Roy L S

I fear that the biggest N manufacturer starving the Market will ultimately have the effect of killing demand, it almost feels as if with these latest obscure releases they are producing models that few will buy to justify a withdrawal. They have an amazing portfolio of tooling and no end of options so even without anything new tool they could satisfy growing demand for Mk1s 16T mineral wagons etc. You only have to look (wince?) at the prices models sell for on eBay to know that there is demand. Try to find an 08 at a price south of £100 - you have to be very lucky. I haven't seen any evidence of announcements at TINGS just that Bachmann are going to be there. I may have to order another Sonic J50 to cheer myself up. Roy

Hi Gahame The only thing "new tool" is actually just that a tool - a box spanner for undoing crankpins! Regards Roy

Because the trailing truck is sprung it is pretty sure-footed, just a very occasional issue, but to be fair my old test track has been around a while and isn't treated with much love, one of the points has a bit of a "bump" in the frog area. Roy

To be honest Grahame while I would like to see a steam loco, I would look upon anything newly tooled as a positive. Regards Roy

I have got one of mine apart ready for chipping, the truck just needs a reasonably gentle tug and out it pops. Roy

It was a real stretch for me to justify 56xxs but I wanted to support Sonic so put together a plausible back-story, but in truth they are really more "Rule 1" locos, albeit I am glad I bought them they are lovely models. The J50 especially in the lined LNER liveries is such a pretty little loco that I am sure a good number will find their way onto people's layouts as a "Rule 1" too. Roy

Well my days, who would have believed it, an LNER tank loco at long last I have often thought what an excellent choice a J50 would be, so needless to say I have immediately pre-ordered two, whether I can resist another one or two in due course I wouldn't care to predict. A circa Q2 2022 delivery so not a huge amount of time to wait either. Great news!!! Roy

We have been told that there will be more for the N modeller announced for Q3 but I will not be waiting with bated breath for the announcements this quarter. I think the most we could hope for is maybe a new tool steam loco (after the 69 announcement diesel seems covered) but I am ready to be disappointed again. Roy

Not long until we find out now, my final thought on what I feel most likely (rather than what I would like) is a mixed traffic loco of some kind which covered a decent amount of the UK network so has universal appeal. Almost certainly an example preserved somewhere I would think to widen appeal to "modern image" modellers. Would Sam play safe having no external valve-gear? I can't see why he would if he was responsible for the Farish Duchess. I wouldn't necessarily rule out a tender loco personally. I would prefer it to be a non-GW prototype as we have already had one, but I do keep coming back to the GW Mogul.... Roy

I would love a BR N2, I have Quad-Set all ready and waiting Roy

Revolution are still dealing with all orders placed with them, only orders actually placed with Rails are being managed through the shop. Regards Roy

My two dropped through the letterbox this morning. For me they have more than lived up to expectation and are exquisite little models, beautifully detailed and well finished. The weathered one is delightfully grubby including wheels, motion and underframes, but not so heavily weathered that you cannot see the lining and crest and read the number. which for me is just about spot on. They are running in together on my little test track currently, and are running very sweetly indeed through the dead frogs of the set-track points used, not a hint of a "hiccup". The pony pickup and springing are clever and certainly help with reliable running and the 9 inch curves are no problem at all. I think the coupling rods may actually be a little finer than Farish, certainly the models ooze finesse in terms of detail and finish. As I have said on another forum, if Sam was looking for feedback in advance of tomorrow's announcement, I would say that he has absolutely nailed it with this model, and that level of enthusiasm is coming from someone who isn't really a GW modeller. Roy

Can I ask what the lubrication instructions are? It does seem very stiff running, could a tiny spot of suitable oil on the crankpins and main gear help maybe if it doesn't breach the warranty? If it relies on phosphor bronze axle bushes for pickup like some Farish though, don't get any oil anywhere close to them. Personally I would set it to a brisk speed (say half speed or a bit more) and let it run uninterrupted for maybe a half an hour longer in each direction before thinking about returning it. Regards Roy

Looks lovely, that is the same model as one I have ordered, great to see it in the flesh, it looks like I won't be disappointed. Roy

Got a notification from Royal Mail that I have a package on its way, currently at Peterborough sorting Office and scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. I am only expecting these locos and their DCC chips, I wonder which it is and which will arrive first . I think I should dust off my analogue test track just in case..... Roy

I would love a BR N2, I have Quad-Set all ready and waiting Roy

I used a wired Zimo MX616 which is tiny at 8 x 8 x 2.4mm, cost £32 from Youchoos. I located the chip in the cab area above the motor. The whole model very cleverly clips together so easy to get apart, wiring is easy as the chassis is split, power comes from the chassis via little phosphor bronze strips that clip into recesses in the chassis each side. De-solder these from the motor wires and solder on power leads from the chip instead, shorten the wire attached to the motor and ditto motor leads from the chip, solder together and insulate with heat-shrink. The biggest challenge was routing the wires so that the chip located in the cab area, I found that some plastic from the top of the chassis assembly needs cutting away to facilitate this, but great care is needed as you will see that this holds the motor in place, cut too much away and the worm gear disengages (don't ask how I know this...). All in all pretty easy, if I can do it anyone can! Regards Roy

A pair of Borails duly ordered. I think I will soon have enough PW vehicles to fill my entire fiddle-yard with engineering trains! Roy

In case it is of interest to anyone, Rails have told me the consignment is coming by sea, so I guess that probably means arrival late August ish. Roy

It would have to be a complete "rails up" job I think, the Class 40 chassis has a different wheelbase and there is no way such a compromise would be acceptable these days.

I have an N Class in BR black with late crest from the original run, I don't model SR or anywhere close but it was such a lovely model, like the C Class I bought it purely as a "Rule 1". I can't be tempted by another even with the Next 18/speaker upgrade but I am sure it will prove just as popular as the first run was. I am keenly waiting for the sound fitted Standard 5, I already have a number of them and one sound fitted already, but based on the 8F's sound file I think Bachmann's sound provider really does nail it. Things have been so slow of late Farish wise compared to Bachmann's OO range, and I really hope we see things pick up for Q3. I recall that this was hinted at according to Osborns Models' report of conversation they had with Bachmann - a new steam loco would be nice or maybe a new Peak? (I know - stop it!). Second hand prices of anything BachFarish are becoming eye-watering and there is clearly as much demand for British N as there ever was but supply is still it would seem a challenge. Roy

If anyone was, like me wondering where things are at with this project, below is a partial lift from a June update on the NGS website: - "However, we believe we are in the final straight and production samples are due into the UK any day now (I write this in mid June) – they will be checked and put through their paces to ensure performance is what we expect. On this basis, the full production run should be completed at about the time you will be reading this update at the end of July so we are getting very close to the shipment point and the requests for balance payments from you that have made the relevant pre-orders. In terms of the shipping difficulties we referred to in the update for journal 2/21, these are still there, but our hope is that we can work with the Factory to get the shipments to us as soon as possible. Please keep an eye on our social media platforms and the Website for any further updates and please be assured that we are doing everything we can to get these models out to you as soon as we can". It would be good to know from Ben or another of the NGS Team how the production samples performed and if they are happy, assuming they have indeed arrived as anticipated. Roy

As well as managing to get a small Zimo chip wired (almost doubling the cost of the loco but what the heck!) in I have also added glazing, red buffer beams and buffers to develop it's British look. It runs really nicely on DCC and copes with 10 wagons no bother at all. An absolute bargain, and if you should want to dieselise it, the pantograph neatly pops off so you'd just need to add an exhaust pipe! Roy

Another great choice of wagon, I'll certainly be ordering some of the early Bo-Rails as soon as the books open. Who would have thought even ten years ago that we would see the selection of PW wagons we now have in N. With the EFE Shark and Mermaid, more Dapol Dogfish to come (with NEM pockets this time) and also more of their Grampus on the way it is only a shame that Farish will not be persuaded to produce more Seacows! Roy

Taking into consideration the price point for this model, I think they have done a lovely job. Very tempted to buy a BR one and I don't do OO! Roy