Richy59

I just received an email from Dapol indicating my sound fitted preorder is ready for payment, maybe this means the dcc fitted versions are ready as well?

Decided I needed a TPE now that there are coaches incoming, went to pre-order the sound one on the Dapol website and all their latest models with sound are now 'Out of Stock' so glad I get my Plain Blue DRS one in last week. Guess I'll just have to buy a standard version from a retailer and look to fit sound down the line.

Well, there goes my plans not to buy a Dapol TPE 68  The Nova 3 rake looks like it will be fantastic, I'll certainly be after one when they are up for pre-order. Probablt won't be able to resist so sort of Caledonian Sleeper formation as well alongside the 92

I read elsewhere that this announcement was due at Model Rail Scotland in a few weeks but was leaked slightly early. Will there be any 3D printed or handpainted samples on display there or was it just going to be the announcement like we have seen online?

Do I have to pay upfront for the models, is it a free pre-order or is a deposit taken? Quite interested in the 18 wagons in Castle and don't want to miss out, but not sure I can put down all the money at once right now.

Very much looking forward to it, been great going the last couple of years since I got back into the hobby. Going the Friday again this year although bought my tickets early so I don't have to stand in the massive queue I wasn't expecting!

May have another visit on the Sunday as the Friday is just manic with people there buying.

Very interested in the the Castle Cement packs, but I'm not sure which would be the most accurate for a current modern image layout, i.e. 2017/8/9?

Packs J/K/M with Green lettering on logo 'Building a Better Environment'

Packs L/N with the 'HeidelbergCement Group' logo off to the side under Castle Cement logo

or 

Pack O with the 'HeidelbergCement Group' logo directly under the middle of Castle Cement logo

Or would all packs be suitable, as 18 individual wagons does sound mighty tempting... 

Thanks for the comprehensive answer, I had no idea who owned the Blue/Greys, just assumed they were old BR stock used for current rail tours.

Does anyone have any info about when Dapol will released their factory fitted sound locos? I have a pre-order for the plain blue and itching to get it after seeing everyone posting their DCC Ready or Fitted models.

Also is it usual for Dapol website pre-orders to not charge for the pre-order or take any payment details? I've never shopped direct with them before.

For the most part I have seen them consist of 3 Opens, the Brake and then the last 2 Opens to form the 6 carriage rake. Or vice versa if the loco has run around to the other end. 

very occasionally I have sen pictures of them with the 5 Opens together and the Brake at the end, or again, vice versa. I think the mix the consist depending on which carriages are available at the time.

Photo by '37001' on Flickr

1 hour ago, Ian Hargrave said:

By coincidence,ahead of our XC to Doncaster  this morning,as I parked the car at Burton station,the real thing in Scotrail livery pulled out of the station northbound at the head of a special in Riviera blue and white.Impressive but  a noisy brute.Interestingly,it was solo and not top and tailed.We passed it a little later held at Stretton for a succession of XC services to get ahead.There were crowds of enthusiasts waiting with digital equipment at the South end of Derby station for its appearance.Someone might know its destination?

I'm not totally sure of it's destinations but it was 68007 'Valiant' on a 'Pathfinder Tours' rail tour (The Blue Boys Loco Fest apparently), I've seen a few people posting pictures on the various Facebook groups I'm on. Pretty interesting to see, and good for some modelling. It was actually at the head of a rake of Mk2s in Blue and Grey with no 'InterCity' branding on the sides, a mix of 1st class and Standard with a Buffet coach and a Mk1 Restaurant in the middle splitting the classes. There also looked to be a plain blue Mk2 brake coach in use? 

I actually bought a bunch of Hornby 1st class Blue and Greys when I saw that DB was using one of their 67s hauling them on a Rail Tour, which I plan to debrand and run on my layout as a Rail Tour, however I think Bachmann's Mk2s may be a better choice. Good to see the ScotRail 68s being used as well, gives me something to mix the rail tours up with.

I'm trying to hold off until the end of the month when I go to Model Rail Scotland to see what i can buy on the day, but I am really struggling to resist a sound fitted version direct from Dapol since that might be hard to come by at the show since they haven't actually released them yet nor will they be going to other stockists.

I do really want a Late Service 'Avenger' but I can't find any with sound fitted.

Does Dapol just use the Legomanbiffo sound file? If so I could just buy it direct from him.

I haven't had a chance to find a print edition of BRM yet, as mostly I have to reply on supermarkets to get my issues, so was looking to purchase online. I can't figure out though if I buy a print edition online if I'll get the laser cut kit with it, the DVD (which I believe is for subscribers only) or nothing at all. Any help would be most appreciated  

Interesting note, although not very important, that the 2019 Hornby Catalogue lists R3659 as being 67023 'Stella' even although, as discussed in this topic, it was changed awhile before release to 67027 'Charlotte'

I've done my own renumbering, but would have been interesting if Hornby had released both with a simple name change, or as a limited edition double pack. Especially with the upcoming Network Rail Mk2fs 

Pleasantly surprised to see a sound fitted Bachmann 66 on pre-orders for £190, very reasonable compared to I believe the £265 for the upcoming Hatton's ones. If, and a large if, they improve the sounds of the 66 like they did on the recent Europhoenix 37 then its going to be a winner. 

I had a pre-order on with Hatton's for their new 66 in the GBRf Large Logo livery, and will stick with it as it's a 'celebrity' loco so something special to have for a new model, but glad to see Bachmann releasing the new Freightliner livery this year on theirs which is one over on Hatton's. 

I assume there has been no further update on their planned release of the newly tooled Class 170s they announced last year?

Very interesting, I'll be picking up a rake of the DB Hoppers, and very intrigued to see they are also releasing Mk2Fs as ScotRail Saltire, direct competition with Hornby again.

Thanks Mick, very helpful. I will refrain from going OT any further

Can anyone help with confirming the exact formations the test trains run in, are they usually the same or are there variations of the formations?

I have seen some with either four or five coaches, on top of what Hornby is offering I've seen a formation include a Mk2f Brake Coach, a Mk2f coach with no windows on either side, and what I assume is a Mk2a.

Only when I looked closer did I realise the Northern Belle train pack was actually 57601 as 'Windsor Castle' but the radiator grilles gave it away as their ex-Lima 47...bit naughty but I guess no worse than printed grilles on NR yellow coaches (plus Rule 1, if the joker card is required!!!).

Slightly concerned by this, if the 57 in this pack is indeed ex-Lima tooling then will it be less detailed and have no lights, much like their upcoming 66s? I really like the look of the the coaches and the coach pack to accompany it, but not sure if I really want to spend so much on a loco that that isn't very detailed.

One thing that I've noticed that is lacking is Hornby's attempts at modern image wagons this year. Plenty of modern locomotives and rolling stock in the way of coaches (which I'm very happy about) but it seems they can't keep up or compete with the smaller manufactures or commissions that bring out modern image wagons to everyone.

Feel like they have missed an opportunity with some more direct competition (which seems to be largely their focus in 2019) by releasing cheaper, older, more common tooling with modern image liveries to sell to the masses.

Whilst I made my own Mk2f ScotRail coaches last year and plan to make my own Network Rail Mk2s this year I am still very excited to see Hornby releasing them as official models, will definitely be picking up a full rake of their ScotRail ones and making a test train rake out of the yellows. Nice job Hornby!

Thanks for the confirmation Ben  Shame they aren't included as it was a very nice touch with the TEAs and made it such a simple and quick job to do when all included as a package.

Can anyone from RevolutioN be able to tell if these wagons will come with alternative numbering kits much like the TEA Tankers that were recently released?

Thanks

EDIT

Also realised I just missed the early bird date 

Arrived the other day, absolutely stunning model. Yet to run it, but looks fantastic. Anyone know who created the sound files for, or if it's even possible to buy the sound chip separately? 

I ordered mine shortly after it was first announced and it cost £289. I believe the price was later increased to £329

Thanks. Checked eBay again and people are actually asking £350+ for the DCC Ready versions, so happy I got mine from Locomotion for £249. Well...hoping I get it. Order is in, depends how much demand they have had.

Locomotion have them for sale for £249 . . .or you could have one from Ebay for £300-400...

They have the DCC Ready one in stock for £249, which is what I purchased after reading their newsletter. Saw a few Sound ones on eBay for £350+

How much was the sound one at retail?