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There appears a slight GWR bias in the steam locomotives - apart from the industrials of course. How about 'Heritage Specials' - preserved locomotives still steaming on the rails? OK, these are reasonably well covered by others. 2 I'd love to see to a high standard are the recently re-introduced / on trials 60532 Blue Peter Peppercorn A2 (Bachmann's looks very decent I admit and goes quite well - mine does anyway) and 71k DoG BR 8P - an average-good model produced by Hornby which can surely be easily bettered. I stay with my original 'requests' of course: Parallel Royal Scot. Jubilee - several guises available. 8F - game for a 'powerful, quality' model. Class 40. Ones not done - fascinating to some, relevant perhaps to others, probably not to many. Bressingham's own 'Thundersley' atlantic tank is a nice one for consideration. If you stay on the GWR front, then 4-6-0 Halls and Counties are worthy. Hornby make a good stab at the Castles and Kings, even if they're a little over-geared! Al.

It does appear that despite the huge amount of 'new activity' (new / pending models) A/S are keeping their website live and relevant! So many I find update once, then leave it! Thank you Fran, McC and the hugely enthusiastic group at A/S !! Al.

I'm far from an expert / veteran on weathering / fatiguing models, and I only use 'rattle cans'. I have to psyche myself up each time a 'new gem' arrives to if/as/when/how much the weathering happens ... know the story. My CavAlex took 4 days before a 'light dusting' appeared where seemed correct on the roof - hardly notice but just slightly dulls the sheen / shine - looks great. I also masked up 'everywhere not required' and with the 'see through vents' and etched grilles tried spraying out - great idea but wasn't effective. Back on track, Evening Star should be with me soon so really can't wait to get her rolling. So many options with the '66', was difficult to decide which to plumb for - all look superb, of course. 775g I believe is pretty much the same weight as my AS 55 was when I received that +/- so a real heavyweight. I bet Pete Waterman was impressed!! Al.

It's too clean! 🙂

Thanks Fran. Sounds like it's as powerful as the 'original', which was / still is phenomenal!! Full of questions - I suggested the gearing might be lowered slightly, as the H4-66 will fly considerably beyond a scale 100 mph. Has the overall gearing been lowered? Al.

Thanks McC. Slightly heavier and a real heavyweight, as she should be on the model circuit, for the rakes typical of the Class 66. Al.

76.2 x 76.2 x 76.2 ~ 442,451. 126,000,000 g / 442,451 = 285g well done!!

Back to being serious, my H4-66 Patriot weighs in at 740g. What's 66001 / A/S coming in at please? Thanks, Al.

So how heavy is the A/S 66 then?

Hornby Magazine have just issued a video presentation (hope this is permitted):

Quick question to 'those that have'. How heavy is the A/S Class 66 please? Yes, I know it states 0.8kg on the site - that's very approximate. Could mention if DCC / DCC Sound / DC - 'though that's only a matter of a few grams. Al.

With decent power and traction please!! Hornby one can't pull the skin off a rice pudding!! Mine has added weight as well. Al.

Is that Parallel boilered Scot any closer as well - would be a superb option? Al.

Does that include the Class 40 then .... just asking? 😊 Al.

WOW!! 20+ H4-66's - you must have quite a collection of axle boxes then!! I'm sure they'll compare favourably, but please keep us posted. Al.

Thanks James. Just seemed strange that everyone was 'chomping at the bit' for the release of this updated, improved, 'corrected' Hattons model - a flawed but superb model in its own right - then ..... silence!! Normally YT is flooded with mini videos, etc. Al.

It's been 5 days since this 'eagle has landed' yet still no videos apart from a couple of teasers on YT. Surely they're not all shelf queens and 'boxed as new investments'? It would be nice to see and hear how this model presents itself, and performs. Al.

Cameraman's been sacked since this one!! Still waiting for videos of the Mk.II ..... !!

I suppose if you think about, it makes sense what you say. The 14xx could be 'more local stopping mainline services' where the gradients could be limited for the heavies. Branch lines, as we see with many of the 'heritage' railways have some pretty difficult sections which the small prairie could be better suited for. Whatever, the 14xx would be a very popular model for many. Al.

If we believe a quarter of what Sam had to say about the last 14xx, a 'latest standards' version would be brilliant - very, very popular locomotive - model and heritage full-scale railways, and obviously their original use on branch lines - very popular to model. Al.

Still no videos? Al.

I remember as a teenager in the 70's going to a model railway show at the Bluecoat Chambers, Liverpool city centre, and being really impressed with a smooth-running P4 layout, the locomotive having an actual crank, with working inside cylinders and running reliably. I details are going to an extra level, this might be something to consider - certainly pull quite a coup over the other established 'steamie' manufacturers - just a thought. Al.

4.2kg !! That's twice the weight of my loading - 2.1 kg ! Going to be interesting and difficult not to perform a 'comparison' once the A/S version arrives! Al.

Just for reference, I mentioned working on the infamous axle boxes of my Hattons' 'Patriot' - here she is hauling some hoppers (12 of them, each weighing ~175g !!) Power is DC only, using a Gaugemaster model 'D', set on ~40 (of 100). Al.

Thanks for that. Whenever I do that, I try to imagine what the station would look like were it to be full scale - full of smoke / steam!! Al.