YesTor

I'm not sure if this helps anyone, users, admin or otherwise, however I just experienced the rogue 'pop-up' once again. The first screenshot shows the initial pop-up screen, while the second image shows the message when an attempt is made to click away from the affected tab. Nothing else within the browser or the computer 'freezes-up' as such and the tab can be easily closed and the use of Firefox seems otherwise unaffected. Perhaps this corresponds with what other users are experiencing: cheers Al

As my dear old tutor used to say, "Assumption is the mother of all f#*# ups!" And with all due respect, one cannot hold a man responsible for what others may assume. We are each responsible for our own brain cells, surely?

That's very true, although the downside to this of course is that potentially every product that is connected to the internet becomes susceptible to infiltration/interference/malware/fraud etc, depending on the type of product and its intended use. But I guess that's a whole different debate.

On the prototype the wipers are usually only visible when in use, otherwise concealed just beneath the 'bonnet' of the loco front, similar with many car designs, hopefully as this photo shows... cheers Al

If Charlie adds silver window frames to just one of the five variants being produced then I'd imagine that this would make a reasonable difference to production cost; or maybe it is simply too late at this stage to make further amendments. Anyhow, as already explained the model as it stands with black frames is technically correct for an ex-works machine. And besides, who would be the first to complain that 156418 was out-shopped with black frames and not silver... Look at it this way, if you choose to add your own silver frames then you will have something slightly unique.

Hmmm, I have experienced this as well a handful of times over the last couple of weeks or so when opening a topic in a new Firefox tab. I'll try and get a screenshot if it happens again.

It might be worth mentioning that the Cavalex model represents type PG012 whereas REDA14781-14786 are type PG009B and an altogether different design in many respects (including solebar, underframe, body, ladders etc). I too would also be interested as to whether any of the other batches had protection panels from new, or otherwise - it's a bit of a minefield once you start digging around for detail differences between the batches and then trying to date them...

Wow, crazy! You only have to sneeze these days and a livery is gone...

A great day out and a very relaxed atmosphere. Thanks to all involved.

For crying out loud, calm down, calm down!

Fortunate enough to view the livery sample for 66418 in Freightliner Powerhaul livery earlier and have to say mighty impressed! Looked and sounded beautiful with all of the sound features etc.

I think we have to be a little careful what we actually interpret as fact in the run-up to these events. I do not recall at any stage there being a specific "schedule for December 2019/January 2020 delivery". However, what I do clearly recall are several contributors to the APT topic at that time pressuring for an "expected delivery date", and furthermore I also recall Dave specifically stating that he would not be drawn to make any confirmation/promise or otherwise as to a specific delivery time, however some estimated/approximated (call it what you may) indication was given as there being a gestation period of around two years, subject to unforeseen, and likely inevitable delays. Always happy to be proved wrong of course however this was my longterm understanding of what to expect. This depends upon one's own outlook on this whole unfortunate situation, ie. whether we opt to view this from a 'glass half empty', or 'glass half full' perspective. Perhaps you/we should consider ourselves fortunate that we haven't actually been asked for and potentially submitted second and third deposits, as otherwise you/we could be sitting here having paid out further funds and still have little to show for it...

The pre-production GWR 158 was on display today at the Derby MMRG show and the finish of the specimen model is indeed veering toward the edge of being slightly glossy, in contrast of course to the matt diagonal bodyside bands. However, I was reliably informed that the plan is to tone the glossy finish down slightly for the production models. I'd imagine that at least some 'sheen' would be desirable in order to retain the all-important contrast with the matt banding. I was generally a little unsure on the 158 from previously only viewing online photos, however when all is said and done this does look rather a splendid model once seen in-the-flesh. I'm pretty sure I'll be bagging a GWR variant for myself.

All we need now is a 60 in triple-grey...

Another option to consider might be flush glazing from Shawplan. It'll make a huge improvement and certainly worth the effort.

Not sure about individual models/classes but funnily enough I unearthed a pile of old catalogues the other week which made for fairly interesting viewing: 1984/85 catalogue: first appearance of Class 20 1985/86 catalogue: first appearance of Class 37, 73, 253 (IC125), first Class 87 in Inter-City livery 1987/88 catalogue: first appearance of Class 40, 47, more Class 37, 73, 87. It also looks as though Lima went crazy that year for Mk I, II, III coaches in Blue/Grey, Inter-City, Network South East. So that would make the Class 101 post-1988, whereby I have no further catalogues it seems beyond this point.

Agreed, the yellow does somehow look rather 'lemony'...

Non-factual, surely? As if Rapido, or any manufacturer would submit erroneous samples to a client on purpose. Sorry, but that's a ridiculous statement.

I think I'd prefer a flat brown over full factory weathering, and then further streaking etc could be added to taste with varying shades of grey, brown, varnish etc. I have a feeling it is flat brown that Cavalex have opted for but just wanted to double check. As for whether it is easier to start with a grey or brown wagon? Well, I guess that depends upon any individual's ability/confidence with their own weathering technique - Grey of course would be fine, as you can weather to any degree that you wish to, while brown would be a good canvas for a heavily-weathered version, which you could simply add a little individuality by adding a few of your own effects without having to layer up perhaps several base coats of weathering. Ultimately I don't think there is any 'right' or 'wrong' method, but instead it is simply down to individual preference. cheers Al

Bogie detail is a good example - I tend to look at the bogies here and see a one-piece and what seems to be a fairly standard moulding with painted on detail. I could list other diesels where far more fidelity has been achieved - added extra detail, sharper moulding etc. Again, small, and to some irrelevant details perhaps, but seeing I was asked what I thought could have perhaps been better, well, that's one example. I think with the materials that manufacturers are currently working with then yes, I would perhaps agree that there is little to pick between most. For me personally, the distinguishable differences tend to come in the form of finer and added detail. I guess we can reach what might be regarded as a 'pinnacle' for perhaps a short time, but ultimately to remain at any said pinnacle, in any field, would result in remaining stationary, when in reality to advance in any way at all we need to always consider ourselves to be 'transitional'. With transition comes progress. Anyhow, this may well be slightly off-topic, or perhaps going deeper than might be required with regard to the Class 90 (!) , however I tend to feel that any further marked improvements within model manufacturing in general, will likely come in the shape of new materials and methods of production, whereby perhaps even finer and more durable detail can be achieved. For anyone that watches any of the tech programmes and the like, we can see that new materials are being developed all of the time, and particularly now in the current climate with a seemingly wider view to replacing plastics in general manufacturing. Indeed, who knows, with the current public attitude toward the use of plastics in general, we may even see a time when we are no longer allowed to use current materials, or at the very least the plastics that we do use may well become taxable in some form, which could in time easily force change. Some may chuckle at this last point, but who, thirty years ago would have predicted the outlawing of the petrol/diesel engine and the Tungsten lightbulb within our lifetime. Transition, once again.

Hmmm, okay, a fair question, although as I'm not sure how appropriate it is to repeat a previous post, so it might be easier to simply refer to my earlier post on Page 26 of this topic, as those previous observations pretty much stand? What I will add is that I totally appreciate your standpoint that few have actually handled the model as yet, and I totally acknowledge that there are several 'new' features coming on the 90 (at least for a UK electric loco anyhow), so hopefully yourself, and others, can appreciate that I am not simply trying to nitpick for the sake of it - because I think there is a tendency for that perception in general on forums per se. Even though I may not have handled the model as yet either, it is fair to say that various samples have been on display for a long time now on the exhibition circuit, and as such my viewpoint is based solely on visual appearance/impact. I guess I am simply a person who appreciates fine detail over what I tend to see as novelty 'features' (eg. swivelling buffers etc) and for some my observations will be considered 'nitpicking', but hey, that's just my viewpoint, which to my mind I still believe to be valid. Hopefully those earlier comments can be appreciated as being conveyed with the intention of being constructive feedback, or at the very least a straightforward observation. cheers Al

All I need now is an S Stock set... oh, and a quad of Class 20s...

I don't think for one moment that anyone is comparing Bachmann's 90 with the Hornby predecessor? My comments are/were based on immediate visual impact of the new 90, nothing more, nothing less. Appreciated that there will be a few more 'gizmos' on the Bachmann model that we may not have seen anywhere else before - operable pantograph, roof-accessible decoder etc etc - all very nice of course - but as I mentioned earlier, it's a pity that these appear to be coming at the expense of advancement in detail/fidelity. Personally I'd rather pay the asking price for detail that I can see all of the time, as opposed to gizmos that I will rarely use. No doubt others will prefer the gizmos... each to his own etc...

Hmmm, I see your point, although with the greatest respect my comment was supposed to be more tongue-in-cheek as opposed to being taken literally, hence 'obsolete' instead of simply, obsolete - I appreciate that irony rarely translates well via e-comms. cheers Al

Absolutely, and I guess highlights another risk of announcing models several years prior to release in that the potential is there for any such model to be 'obsolete before it even hits the shelf'... I figure that there have been some truly fantastic models from Bachmann - Blue Pullman at the time was considered pretty cutting-edge (and rightly so IMHO); the Class 350 was also pretty 'wow factor' too if I recall; so too the Polybulks and to my mind the JJA auto-ballasters were/are all top-notch; the forthcoming steam crane, and I am sure that there are others too. The Class 90 however, hmmmm, just nowhere near, and I don't in any way swallow this line of thinking that because the prototype might be considered rather 'bland' by design that the model should follow suit - in fact if anything, all the more reason to focus on the areas/details that are there and that modellers' eyes will be drawn to - including much-needed improvements to what are essentially universal elements to any model (bland design or otherwise), such as bogies, glazing, and even seemingly minor details such as cables and pipework that are actually to scale can be applied even to the most mundane-looking machine. None of these things appear to have even been considered on the 90.