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Global

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Everything posted by Global

  1. Not helped by the fact that in typical Bachmann fashion they only did one inner when I believe they ran in sets of five?! This is where the new manufacturers lead the way in my opinion, by offering multiple running numbers so you can assemble a rake early on rather than being drip fed as Bachmann do. I’d like a rake or two of four or five sets each but I’ll not buy the Bachmann ones (or much else of theirs now) as it just takes them too long to release things and would rather do without. An Accurascale model would be welcomed by me also, likely to be better overall and better value, and I’m prepared to wait for that or just continue to do without!
  2. 431 was the one with small Railfreight Petroleum logos under the cab windows wasn’t it?
  3. Hopefully the INTERCITY Saloon is a pre production model as they appear to have done the white stripe in executive light grey? Or did this carry a different version at some point - the photo on Flickr from 1993 looks to be white as would be normal.
  4. So that’s the tractor porn the mp recently resigned for! 🤣
  5. They seem to have missed painting the inside edge of the window surrounds black on all versions looking at those pics above?
  6. As I said - former NSE area - so in terms of modelling it’s really only quite a narrow spread of the country! ;-) Apart from Cardiff, which I mentioned, and ironically this is probably the biggest draw for a 387 as GWR stuff is usually quite popular! The Desiro has, or had, a much wider spread if not the numbers of units - from Weymouth across to Ipswich (possibly Norwich?!), Heathrow, London to the Midlands and North West and up to Glasgow/Edinburgh so potentially more appealing to those modelling different areas rather than just the South East. But for whatever reason Bachmann hasn’t released any further 350s or modified the front to a 360? Is that just because they’ve not got around to it yet or are these not the best sellers? Only Bachmann will know that though! It would be interesting to know how many model where they live though! I’m from the South East but have no interest in modelling it and am torn between South Yorkshire or Scotland! Lol.
  7. The first train after a frosty or icy night always put on quite a light show! I guess those modelling third rail areas almost need both options - train fitted for the continuous arcing caused by ice but also the track fitted option for locations prone to arcing!
  8. Whoever does the box sleeve artwork seems to be able to get it right! Unfortunately though it never gets through to the actual models!! The Railfreight 60s on the box looked quite a good match for colour, then you opened it…
  9. Wider appeal to what though?! In terms of area covered I’d say the Electrostar has quite a narrow spread really, pretty much within the former Network SouthEast area and not much else other than GWR operating them to Cardiff, but that’s only very recent. The 172 were diesel last time I looked! ;-) But to be fair have probably covered a wider area number of areas and liveries than you’ve given them credit for! London Overground Chiltern London Midland West Midlands Railway temporary West Midlands Railway (however many versions until they made their mind up!) And they’ve moved about a bit in those liveries too, I think the LO ones ran in that livery in the midlands before repainting and the Chiltern ones are currently at WMR too. I don’t knock anyone who wants an Electrostar as if you want one you want one but I do wonder how widespread the actual demand for one is? The Bachmann Desiro 350/450 has, I would say a larger geographical spread but they don’t seem to have offered any of the newer liveries recently. First TransPennine Express TransPennine Express Plain Grey London Northwestern Railway temp London Northwestern Railway South Western Railway stripes South Western Railway plain And with the different cab they could have offered all the versions of 360. There is still time of course but TransPennine stuff seems really popular so I’m surprised that one of those hasn’t appeared before. It just strikes me that these units don’t have the demand, or enough of it, to make them appealing to (some) manufacturers, but I readily admit that is just my feeling! While I was was still going for privatisation era models I picked up several London Midland units very cheaply as they seemed to be slow sellers. It would be really interesting to carry out a census to actually get a true idea how many model where, what era, what amount they’d (truthfully) purchase etc!
  10. I imagine weight per container must come into it somewhere - and we know these weigh quite a bit each!!
  11. I’d certainly want several 114s to replace my Bachmann fleet of 108s and a 116 or two would be good too! If the SYPTE brown and cream 114 could be done too then all the better! How about a 111 as well?! ;-)
  12. I’d say the HSTs look too dark - almost dirty - and the 91 is closer to the correct shade but maybe just a little light? That is from memory though so just an opinion!
  13. An MSV as used from Peak Forest in the 80s would be good - for me anyway!
  14. Just wondering how easy it is on these to move the wipers to pose them in a different position?! Ie to have both pointing in same direction rather than centre. Are they glued in or just a tight push fit?! Thanks.
  15. Ignoring anything Railroad what do Hornby have in their slightly better than Railroad range? 08, 31, 50, 56, 60 and HST, and if being really generous - the 153! Lol. The 31 and 56 have already been targeted obviously, Hornby’s half hearted attempt at the HST still leaves it a viable target I think (hope!) for a high end version along with the others, not too fussed on the 153 though! I agree with the comments on the 60 - I think it was one of their best at the time but they’ve let it go somewhat, both in quality and decoration. When I was going for mid 2000s I thought the EWS ones were pretty good, but the recent Railfreight ones, as has been said, are really not great.
  16. I do miss the reviews of the past that weren't actually scared to highlight any issues - all the reviews these days seem pretty pointless reading to be honest, as if they’re in bed with the manufacturer or scared to get on the wrong side of them! The model can be completely the wrong shape or colour, or both in some cases and the reviewer ignores all the issues and writes… ‘excellent model 9 out of 10!’ I think it was Philip Sutton who pulled no punches in his reviews and should be applauded for that and of course is now putting his money where his mouth and producing some great models!
  17. Clearly you’ve been very lucky or I’ve been very unlucky then! My experience of Hornby has been nothing but issues and that, together with their arrogance, particularly around but not limited to Titgate, led to my decision to not only never purchase from them again but to sell off everything of theirs that I already had. Even clearing out said Hornby models hasn’t been without its problems - most of them were new, have been stored and not used, yet several haven’t worked, bits have dropped off, and one had completed disintegrated! I’ve not had the same multitude of problems with the Bachmann stuff I’ve been selling at the same time. My APT went back without even leaving the box after reading about the issues with it. A friend is on his third and still has issues, but is giving up now! The red box is a sign of cheaply built, poorly finished and overpriced junk as far as I’m concerned, and then there’s the arrogance of SK when it comes to ‘their territory! Maybe it’s just me or maybe others feel the same, but that’s what the Hornby brand means to me!
  18. I’m not disagreeing on the fact that the brand name is well known - whether that actually translates into major sales who knows. Whilst I suspect there maybe a few purchases that are completely unrelated to any form of ‘persuasion’, that these are very much in the minority! By persuasion I mean truly unbiased purchases by people with no real interest in railways or modelling beforehand where knowledge of the brand name has been the only deciding factor. For example my interest in railways and models was most likely only due to my grandad having a layout when I was growing up. He was never seriously into the real railway though, but I do remember us going to watch HSTs nearby while holidaying in Devon. I then had model railways bought for me for Birthdays and Christmas, if that hadn’t been the case as much as I may now know what Hornby was I wouldn’t be out buying model railways, I was kind of steered that way by influences in my formative years. If there are families with generations of parents, grandparents with no interest in railways then the chances are neither will the children unless they pick it up elsewhere, so it won’t matter how well known we think Hornby are! I do disagree a bit on this Hornby is the most well known, people will only buy that because they haven’t heard of others. It’s 2022 - for those with an interest it really doesn’t take much time online to find out. I’d lost interest until lockdown forced me to find something to do! I’d not heard of Accurascale until then - it didn’t take long to find out about them and now I pretty much won’t buy anything else!
  19. If I were a retailer I just wouldn’t stock Hornby - that may play into their hands a bit I know, with them seemingly wanting everyone to use their website - as it must surely be more hassle than it’s worth? The product isn’t great, the quality control is shocking, decoration can be hit and miss, and that’s before you get into the fun and games around allocations etc. Surely the stress of all that, customers returning faulty or cheaply made items and dealing with Hornby themselves must mean for a lot them they be better off telling them where to go?!
  20. Hi Roy, I was having the same thoughts as you with both 248 and 402! As Fran has said the dominos can be easily sorted and McC said the same to my earlier post. I later then realised that by the early 80s the front doors had been plated over and I think the models still have the opening doors looking at the artwork? I guess it depends how much that bothers you?! I’m going more mid-late 80s so unfortunately they’re probably just a bit too early for me.
  21. Have to agree with you, that finish is horrendous - even allowing for the light and being close up it looks awful! It reminds me of my first, and only, attempt at spraying when I was a teenager! That came out all mottled and lumpy, and clogged up all the detail! I realised I didn’t have the patience for it so have never tried again. I certainly wouldn’t want to spend 200 plus on something new with the same finish! I’m glad I cancelled mine back in January now, whilst I’d liked to have the livery that finish is really disappointing.
  22. Or three in multiple if you’re running the Hunterston to Ravenscraig Iron Ore?! Not my image… but what a collection of liveries!
  23. Gotta be done! Haha. I’ve had a major cull of Bachmann and Hornby over the past few weeks - in fact I’m now down to one Hornby 31 (the RTC one), and that’ll be gone if Accurascale promise to do it! Lol, and a set of blue/grey HST power cars! I’ve cleared out Bachmann 20s, 25s, 37s, 47s, Hornby HSTs, 08, 31s, 50s, 56s and 60s! Probably around 80 locos in total and I’m b***** tired of packing boxes but it’s very therapeutic - getting rid of Bachmann and Hornby that is, not packing boxes! Haha. And now I have plenty of room for lots of Accurascale niceties!
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