Legend

I remember Scale Models Scotland which was in Wellington Street for a while, ironically just round the corner from Railmail which was a basement shop in St Vincent Street . I think it would have been 1979. We also had Glassfords , which was a bit eccentric but where there was always something of interest and of course Argyle Models. I remember the small shop under the Hielandmans Umbrella best, but it then expanded further along in Argyle St and I think only lasted a few more years. Pastimes in George's Cross and I think there is a place in Patrick, near the library , remain the only model shops in Glasgow . It's always a shame when a model shop closes down.

No it was the brown and cream one. Still that's a nice bus too!

I think if there had been a straight forward state event from Dave at the time Hattons withdrew saying , things had changed, post Brexit, the Hornby one was suppressing the market, therefor I am cancelling this, then people would have understood and moved on . However as far as I can see the OO gauge customers have been left hanging with a vague statement that it may proceed at some stage in the future. I don't think Kexit had been dealt with particularly well , which I'm sure may have some impact on this. But as you say it may be that n gauge market is just so much smaller that it can't sustain a crowd funded model, although the Revolution Pendo seems to be doing alright. Could it be there are more n gauge modern image modellers than steam?

Wow is that a Lowestoft Corporation bus I see there? Fond memories of mid to late 60s when I was a wee boy on holiday . Great Yarmouth blue and white buses and Lowestoft Brown and Cream. They were a bit of a revelation to a wee boy who thought all buses were red coming from deep in Western SMT country. Also remember seeing Midland Bluebird Blue and Cream usually at Ayr races on excursion. Loved that shade of blue , although I don't remember the Bristol style of bodywork it was usually an Alexander's Y type.

Sorry haven't bought Hornby Mag so far this month. Can I just seek clarification of the statement 87035 as she was when introduced into traffic? Does this mean she is un named, as they were introduced 73/74 but only named in 78. As introduced would be right up my street, but I thought it was a namer we were getting in blue

But as Roy points out in his post it is difficult to see the overall picture of Bachmann/ Kader . While only making 1.6% margin in Bachmann Europe they source all their models from Kader and you really don't know what margin/profit Kader makes on this and it isn't split out in Kader results. There was a sea change now 4 years ago. As Oz points out Bachmann (probably Kader)upped price dramatically and really slowed production, while Hornby kept its prices relatively stable ,they had been more expensive than Bachmann up to this point,and over supplied. Clearly Hornby got it wrong on the supply and design clever, but maybe not on pricing. I'm not convinced Bachmann strategy was correct . The one thing it failed to recognise is I believe there is a ceiling beyond which most of the market won't pay. They will simply go elsewhere with the declining amount of disposable income they have .Declining per Bank of England this morning.

You're right enough Ian. A Scotrail HST, prefer a Railroad one, and VTEC units under consideration. I actually stopped modelling really modern image some years ago with the profusion of changes in liveries, meaning I was never up to date. However the Dapol 68 could change that. Although I have to say model railways have gone slightly off the boil for me at the moment. Much more into modelling airliners just now, recapturing my youth , but trying to do it properly this time!

Hadn't noticed that. Yes I think it would be good to have pre ballasted track. There do seem to be some fairly tight curves on it though, not sure if it's not just part of the test track they use, it may have been on previous videos. On the IET, it looks pretty good to me , although a bit on the pricey side. It's going to be around for a long time though. Will wait to see what versions emerge before I take the plunge

Nothing wrong with that!

I know I'm a Luddite. I have technology at work that I have to deal with all day. When I come back and get up the loft I don't want to think digital I just want to turn the dial and watch trains go round. I don't need sound, in fact in a lot (not all) cases I just find it annoying, but I can listen to the swish of a 5 or 6 coach train as she goes round the layout, listen to the clatter of her going over the junction. Superb. I've got isolating sections at stations so I can do shunting. Rudimentary wiring , nothing complicated. No power bus or anything like that. So while I can see the advantages of DCC, where there is lots of shunting and double heading, people should be respectful and acknowledge it's not for everyone. What I would also say is that DCC is a contributing fact in making the hobby more expensive . Not just cost of decoders but trains now manufactured to include DCC even though I don't want it. I'm thinking multiple units mainly that are more complex because through wired , but also Bachmann forthcoming 2Fs with DCC installed . Is it really necessary?

Star Wars day

Metrobus

I've missed this. What is the HSTGTi? Are these sets continuing on after the IET comes in?

If they have banned you for asking such a simple question , I think you have to ask is it the sort of forum I'd want to join? You'll probably get much better feedback and information on here.

Having "much less concern over prices" is going to do nothing to attract people to the hobby whether they are 5 , and their parents having to fork out, or 50 . This is already an expensive hobby , making it even more expensive does nothing for the generations whose disposable income will be less than their parents. While I get the fact that there could be more and more accurate models priced appropriately e.g. The Rails/ Rapido Dyno car for limited numbers of modellers, that's not going to attract folk into the hobby . There absolutely needs to be reasonably priced models in the future,

A real blast from the past there. My first RM was from 1973 I think, but it was the same layout as these early 60s ones. Lots of names from the past there

Possibly the massive discounts were to raise cash i.e. Convert stock to cash to help with their liquidity. Not due to them selling slowly, just not as fast as Hornby needed to immediately raise cash. Now that the liquidity position is restored there have been no more deep discounts. The 71 is possibly an exception to this I've always thought that it was a limited market, partly already served by the DJM crowd funded one. It's quite possible they over produced here.

Probably very true and making a good living out it. But he's not doing much to develop the market or do anything for the mass market. Ok for the few that can afford his cars but not doing much for the rest of us. Getting back to model railways it's my belief Oxford are targeting the mass market, which is good .

True. I'll bet they budget for % of returns. But if you never return anything they'll always be within the allowance and it is end of story.

Yeah but the credit note costs money. If you send them back they realise the cost and there's something that needs fixed. Fix it yourself and they have no knowledge of defect. Any good company monitors it's defects.

Well it's got to be in the National Collection. Is York this weekend? Not sure I can stand a weeks frothfest

The key will be can they get into Toys r us or Smyths . The last time I was there there was only a cheap Western Trainset in Smyths . Nothing at all in Toys r us

It'll be who commands most shares. So if Mr Anton , who seems to represent the no2 volume shareholder, can convince nos 3 and 4 he is the best bet, then he will command a majority