GrumpyPenguin

Ifg it's a case that the contact makes mechanically but not electrically then a "hint" of Track Magic may just do the trick. AFAIK it's a product based on an aerospace product.

Good points Mike. I'm begining to wonder if part of the problems are servicing the shareholders. Over the years I have dealt with a number of plc's (probably up to or near the size of Hornby plc) who have "gone public" to raise funds for expansion & when they move into profit start to buy back the shares (& they were astute enoungh to retain controlling interest). At the end of the day it seems to me that the "tennants" of a certain building at Westwood (whoever they actually are this week) go from finacial crisis to crisis like a wheel that never stops (unless the crackpin fall off).

The operative word in my post was "shared", therfore the customer would have the choice - deal with the retailer or the manufacrurer/distributor/importer. Retailers (the local model shop size) have a diffecult enough time making a living asa it is without having a considerable amount of funds tied up with dead stock (i.e. defective stock that they have paid for shunting back & forth between them & their supplier). It would be easy to set up (certainly for all of us here) ; 1) You have a faulty product. 2) You log on to the manufactures/distributor/importers webstore & obtain a returns/tracking/pre-paid label. 3) Pack & post it back to them. 4) Await your repaired/replace item. Or you could go through the retailer. If customers had a choice & went direct then I the quality control aspect would improve greatly.

Unfortunatly, it's the retailer that is ultimatly responsible to sort things out - maybe it's time that the "manufacture" shared the responsibility to sort out defective goods.

Clearly, the world of finance is something I don't really understand. What does puzzle me however is the fact that a "company" (whoever their legal entity is this week) has occupied (except for a brief period in Sandwich) occupied a facility in Westwood. Said company has been in the business of making toy, then model trains for decades. Latterly, they have other products & they are probably the only company that sells everything to produce a passible model railway using only one brand. So I just don't understand why they seem to always be stuggling - by now they should have a the sort of bank ballence where they could lend the banks/financial institutions money, a warehouse full of stock to sell as the retailers order it & a loyal customer base that buys quality products that have a very low failure rate. I do understand how business works, have run a sucessful company in the service sector & now have a smaller one with a mail order side. The principles are the same but the amount of zero's vary. Any (simple) idea's ?

Current European HO has moved well away from Pizza Cutter Flanges & Steam Roller Treads. One mans compromise is another mans nighmare - I always chuckle a little about OO modellers complaining about such things as wheel detail & axle spacing (somerimes as little as .5mm) when the wheels are too close together anyway ! Sometimes, we seem to forget that there is no such thing as a 100% perfect model railway - there will be compromises somewhere.

Thanks for the info'. Looks like I will have to get a Liliput one & remotor it.

Is that Trix BR05 a tender driven one ? I had a locomotiver drive one & it was useless from the haulage POV. I sold it reluctantly as it would not pull 10 x free running Liliput coaches on the level. If yours in tender drive can you l;ey me know the catalogue number so that I can lkook out for one please ?

Absolutely spot on.

Interesting discussions. However, where is the money coming from ? (unless I've missed that bit).

If a flywheel is causing "noise & vibration" then there is something wrong with the ballance, either the flywheel itself or the motor/flywheel assembly.

Agreed, negotiating the use of "branding" & paying the agreed fee is one of the reasons why Oxford Diecast models of the same vehicle may vary between branding.

Nobody does (AFAIK) does a smoke unit that produces thick black smoke.

Hornby also model European & North American trains - Rivarossi, Lima, Jouef, Electrotren & Arnold. European (mostly German) steam locomotives used to carry 2 x illuminated items mounted above the buffer beams on each side. Later, a third illumitated item was added higher up & central - this was to differenciate (speeling?) between road & rail traffic where unfenced railway lines run alongsidfe roads. Early lamps were in fact huge on the locomotives that were not equiped with electic generators (hope that's the correct word - may be dynamo or alternator) or some form of electrical storage (such as dry cells or lead acid). Even some of the electrically powered illuminated items were still large - they used a white painted reflector & AFAIK a 25w Pearl lamp with an ediston screw bas but I have no idea of the voltage. More or less carried over to diesel & electric but some also have a high intesity illuminated item which may or may not be called a headlamp or a headlight. AFAIK filament lamps (as the componant, not the whole fitting/lamp) are known in some parts of the world as "globes". There will of course be many variants..................

Or,m in the case of Classic Vehicles "just go out and buy a five year old Tesla ?"

With you there.

That is of course true. However, I'm still allowed to express my opinion am I not ? The same goes for cladding on terraced houses and artificial grass.................

There are many vehicles that suffered from engines that were not quite "right" but mostly they can be sorted. If you don't understand why true Land Rover enthusiasts think converting Solihul producst to EV is mechanical vandalism then you are not a true LR fan (for all their quirks which is part of the appeal) & will never understand. I'll leave it there.

Two issues here ; 1) I don't want my entire journey recorded (there are enough ANPR & other cameras that do that anyway & that data is saved) - my Dashcam only saves a limited amount & woiuld only be downloaded/saved in the event of an incident. 2) AFAIK it is a condition of vehicle insurance in Russia to have a working dashcam fitted.

Could not agree more - my pet hates are active lane assist (as opposed to a simple beeping) & emergency brake interfere (sorry assist). Cruise/Active Cruise Control are OK & quite handy at times though.

It can be done "properly" but doing that to a Classic 2-door Range Rover is nothing but mechanical vandalism !

Many people regard cars such as Range Rovers as "several computers on a network with an engine & some wheelsd attached".

As a semi-retrired HGV driver I am used to being monitored whist driving - basic Tachometer, CCTV (including a camera pointing at the driver) & full vehicle telematic - all "talking" to one another & capable of recordingh my entire shift & I don't have any issue with it at all. However, in my car I feel it is an extention of my home therefore private. I drive responsibly & have an operating dashcam - that's enough thank you.

- they will have to be agile otherwise the will be in danger of falling through the gap between the lopcomotive and tendser !

The "saving" in running costs of EV's will diminish as time goes on - as the revenue into HMG's coffers reduces due to the takeup of EV's they will then start to add road fund licence (already starting to be charged) & of course electricity will attract "fuel" dury &/or VAT to make up for that loss. You won't get away from it either at home - your so called "smart" meter will grass you up (maybe your car will too) & of course electricity will go up through market forces.