Legend

Congrats to Bachmann on a very fine printing job. It's certainly something different. I am feeling my age though. Seems to me it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between graffiti and what goes for modern liveries these days!

There's still at least 5 years ahead of them. You could also argue that the shorter rakes that will stay with VTEC will be more attractive to the modeller. But besides that the VTEC HST and Mk3 coaches , which they've also announced,are not limited edition. These HSTs presumably also have a short life time.Sorry but coupled with the selling price even if it includes 2 mk4s this is just barking!

I think the Virgin East Coast is one of the best modern liveries around. I'd feel cheated if a subsequent version appeared with just a change in numbers . But I've long since stopped buying modern image as the rate of change is so great these days that they are often out of date as released (the previous East Coast version had very limited life). But really this is a Railroad Model with a fancy paint job. No way can it command a price like that.Like the real thing, Hornby are taking us for a ride on this one.

Also can't understand why they are introducing what would surely be a very popular livery for many years as a limited edition of 1000. Surely this could have been a main range trainset for many years, earning them even more money over the years. Perplexing

A traditional Triang Hornby model . I'm glad Hornby taking the plunge and giving us a whole new model. Well done. Bit heavy on price though , given it's basically a simple loco.

Looks like you've got a newly priced one instead!

Great pics micklner. I like the Apple Green ones . Makes a change from the LNER blue . Much prefer Woodcock to Sea Eagle. I appreciate the livery is authentic but it just doesn't seem to sit right on an A4.

Really great pictures. Very atmospheric and looks like an interesting operating session. What was the thing at the end though? Looks like a baby scorpion!

Well it's a major coup on Oxfords part to get the model in the shops ahead of Hornby , and more significantly I think get a supply to Warley. I'm sure lots will be picked up by modellers just for the novelty factor. It's a shame they have competition from newly resurgent Hornby and I hope it doesn't put them off making future models. I have high hopes for Oxford. I think in this case there's a £20 differential in price too.

Actually it is a year book, although the 2016 range is listed. So like you I'm wondering if they will bother with a catalogue for Airfix this year. I think the equivalent Is the Hornby Magazine Year book, although there is no mention of the Hornby 2016 range there.As has been pointed out both are by Key publishing. I've collected Hornby catalogues since 1965, but it wouldn't surprise me if they come to an end, or are replaced with something like a proper year book with articles on modelling etc. certainly I've found the last 3 or 4 to be pretty boring and buy them only because they complete the collection. We could do with something new this year. I would have thought Hornby will announce next years new liveries in an Engine Shed in near future, perhaps with a new model as a headliner.

Just seen the DVD with Decembers magazine. Good article on Ruston Quay. Enjoyed your section on brickwork too. Have I missed how you constructed the large warehouse disguising the dmu shuttle ?

Try getting a response from British Gas or insurance companies in less than 24 hours. I really think it was a bit unreasonable to expect a reply within 30 minutes, if not instantaneous. Never forget you could lift the phone if you want instant reply . People often forget this and resort to emails. I get it at work all the time. Increasingly accrimonious emails bouncing back and forth, when a simple call will sort it out! Well done Kernow. I appreciate people have been waiting a long time for this . Looks like in most cases they've got a result though!

Thanks , hadn't realised that. Very happy with the D16

Nice , just picked up an Early Creat one from Modelzone Glasgow for £87.99. Have had a quick check. Nice runner . Struggles a bit with my Bachmann Thompsons but they have excessive friction and I'm sure will do a good job on my secondary passenger services. Great loco at Good price.

Still in shock! Glad I got them when I did now. Won't be taking up this offer

Yes , sorry to see the layout is going to be dismantled. I'm a regular viewer from the links on here. I must admit it's a bit like train spotting watching one of your videos, but with the comfort of an armchair and red wine! Thoroughly enjoyed them and intrigued by how you manage to take pics from behind the driver in the dmu, or from the guards van. Personally I always think it's sad when you see layouts being dismantled , so probably would not watch that. But certainly very interested in seeing a new layout emerging. Finally many thanks for the hours of enjoyment . I wish you well in your house move and new layout

But you have to ask, why not just get it correct in the first place? Save us the hassle.

Very nice . I suspect Hornby may give us a relivery at Chistmas though. Still of the opinion that VTEC is one of the nicest modern liveries around

Still not convinced by the standard range shade of green. This has put me off buying the Grange , Hall ( bought a red one for £47 to paint green , but had the shade been correct I might have gone for Root Ashton Hall @£105) and puts me off the King. The difference is all the more striking when you see the gloss Locomotion limited edition. Come on Hornby , there's a good few on here saying the shades wrong. Too milky and matt

Yes I see what your saying Ian. The only point I'd make is surely The Engine Shed Blog is the same as the brief to the press. What else would be in a press pack that's not for general consumption? It just so happens that the internet connected get to see it at the same time as the press and the information is out there in the market immediately. I think in any case it is clear that Hornby has decided to go direct and cut out the press for whatever reason. On the other hand Bachmann seem to be taking advantage of the void and using the forums as an extension of their PR . I'd evidence that by various statements on here direct from Bachmann eg the price of Thompson coaches, lack of product , delays on the Stanier mogul etc

Surely its just a matter of timing. The mags will pick up the information from the Internet and publish as soon as they can in their news section, as we have seen with Collett coaches etc, so those without internet access are only disadvantaged by a few weeks. So I think the policy is really pretty inclusive. And I would suggest that if its so important to have up to date information, in all facets of life, they would probably have recognised the benefit of having the internet by now. Its not like you have to get it piped in, you can pick it up very easily on a monthly pay as you go phone. Even amongst seniors I would have thought people who aren't internet connected are very much in the minority now. What was the alternative. Announce to press and wait for the mags to publish in 2/3/4 weeks , with an embargo inbetween (which was broken several times by one mag that seemed to go to the publisher early). Then subscription readers got information ahead of the mag appearing in shops , how was that fair exactly? Then of course you couldn't comment on it on a forum because it may have been embargoed and run risk of moderation. Really the internet with direct communications between manufacturer and their customer has swept all that away. I get if you are a mag proprietor you may be a little bit peeved at no longer having news that could boost your circulation but really for the rest of us this is a tremendous improvement. And I think mags are savvy enough to realign their offer accordingly Initially I was very cynical about Hornby's new direct approach, and I still do not like the fact that they are cutting out model shops by selling direct. But I thoroughly enjoy Simons blog and The Engine Shed and I think both have been a great success in enguaging directly between Hornby and their customers. So if no Christmas announcement because they've pre announced next years range I'll not complain. What I think you will see is maybe an announcement concerning re liveries or perhaps even one new model around Christmas time , coinciding with release of new catalogue. There's been no modern image items announced (Sorry don't view the 71 as Modern) so maybe there is something still to come there. There have been tantalising glimpses of what appears to be a mk3 in some Engine Shed videos, so you never know.

Personally I'd settle for the Lima HST and Mk3s in Railroad range in VTEC colours , with Special editions using the main range one for those who want something special and are prepared to pay for it. Otherwise a whole train will be unaffordable.

Very nice. Not a small industrial layout fan, but may be tempted if price is right, and I've got more faith in Hornby getting it right! I also like this new approach of showing a tangible model on Engine Shed, much better than a pic of a subject that's 4 years from delivery. Well done Hornby!

Ah I remember Lone Star. Could buy it from Woolies in the late 60s . Must have been pocket money prices. I can remember Union Pacific yellow diesels, budd coaches, jinties, a 24 , mk1s , cabooses ,just like out of Casey Jones, a black loco (maybe German?) and a lot of imagination!

Nostalgia and happy memories. Usually of Christmas long gone by , but sometime of relations who are maybe no longer with us. I have every train since my Brush Type 2 " Freightmaster " from Christmas 1965. Each one brings happy memories. Oh I have lots of new stuff too, in fact I'm at saturation point. So while I get a kick out of running the latest locos in correct period with correct coaches , I also get a kick out of seeing the old locos perform . I've got an old LMS Princess Elizabeth from 1971 and a new Hornby one from 6 or 7 years ago. The latter is much more detailed and looks the part making the first one look like a toy, but I know which one is most precious to me