Adams442T

There l was, thinking that James would at least use Earl Grey, but not to be............................................

Facebook posting from Model Rail doesn't appear to list the G.E.R. version, is that coming later, or will it be in the pages 6/7 of MR?

I think I'll just leave this posting here with no further comment..........................

Beautiful!! One of my favourite locos! The North London Railway 4-4-0 tanks, even in their later enclosed cab guise, retained much of the workmanlike elegance that they were famed for. I do have one of Jim Connor's excellent, 4 mm scale, Class 1 -10 locomotives to start on, as soon as I've finished my current project!

It was a common practice that Nanny's were well dressed as this, to some extent, reflected on the household itself. She could of course be a Governess instead!

I don't think it was a short production run, the problem, l think, was that there was such an overwhelming demand for Hornby's first serious quality industrial loco that l think they were taken by surprise. Having worked with China l know that production 'slots' are difficult to arrange 'out of sync' and it's probably wise for them not to have attempted it. Whatever the demand might have been. There is another Peckett scheduled for release, and it will be interesting to see how it sells. They might have 'missed the boat' on these, but surely it's better (other than for those who didn't get one!) in the light of Hornby's finances to have sold out?

It might be worthwhile to 'juggle' the bogie and trailing wheels, and ensure that you don't have, in effect, a lifting problem, which will adversely affect the pulling power. I had the same problem with BR version and just slipped a thinner washer onto the bogie, which seems to have cured it!

That may well leave the under boiler space clear, but for me, having the LSWR version that would then leave filling in with a lower boiler cladding (not too difficult) but also paint matching to the LSWR green colour!

I got my Hornby for just a shade over £5 difference in price, and the appearance is so much better! Some may be able to ignore the boiler block, but for me it was a definite 'deal-breaker'!

O' course l always had a soft spot for Nogbad the Bad l think it was....................... Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, what (relatively) unsung geniuses they were! apart from Noggin the Nog, there was also, Ivor the Engine, Pingwings, Pogle's Wood, The Clangers, Bagpuss, and Tottie: The Story of a Dollshouse Most of which l watched avidly........with my children you understand.....................

I would think that the 'deck' might be unpainted, but as wood often weathers to a 'greyish' colour anyway it might be good just to give an impression that the deck is in a different colour grey?

Photos and list of structures:

Just received an email from Oxford, and the appearance of their new buildings seems a vast improvement on the thick window bars and clumsy doors that have graced many of Hornby's offerings. Let's give credit where it's due, and though I, for one, have been very disappointed with their locos, these buildings really do seem to have 'upped their game' by a considerable margin!

Of course l suppose that if 'we', if you like, just went back to posting the usual irrelevances, but under the #255 heading, like for instance: MRJ is late today again.... #255 still hasn't arrived... When is MRJ going to appear.... Plus sossidges...... It wouldn't contradict the edict from Andy in any way that l could see..................

'Amazon Logistics' in my experience are absolute cr*p! Deliveries used to be by DPD, an excellent firm, with intelligent drivers, and a system that sends you an email in the morning giving you a 'window' of an hour, within which your parcel will be delivered. It always was. Royal Mail is similarly faultless with their tracked system. 'Illogistics' in my experience consist of random scruffy drivers, in a variety of run down vehicles, generally someone you'd not choose to have anything delivered by! In fact in my past life as a PC l would have 'turned them over', and their vehicles, as a more shifty, slimy bunch you'd be hard put to find.......

I quite agree that it is indefensible for Hornby to make, it appears, no provision for even genuine warranty claims. I wouldn't be happy either if l received a response which was, buy another one or forget it! In this day and age, not responding to customer complaints swiftly is completely wrong. When l worked for the Britains Collectors Club we always responded immediately to complaints, and even if we couldn't solve the problem, just the fact of a sympathetic hearing and then trying to do what one could went a long way! I was really just trying to see the economic case for spares, which presently doesn't seem viable. 'Loss leaders', so beloved of our supermarkets, are just that though. I suspect Hornby is still in a parlous state financially, and l suspect that the ideal of plentiful spares for many lines is still far away, or even adequate spares it seems for warranties to be fulfilled. I still cannot see why though, and here is where l agree with you, that Hornby couldn't just collect all the rejects they are sent, and pass them on to Peter's Spares, or someone similar. Leaving them to strip and supply items. As you say an ounce of goodwill goes a long way, and wouldn't it be nice to have an item which reported,'Hornby Spares - outstanding service', rather than the sorry state of affairs we have now!

OK, now Andy has explained the decision to us, I can see where it might be a problem. But a problem for MRJ, which l have subscribed to ever since the year dot, shouldn't be a problem for us! I presume someone must have 'complained', so this indicates that they do have an internet connection, probably still 'dial-up', to do so. Even perhaps they are lurking within the membership, probably skulking in the lower decks, possibly even the 'heads', or worse still, the Galley. If MRJ just got their house in order, and published at or around the expected date, then this 'problem' for them wouldn't have arisen in the first place. Get your ar$e in gear MRJ!!

If you examine my post at #61 above you will see that I didn't say that spares aren't 'necessary', what l said was that they were uneconomic to provide, especially over a whole range of items. Amongst Hornby's financial problems l cannot see that the provision of spare parts would come high on their agenda. The car manufacturer comparison is entirely false because, a) car parts are needed in stock for repairs during the time they are in use, b) some car parts are becoming increasingly hard to find, even for relatively recent models, and c) many vehicles are repaired under warranty. Hornby spare parts or the lack of them, is something that concerns me, as well as everyone else. If people sent things back when they failed under warranty, which some people seem strangely reluctant to do, Hornby are obliged to repair them, or refund the costs.

Dear iak, I have been unable to source No. 255 in WHS Ealing today, partly I suspect because l live in Spalding. So might l be permitted to include some comestibles by way of a small compensation.for your frustrations..................

The logistics of employing people just to provide customers with 'spare parts' are totally uneconomic. It would, I'm sure, be nice to have spare parts available, but you are talking about every model in all the ranges and the economics just don't add up! This is the reason that Hornby have abandoned spares, and even companies like 'Peter's Spares' have few available. Dave of DJM is about the only person whose locos are regularly supplied with a quantity of spare parts, but he is a much smaller concern, and, I think, has decided that providing spares is worthwhile adjunct to his business.

Yes, it was Erskine Childers, those little grey cells haven't abandoned me completely!

Reminds me of 'The Riddle of the Sands' by Erskine Childers (I think) set pre-WW1 in about 1903, which warned of the dastardly Hun maneuvering to invade in just such a fashion!

Actually James, l would be quite happy to contribute something to the transfer costs, with the thought that an embryo West Norfolk layout or industrial shunting plank with W.N.R. running rights wouldn't be incompatible with my interests either. Running rights for the L.T.&S.R. though might be stretching things a tad too far............

In Scotland, the Caledonian boldly appropriated the Royal Arms of Scotland and stuck the company name underneath - if Lyon King of Arms was so hot on such matters, how did the Caley get away with it? Nemo me impune lacessit... In fact the Lord Lyon did approve the use of the complete Scottish Royal achievement including the jewel and the motto of the Order of the Thistle, and forming part of the design a small scroll inscribed "Caledonian Railway Company"!

Surely this should be moved to the Media section, and placed under the Books section!