Richard RK3

As it's local to me, the Chester to Denbigh route would have been a good call, as would the stretch from Rhyl right the way through to Corwen, where you could have even linked up with the Llangollen Railway! Well, if only what may have been....

And presumably girls too, for the interests of gender balance. Not to sound like I'm virtue signalling but I think that to make this hobby still work I think you do have to make it more diverse! But that aside, I would wholeheartedly agree! It does seem that they going for a more realistic approach (given to the slight resemblance to the LNER Azuma livery) which is no bad thing! :)

Looking at the imagery, I suspect that this may be a new version of Play Trains. It might in fact be the previous version with the characters that they've decided to knock on the head.

£80 train model.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386752570913?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D259212%26meid%3Db7a36f4f26ee4b73b3e1d816056d6917%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D10%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D196258958949%26itm%3D386752570913%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DCompVIDesktopATF2V4WithDefaultIMAFeature&_trksid=p4429486.c101196.m2219&itmprp=cksum%3A386752570913b7a36f4f26ee4b73b3e1d816056d6917|enc%3AAQAIAAABALHyIAEaemKG0mx4REjf%2BHyi2kzcINSWjmv491TDyjbVmYwevKj0ejii%2FeyFe06fKmdZQUwF3N%2Fp7OH0btd6Jo%2BfUfkK1DLoPqy2QDV1taj4ytYlgjzMGBdEv3URV7K%2BqKHUvROFOEJzT8USRL0mvyRWDjbnOAj3Sulv35Kt0HNQVTS7MZIwjTFSy55HJQ8m%2B5aLb4WhMXjO9t--mPxh5h84vwFPzMvIun5C2Tsnr6LNnU2A7UhgZTUONO5F2LLaplq74MkGsLklD5nW3H%2FWMfzxA4Upew4U4OiKR4h9Dk43x8CQVnpjnDWPgmBTZqCKaiWEPoGUC5w3Adl1Et20I7I%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01HQV9EDXVRFFGBA6V0M4C0M1Jel |

Made my payment today, from the original Hattons order I had placed :)

As mentioned I'll be sampling both types for my layout, it will interesting to see how they each perform but as I'm concerned it's a win either way!

Thought I would put in a small request here, is there any chance that AS will do headcode box version of original Railfreight-livered (minus the red-stripe) Class 31?!

It would appear that No: 31107 is also another examples:

Admittedly the earlier versions of the model should indeed be avoided, given all the horror stories I've heard. Also of course, whilst otherwise appearing to be a nice addition, the working fans caused more problems, putting a strain on the motor.

Mind you, the Hornby version I own is actually a fairly recent one, no: 31147 (product no: R3880) which was released in 2021.

Well, as they all happen to be examples I would have been after anyway, irrespective of whichever proves to be better or worse, they will all be staying, so it will still be our money's worth!

Well to make it an even playing field, I have decided to go for one of each, I already have a Hornby version (31147) and will be getting no: 31319 from Bachmann and no: 31276 (the Key Model Special Edition) from Accurascale. It will be interesting to see how all three versions compare with each other, despite the Hornby version of course almost twenty years old! I'll probably do a similar thing with the Accurascale and retooled Bachmann Class 37s and have them go nose to nose as well!

Unusual looking HST: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395182509855?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230906154828%26meid%3D7187f1da61b742bfac44ae2a6235a1e5%26pid%3D101818%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D395182509855%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DPersonalizedThemes23%26brand%3DHornby&_trksid=p4375194.c101818.m154466&_trkparms=parentrq%3A85c1677118d0a45bc1ba490affffd582|pageci%3Ae66cdac3-c60a-11ee-9386-020fdb6e9714|iid%3A1|vlpname%3Avlp_homepage

The idea that Bachmann should have pulled the plug on their version because of Accurascale is just completely absurd! They are a business not a charity or indeed with the latter case as some seem to think, a best mate who you owe a favour to. Also nobody is forcing anyone to give up their pre-orders with the latter! If a manufacturer brings out a particular loco or item of rolling stock I want (and for a fairly reasonable price) then I am more than happy to make that purchase, irrespective of who that may be. Anyhow, for the moment the pre-owned Hornby versions I currently have in my possession will have to do but I will be watching this space!

I'm hoping at some they do a version without the red stripe. Other liveries such as Coal Sector and Civil Engineers "Dutch" would nice too!