G-BOAF

I really hope something can be done about the Chimney, with a completely un-prototypical join between diecast and plastic one third of the way up. I really don't see why a plastic chimney can't be fitted flush on top of the smokebox, with a suitable sized lug/peg securing it in. Having dismantled a number of Hornby and Bachmann models, a commendably fine chimney flange is achieved while sitting flush onto the top of the smokebox (no recess needed). This really detracts from the elegance of the model. If Bachmann could do it a number of years ago on the C, I don't understand why it can't be done here. It seems a bit un-rapido-ish to have such a compromise.

Some decent shots on youtube by Class47Peter (not normally my kind of reviewer, far too liberal in his glue use imho). The lamp brackets actually look quite good once fitted with no bigger plug or hole than would be expected with a separate lamp iron being well fitted into the model. So that's encouraging.

I'm finding equally challenging in quality. The only advantage of Bachmann, is there is normally stock available to send back for a return (TPO and a Class 47 both being recent examples where it has take 2-3 attempts to get one without decoration flaws). Accurascale by contrast, with so many models sold out on pre-orders is an unknown amount of time under repair....

Further interesting quote is "The Group will strive to explore new sales opportunities and manufacture high quality products with competitive prices to sustain its business" I sense the group will struggle in this strategy if Accurascale are selling a 37 for £170 and Bachmann's almost identical version is £245!

For some reason I thought the booklet was only for the sound decoder. but I presume the non-sound decoder is basically set up to operate the non-sound functions in the same way. That makes sense.

Just received a Lokpilot decoder programmed for the 37. WAs a bit disappointed it did not come with a specification booklet and a functions list? I presume the booklet can be downloaded from ESU but is there an online Accurascale function list?

But be ware that some have the Stones A/C unit (2 fans) and others have Temperature ltd (1 large fan); from what we know thus far, Bachmann have only tooled up Temp ltd (meaning a future production run is restricted) and any repaint from a RFO needs to be of a similarly equipped prototype (6701 for example has Temperature ltd). It does appear however that the RLO conversions were not done to as high a quality in terms of plating the windows; the plating is much more visible than on most RFOs. Good source of pics here: https://coaches-library.weebly.com/mk2f---rlo.html

Would at minimum need a new interior tooling, which may be worthwhile if a whole series of CS/IC mk2 sleeper day vehicles is being done. Or indeed might have already been tooled up. Some on here will doubtless know the extent of the tooling, but won't be at liberty to say.

Are there any CV changes on the Loksound V5 that can be done to make the lighting direction independent of the motor direction? Basically for shunting/shuttle work I want to leave the headlights on when the loco is going in reverse for short distances, as would be prototypical with the driver not changing the lights every time they go in reverse.

Rails and Kernow reporting in stock. Looks mighty fine... Except for only being able to run it on a Cattle Train (given headlamp code) forward, and a stopping passenger when running tender first! What on earth were Hornby thinking....? EDIT - noticed rear lamp position.

reposting what I put yesterday (which was removed in general clearout) to which Fran encouragingly replied. The majority of the carbon impact will be during manufacturing, including energy in casting and injection moulding (both hot and energy intensive activities) as well as operations around painting and assembly, to say nothing of extraction of raw materials. My guesstimate is that this will be an order of magnitude higher than carbon use within either domestic distribution or international shipping. It would be great to see total supply chain and production carbon footprinting and offsetting/carbon removal/renewable energy inputs (if it is possible to specify renewable energy purchase within the Chinese energy supply system). But good to start somewhere.

if they are factory/QC rejects, another option would be that Dapol insists all rejected models come to them (after all they have paid for a full batch, which includes an allowance for rejects. It can then use them for spares (the good parts) and/or sells the bodies as seconds (which Dapol has of course done with the incorrect DRS 68 bodies). This would prevent such complete items entering the customer market later.

If they are not part of an authorised production batch, distributed from the factory by Dapol, they they are fake products. Simple as. I do like the idea of a secure hologram sticker being applied to product/boxes by Dapol rather than the factory. I guess making these stickers in the UK will be the only solution otherwise there could be a black market in Chinese production of those! Interesting new item today about Fake stamps. With quotes from Ebay and Amazon that fake items are not tolerated. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13294737/China-flooding-Britain-fake-stamps-rogue-firms-land-thousands-innocent-British-victims-5-penalties.html So all Dapol has to do is raise it with the online market place, stating clearly that they are the manufacturers, and that there are no authorised Dapol Retailers in China, that they have not supplied any of the production batches to suppliers in China, and that therefore these models are unauthorised copies (fakes), or at very lease cannot be regarded as new given, if they are genuine, they will have been already purchased from an authorised retailer (i.e. are second-hand), and not covered by warranty of OEM.

Sobering to think that there are more separate parts on the pair of spare full bufferbeams alone than in some entire models 30 years ago! (I estimate 30 parts across the pair including steps, lifting eyes, hoses, buffers, buffer beams, springs, and the main valance moulding). Not seen these parts in the flesh so doubtless have missed something.

Unless you are Hornby[1], you hopefully don't sell off all your spares before a) all retailers have had stock and b) any retailer warranty repairs have come back. Even if AS are sold out, retailers may take longer to shift/dispatch stock, and warranty replacement items should, I would argue, still be available to cover this. Otherwise huge disincentive to buy from retailer, which (as again Hornby have shown) is not good long term. [1] who for a long time seem to have taken a 'sold out and no spare items, nor spare parts, sorry, now please go away'

My guess is most of the common Youtube suspects have ordered other models. And potentially many modellers who want an EWS 66 have ordered 171 as more representative member of the fleet and over a longer time period (from delivery to today, +/- a few details). Also 001 is a limited edition of 525 out of I'm guessing a 20k+ total production run.

Unfortunately has to return a new model for repair last week. I was amazed when I put the address of the new repair centre into Google Earth Pro and moved the images back to 1945, that this facility is situated on the site of Darlington Bank Top Shed (51A). Unless the AS team are taking fanaticism to a whole new level, I presume this is just coincidence, caused by commercial common sense, rather than seeking out a site for repairs located specifically on a former engine shed. But it must be a (global) first to have a model railway repair facility based on the site of the real thing???!!! However now they have got it, one of the many Darlington based steam classes surely is a must, just for the authenticity of carrying out warranty repairs on the actual site where the prototype was serviced and repaired. (just a shame they can't open a UK-based tooling room a little further North in Darlington). Just something I thought was worth flagging and celebrating (and surprised the AS team themselves have not made a thing of this, given the 'authenticity' it adds)!

Whole AS loco seems to sit higher, unless they were not lined up properly I'm that head on shot. I don't recall such a discrepancy in hattons vs Bachmann height

When you wake up, pls post a photo of 10099 out of the fantastic box!!!!

Well I will be holding on to my original release, aside from the frosted rather than white toilet windows its rather good. I can live with the end steps and roof ribs (certainly at the price of replacement). Plus I've fitted gas bottle holders from a scrap RU(R). Shame that Bachmann have not got the writing properly positioned on the lower panel on this release (its too far down, versus fractionally too high on the previous one). But good that another generation of modellers get the chance to have the NRM support coach, especially with the recent 4771 and 60103 models.

Had my 37409 out today for the first time properly since received (as a replacement) a number of months ago. However it rocks. with the slightest touch/knock of the table. Worse the body rocks when changing direction, and the loco leans one way or the other depending on which direction the motor is spinning. What is annoying is that the original model I had was sent back with this exact problem (as well as some body blemishes). Is this a common fault? How easy is it to fix (before I email Accurascale/send the loco in, as I don't want to be waiting months for a repair). from the exploded diagram, it seems to me that the model pivots on a non-fitted lug, but that the bogie is held in with a clip which prevents its from dropping out and stabilises the bogie into the chassis block. Might the lugs be improperly clipped in?

Yes this was an original thought of mine, however the Class 43 DVT was released before the latest tooling with close couplings, and huge corridor gaps is something I try to aviod. Hoping H will re-release with latest tool

Just bumping my last message. Will Class 33 wheels work in a Metropolitan bobo (i.e. are they the same wheels?) Or any other leads on which wheel/gearset to use to replace a split gear.

I get that these are collectors items, but I do wish Hornby would do something that hits both marks (collectors and modellers). Let me explain, and I admit that there are limited cases where this could work, and Scotsman is partly one of them, Mallard would be a better example due to its burnished handrails. They could easily gold plate brass parts (the colours at this scale are not that different) with the advantage that they won't tarnish. For polished metal parts, mainly on preserved locos, including burnished rods, buffers and where appropriate handrails, as well as the tyres, why not use platinum. It is not far off stainless steel (albeit shinier) and unlike silver will not tarnish. I would definitely buy such a model with appropriately coloured plated metal parts. But who the heck wants gold plated valve gear???!!!

If the sizing of the mk2f ohl flashes are anything to go by, they will be the same size as the fox transfers version (albeit red to yellow, i.e. reverse of your plans)