YesTor

On 15/04/2021 at 21:32, Pillar said:

However, in this case the backing plate would sit over the old plastic windows, which would add 0.5mm or so to their prominence due to the thickness of the etch.

Unless I've misinterpreted your exact wording, but to clarify, you will be removing the old plastic windows anyway and replacing with the separate Shawplan flush-glazing... I'm assuming that you are aware of this? 

Best

Al

On 23/03/2021 at 14:46, adb968008 said:

I maintain, much as i’d like more 66’s released, I think they would be mad to do so in the next few years, even more so if they did it without making some tooling tweaks... which is hh:mm & £.

 

The only parts that need 'tweaking' are the axleboxes:  longer axle + new axlebox = job done - hardly a major tooling investment.  Apart from that there's nothing actually 'wrong' with the tooling as it is.  I think some people are over-analyzing here. 

Neither can I see why they'd need to wait "a few more years" - plenty of liveries as yet untouched, and new liveries appearing on 66s all the time.  Plenty of alternative versions of liveries already done in the first batch that could be done as well.  To be quite honest, I really can't see what everyone is getting in a twist about.

Best

Al

Apologies if this has been asked before, but are the three 'Chunnel' bodyside rings separate etches or are they part of the moulded shell?

And is the earlybird cut-off order date still tomorrow (19th)?

thanks

Al

@Crewlisle  That looks an interesting idea and likely something I could well utilise into my own plans.  Do you happen to have any photographs of the actual cassettes in use on the layout?

Best

Al

On 08/03/2021 at 09:19, classy52 said:

quite handy when you are watching the numbers for budgeting purposes.

Agreed, and actually one of the reasons I buy most stuff from Hattons in the first place, in that this feature allows for budgeting when buying quantities of any said item.  By comparison, one of the things I dislike about Rails of Sheffield (to name but one), are the barrage of daily "Quick, selling out fast!" emails instilling a 'panic buy' mentality, only to find that said item is still in stock several weeks/months later - not great when you've utilised those funds that could have gone toward something else you want/need that has actually sold out in the meantime... 

Al

19 hours ago, young37215 said:

There is a direct debit facility in the Ebay revised agreement which Ebay will no doubt attempt to use for refunds. However under banking rules you can require your bank to refund any DD that is taken incorrectly under the Direct Debit Guarantee scheme.

That's true, although I suspect any seller successfully clawing-back any perceived 'incorrect' refund will likely result in eBay politely closing said seller's account down.  Otherwise there will be DD chargebacks en mass and I think it's safe to say that eBay ain't gonna stand for that.

2 hours ago, The Black Hat said:

What other ones would others want?

 

Okay, well, seeing as you ask... 

66779 'Evening Star'

66718 & 66721 London Transport twins

66623 Bardon Aggregates

66623 De-branded Bardon blue with large Freightliner logo

66747 Newell & Wright Transport

66747/748/749 GBRf Grey

66747/748/749 Plain Grey

66411 & 66414 Stobart twins

66720 GBRf 'Rainbow'

667xx GBRf revised Europort
667xx GBRf Europort (additional numbers)

66773 GBRf Pride livery

663xx  Fastline

66xxx  DB Red w/ large logo

66109 PD Ports

66727 GBRf Maritime

66xxx DB Maritime

66522 Freightliner/Shanks

66711 Aggregate Industries

And yes...  a few bog-standard original EWS with correct logos/fonts, for sure.

More Freightliner variants with the revised light clusters would be good.

Freightliner - Low-emission variant with 'bug-eye' lights.

DRS - Low-emission variant with 'bug-eye' lights.

Just those few for now...? 

ps...  Although to be honest, not another 37 variants in one hit - my bank balance can't stand it any more! 

Al  

On 15/02/2021 at 13:09, gary_lner said:

I'm looking at getting a suitable version of the hattons 66 that would be suitable for a respray into 66749 when it was in its grey livery with Gbrf logo and number following it's conversion from being used on Dutch railways. 

Would 66731 be a good candidate as it has the same headlight style. But it's a low emission with smaller feul tank according to the hattons matrix. 

Any help or info would be great.

 

Regards Gary 

Hi Gary

Yes, 66731 would be suitable in relation to the front-end and headlight detail.  The only detail that needs changing are the UK-style bufferbeam steps for the EU-style ones - as shown below painted in white - which should be quite easy: 

As you correctly highlight, 66747-749 all have the larger fuel tanks, so you'll need to swap the tank for an earlier pre-low-emission fuel tank.  As the three ex-Dutch locos are quite unique in this respect sadly there are no other suitable alternatives available: 

Of course, if you are feeling more adventurous you could always attempt recreating one as per how they arrived in the UK, whereby the front end detail was quite different - elliptical headlight assembly, more-pronounced horn grill, different steps arrangement on bufferbeam and front end, extra/different lamp-bracket(s), extra pair of air pipes, rectangular buffers, plus the patch on the cab roof where presumably the external air-conditioning unit was removed.  I quite like them like this actually:

Best 

Al

On 12/02/2021 at 15:45, newbryford said:

 

I was , so yes, we will differ!  (actually, you can add the FL Powerhaul as well!)

FL Powerhaul is perhaps my favourite livery on a shed, and I quite like the GBRf 'Barbie' livery as well. 

On 12/02/2021 at 17:55, rob D2 said:

I think the NWT of Sheffield livery tops everything .

like a 1970s delivery truck scheme transposed onto an engine . 

Hehe, it certainly is very retro-looking, although it has actually grown on me in a weird kind of way - maybe it's that subliminal retro-truck look... 

The two liveries I do think are gawd awful are Freightliner 'Where are my sunglasses Tango orange' - just plain gaudy!  And I've never been a fan of Colas livery either, no matter how much I try to like it.

Al

3 hours ago, adb968008 said:

the unexplained £150 GBRF remains. 

 

If my memory serves correctly, I believe that a portion of the profits from 'Royal Corps of Signals' are going to charity.  That could well explain the retention of the £150 RRP.  

Al 

4 hours ago, APT Fan said:

Whilst we are on the subject of TTS, I notice there is an 08 due for release R3898TTS but I can't find a full description. Will this be fitted with lighting?

If it is then it will be the first Hornby 08 to ever feature lighting of any kind.  Highly unlikely I would have thought.

3 hours ago, Smudge617 said:

They are surprisingly well detailed models, if a little pricey for my taste.
Has anyone heard of them, are they worth perhaps in investing in buying ?
Any information would be appreciated.

With all due respect, if anything that should perhaps be worded the other way around?  ie. "well-priced models considering the level of detail?" 

I've purchased a couple of the wagon types that are already available and am very happy indeed with those purchases - splendid models in fact. 

As others have said above, there are no locomotives in anyone's hands as yet, however, take a look at the Class 92 as an example, and the advancement in DCC features and level of detail far outruns anything else on the market at this moment-in-time - and importantly, priced at around the same RRP as many almost twenty-year-old toolings from Hornby and Bachmann.

The nearest you can get at the moment to viewing any forthcoming locomotive is to perhaps check out the Class 55 'Deltic' thread, as the first livery samples arrived last week, with apparently two further versions (BR green, BR rail blue) to be revealed this coming week. 

In short, if the locomotives live up to expectations when they arrive then they should indeed be quite stunning and in many cases very much groundbreaking models.   I guess we shall see...

I hope that helps...

Best

Al

2 hours ago, BJMorley said:

Has anyone had any luck removing the nameplates? Will it damage the paintwork below if I take them off, or is it relatively easy?

 

Thanks in Advance.

 

Brandon

Hi Brandon

The bodyside plates themselves are straightforward enough to remove, being affixed to the surface with what appears to be some kind of double-sided tape.  Simply prise the plates away very carefully using a fingernail, or failing that use the edge of a very sharp scalpel blade.  You'll be left with a slightly 'gooey' section of tape stuck to the ribbed sides, which usually comes away easily by careful removal with fingers or fine tweezers.  The odd ones I've found to be slightly more stubborn, but even so these can be removed with either a small piece of sticky tape pressed firmly over the surface and pulled off, or/and a pointed cotton bud lightly moistened with white spirit. 

Underneath there will be a fine white line marking the positioning of the original plate.  To remove this simply moisten a sharp cotton bud with T-Cut and very gently stroke the surface in one direction until the white lines gradually disappear, being careful of course not to remove any of the underlying paint finish.   

Finally, rinse away any T-Cut residue before it dries:

If you need to renumber 66727 then even more care will be required to remove the numbers from the ribbed sides.  I've found the numbers to lift incredibly easily from smooth cabsides, but ribbed sides may well be another matter, but with enough patience and care it should be possible...

Best

Al

1 hour ago, GEARJAMMER said:

Just after a bit of info on the Freightliner locos and if what I have researched is right.....

 

I'm after one that is accurate for the modern day scene...

As far as I'm aware:

66593 and 66957 are indeed in the same state as per the Hatton's model - the only addition required would be the 'Zero Injuries' logos on the upper cabsides which are available via Railtec.

You're correct on the others being not quite bang up-to-date, particularly with 66502 & 66513 having the new light clusters; although 66621 would be physically suitable, all that's needed there are the light mod kit from Illuminated Models and the aforementioned 'Zero Injuries' cab logos, along with new numbers and cab FL lettering.

You are also correct on 66623 being finished in the incorrect shade of orange - the one used seemingly being the lighter shade as per 66413...

Personally though, 66623 will always be best in its former Bardon Aggregates blue livery, but hey, that's just my viewpoint... 

Best

Al

On 26/01/2021 at 03:54, Roy Langridge said:

Hmm, doesn’t a real modeller convert from 8pin to 21pin?

 

Some will, naturally, but as others have said it surely depends on the skills of the individual?  There will of course be those who are competent at many areas of modelling, however many appear to naturally gravitate toward one or two specific areas or subjects to 'master' - one may be the best-on-the-block with an airbrush, woodworking, or whatever, but absolutely rubbish at electronics... 

I've had many a conversation with individuals at exhibition layouts and paid compliment on what have clearly been highly professional standards of modelling (whether it be painting, scenics etc), only then to ask the same person a question regarding say, electronics or woodworking, for which the reply may often be, "Oh, that's so-and-so's department, screwdrivers and the like aren't my thing..."

I guess we can't all be good at everything... 

Best

Al

On 07/01/2021 at 13:46, MGR Hooper! said:

I still don't think it's something Hornby will touch.  

Let's hope not.  After all, do we really want an 8-PIN Class 89... 

Al

20 hours ago, ERIC ALLTORQUE said:

a body to do some different liverys would be a cheap way to clear a load and we would all jump at an Evening Star or two.......

Perhaps, but I'd guess they'd still have to do a run of 300?  500?  And personally, at this stage of the game I'd much prefer 'Evening Star' with potentially improved axle-boxes etc... 

We've had the Bachmann 'Evening Star' = no thanks. 

We've had the Hornby 'Evening Star' = no thanks. 

The last thing we need is an almost-stunning Hatton's 'Evening Star'?   If they are gonna do it, then surely let's have it done properly...? 

4 hours ago, ERIC ALLTORQUE said:

Just wondering if since some of the numbers still in stock of these has anyone from Hattons thought of having bodys made and printed to fit onto chassis they will have in stock until the real Voyage heads for the stars. even removing and overprinting existing ones if thats possible?.

Doing some of 66731 to Sir Tom... as some of the stock levels are so high.

The Colas pair are low now,as are the GBRF europort ones,6 18 23 25 29 and 30 will be gone soon but others are 200 plus.

Would be a possible way to have more liverys and clear a huge amount of money stuck in shelf stock.

So they'd need to invest yet more funds in order to sell them at the same price, (ie. £119.00)?  So an immediate financial loss.  Unless of course the retail price was raised to cover the cost of the 'new' models (prints/bodyshells etc), and I think that Hatton's have already discovered that people aren't likely to pay much closer to £150 for a 66 that effectively may still have 'issues'?  So it could turn into a potential time- and resources-wasting exercise all around. 

If excess stock was seriously an issue, then it would be far less of a risk to simply knock the last few out at say £100, if business became really tough... and you don't need to invest more valuable time and funds in order to do it.  Cut your losses, clear 'em out and move forwards...  in the least/longest* (dependent on the dictate of cashflow) bearable time.  

Who knows, 'Sir Tom' - or whichever other special livery - might be in the next batch for all we know, along with an all-improved axlebox design...?

Oh and of course, not forgetting... 'Evening Star'...  

Best

Al

12 hours ago, D1051 said:

FYI Rob with the 26and 45 they did both CMDG locomotives were visited over the years

And still they managed to get the shape wrong on the 45... 

On 23/12/2020 at 18:35, brushman47544 said:

My immediate reaction is that the curve on the roof grills at cantrail height is still too sharp. Really stands out and needs to be fixed or I’ll be sticking with my Bachmann models.

Immediate reactions:

Agree on the curve roof grill profile - should be more of a consistent arc as opposed to having a sudden sharp rounding to the edge.

Something around the bufferbeam strikes me as being off - the cowled edge doesn't appear to be prominent/raised enough and if anything should slightly overlap the front end?  The bufferbeam also appears a tad too shallow, but that maybe due to the aforementioned cowling being a tad undernourished...?

The headlight is also too flat.

The detail between the bogies looks quite nice though.

Best

Al

2 hours ago, 40034_Nick said:

Varnish.. I am confused 

Spray over the glossy transfer with matt varnish = the dull finish that you seek. 

Hi John

I'm not overly familiar with the full range, however there appears to be a stockist in Germany (so I'm guessing perhaps more palatable shipping costs)...   https://aat-net.de/product-category/modelle-h0-us/microscale-h0/

The same seller and indeed others seem to list via eBay as well, I just searched for "microscale decals" and quite a few popped up.

Hope that helps... 

Best

Al 

14 hours ago, rob D2 said:

60s - shame no older liveries bit I think they know what sells - the loadhaul and sector 60s have hung around for ages on eBay . 

Agreed, although the sector liveries are about 12 years too late coming - always seems strange really how Hornby often don't appear to capitalise on the myriad of liveries out there when the time is right.  Neither does it help when Hornby get the liveries wrong...  I'd have happily purchased a fair number of Construction 60s, but with the logo being in the wrong place and the highly dubious shades of grey used for sector grey livery over the last few years, I'm happy to carry on renumbering older models...  

08715 seems a right oddball, I can imagine that one sitting around for quite some time...

The 87s are of the most interest, with my two favourite liveries being produced.  

Al 

3 hours ago, TomScrut said:

And another one I find unusual is that the 800 test train coaches are lingering. We know there are 500 end car packs out there, do these people not want the coaches? Even collectors would surely want them?

I think much comes down to timing.  Had Hornby have released the coaches at the same time as the driving cars - and at the time when the Hornby 800 was the exciting new-kid-on-the block - and I'd happily bet a month's salary that they would have all sold out as quickly as the driving cars did at the time.  Wait 2 years (or maybe it's more?) before releasing the coaches and at least two things have happened:  i.) there are far more exciting models of other prototypes either on/about to hit the market and as a result the 800 ain't quite occupying the limelight it once was... and also perhaps as a result ii.) people's attention has moved on...

I too yearned for the coaches, but by the time they actually arrived I felt, and still feel, pretty lacklustre toward them...

Something about irons striking when hot...? 

Al

11 hours ago, charliepetty said:

The 156 is price sensitive as it has two decoders, I find that 25% will pay without question, 25% will accept it as good product and pay, 25% need to be convinced (Face to Face chats, seeing the model and seeing good feedback and 25% are Hornby fans and accept their 156 model as value for money.

I can understand your logic entirely, Charlie.  My thought process always tends to run along the lines of... if I'm paying £300+ for what is already a stunning model, then what's an extra fiver or tenner to make it just that little more prototypical.  As you say though not everyone will feel the same of course.  

Al