GWR-fan

Curious if others are having this issue with the Hattons website. At present a heap of pre-owned items have been reduced in price, Some trainsets and train packs had sizeable discounts. However, if an item is added to the trunk then the trunk reflects the pre-bargain price reduction (higher price). If one proceeds to the checkout then either the site states that there are no items in your cart or the lower price remains. It seems hit and miss what result you get.

A very rare occurrence. More frequent is additional items added several hours later after an initial dump of listings. Worthwhile rechecking several times each day as new items may have been added. I picked up a couple of coaches from the Saturday dump. I am particularly attracted to coaches that are fitted with Hornby 14.1mm metal wheelsets. With a pack of ten Hornby metal wheels approaching $50.00 downunder ($5.00 per axle), I factor in the four axles on a coach at $20.00. Thus if GBP12.00 coach has the metal wheels already fitted then I do not need to outlay the additional cost fitting metal wheels, so effectively the coach is only a couple of dollars. More often than not these coaches present with little to no use at all. Both coaches purchased this morning (GBP12.00 and GBP11.00) come fitted with the 14.1mm metal wheels.

Have you considered Gn15, representing 15" gauge. This is largescale narrow gauge trains running on 4mm (16.5) track using G scale 1:22.5 scale trains. This will give you the larger size that you are after. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gn15 https://narrowmindedrailworks.com/en-au/collections/gn15 https://narrowmindedrailworks.com/en-au/collections/gn15-wagons https://narrowmindedrailworks.com/en-au/collections/gn15-figures/GN15-Figures https://narrowmindedrailworks.com/en-au/collections/gn15-scenery/GN15-Scenery

The statement "never been opened" has become synomynous with "like new condition", possibly just test run and while not factually correct, is seen for what it is, a bit of hype. Think of all the instore and media advertising for say McDonalds hamburgers. Do we really think that the burger we receive is going to look like the plump oversize burger in the advertising material. We "accept" that the company has taken a licence with its product and is displaying it as we would like to see it (plump and juicy, overflowing with ingredients), but what we get is a flattened burger barely one-third the perceived height of the "advertising" burger. What we get in abundance though is surplus lettuce (or cabbage when lettuce stocks are low), a flattened piece of supposedly 100% beef "pattie" and rather scrawny salad filling. Do we complain and demand a burger like in the advertising? No, we silently acknowledge that we are being mislead as that just how it is.

I find that in many cases the store actually downgrades the actual condition/quality of a model. There will be the most minor flaw or fault and yet the store will describe as cosmetically damaged. Also the most minor paint blemish, more noticeable under the harsh glare of the camera but barely visible with the eye, will see the model downgraded as "cosmetically damaged". This morning I received the "old" Hornby permanent way breakdown trainset with the N2 locomotive from the store. Apart from stating the transformer and controller were missing, the description was "good box". In reality, all the parts supplied, including the track, were as new and unused condition. There was no evidence that any of the components had been placed on the rails. The crane components plus buffer stop were still factory sealed and the track still tie-wrapped. I did not really need the set but it was too good a bargain price to let slide by.

It was many years ago now but this is exactly what I did and got results, although much more heavy handed than I had expected. For years I had been renovating my then home and had purchased every single item from one large discount furniture/building supply store. This is now the largest franchise stoe of its type in Australia, but at the time of my letter (pre-email/internet days) the owner of the store, not quite yet a multi-multi-millionaire responded to my letter with a complaint about a sales manager in the store who had basically lied to me. Not really expecting a reply to my correspondence I was very surprised to receive an urgent phone call at my work from said sales manager who was in tears and said that if I was not satisfied with a solution to the issue then the manager was facing dismissal. I calmed the situation and let the matter slide without any action being taken. It did though raise the level of esteem that I felt for the company owner who years later and already exceedingly wealthy (now a billionaire I believe) still considered his customers to be treated with respect.

While not having expertise in today's tooling costs, surely a basically tooled car like this would not cost the amount stated to manufacture. It has little detail and even the lid seems tooled into the body thus reducing complexity. With today's automated CNC machining and computer software, the tooling for this car would most likely have been relatively inexpensive. The car is as tooled and it would seem no further modifications were intended so the more expensive slide tooling would possibly not have been used, thus lowering costs. Unless there was a size restriction on the die-injection moulding machine then there would be no further injection moulding machinery costs. A locomotive tooling representing all the modifications the prototype received in its lifetime would be extremely expensive as different slides for each modification would be needed. How the manufacturer is able to claim the tooling costs on this molten torpedo car does surprise me. With a stated 387 existing customers prepared to buy the twin pack, then perhaps the manufacturer was intending a production run of around 1000 individual units (500 twin packs). I do doubt that they would have seen a market demand any larger than this. Given the manufacturer's stated production costs then any cost analysis per item would have shown the project to be unviable prior to production. When you pick a niche product then you rely on the fickleness of the purchaser. For most it is not a must have item. The email stream does imply a level of desperation.

Just another shoutout for Hattons pre-owned items. There are still bargains to be had amongst all the "over priced" pre-owned items listed, however, when you see a bargain do not snooze as no doubt some one else will pick it up before you. Currently I have just received five superb pre-owned (used) locomotives and numerous pieces of rolling stock for what I consider a bargain. I normally prefer not to pay more than around GBP55.00 (excluding VAT) for locomotives and around GBP8.00 maximum (excluding VAT) for rolling stock. Most of what I receive is like new and in many cases unused, I cringe when I see even old Mainline rolling stock for GBP15.00 when just a couple of years ago the same item would be no more than GBP5.00. Similarly with pre-owned locomotives that a couple of years ago were less than GBP60.00 but now are listed for GBP100.00 upwards for nearly twenty year old Hornby models. Even old Bachmann split chassis models are demanding premium prices, particularly Bachmann Manor class models with the introduction of the Dapol and Accurascale announcements. No doubt the pre-owned prices are simply reflecting the increase in price of similar new items. Currently listed are two old Lima 37T grain hoppers. These are very basic models with all detail moulded on, They are listed at GBP18.00 each. Last week the model was GBP17.00. The week previous two were listed at GBP9.00 and GBP12.00 respectively. How could a model increase in price almost double in two weeks? There is simply no consistency in Hatton's pricing. I picked up a couple of weeks ago two very nice Hornby M7 models for less than GBP50.00 each and yet a week later the same models were over GBP80.00. I will very rarely puchase a new model as in my opinion the prices do not reflect value when similar but perhaps older and less specced models will give just as much satisfaction. Bargains are there but you generally need to be on the ball The Hattons trunk service has been a godsend for me, saving me hundreds of pounds in shipping costs. When I see something that I want I snap it up and then mix and match trunk purchases to maximise the number of goods to ship in each package. Edit: the store just did a Saturday night dump and listed more Lima whisky grain hoppers. While there are still one 37T Bass Charrington hopper at GBP18.00 and another at GBP 12.00, I just picked up four Lima 45T "Black & White" whisky grain hoppers for GBP10.00 (incl. VAT) each. As stated earlier there is no stability in individual item pricing from one day to the next. The Bachmann whisky grain hoppers sell for upwards of GBP25.00 each. With my GBP10.00 limit on rolling stock I will stick to the cheaper less detailed models.

Until I am able to set up my permanent layout I must rely on a test track using Hornby trainset track and a L/H point to test any new locomotives to the fleet. I have all the Peco points and flex track to build my permanent layout but find it convenient at the moment to simply clip a few pieces of track together to test any new purchases. Up until this morning every loco has gone smoothly through the Hornby trainset point. The arrival this morning of a mint Bachmann class 20 has caused me a lot of grief. Every time the loco transitted the diverging route on the point with the narrow hood leading, the loco would derail. I checked the back to back at 0.570" (around 14.4mm), however the derailment continued as I believed that the narrow hood bogie was fouling on the footplate and steps. After modifying the body slightly to avoid any contact as the bogie moved about its pivot, the derailment continued. There was no issue with the cab end entering the point diverging route. With the loco moving slowly through the point I noticed that the narrow hood end leading axle would jump as it approached the frog entry, basically before the bogie had barely started to swing. A few seconds with a file on the entry to the frog totally fixed the situation with the loco transitting the diverging route on the frog at speed with no evidence of derailment. I assumed that as every other purchase had successfully moved through the point that the loco was to blame, however it seemed that a small burr on the track had caused the loco to derail.

I believe a prudent strategy is to present the whole plan and advise her that it will be built in stages. The room is "mine" (supposedly) as long as I share it with the cats.

Phil, many thanks, much appreciated. A future plan would be to install a lifting section across the glass sliding doors and thus incorporate a future branchline (or terminus layout) as shown on the right with the main layout on the left. I prefer continuous running, but the thought of sending a train to a destination does beckon using the addon layout. Perhaps the addon layout could be the fiddleyard thus leaving the main layout free of a complex track plan and thus more suitable for scenery. Your idea allows unhindered access to the room from the hallway which no doubt would keep the boss happy.

Many thanks. I will definitely look at over engineered hinges for the lifting flap/s.

David, the exterior sliding glass door is 90cm and each side panel is 80cm. With just a 90cm removeable section then the layout could embrace the whole room as a "U" shape but the entire width (4.5m) of the room plus the full length (5.6m). The layout would "hug" the wall and not exceed 75cm in width other than the two 180 degree curved ends at the hallway end of the room. Thus there would be one narrow removeable section only (approximately 90cm in width) with basically four straight tracks crossing it. Edit: doing this I could have my GWR "layout" along one wall utilising my Bachmann Highley Station RTR buildings and on the other wall a choice between either my Midland Dent Station buildings or North East Goathland Station buildings. My original idea several years ago in acquiring the buildings was a series of "diorama" stations linked with simple unscenicked trackwork between. Thus the emphasis would have been on the station areas and not the distances between.

David, included is a sketch of the room. Overall size is 5.6m X 4.5m. One wall has 160cm double sliding internal doors which recess into the wall cavity. At the exit of the room to the side verandah is a triple glass doorway with a central sliding door portion. In one corner is a 90cm X 60cm section which intrudes into the room area. A single removeable section could possibly be placed across the external exit end of the room but as the room is in regular use to access the side verandah/backyard, it would need to be a simple easily removeable section to link the sides of the room. I would be hesitant to include a removeable section across the hallway entrance into the room. When entering the room from the hallway, ideally, the left side of the room would allow a wider layout thus limiting its footprint extent into the centre of the room. A layout up to 2.4m wide could be possible and still not exceed the centre of the room and thus not inflame any potential issues with SWMBO, although it would need to reduce to 2.0m wide at the other end so as not to impede the exit through the sliding glass doos to the outside. Thus I could have a "U" shaped layout (permanently opened at the hallway end to access the operating well) on the left side of the room (when viewed from the hallway) and a 60cm full lenght 5.6m branchline shunting layout or perhaps the fiddleyard on the opposite wall. I could then link the two layouts with a removeable section across the glass sliding doors should a train wish to visit the other layout. Obviously, if the fiddleyard was on the opposite wall then the removeable section would be used more regularly. Edit: as an afterthought, if the right side of the room was used as the fiddleyard then a turntable and multi-stall engine shed and return loop around the engine shed could be located at the hallway end of the room where the wall section is 125cm wide. This would make it simpler for trains on the outer loop of a dual track layout to re-enter the main layout after leaving it without the need to lift a loco and turn it around. Unsure as yet how a train on the inner loop (opposite running direction) would access the "fiddleyard" and return to the inner loop in correct orientation without some opposite line running using a crossover or back to back points.

Some months ago as part of a "tree change", I left the city and moved to the south coast of New South Wales. At my previous home I had a very complicated "G" scale outdoor railway utilising stainless steel track and points (43 in total) and LGB locomotives and rolling stock. After years of outdoor modelling I decided to down size to British "OO" and utilise any available space in my new home and get in out of the weather. With permission granted by SWMBO I was "given" a whole room to use as my railway room. The room is 5.5m in length and 4.5m in width. While the space seems perfect it has a couple of drawbacks in that I would be sharing it with the cat litter tray plus both the "narrow" walls have centred double entry sliding doors with one leading from a hallway and the other the main entry/exit to the side verandah. Both sliding doors would be in constant use thus limiting my potential usage of the space available. My options as to what layout could be built are compromised. I had considered a continuous run around the room, however the need to regularly breach the track at each entry/exit door would hamper any long term enjoyment of the layout. I had thought of two independent layouts either side of the room or perhaps a dogbone continuous run layout on one side and a BLT on the other. The dogbone layout would allow my preferred continuous running while the BLT would satisfy any desire for shunting or "real" train operations. Then again I could build a larger layout away from the wall (allowing about 60cm access to the "blind" side of the layout) and have the layout encroach into the room thus allowing perhaps a 5m X 2.4m "U" shaped area. Curves would be minimum R4 with double track operation. It seems that I have several options. For comfort the room is equipped with a split system aircon. Prior to commencing the build I need to complete a list of tasks for SWMBO with just one remaining task to complete when the house has finished being painted. Apart from securing timber to build the baseboards, I have all the flex track and Peco points and operating hardware I could ever need. As an after thought I could build the BLT as a digital railway and keep the continuous run layout as my preferred analogue. I used both digital and analogue on my large outdoor railway and while there were obvious advantages to digital operation with using multiple locomotives, it seemed that I always reverted back to analogue as my preferred choice. Another thing I realised with my outdoor railway was that the majority of my remotely controlled points were rarely used as I would set a route and just let trains run. It seems the more complicated one makes their layout plan the less utilised is its potential possibilities. Thus apart from a fiddleyard on my future "OO" layout, the trackplan around the station area will be relatively simple. I have numerous resin RTR buildings covering Bachmann's Highley Station, Hornby's Dent Station and Hornby's (?) Goathland Station, so my preferred trackplan would be similar to one of these locations. Perhaps a BLT could be built to utilise some of the RTR buildings not used on the main layout.

My GBP93.00 Hornby "Royal Highlander" train pack arrived today, complete with the accessories like front truck with larger diameter wheels and the brakerods. Everything apart from the loco itself were still factory wrapped. The loco had most likely been removed from the packaging for inspection but was still in new/unused condition. Basically the pack was as new condition. The items in this pack are all super detail items and yet the pack is generally undersold on price. I am not complaining.

I am most likely a Hattons pre-owned addict as I peruse the pre-owned site daily for those elusive bargains of which I have secured many. Along with the cream does come the whey so there have been a few disappointments but not many. Unless the loco looks a basket case then a "non-runner" description is not a turn off if the price is right as more than likely the locomotive will require minimal attention to get running. Downunder, the "new" pre-owned listings commence around 5am each day, however, other items will be usually added later so the astute bargain hunter will peruse the site several times a day. As a long term viewer on the site what irks me is seeing pre-owned items selling for up to three times the price the items were sold for in new condition in the not too distant past firesales. A thing that I find a little confusing is the inconsistency in the pricing of similar items. One day say a Hornby M7 will sell for around GBP55.00 and shortly after the same item will be listed for around GBP80.00. Today I picked up a Hornby "Royal Highlander" train pack for GBP93.00 (after VAT discount). This seemed an odd price as Coronation class locomotives of this vintage sell for around GBP 100.00 and the three high detail Stannier coaches in the pack sell for upwards of GBP25.00 each. In the past I would purchase these trainpacks simply to "cheaply" source the Stannier coaches. On the minus side a recent Hornby "Golden Arrow" trainpack buy turned out to be a minior disaster. The loco was described as having a few cosmetic issues which were readily corrected, however the three Pullman coaches had been through the wringer with only one having operational lamps and two of them the close coupling mechanism was either missing or what remained of it had been doused in superglue.

Very pleased (and relieved) that my NCB #3 runs like a Swiss watch. Apart from stalling at a dead slow speed on a Hornby set track point that I use to test power pickup, the loco performed brilliantly. It runs at the lowest voltage my Gaugemaster controller is able to output with not the slightest noise. The axles are free to move laterally. The loco is simply superb and certainly a worthy competitor to the much praised Hornby Peckett. My first Rapido purchase and not the last. A 15XX in imaginary GWR livery is on the order books.

I presume the 2 minute period of operation was on the model after it had been repaired. It seems to me that the manufacturer has insufficient knowledge of what is actually needed to construct a fully working Gooch valve gear and is offering a representation of the mechanism. If operational valve gear is so fragile that it did not survive a trip in the post then is it suitable for a RTR model or is additional engineering required to make the mechanism more robust? Promises are made about accuracy of intended models, however, in reality perhaps this is not the case.

I cannot guarantee the spoke count or wheel diameter of the prototype, but on several of my "Lord of the Isles" type locomotives I purchase cheap Mainline or Bachmann locomotives, such as the 43XX and use the tender wheels from them.

A simple clarification from the manufacturer would solve the riddle of whether the model actually has working valve gear or maybe just a hangover from the initial thought bubble release information. Based on previous releases all will be made clear when you actually have the model delivered to you. Edit: given the complexity of the steam engine on the manufacturer's Shay model, then surely it is not beyond possibility that the valve gear operation could not be simulated on the "Bellerophon" model.

Many thanks. I just need to source a blanking plug.

I have just received the Bachmann Thames Clyde Express trainset with the Midland Compound locomotive. The loco was received as decoder fitted. I prefer analogue operation and was pleased that analogue operation was not deleted on the decoder, however, when testing using a Hornby HM2000 controller, while moving off was smooth, the loco quickly gained speed even with less than 40% power input. I assume that the loco is fitted with a typical three-pole motor. My question for those who have the Compound loco, is it geared for a high top end speed? Given the "minimal" power input, the speed did seem high. Aside from that it is an excellent model (although I now regret not purchasing the model when the locomotive was being firesaled off a couple of years ago for around GBP70.00 from Hattons).

I really need to quell my desire for relatively inexpensive Hornby train packs from my favourite UK seller. This time a "Golden Arrow" train pack described as cosmetically damaged and couplings missing. Scratches on the top of the cab and boiler casing were quickly resolved, however, Billy the butcher got to this set before me and the tender was damaged as well as on two coaches the close coupling mechanism was removed from one end of each coach and super glue applied. The electrical connection on the bogie was severed and the wire pushed up inside the coach body. Hopefully the two coaches will be saved. It just amazes me the increasing number of butchered models arriving. I can understand accidental damage, but butchery makes me think that some modellers need another hobby to express their talents. What I thought was a bit of touchup paint and a couple of simple coupler replacements has turned into a relatively major task. Edit: the table lamps on only one coach operate. At least the loco seems to work, so a bonus there.

I am not aware if the company has changed its policy regarding not supplying retail outlets, however, HobbyTech in Australia state that they are official TT:120 stockists.