BRTrainz

Some people use a thin layer of latex caulk for fixing down track. No experience myself as I've only ever done temporary(ish) layouts.

I stand corrected then. At any rate I've gone and ordered Dapol Easi-Shunts in all three lengths to test on the CCU fitted TT stock I have.

My comment on Kadees had less to do with the pivot, and more to do with the Kadee design simply not being rigid enough when coupled to really work right with CCMs. Are Dapol Easi-Shunts more rigid when coupled than Kadee/Microtrains couplings (not pivots the coupling itself)? Having read the various replies, I think might buy a pack of Dapol couplings and see how they work (though I'm still not expecting much for my purposes). Also planning to order a pair of the Roco/Fleischmann couplings and give them a go. Chances are I'll just stick with the Tillig type for economy regardless, seeing as it works ok for me and 90% of the stock out there (other than old BTTB and Rokal) already has some variant fitted.

Interesting pricing then, as the Roco ones seem to be almost twice as much as the Fleichmann ones. Edit: Never mind, the Roco ones seem to be sold in pairs and the Fleichmann ones singly.

From experience using NEM HO Kadee's in close coupling mechs, no. Close coupling mechanisms need coupling rigidity to work right that Kadee-style couplings don't have. Best to stick with the Hornby supplied Tillig-style one or look at Roco's (which as best as I can tell is the same as Fleischmann's N gauge Profi one) if you want close coupling.

As Tillig bedding track uses Kato UniJoiners you can also use Kato 24-818. This is the route I've gone for my Tillig track so I have the right plug at the other end for a Kato controller I had around.

Have purchased and received them in various DRG and DB liveries from elsewhere (modellbahnshop-lippe) and they are quite nice models.

Peco has wagons in the works and I don't see them dropping out on that, so Hornby still isn't alone in that department.

Towards the end of the video (at 0:26) the brake van, 08, and Mk1 are all completely on straight track, and the gap at the rear is still quite large.

Happened across this video showing the class 08 running around with a Mk1 and some wagons. The coupling arrangements seem a bit odd. There is a large gap between the rear of the 08 and the Mk1, however the front end seems to be close coupled to the brake van.

Interesting... It's now showing free postage to the US for me even for just one wagon. Have canceled two of my preorders and redone them with the free postage.

Peco announced (presumably RTR) wagons some time ago (no specifics besides 3d renders of a 7-plank) so there is still another manufacturer (albeit not for locos). I'm a bit confused about what the rep told you, as Hornby already has shown fully decorated samples of some of the wagons so those are presumably in production/about to be. Hornby has also shown undecorated samples of the class 08 and other wagons so those would seem unlikely to be canceled.

TTA wagons should also be released by then if they wanted to stick to something era approriate for a 66.

With Hornby's penchant for mixing stock eras in OO goods train sets, I'm a bit suprised there's no set coming in the spring with the BR blue 08 and a few wagons to provide a TT equivalent to say the "Network Traveller" or old "Goods Master" sets.

My membership order (placed the day after the announcement) is still "processing".

Hornby distributes their own stuff I think as they have a US division but what British stuff they import is rather limited (no TT stuff whatsoever on the US site as of now). I suspect Australia is the only exception to direct sale as it's the only country excluded from the TT club. For sets and locos I'm willing to eat the postage cost. For individual coaches and wagons I'll just wait until 3-4 are available at a time (and hope they don't sell out on pre-order). I did go ahead and preorder the MDV wagon, as I'm ordering a long enough rake of them that I'm over the amount for free postage.

Really wish Hornby would modify their international shipping with this line only being sold direct. As someone stateside, I can't justify preordering most of the coaches and wagons I'm interested in when I would potentially end up paying 30 quid postage per coach/wagon.

Pretty sure it is the Fleichmann Profi type now that you mention it. TT version is branded as Roco even for seprate sale though.

Couplings are the (more or less) standard continental type that orginated with Tillig and seems to be used by more manufacturers than I'm familiar with. The only two brands I've come across that don't come with some version of the coupling are Roco (own type) and Piko (version of the old BTTB coupling). All Hornby models (that don't appear to be OO photoshops) appear to be fitted with NEM 358 pockets with close coupling mechanisms (as are most continental models). As NEM 358 is also the N gauge standard you could also use couplings marketed for N gauge. Actually N uses NEM 355 pockets, although it seems couplings made for either pocket will still fit the other. If you want the close coupling mechanisms to work properly you'll need to stick with a rigid coupling made for them (only other type I'm aware of made for TT is Roco's).

All the liveries announced for the 08 appear to be air braked. Guessing that's why theres no BR green or black liveries announced (even though they could have done an air braked preserved one in one of those liveries).

Not all. Life-Like HO/N Power-Loc (which I think Hornby put in a couple sets in the early 2000s), and MTH 3-Rail O Realtrax and Scaletrax are some examples without.

I suspect the images of stock with non-NEM bogie mounted couplings are just placeholders photoshopped from the OO equivalent.

I agree. I myself am skipping Hornby's track offerings for Tillig's as I love HO and N Unitrack and want something similar in TT. Hornby could alternatively do a track system that does both like Atlas' HO True Track, which is Atlas' regular code 83 track in a removable ballast base with connectors.

I personally had little interest in the Peco or Heljan announcements (hadn't noticed the Gaugemaster one) UNTIL Hornby made theirs. Hornby jumping in head first with the amount of product they've announced is 90% of why I'm willing to give 1:120 TT a go. Nothing about the previous announcements made me have much confidence in British 1:120 growing much after introduction. Of couse Hornby could have massively miscalculated things and the product line quitely gets dropped in a year or so with most things unreleased.......

Good, will probably go ahead and preorder then.