Mel_H

For all of those wondering about the detail differences between the different locomotives, the latest issue of Model Rail magazine has an article by Ben Jones, explaining it all. Unlike the simplified versions of their history published elsewhere, and referred to by previous posters, the variations were many and modifications were plenty throughout their lives. This includes things like the pipes at the front to top up the radiator header tank (not overflow pipes as it is sometimes thought) and the various changes to lighting arrangements and so on. It’s a good read…

From all the tales, I’ve heard, clearly the Welsh valleys had it worst with the DMUs, but they weren’t alone. Travelling from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street in the 1980s, similar things happened. After the station call at Warwick, at the foot of Hatton Bank, you’d often start off well and then see (on the control panel) the engines drop out during the climb. Once you’d got onto the level bit and things had sorted themselves out a little, occasionally they could be encouraged to restart. After a layover at Moor Street it was downhill most of the way back to Leamington Spa, and so it went on all day. In the West Midlands, the line from Stourbridge Junction up through Old Hill was a big test for DMUs, as was the standing start from Bromsgrove station to climb the Lickey. It may well be that Tyseley depot selected its better sets for these routes, although as far as I can recall, we largely tended to see the same sets day in day out at Leamington Spa. It all happened without any fuss, and the drivers just got on with the job, and we always got there in the end. Total failures were very rare indeed

Curious that. Seems unlikely just to be part of renumbering;, I wonder if it was to deal with some missing paint, perhaps caused by a small fire on the bogie? The bodyside does seem to be quite rippled considering the era of the photograph.

Regarding Lance's problem with Hattons, the Sale of Goods Act still applies. And, whatever Hattons writes in its T&Cs, the Sale of Goods Act trumps anything they might say/claim (for retail customers). Hattons have 'form' shall we say, including the recent issue where they oversold their allocation (of Pannier tanks) and then told at least one customer on 6-12-23 that Accurascale had 'revised' Hattons' allocation and delivered short. Accurascale Fran pitched in pretty quickly and Hattons was forced to apologise... for its 'error' Customers have a choice from where they buy from, of course. The customer is King!

To clarify, the Swanage DMUs are fitted with CDL

I'm sure the L will be popular! It would be amazing if Rapido figured out a way of making the cab sheet from etched brass, rather than plastic, so it's nearer to scale. Of course, the problem would be glazing the spectacle plates. But, as they are so small, would it matter if they were omitted? I wonder whether people would prefer an etched brass cab sheet with no glazing, or glazed thicker plastic. Or, maybe no-one cares...

This video has been posted, although it's hard to make out what's happening with the valve gear, a rolling road would have been better. KR Models has put out a newsletter which says: "During the design process, we had to make -- the infamous Stevenson-Gooch Valve Gear work in miniature. "This valve gear they threw at us, the Stevenson-Gooch valve gear, is known as the most complex valve contraption ever seen in the model railway world. "Through hours upon hours of solid graft, research, and unflappable dedication, we absolutely smashed it! It runs very smooth, with the motion just mesmerizing. "We have brought Bellerophon to life, complete with the mind-blowing Stevenson-Gooch valve gear. "Want to see the results? "Take a look at the newest sample our factory has developed... "We are so pleased just how good it has turned out." It is still taking orders (from £133.33 upwards) here https://krmodels.net/product/bellerophon-oo/

Some would say that, at the price, it should be. Still it lends weight to the arguments of those who want true perfection to 'European' standards, and are reminded that they come with a 'European' price tag. Comparisons with TT:120 could be seen as a tad unfair, given that it is aimed at a different, and clearly more price-conscious market. I've no doubt that the [iconic] Flying Scotsman [the world's most famous loco] will sell rather well in the 'just because' HO market. It's interesting that Hornby sells more Rivarossi 'Big Boy' models in the UK than in the USA - here it's reasonably priced for what it is. In the USA there are better-detailed more modern (and therefore much more expensive) 'Big Boys'. Anyway, is it me, or does the chimney look rather tall? Pictures flipped to enable easier comparison (I know that some details - not the chimney - are 'side specific')

It seems pretty clear from the CAD that KRM posted, and is still on its website, that not all rods were designed to be operational. Detail attached. Sadly, KRM’s communications are not the best, to its detriment. I know that help has been offered on more than one occasion, but it hasn’t even been acknowledged. Some other manufacturers are good at communications, some are outstanding, while some others occupy the same space as KRM.

Probably thread drift, but my understanding is that you'll need a (free) App on a phone or tablet to run the decoder, but it can go in any loco, and the app is free. The main plus points seem to be: 1. It gives access to DCC without need to buy a 'throttle' - it's just £35 for a chip 2. Then all you need to do is connect the power to the track, chuck in a stay alive and you don't need to worry about dirty pick-ups interrupting sound or digital instructions via the rails. 3. You can use your DCC loco on a friend's DCC layout, even if they are running trains using their own controller at the same time (such as Lenz etc) 4. You don't need to understand anything about CV programming as any settings changes are made in the app, so you don't have to work out bit settings etc 5. You can upload different sounds or re-programme the chip (some sound chips from some manufacturers can't be re-blown and for most people, you need to be at a high-level to re-blow your own chips. I think it's an exciting, logical step. Question is, is the next step to do away with the power to the rails, and have inbuilt re-chargeable batteries, so the loco works on its own. We already have 'mag light' wands and button batteries for coaches. This day can't be too far away, surely?

The 'skidding Scotsman' is one - the 'howler' is Clan Line on the 'turntable' - the tender's back to front (it's happened before, in an advert (not by a manufacturer) IIRC

They appear to be kinematic couplings to me, but only had a quick look today when it was delivered. Overall, my first impression was ‘wow’!

Unless my 'puter is broken, it's curiously quiet here in the three hours since Andy posted the news (insert tumbleweed emoji!). Perhaps it's just OO modellers making all the noise? Anyway, this is a welcome announcement, although, like the OO version I do wonder if the cab windscreens should be a shade deeper (i.e. a little more square-than-rectangle). Don't have a front-on view yet to compare, so I offer this out of interest (I appreciate that the angle of view between the two pictures is not identical). Probably too much of my mis-spent youth looking at the things, must get out more! Obviously, it's too late to make any changes (other than to decoration) now. I'm sure it will sell well in any case. I'll get my coat...

It seems that on RMweb no-one is allowed to say anything positive about Hornby these days, which is why those who will be buying are wisely keeping their heads down...

Couple of small observations; while I've never been overly keen with the Hornby's interpretation of the Class 50 windscreens/front, don't forget that the model first came out almost 20 years ago in pre-CAD era (for Hornby) I believe, and at the time set new standards that modellers had long called for. On pricing, while Accurascale's is cheaper on RRP, you won't find any discounts, while Hornby's higher RRP is frequently discounted (c£200 for 2022's releases; stocks of previous new models seem to be sold out in most places). Anyway, good luck to Accurascale; it's a popular class so duplicates are to be expected; surely a Class 40 can't be far away :)? I suspect the market for less popular locos (Class 67 anyone?) isn't going to support super-dooper versions of them... It's a free market, competition is good for the customer, and all manufacturers take a huge financial risk when they commit to a project (even the small ones without bigger overheads). So, a third alternative for ardent '50' fans is welcome.

I agree about all the negativity; please leave those alone who are interested. Clearly people are buying, as all the track that was available online at Hornby's site has now been sold - at least one person (probably more) is buying! And, it's interesting to see the way pre-orders for locos is changing (I'm assuming that when you filter by 'popularity' it's displaying the ones with the most orders.

Jolly nice, shame there isn't a Fischer-Modell supplier in the UK

Anyone who has watched various video interviews with Simon Kohler over the years, will have seen that he's made a number of references to TT - especially in answer to the 'what would you really like to do but haven't' question.

Hornby have said they will continue to supply OO to the trade and continue to develop it. Having a clean-sheet approach with TT:120 means that customers can have lower prices than if they were sold through the trade (there's the mark-up for the shops, plus the cost of reps, invoicing/credit control, sending the items out, dealing with trade enquiries - all something that ultimately the customer ends up paying for, whether it's Hornby or Bachmann. That's one reason why smaller, leaner organisations, often run by people as a 'hobby' (no offence intended) can produce OO stuff for lower prices. They don't have the overheads, or need to apply the mark ups when they are dealing with only a relatively small number of model shops, or not at all. I'm all for model shops, but how many have a massive range of 'O' gauge? Not many, from the ones I've visited over the last couple of years. It's only the handful of 'big' players, which given the cost of stock isn't surprising. Hornby's made a business decision that's not too dissimilar to the 'newcomers' in 'OO' which get praise (quite rightly) on this forum.

I suspect you will get a pre-TOPS 08, in due course, but it appears Hornby have (sensibly) gone for the better-selling examples first which does make sense. Don't forget, while many people on here sneer at Railroad, it's a market in which Hornby is a player of only one, which gives it market information that other manufacturers don't have. I'm sure they've taken this into account...

Hornby is a strong brand, Tri-ang is long dead, sadly. Cheap Class 66 - well, I'm sure someone else will do an expensive one!

Yes, it is. Seen it mentioned somewhere that it is, and will be compatible with Peco's TT:120

I suspect that there's a container either on its way, or already stuck in customs (bit of an issue at the moment, and not just for model railways). You'd expect that the Christmas market is a key hit?

They are the same as the standard in Europe, which opens a market (4472 and 4468 are popular there...). And, why invent a new coupling that's not going to be compatible? Certainly better than the 'hook and pin' type of earlier TT couplings.

Yes, I'm sure the range would benefit from potential customers being told how shocking and dreadful the models are. :)