Pendennis

How many years ago did the story appear that Slaters had taken back the moulds for the Toplights and were planning to reissue them? Every now and again someone would post that this or that had happened and they would be available next Spring/Autumn/Year etc.. I have long given up any realistic hope that they might reappear and in my opinion the Dapol announcement really puts a final nail in the coffin that was already firmly closed. Martin

I model the post WW2 GWR so I only have a passing interest in the BR built pannier tanks. I have four Bachmann 57xx/8750 tanks, they run as well as can be expected for an 0-6-0T and, although the ancestry of the design is many years old, I think the level of detail still passes muster. I also have a couple of Mainline 57xx non-runners that just sit on shed. OK I have to be very careful with renumbering them to ensure the chosen loco has top-feed during the period modelled. However if I was a model manufacturer [which I am not!] would I choose to go up against Bachmann with an updated 57xx/8750, probably not. The Blue Box team could do as they did with the Class 66 when competition appeared, they’d continue to produce a selection of liveries and try and undercut the new entrant. If I was a manufacturer and wanted to produce 2022 standard pannier tank I’d look at other types and I think the 2021 or 2721 would fit the bill perfectly, they probably have as great a choice of liveries as the Collett panniers and, crucially from a marketing point of view, a number lasted into the BR era and received BR livery. Martin

"Castle" gives notice on the RMWeb Events thread; from memory he makes the initial posting about May with the Tour on a Sunday in late July. It can be thoroughly recommended, an excellent day out. Martin

Many thanks to Brian and the rest of his Team for all the work they have put into these Mini-Polls, and thanks again to Robin ANTB for hosting them. Interesting that Toplight coaches were well ahead of anything else; maybe one day................. Martin

I'm really surprised that Kernow has not got around to offering an A.26; even if they had not produced it at the same time as the Railmotor, a “stakeholder” announcement would surely have been a warning to anyone else to stay away! Similarly I was surprised Hattons didn't commission an Auto Trailer when they did the 14xx/48xx a while back, surely it was low hanging fruit even then. Like others have said, I think a wood-panelled or matchboard sided Auto Trailer would have a lot of appeal as it is "something different" so I'll plump 2 and 3; the former had long service lives, whilst 5, 6 and 7 were quite numerous. Note that in the unlikely event of all the above appearing, I wouldn’t buy them ALL but I would be in the market for at least two 2021 standard vehicles. Martin

Another Mini-Poll response: I don't have a great need for non-gangwayed coaches and having bought a rake of the recent Hornby Colletts I'd find it hard to justify any more. However a couple of 2021 standard B-Sets would not go amiss. The Hawksworth stock is too late for me. I'd buy a couple of pairs of any B-sets that are listed, but 5 and 6 would probably be my preference. Thanks again Brian for all the background work you and the team have done, and thanks to Robin for allowing all of us to intrude on his thread! Martin

Brian I have to echo what others have said, these are very niche prototypes, too niche for me. In all honesty I wouldn't be in the market for one of these; I'll pass on this Poll. Martin

For the 8-wheel type I'd choose 2; go anywhere no major external alterations. 1 and 3 were modified externally which poses a problem for RTR manufacturers. Two car sets in one six coach train is too much. For the 12-wheel type I'd choose 6 but would be quite happy with 5; close call but we're unlikely to get both! I'd be happy with a new version of H.33, I model GWR so I'm not worried about later BR liveries. Martin

9, 10 and 11 for sure. The 70 footers would be nice but how many could one use on an average layout; I have curved platforms so that could cause problems. The "wide" stock would again be nice but niche, I could not guarantee that I would buy many of them. "Go Anywhere" stock should be good sellers. Thanks again to Brian, Rob and the Team. Martin

Having been in remotest Yorkshire with no mobile signal or WiFi for a couple of days, I was so pleased to see Brian's well thought out posting; it has to be Option 1 for me. If a selection of numbering was produced, I'd still buy them all. Martin

4 but only the first 1/3rd! Martin

Thanks for another Poll, my choices are:- 1, 4 - 7, 10 - 12. Martin

Apologies Brian. In my opinion it is not a realistic price; as to being affordable, maybe for some but although my model railway budget is fairly elastic, there would be much higher priorities for £37. And there are three wagons in each livery, I wonder if Rails are hoping people will buy a set of all three - £110+, eye-watering? This could be a double-edged sword; will another manufacturer jump on the bandwagon and produce a better injection moulded model or will this be a spoiler? Martin

I certainly wouldn't pay that sort of money for a Dapol 4-wheel van. I thought the mini-polls talked about a realistic price!

I would consider any new GWR wagon but as my budget is not unlimited, those most likely to be purchased would be 1/4/5/7/8/9. 12 - a new Crocodile would be nice too. Martin

2 - 8 inclusive. Focused 7. Martin

3, 8, 9. It was a toss-up between 3 and 11 but decision made. I would like a 12 too, but I'm not sure it would be viable in the r-t-r market.

L22 for me.

Full Brakes - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 - focused 1, 2, 3. Monsters etc. - 8 - focused 8.

At last Dapol are doing a Post-WWII engine without a BR smokebox door number.

My choices. 2/3/4/5/6/7 Focussed choice. 6 [They just look a bit different, to add a bit of variety] Martin

Both products of Joe Smith, he didn't have the flair of R J Mitchell: the Attacker, Swift and Scimitar were hardly unqualified successes! Makes you think that Supermarine had been totally dependent on one gifted designer.

No Spitfire/Seafire has an undercarrige like that; it is a Seafang, RN version of the Spiteful.

The Desford Trainer was built to test the viability of a prone pilot; the idea was that he (it was only a he in those days) would lay on his stomach and control the aircraft in that position. It was also hoped to increase visability by allowing the pilot to be in the nose of the aircraft but not compromise the aerodynamics. The trials were continued with a prone pilot conversion of a Meteor, this can now be found at the RAF Museum Cosford.

Well I skipped the first release, initially because Dapol products tend to be a bit like the curate's egg, some good, some bad. Then they put a smokebox door number plate on the GWR version. Finally when it was actually released with its shortcomings listed earier in this post, my mind was made up. In the last week or so, it occured to me that Accurascale might adapt their upcoming Manor chassis to produce a Mogul, its what Mainline did decades ago. Now I'm glad I waited, if Dapol do rectify ALL the mistakes in the first batch, although reading the above I'm not convinced they are going to change the gearing, I'll have two or three.