Brocp

Just read Hornby Mags review, looks like a winner in the detail department, the infamous tender ledge is gone with a much more accurate representation of the underside of the tender body now replaces it. Apparently pulled 12 coaches on the test layout no issue at all. Most interestingly, it says the model is more satin/gloss than the satin/matt finish we have had for a long time from Honrby. There is a picture of 6231's front third taken from the side of the model and it actually looks like Crimson Lake instead of whatever shade of red Hornby used to paint the LMS locos in. So well done to Hornby with that.

100% this

Any pics Mike?

The right hand side tender lettering seems to be on an angle as well. Poor form Hornby

Why do you think Honrby wouldn't retool anything? Hornby are about making money, if they think thsr retooling some of their old models of extremely popular prototypes, they will, especially as other manufacters could quickly jump and make them to modern standards instead. Hornby will retool the Princess, 8F and Black 5 (plus making the caprotti locos) just because they'll have to, if not they'll miss out on future sales that Bachmann or whoever will get. No manufacture of anything makes money by not making something new.

I really hope we see a new tooled Princess very soon. Hopefully Hornby would tool uo the differences between thr main batch and the first two. Plus i reckon a Turbomotive model would be extremely popular as well.

With that surely an original Pat or Jubilee will be next? Haha keep up the good work mate. With regards to the Scot, is it just the running plate that is lifting the body up? Since it's white metal could you heat it up enough to soften the metal to bend it straight?

Latest Hornby Magazine has a picture of the soon to be released A3 Gay Crusader, it's hard to tell exactly but the running plate looks much better than Book Law and other recent A3's.

Hi Iain, hope all is well, any updates lately mate?

Those steps look weathered maroon to me. Great looking model you've made there Staffordshire.

Hi Alan, Are there any future plans for other shed staff like cleaners? Also i have a few ideas for some loco detail peices that I'd like to get printed, will be in touch soon.

No doubt, but like i said, Hornby and all the OO manufacturers cannot please everyone with every design choice they make. People have long wanted more accurate looking models, they get them and yet aren't happy with the design compromises to achieve it. As you said, they need to go around small radii set track curves, as well as look like an exact as possible miniature version of the real thing. The advancements we have seen in the last 20 years have been brilliant but again, nothing is perfect and to please everyone as much as possible, this is what Hornby thinks is the best solution to this problem.

That's all well and good, but people complained more about the unprototypical appearence of those earlier pacifics than complain about the fixed truck now. So basically they are damn if they do and damned if they don't. Personally i see no issue with them as they now are, if anyone has an issue they can always modify it of they so wish. That's what modellers do right? Hornby are designing and building these to a budget, to sell them to us at a reasonably cheap price. In OO there will always be comproimse and this is what they feel is the best bet for Pacific locos. They seem to sell extremely well and if there was a call to change to pony truck arrangement it's obviously minimal as they have not changed them this new design for over a decade.

I wish we had something as good in Australia as Halfords primer and their other paints. Nothing i have found is very good, so i use Tamiya spray paints which considering their size are fairly expensive. If any Australian modellers know of anything good please let me know.

Has Hornby's Crimson Lake suddenly become the new Hornby BR Green? It's not right, different lighting changes how it looks etc? It's painted plastic, it might get close, but being a scale model of something made of metal we'll never get it 100% right on a mass produced model. Personally i think it looks good. Glad to see Hornby has changed the tender frames and gotten ride of that ledge. Glad to see they are listening to the feed back of modellers on those sort of details. The 'hollow' axles are a great touch and one i didn't expect, great touch.

New pictures in the Sept issue of Hornby Magazine.

Great models there!. Quick question, should the Super D have a front number plate? Most ex LNWR locos didn't have them.

I'm sure there is a shot in "The Big Fpur In Colour" of a Jubilee pulling a couple of 'teak' Thompsons.

It'd have to be the Prototype Deltic or the LMS Twins in black for me. They make fantastic Steam locos as well, but for me these two (really 3) models stand out.

Just to change the subject slightly, with how brilliant these modern Duchesses look, I personally cannot wait for them to announce a new Princess Royal. That's one model crying out for retooling

Brill article is wrong. LMS locomotive profiles number 11 states it ran in unlined black from 28 June 46 until at least 22 October 48 where it received it's BR number. The book "The Duchess Stanier's Masterpiece" by Roger J Mannion has a photo of 6221 pulling an express in unlined black on 27 May 1947. "LMS Days" (WD & DS Cooper) has a photo (not dated) of her running at Golborne in unlined black as well. In "The Book Of Coronation Pacifics MKll" on page 34 there is a picture of 46221 in July 1949, it's fairly grubby in the pic, the blurb underneath says it would be 1946 lined black but i don't think so, especially as there are a few "cleaner patches along the frame edge and no sign of lining at all. This is also backed up by their own table on page 64 that states she was unlined black until repainting in to BR blue in March 1950.

6221 was unlined black as a semi until 1948 and possibly until painted BR blue. http://www.davidheyscollection.com/userimages/0000-01-s-lathlane-6221-crewe.jpg (Edited to add link of to pic of her)

Now they do look good

Nice new liveries and all but weren't they supposed to be brand new models?

LNER Grass Green?