but I doubt that the number of people modelling the GE or pre-1930 LNER comes remotely close to those modelling BR(ER) in the 50s and early 60s. And with the round-topped firebox you also have the possibility of producing the GE blue and LNER green liveried Liverpool Street pilots for the collecting fraternity. Is it too late for a re-think?

Have Oxford actually said anything about their new announcements, or just announced them?

According to Yeadons, 69689 and 69695 were the last Belpaire examples withdrawn, in 1957-8. I also have a pic of 69627 at Stratford in late 1956. That said, over 95% of N7s had round-topped fire boxes in BR days. It never carried an E prefix.

As preserved, 69621 has a round-topped tank. It looks like Oxford are producing the Belpaire, and as yet there's no indication that they plan to do anything else.

One of the numbers specified - E9621 - never existed according to Yeadons.

Joy decreased somewhat by the realisation that there's no post-1950 version in the first batch. Renumbering and lining possible of course, but it seems a strange omission.

So, 2017 has to be the year I put my Ian Kirk quint-art together.

Oh joy!

A Gresley CK and BTK would be great, but I'd rather they stuck to their admittedly incorrect profile and beading, because corrected versions wouldn't look right with the stuff they've already made. On a related matter, I wish (doubtless in vain) that Hornby and Bachmann could match their crimsons and creams.

Partly answering my own question (#1) - these locos were used, in Midland and LMS days, on suburban passenger trains connecting the Midland (both St Albans and Tottenham & Hampstead stations) and LCD&R via the Widened Lines. There's a great b&w pic of 2322 in Midland livery at Kentish Town still carrying an appropriate white diamond route indicator in Geoff Goslin's Steam on the Widened Lines Vol 1.

Thought it was time this prospective model had a thread of its own. Has anyone any thoughts as to what sort of duties this loco fulfilled? I'm particularly interested in the London area, and wondering which routes, and which sort of trains, those locos allocated to Cricklewood and Plaistow worked on. The P suggests passenger trains, but Cricklewood was primarily a freight shed, and maybe the condensing locos worked short freight trains across to the Southern via the Widened Lines? Any info would be much appreciated.

My excitement at the prospect of a plain green Class 44 has been dashed - the pic on Hattons website shows a small yellow panel.

Hattons have prices, some estimated.

I was told by one model shop owner that both Hornby and Bachmann were announcing their 2017 ranges in early January.

Glad to see the N7 at the top of the LNER list. If only the Fowler 2-6-2T had done as well on the LMS list.

And now for the post-traumatic stress therapy.

What on earth would give you that idea?

If you think people are getting fussy on here, try the great non-flaring spoke scandal on the Hornby B12 thread.

I also warned Bachmann about the chimney - it was acknowledged, but no change in number. I've since seen photos which suggest that 41291 had its tall narrow chimney removed at some point - pics of the engine in the south-west during the 60s show it with the normal chimney. But I agree that the model is wrong for the late 50s.