SteveB

The real daft bit about the Cambridge (Mis)Guided Busway is that once in Cambridge where the real congestion is, the buses will have to queue with everyone else, and dodge the hundreds of suicidal cyclists (anyone who drives/walks in Cambridge will nod sagely at this point...).

As for the Bristol Harbour Railway, it seems to be protected from closure. Given the tight spaces this should be interesting....

(see http://www.westofengland.org/media/168277/questions%20and%20answers%20from%20npn%20engagement%20.pdf)

Steve Banfield

Well, may have been the first to put paws on one, but now looking set to be the last to add the detailing parts. By which time I will have read of all the trials involved, and be able to do it in under 4 minutes, blindfolded whilst single-handedly finding justification to run one along Shropshire's eastern coast. Given the seemingly incorrect cab roof height, perhaps it's a new hitherto undiscovered sub-class built especially for the area?

Mind you, If I stopped trying to turn the Wills Engine Shed kit into a large 2 storey mill & warehouse, I may get round to seeing if it works for more than 6 inches as well...

Steve

Hi sorry slightly o/t did you spot any 86's on the shelf as well some rumoured to be delivered at same time as 15

thanks

mark

The 15's were being unpacked as I walked in, so not sure - another 5 minutes and the one being tested (now mine...) would've been packed away and I doubt I'd even have seen them. So sorry, can't help!

A few questions for a friend of mine if I may (here we go ):

 

Have they painted a duck egg blue colour around the cab windows you can see when you look at the model face on?

 

Is it easy to fit a decoder?

 

If I may be nosey, he wants to know how much did you pay for it at K&S please?

 

These questions are "for a friend", honest. I'm a sectorisation modeller me

Cab windows - and front faces of cab over the 'bonnet tops' are in a blue-grey shade (can't vouch for the accuracy of the shade). Image below show's the paint job, but it's not the best photo I have taken (hence not originally posted. I did rush them about...)

Decoder? I've only just advanced beyond Hammant & Morgan, so will defer to others on that score.

As for price, shelf tag says £95, but discounted down to £75 (both prices give or take a few pence, discount is normal I believe for all locomotives).

I hope your 'friend' finds this useful...

Unlucky Steve!

 

As the first person to get one you're now duty bound to photograph it, give feedback on dimensional accuracy, note any deviation from the prototype, full mechanical test and report, test with several decoders, install sound, write an article on detailing and inform everyone how to deal with duff locos, establish a feedback hotline to HJ and collate information on replacement parts.

 

Boy, are you going to be busy this evening.

 

Either that or you could just ignore me.

 

 

Well, I did the photographing bit. In a hurry, on a half 'finished' layout board on a shelf in a store room. But it's fairly obviously there, so it'll have to do on that score. As for the rest, maybe after I've had my beer for the evening... But it is green, it stayed on the track, and has yet to go bang, catch fire, make smoke or indeed drop oil. So it's not looking good on the accuracy front. Purists please note I even managed to find a suitable coach...

Steve Banfield (and his not performing but only because I haven't got that far yet class 15)

One quick foray into K&S in Stevenage for some Plastruct, and out I come with a Heljan 15 (GYSP, to use the vernacular). Wasn't even aware they had been released, and can't see them listed with Hattons. Test run very well - slow and smooth from the box in the shop.

Certainly looks a nice beast (and not a bad price). Just need to justify one reaching the Western half of the country without breaking down...

Any other feedback yet? Surely I can't be one of the first?

Steve Banfield