Ouroborus

Then don't.

Your opinion, others may have different views. His model, his choice. If he likes TTS, so be it.

As above. The leading wheel spins without forward movement, then you have movement and it derails. Just before it spins you see the flange (left side as you view it), ride up on your track. But the question now is why isn't the bogie negotiating the point as it should. Does it do this on any other similar point? Interesting watching the video whilst wearing headphones!

Well, there is now the Blue Pullman HST that they could turn their sights to

Wow!

As above. Pot luck. One of mine wobbled like mad, the other was as smooth as silk. In fact, to be honest I was amazed at just how quiet and smooth it was. Hattons happily exchanged the wobbly one and if it was milder, I would have kept it and been tempted to have a go. I'm pondering a couple more

My freightliner patriot is going back for exchange. Hellish wobble on it. EWS was fine

The thingiverse has them, but you'll have to print your own

Succumbed and purchased an EWS and Freightliner versions. At £119, worthy of a punt.

Thanks for your helpful clarification. So models "based on the significant technological (scanning) developments most/all manufacturers use in 2020," aren't necessarily any better that the ones they replace after all. Its actually an important point because it should highlight the importance of not being swayed by 'fools gold'. The Bachmann 47, as 32-802 broke cover in 2006, the forgotten Vitrains 47, a few years later. Neither were scanned, but both were generally well regarded. In 2014 DJM scanned a Class71 and when it came to release, it was criticised for having bufferbeam details wrong and incorrect profile. How did a scan get it so wrong? It's because accurate models rely on the care and dedication of the designer behind them. The man or woman who puts in the extra shift to make sure its 'right', not relying on the latest bit of tech. ESA lost a Vega rocket this week because a person fitted a part upside down. Such high tech failed because someone failed to check. If any manufacturer wants to achieve the definitive Class X, then it is down to a person, not a machine or process, to reach that. The moment the designer has a 'that'll do' moment is when errors creep in. Heljan have the opportunity here to show this will not happen. The 0 Gauge 47 has had criticism for being wrong and there'll be many of us pondering that these errors will get scaled down. Comments on that thread relating to facebook updates suggest that Heljan didn't take feedback too well. I'd suggest that rather than a LIDAR scan, the most important tool in the development of a model is the ability to listen to feedback.

Can't help but think this borders on being laughable (and I have one on order). We're told that if we really want model X, we must preorder (MIMO). Now preordering is not enough. Looking carefully on the Hornby website (it's in the microdot in "Airfix"), you discover that Hornby will guarantee your order upon receipt of one arm and/or one leg at Margate. I've ordered a sushi knife from big A to make absolutely sure I get my Class 91.

Thanks for this. So just to clarify and get it clear in my mind, any model scanned *will* be a more accurate model than one not scanned? 2020 developments, pushing forwards etc....

You went to town on my maths, I wonder why you didn't mention the 45 and 66? Presumably they are also subject to the same increasing China costs, but oddly, Bachmann seem to be able to keep the price of these down, in fact if my memory serves me correctly, didn't the price of both the 45 and the 66 actually go down? I'll gloss over your opening statement, but you may wish to draw in and re-consider the year Hornby had in banging out 66's, 47's, Mk2's and their actual financial performance. I see a lot made about how the new prices reflect the new technology going into new models, yet i don't often see this with my own eyes. Sure, there are some, but elsewhere we see a 108 being released in 2021, 2x8pin, three times the price it was when released in 2005, but otherwise exactly the same. One would think that if you wanted a 108, you might have bought one in the intervening fifteen years? Returning to the Heljan 47, I'm blessed to have the money to be able to buy one, but I'm not parting with £200 without seem some tangible improvement in what it has to offer over a similar model that broke cover in 2008. Like the 108 referenced above, what will Heljan's 47 have as its USP? What will it have that will make me think that the Bachmann ones i have look ****** to make me rush out to purchase it? Or is it the case that buying it is retail therapy - a purchase that i don't need or particularly want and offering little improvement over what i already have, just something to cheer me up. Like buying a new car because you're bored of your two year old Focus. That sort of mindset was fine when the weather was good, but with an increasingly uncertain world, who knows?

I give you the Hornby 66. Went up against TWO other manufacturers - sold out.

We were told to be guarded, not an absolute ban. And nothing i've told you today isn't in the public domain now. Personally, I suspect the AstraZeneca vaccine will be the one most commonly used - its far more easy to deploy, but its three weeks behind Pfizer.

I think the consensus that you told me was 2 years before a vaccine was ready? Interesting you mention the Oxford team. I'm part of the trial, officially told to be guarded about who i tell this to. Given Hancock is saying the roll out of the vaccine can begin from December, i guess the cat is out of the bag now. End of year deployment has been suspected for some time. As is the prioritisation of groups. FWIW I'm group2, so expecting to be done in the first wave and do others in the same wave. Evenings and weekends, a variety of healthcare workers providing them. Not just GP's. Unlikely to just be a single shot, booster seems inevitable with Oxford. Stewart, I'll happily do yours. Would you like an injection or prefer it served on humble pie?

All of the non weathered 86/0's are £161 (SRP £189) at Kernow, all of the 86/4s (and 47's) are £195. (SRP £229) At Gaugemaster, the 86/0s are at £189, (the SRP) whilst the 86/4 and 86/6 are TBA. Before we pile into Gaugemaster, perhaps worth noting that what they're asking for the Powerhaul 86/6 is the SRP of what the 86/6 is elsewhere. Maybe they are yet to apply the retailer discounts. Perhaps. As an aside, whilst browsing, noticeable that a number of the bigger retailers don't have the Heljan 86 available to purchase/pre-order, unless they're just waiting for it to come into stock

Over on the Hornby forum, there was a note that Rocket was designed to take a decoder *with a harness* and that other decoders probably wouldn't fit.

Not really paperwork any more though is it? Just a few clicks here and there.

Short answer : dunno. I guess retailers now rely on preorders to give some indication on how many to order in. Some stuff always shifts, so easier to guess this, other stuff less so. Just what is the demand for a DRS 57? Has it already been satisfied? As a retailer, should i get a few in so i have something for the shelves, or could this risk me getting stuck with stuff? It becomes an expensive gamble. Is even having stock to show on a shelf worth a punt or is a box shifter the way to go? How about the consumer, savvy of previous fire-sales where 101's and similar were hoovered up for £70 against the £229 they now command. Is the Heljan 47 worth a pre-order? Should i wait and see what its like. Should i wait and see if there is much demand and hope for another dump of unsold stock? I like Heljan models, particularly the weight they have and some of their little locos are belters. But if its between a BR Blue 47 and a BR Blue 86, i'll treat myself to the latter. I have enough Bachmann 47's that will 'do'. Back in the day, I'll put my hand up to several impulse buys of locomotives, particularly when a hot cup of tea was thrust in my hand, but these days that doesn't happen. Still get the tea though, which is awkward....

I'd have more truck with D&E 'having' to be £200+ if Bachmann hadn't dropped their prices for the 66 and 45 in response to competition or the forthcoming Hornby 91 being 25% cheaper than a ten year old Class 57. Furthermore, if 'pre-orders are the way to go' (MIMO), then I think a number of us may just feel that the gamble of committing to something you haven't seen just isn't worth taking taking anymore

Derails also have 45040 at the same price. Tempting

So to summarise, in 1976, a class 47 was 1/7th of your weekly wage, in 2020 a class 57 is 2/5ths. Is that your point?

I noticed that. Is this the first £200+ D&E loco (without sound)?

Is it a TTS chip?