InterCity80s

Thanks @G-BOAF, I'll look at giving those suggestions a go.

Just been running it for 30 minutes or so. Nice and smooth runner. No wobbles, derailing or funny noises. Just wondering how to store it now. Bit worried about putting it back in the original packaging in case it develops any further damage to the paintwork...

My InterCity 91 just arrived. It does have a very small blemish in the red stripe on the right hand side under the rear cab side window (i.e. the same place as in 64F's second photo in his second post above). Does look like it was probably caused by the packaging. The other side of the loco is fine. Aside from that one small blemish, which tbh isn't really noticeable at arm's length, it's a really nice looking model. Will hopefully get a chance to give it a test run later.

The InterCity ones (R3890) are in stock on Hornby's website now too so should hopefully be with retailers soon.

Totally off topic but I can pay cheques into my bank account using my bank's iPhone app. No need to visit a branch. Might be worth checking to see if your bank offers a similar facility?

They're really not that bad tbh. I was running mine around 3rd radius curves on a test oval and I don't think they could get around "train set" curves without fouling if they were any closer.

My 7-car pack arrived in the week but today was the first chance I had to run it. I seem to have been more lucky than some as it runs fine without any issues. I ran a 9-car set with a single powered NDM and it seemed perfectly able to cope. I think I'll probably only be running an 8 or 9-car set normally so it's certainly powerful enough for my needs. I did hear a slight screeching noise for about 2-3 seconds at one point when I was running it slowly but it disappeared as quickly as it arrived and I was not able to recreate it. Ran the train for about 50 minutes in total. Only negative was the couplings between the NDM and TBFs are quite fiddly and I managed to dislodge the pantograph at one point whilst coupling. Luckily it wasn't damaged and clipped back in easily enough. Something to be mindful of though when you're joining the whole thing up.

I had the same thought when I got my GWR one a couple of years back. Not helped by the fact that the pictures on Hornby's website showed all the carriages having the silver tanks. Found a few pictures of the real thing though and the model is correct. I think they're for the toilets and there are no toilets in coach B: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/timetables/IET10.pdf

Is your DPTF the same as your DPTS? The pictures adb968008 posted of their DPTF on the previous page only showed very minimal light bleed around the driver's door. What are the other coaches like?

The OORail guy who posted the APT videos has put one up of the Azuma:

The LNER Coronation Observation Car is available to pre-order on the Hornby site again now.

And just after I posted that I noticed that the LNER Coronation Observation Car was no longer showing as "unavailable" so I've pre-ordered one

Last year the BR Class 91 and several of the APT packs went through periods of showing as "unavailable" before being available for pre-order again. Not really sure if it's just issues with the website or additional stock was made available. Probably worth just keeping an eye on it if it's something you're interested in (or try to pre-order from a retailer).

New website seems to be live now. Looking good.

Thanks for that - have placed an order

It's back available for pre-order on Hornby's website now.

Says "Out of Stock" now for the bundle at that link, although the catalogue is still available on its own (as is the magazine).

Yeah, same here. Hadn't pre-ordered but when they arrived, and I saw how nice they looked, I managed to pick up the ones I wanted easily enough, discounted from my usual retailer. I did end up paying full RRP for one coach from Hornby themselves many months later when I decided I wanted an additional one. Might be different with the Observation Car but, given Hornby have done a second run of the Coronation Scot and the APT, I wouldn't be surprised if they do the same with the LNER Coronation rake if it sells out relatively quickly.

I suspect it's more that the regulations you have quoted are designed to prevent competitors (e.g. Hornby and Bachmann in the case of UK model railways) from colluding to fix prices, limit supply, carving up markets etc in order to reduce competition. I don't think anyone is suggesting that any such collusion is occurring?

I wouldn't necessarily worry too much about that. At various times over the past couple of years, various APT sets and the Class 91s have shown on Hornby's website as "unavailable" only to go back to having the pre-order button again. Not sure if it was just gremlins on their website or whether they decided to manufacture additional stock? Can't guarantee it'll happen with the Observation Car but it would be worth checking in periodically.

Was that the comment from "PegasusDesigns and JBM" on the Peco/Railway Modeller video?

If they're the same as my GWR one (Queen Elizabeth II) then they'll be 8WD/twin bogie powered with no traction tyres. I've never opened it up so not sure precisely where the motor is but I assume it's in the centre.

Take a look at this from 21:00 onwards:

Maybe I'm being a bit dim here but doesn't this mean that if you bought the original yellow fronted 5 car set and the new yellow fronted 7 car set, you'd end up with two differently numbered sets (370 003/004 and now 370 001/002) but two City of Derby NDMs? Wouldn't it have made more sense to have un-named NDMs in the new yellow fronted 7 car set and the named City of Derby NDM in the new black fronted 5 car set?

Don't Hornby own Jouef these days?