Watto1990

For what it’s worth so far I’ve had no issues with mine (once I worked out I needed to have F1 on!) and I think it looks the absolute business.

I just received an email from Hornby to say the Steam Generator fitted version has arrived in the warehouse.

Wow! I don’t think anyone was expecting this announcement. Small and ugly industrials are a real weakness of mine and I’m looking forward to preorders opening!

I’ve got some Parkside PMV kits set aside for an attempt to model some of these, the sooner I get started the sooner they can become available RTR just as I finish them!

New Engine Shed blog implies NEM couplings have been dropped from Locomotion, but confirms the model will come with Hornby Era 1 couplings and (more interestingly) magnetic chain link couplings.

The sweet spot for me would c.£100 a vehicle, plus another £125 for sound. But I would very easily be persuaded to go much much higher for any of my special favourites... Any of my dream units would probably see me ordering two sets for a start. I'd want a pair of TfL Rail 315s. From an Electrostar release I'd kick off with 2 Hex 387s and probably a GWR 387. And if canny tooling made a D78 Stock / Vivarail D-Train release possible I would be in the market for 230001 in GWR guise and a full LU rake. Which makes me wonder - if AS chose a longer prototype how would that be split? For example would a Class 700 come in a megasized 12 car box, or as a base set of say, the two driving vehicles with a trailer or two and additional add on coach packs available separately?

There’s video of a running sample of Locomotion at the start of the Live Q&A currently ongoing on Hornby’s YouTube - it looks excellent! Also mentioned that it will feature Accurascale compatible couplings to allow running with their Chaldrons.

Locomotion No. 1 is an instant pre-order for me, but that’s it really. Very surprised to see no LNER 225 set announced.

I feel ghoulish to mention this and I’m sure they’ll be some mixed feelings on any bargains to be found but Hattons have just announced their closure and launched a closing down sale.

Looks AI generated to me. For harmony’s sake I’ll keep my robust opinions on that to myself!

I see that Rapido Inc. just announced the Toronto Subway G Series units, which has set me off pondering the possibility of Rapido UK also producing a GRC&W rapid transit unit...

Thus month’s Hornby Magazine promises a full report on Hornby’s 2024 plans in the next issue, so we should know sometime shortly before January 11th.

Rapido L&MR Lions available for £100 over on Hattons. Sound fitted versions down to £150.

Hornby have also launched a Black Friday Sale with a few deals - most notably the L&MR Lion Train Pack down to £130: https://uk.Hornby.com/catalogue/black-friday?langPath=Hornby-uk&filters[in_stock]=true&filters[mandatory_filter_by][product_group]=Hornby Black Friday&page_id=140256&sort-by=8&page=1 Also available in store at the WonderWorks according to Facebook.

Very glad to see the function masking added to the HST sound files, I will have to fiddle with my Midland Pullman set when I get a chance.