gillinghamgus

As I understand it the standard blue that Hornby will be doing is that of the 3417 'Gordon Pettit' which is later version but in the original livery as stated with polished/painted window frames and a name on the Guards van, with main beam head lights and refurbished seating area behind the smaller Van. This unit is one of the last operated by SWT and was used at Swanage as coaching stock in 2009... That was the photo shown on the Large PDF back after the New Year announcement. the Hornby website photo shows an original in error I believe. As said though the originals and Blue greys would cover a lot the juiced areas of the Southern for a longer period so I hope Hornby will consider it at some point... Again any decision will be basis of sales of this first batch?

Cheers thought so... as for headlights I think for rolling stock was mandatory from 1988/89 onwards but for the EMU's and 31/33/37 these were done through exams so by 1992/3 all stock had main beam headlights. having said that the diesel clases did have gaps. from memory anyway? Id prefer it if Hornby did the early ones too, nice pics... I mostly ignored the EMU stock when out cranking, but if they are availble now in model form, Then I can do places like Basingstoke or Reading (4A &4B) or whatever.

Those first test shots pics look very good indeed as for the windows they at first they did look a bit wrong but I think that's because of the lack of the vertical bar for the old (non working) sliding windows. Don't forget they are the first test pressing! anyways NSE and privatised companies here we come! Is Blue grey livery valid for the late converted vans and head lights? I guessing they might be too late for standard blue grey?

Oh I am calm and beathing fine thanks....I think I may change my order to a sound Blue 2 car and wait for the 3 car blue grey and an NSE 205. PS I have never liked that term "Tumblehome" just doesn't sound right to me?

Ahh didn't Hejan achieve this when they released a 33/1 with correct roof and width and at the same time have a 33/2 with the correct slim version? it's not impossible to do this for the 207! although its not as slim!!! instead of the coach being wider than the sole bar as it is with current MK1 coaches (tumble-down as it's known?) the 207 body just comes level with the solebar with no coach over hang! anyway I didn't flag up the 6 inches in the 12 inches to foot, somebody else did and yes the difference would be obvious but it could be modelled if Bachmann so desired. As for 6 car Hasting yes that might be too much for some?

Yes granted the 207 is thinner (3 inches either side), that can be seen in the Portsmouth Southsea pic, the body is as wide or thin as the sloebar, I did mention that the coaches were different internal arrangements. Yes the piping is different to a Hampshire more like a CIG or VEP. but it would be nice to see a model of these also in the future as they are just as important as the Hampshires. and often worked in each others areas. (1980's and early 90's) Back to the topic I suppose I should order a 2H car possibly the sound version? but the NSE is really what I want. the Bachmann motor from the 4CEP would fit nicely in the area of a 2H/3H but the windows on one side are clear are they going to hide the motor with a fake power unit and genny? or just paint it grey? As for the talk about Hastings slims, yeah they went every where on tours and the green one has been many locations up and down the country in the last 10-15 years. worth a punt for many folk who could justify having a green Hastings visit their layout?

I am begning to think that also the £109 Units must be the first batch 2 cars and the £149 must be the later to come 3 cars? can Kernow or Bachmann confim this please? Also thought I would amends my thoughts on future production on 207's it's more than front ends... But its a still a possiblity if they are up for it? 205 Units have a first class section and toilets in the non powered driving cars and the 207 has the first class area and toilets in the centre car with the open car in the non powered driving car. 205 http://daverowland.fotopic.net/p56617822.html http://daverowland.fotopic.net/p62716834.html 1988 NSE 205...(Thats the one that I flagged at Exeter Cen) http://daverowland.fotopic.net/p56617818.html 207 http://daverowland.fotopic.net/p56623226.html http://daverowland.fotopic.net/p62839577.html Photos from Dave Rowlands fotopic site.

My only encounter at Exeter Central was due to the very poor situation of traction in the summer of 1991 they did work the first 2 Yeovil Junction to Waterloo services on Sundays but I am only aware of a couple occasions through to Exeter in 1991 and again in 1992. Barnstaple is very doubtful? The 205 i avoided was an out and back service returning to Basingstoke, I should known something was wrong when it was announced as terminating at Basingstoke! as for 33's working to Barnys yes they did but during the 1980's there was a Barnstaple - Paighton service usually 31 or 33 hauled but not off a Mule service. there was also a Barny - Penzance train but again with loco and GUV in consist. unless anyone knows different I doubt 3H's went there apart from a tour? I think a Hastings went that way or Meldon? 1990 did see the daily (M-S) use of a Hampshire from Portsmouth to Bristol Temple Meads and back again this was replaced in 1991 by 108DMU. There was an increase in Hampshire units on the Salisbury - Waterloo stoppers but they reconfigured the timetable to accommodate these on Salisbury Basingstoke's and cut the through service to accommodate the lack of maintenance to Laira class 50's in Feb 1991... ohh ouch. Yes they did cover some Weymouth - Westbury services late 80's also!

They finished on the South Western division when the loco hauled was withdrawn in 1992/3 I got bowled out for one at Exeter Central in 1991 thought I was leaping from a class 50 onto another loco hauled and one of these came up the bank! Oh c**p down the pub then. (Don't get me wrong I liked these as units but not for haulage and not when the vacs were booked to go!) I think they slowly went off the area during the first batch of 159's in 1992/93? The Kenny O was electric by then and Basingstoke - Reading went over to Thames turbos that summer too and the last of the Hampshires and Sussex units were on the Brighton - Hastings - Asford and Oxted - Uckfield line. Back on topic, My order for the NSE still stands and I can/will wait for the centre car, As for the blue grey 3H I will have at least 2 of those please when they go on to build em. As far as I know Kernow went with 2 cars as that's how the first sets were built and they didn't want to go all the way with 3 cars unless it was worth it?.... I am sure they now know the answer to that with the Bachmann 4 CEP sales surely? Another advantage of Bachmann getting this work is once Kernow have milked this cash cow then may be the front ends can be converted to the Sussex class 207's with rounded cab ends, the 2 HAP is the other usage of spare moulds or restamped moulds?

Well most of the class 31's are having problems with the Chassis snapping off and in some cases breaking the plastic body as well, plus they seem to be doing all standard blues with an unpainted body stripe, not many Doncaster fitted upside down fan covers, Class 56's all three variants are done but the Crewe built ones (056-135) have less of a remodel and still uses the palitoy/Dapol sticker for the horn vents, the (031-056 batch) vent is used on all from (001-056)! The lights on 56013 seems to have a (056- 135 batch) style light and the (056-135 batch) numbers seems to have the (001-030 batch) rubber style light and the (056-135) so far has have a sealed beam replacement like those seen on 31/33/37/45/47 of the box style! now these may have been swapped over again over the years but looks more like a mistake to me? The only class I have not heard problems about is the 60's as these were a standard fleet. The Blue grey HST power cars could have had the smoke deflectors fitted as well as those with out, plus they don't match the coaching stock for lines and what about Executive (No Swallows) intercity livery? the most prolific of the IC colours before swallows took over? the swallows don't match up to the paint job on the MK111 stock either. Sorry if I sound really piccy but it bugs me when the make mistakes and yes nobody is perfect.... But the next batch could get the improvements?

The Kernow GWR livery is 47079 G J Churchward looks nice but I would have liked 500 Great Western or IKB 484

Perhaps that's the big Bachmann story on Sunday? They could be doing better production Deltic model and also DP2 with the side vac rad grills and Vac roof? only 2 days to find out.. The V-Trains 37's looks toy like and the 47 looks a bit better but not totally convinced! Having said all that I see that Heljan are doing an O gauge production Deltic as well as a class 33 so how long before there's a chance of a RTR O gauge Vac.... that's a bit Ker-Ching, but I would cough up for at least one or two, im tempted by a blue 55 and massive speaker for the sound chip! Hmmmm Edit: As for asking for an improved class 50 I pointed out these things to Hornby on numerous occasions but I just get the standard response and no action, as for the RNSE window plug for 50027 I had a reply that they had no intention of correcting this with my suggestion! Ok thanks only my money... 50013 and 50027 are avoided for that reason 50018 I may sell it? One other point nobody has mentioned it the marker lights which should be painted as they look like broken glass on a grey roof as for the halogen main head light this could be a little silver in colour when not on as well? Limited edition 50149 has its marker lights painted and looks really good!

I thought Hornby scanned in a vac on the SVR? my theory on the windows is a structural compromise issue they made the middle pillar fatter to support the roof from kids leaning on the loco too hard? but as for the lack of sad eyes/droop maybe the scanning didn't pick that up? or from a track level angle it didn't compute? I don't think there are any issues with the drawings because surely the BREL Doncaster drawings would be correct for the 1979-83 refurbishments as well as those from Vulcan foundry building plans if they were available? The BRB messed about with the internals of the loco from DP2 prototype (adding slow speed control and Rheostatic braking etc) If Bachmann do vac of the MRM's DP1 DELTIC standard then yeah apart from a couple of Limited editions the fleet would be started again. Not so sure on Vtrains though I'm not convinced of their product..mind you I have only seen pics I must see them in the flesh or plastic as it were. All these other prototypes in recent years, any chances of any manufacturer doing a decent DP2? I'd love one of them!

50037 was the first to have ploughs yes, I thought it was 86/87 though? it would be nice to loose the Orange stripe and pack a set of ploughs in the bits bag but you know they won't...Ohh I forgot I also have 50149 from Rail Express so that's 18 Vacs in the pack.... Hornbys choices are very strange even more so that they are choosing some of the Lima locos numbers, perhaps in vein thought these are the only best sellers? what about the Mickey mouse 50008 laira livery or black roofed large logos they would sell! what I do know is your idea of 50039 with roof pods is a good one but I can bet you they will never make a large logo loco with roof pods because as we have said before 50035 is their base for that livery.

Lima at the time listened to the people who bought their products, Hornby know that if they put it in a red box with Hornby on the side there are people who will buy it no matter what is in side!..their 37 which was 30 years old with 47 bogies is a good example of that! although the Lima loco was poor and based on the original loco they did do some paint jobs shame that their print/painting wasn't always the best either. I need to get some of my 17 rebuilt and repainted at some point. Bachmann is possible if their Farish sideline do an upgrade on their "N" class 50 would Bachmann do a blue ribbon "OO" class 50? trouble is once Bachmann sell out they don't go back...I was thinking about getting a 159 some time back, but none are out there apart from Ebay. I'd just have place my orders faster.

As they came on stream 50018 Had a name in the wrong position, a grilled window when it should have been clear, 50035 the first edition with bare wire handles had an orange stripe that 50035 did not have in service, this edition before white painted hand rails, had a window plug one side to put in a grill. Hornby or the factory must have made a mistake as with 50018 but Hornby did mot wish to make and paint a batch of window plugs as an after sale for 50027 with its window mistake! The last in the first batch was 50045 in late NSE but the grey was too light and slight weathering again the numbering was too large. 50002 in very dark NSE numbers too large and heavy weathering this would be ok for a wet day but wouldn't be allowed to be that dirty for long, the front warning yellow is too orange. 50007 was as in preservation with short term red names and the LA symbols on all corners of the cabs, if they had the yellow overhead warning flashes it would have been more accurate. the Hornby club weathered 50007 had black names but again the weathering is very heavy Limited edition 50031 with in-correct ships crest (it looks like a combination of those applied) on the large logo locos all of them are not totally accurate with the numbering from 1980 to 1985 the numbers were slightly thinner than those applied in later years also the base of the numbers should be level with the bottom line of the double arrows this is not the case on all the Hornby Large logo class 50's! D421 is the most accurate of all the Hornby class 50's the printing on the loco is very good 50037 is the only other standard blue loco which gets a tick in the box. 50013 has a grill where the window should be so avoid it if you can. 50004 was the usual large logo with the numbers not in the correct postion most were expecting the DCWA stickers under the second mans window as this was the case when St Vincent had that style of crest applied the model was a standard to 50035 print job. 50027 has a light late NSE and a window where the grill should be, the NSE Blue looks to light under most lighting conditions. 50011 and 50020 are copies of the 50035 standard and 50011 did not have an orange stripe either this loco would have suited a black roof with ships crest instead. 50048 in ONSE and this is as before has the wrong style of upswept lines, and the usual over sized numbers. And now we are on to 50015 which looks ok but has operation issues (lights) mine also had an incorrect placed battery box. So I think that's the list sorry if its not in the correct order of realise? but it is from memory I like the model but there could be improvements but Hornby don't seem to want to make any changes unlike Bachmann do with their models (37's), I know it's expensive to make changes to the mouldings and stopping production to do this but there could be some slight changes made to bring this loco up a stage from where it currently is. Most people make changes to the cab front windows as they don't droop enough and the central pillar is to fat, the rad fan grill mesh is to thick and that of the Bachmann style should be adopted or a shawplan etching put in, the moveable rad louvres are just a gimmick and to deep in the loco with the louvres open this hides the depth. why are are lifting rings so shallow and not rings? also a minor fact of the roof guttering over the cabs are straight lines when they should be angled over the cab doors also a small pair of grab handles under the headcode boxes. I would also say that the steps on the bogies should be added and not moulded to the bogie and be more detailed. My list as purchased 50018 50035 50045 50035 with white hand rails for repainting x 2 50002 50007 plus the weathered Hornby club loco x 2 (Yes thats 3 50007's) D421 50037 50031 50004 50011 50020 50048 50015 17 locos ouch! Well that's enough for now I am off to count some more rivets! ;-P

They are very wrong, the stipes are the wrong size and where the red goes up the cab sides should be next to the door not after it and they are much bolder in this area.. The cover box and the model are different the box is much better than the model! check out some side photos of the real thing and you will see the difference. http://marcsphotographs.fotopic.net/p46914778.html http://marcsphotographs.fotopic.net/p46914737.html http://www.hondawanderer.com/50037_Walcot_1988.htm The last one is the one of the Doncaster 4 (50002/037/044 and 048) with a higher white roof band and orange stripe on the headcode box and blue around the cab door windows God only knows why Hornby decided to model the Doncatser 4 when 10 others where the common livery?

Hold the Phone!!! I would remove all the numbers as Hornby have the wrong size! The Fox and Replica rub-on are the accurate sizes, look at any photo of the numbers on the number 1 end, under the body side grilled up window and small oval window and you will notice that the 500XX does not go much wider than the both grills length, but on the Hornby loco they are almost twice the length of the grills! whoops That goes for revised as well as original NSE. The original NSE is incorrect red and grey stripes, just check out the box art with the loco to see what I mean.... I wonder if Bachmann intend on doing a better Farsh N gauge Class 50 and then maybe do a 4mm loco and see if they can correct the Hornby mistakes and livery slip ups? or Heljan... part of me hopes so another part says no as I have 15 Hornby locos all needing bits done to them. Still it's good basic loco shame they don't listen to and make changes the way Bachmann has with their 37's.