Legend

Was that the spoof one with an underground layout under the floor boards? What happened to the Network a Rail 150 . Any details as I note the original thread is locked? Collectors model ? Price?

Good morning all. Beautifull morning up here in Glasgow. Whatever you do with it, have a great day

I love these books and the illustrations. I used to get them out the library when a little boy, then the paperback editions came out from Kaye and Ward for 3 shillings each in the late 60s . Beautiful illustrations of countryside. To me this harks back to an old simpler age. I know it's rose tinted glasses , but why not

I'm amazed I made it through childhood, what with all these dangers. If we had visitors coming my parents thought nothing of putting me , aged 6,at the back of the room with an Airfix kit and some glue with strict instructions not to make a mess. You know it never occurred to me to do anything with the glue other than to stick my kit together . I must have been really thick! Similarly, aged 5 I had a Triang Royal Mail Set, complete with small plastic mailbags. Quite sure even then I kind of realised maybe not a good idea to inhale them. I get the three year old bit, as kids do need protection and are still absorbing everything at that age, but 14 is surely excessive . And if it is 14 , who can Hornby sell these sets to, probably only Collectors. I know if I gave my 14 year old Great Nephew , who like his pals is the height of trendiness ,a Thomas train set he would be appalled. He'd probably write about it on facebook on his iPhone , if it didn't destroy is street cred in the process!

Nice . Will look forward to following this. I remember Aviemore being modelled before in "oo". I think it might have been by East Kilbride model railway club, and probably about 20 years ago. Great quality layout but I was also struck by the operation of it. Really very interesting layout with 2 routes to Inverness and I think banking up Slochd.

I'm going to petition them for a Caley 812. It's because we have had no Scottish models from Bachmann or Hornby that's caused SNP to sweep to power. Clearly the Scottish modeller has been taken for granted for too long. It's time to make out voices heard!

I'd quite like one . I'd go for a five car unit.Probably I could extend it by one or two coaches but I wouldn't have space for more than that. It doesn't need to be symmetrical both sides of power car(s). Takes me back to my College days when took the train Paisley- Glasgow. The APT-P was usually to be seen on Shields Road. Then of course I remember the disasterous 1981 runs, in one of the coldest winters for years. Still think its a shame we didn't persevere . Buying the model does depend on cost, though. My nostalgia has its limits. Isn't there a danger, that Rapido brings it out and Hornby counter with a re released version, having suddenly been able to find the tooling? I did see an old Hornby one selling second hand recently @£150

Not sure reasons for retirement of range, but it was when they were transferring work from Sanda Kan to their other manufacturers. Maybe they couldn't get access to moulds or maybe the tooling had to be modified to be compatible with new manufacturer. So I think its something manufacturing related rather than the range not being popular. I get Thomas and Percy but don't know any parents that would splash £100 for Gordon .

You forgot my speciality....Huge price increase winge, moan! You must admit though, even a glass half full guy would be seriously challenged in these circumstances

The delivery date is December. Can you imagine the flak if they miss that. I hope they have solid manufacturing plans in place. Even so, seems too tight to me.

So it's the old range. Well burst my buffers. Can't resist an I told you so! However it does seem Hornby have done something to moderate the prices. £39 each for Thomas and Percy is not that bad. You can get half a Bachmann Autocoach for that ( when it's available)Loss leaders obviously to suck you into £24 coaches. Wouldn't you be better with Railroad Mk1s.? And honestly how many people will buy Gordon at £100? Suspect only model railway clubs that have to have a Thomas set to display at their exhibitions. As to Edward, just looks like a Shire or Hunt deprived of his valve gear. Just not right! On the 70th anniversary I think the Rev W Awdry , and ourselves deserved something better. Loved these books , went through my childhood with them

What people don't realise is it cost a few hundred pounds to ship a container from China to UK . As you say it probably costs more from Port to Warehouse! One of the side effects of these huge Containerships. It's also relatively easy to track them.

I'd prepare yourself for a disappointment Ron !

A couple of points Bachmann are making lots of additional labour costs. You would therefore wonder why they don't make better use of common components. Yes I know there is a logistics cost of producing components that are not needed immediately, but surely at the design stage it makes sense to design a component that can have multiple uses, I'm not sure I buy the "each model is designed from scratch" argument , either. Examples have been given of the Hall which clearly has a common chassis . Triang Hornby used to use components that had multiple uses to reduce overall cost. Maybe instead of constantly reminding us of increase costs , Bachmann are missing a trick here. And No, I'm not advocating going back to common chassis for Jinties and 08 shunters, but it occurs to me there must be some commonalities eg on 0-6-0 locos and indeed on Marsh/ Ivatt Atlantics Secondly . There's an assumption that a C2 would follow the production of a C1. While they are different locos , I for one would be extremely hacked off if I just bought a C1 at a Premium price only to find an equivalent in the main range. Although I suspect one of the benefits of dealing with Locomotion is that they stuck with original price , while with Bachmann it would have increased 15% (more or less ) in March. I really wonder what price the Marsh Atlantic will end up at . Given the longevity of production process I could bet it might actually be more than my limited edition!

Well I've just spent afternoon running my LNER C1 . I stuck a bit of tape over the open smokebox , then peeled it off hoping there would be enough adhesive transfer that would keep the smokebox door shut without permanently glueing it. Seems to have worked. But really wonder why they've seen the need to incorporate a gimmick in this model? Operates well hauling my 6 rake of old Hornby Gresleys . Really nice just watching her run. Runs through 2nd radius points as well, no derailments on my undulating track. Nice lining on it too . Overall reasonably happy . Only reasonably? Well yes part of me is still smarting over the £178 price tag. Its a nice model , but running in the other loop was my recently purchased Olton Hall. Yes I know its Railroad, its painted red, not a real livery, I'm a phillistine for running the two of them together. But she is equally a sweet runner , and bought at £47, so the Atlantic cost 3.78 times more . Yep better decoration (although the Hall has some very fine boiler lining) and its a model of something I've always wanted , but I have to admit still being 50/50 on whether I should have splashed the cash. Just my view , though, If your an LNER fan , I suppose you really must have this loco . She is a beaut!

Ironically the Bachmann advert on the inside cover of Model Rail shows the defect perfectly. Highlighted by the lighting, now that I know there is a defect. Picture in review shows it well too. It is quite a difference right enough

Mine arrived too. The most expensive loco I've ever bought! It's a nice looker and runs well. I've tried it with 6 older Hornby Gresleys with no problems. The only issue I have is my smokebox door keeps coming open . It's something I could do without . I'll figure out a way of keeping it shut . A touch of blue tack perhaps

Having not seen the mag, it worked for me.

I think you need to get this in context. I accept that if you are a GWR specialist , this defect will be reasonably obvious to you. And indeed we have heard from people who have spotted the real thing saying they immediately noticed it was wrong. Also when Dibber contemplates attacking the Mazak , you think well he's not doing that for the sheer hell of it , there must be something wrong. However on the other side , I certainly wouldn't have known there was an issue. More expert than me, Ben Jones didn't notice it . Also if you look at album pictures, the area is often in shadow and its not at all obvious that there is an issue. So is it critical overall? If you are that GWR officionado then probably your eyes are drawn to it , but for the rest of us probably not. So talk of holding it back and not releasing it I think is a bit over the top. Comparison with the V2 is not the same. Here there is a very visible fault in that the dome is way too flat and doesn't stand out as much as it should. To me that is immediately obvious and its most definitely not in shadow. Yet this model has sold , probably relatively well, given its longevity in the catalogue and the fact they deem it worthwhile redoing. So while the Modified Hall is not Bachmanns best model its not their worst either. And if it doesn't sell well, maybe I'll pick up one at a discount in 6 months time

Thanks for explanation Rembrow The BRM review only shows the front from a low angle so you cannot discern whether the area between plate frame extensions is curved or straight. Looking at pictures of the real thing, while the curved footplate of unmodified Halls is obvious , for modified ones the plate frame extensions leave that area in shadow, so again not obvious for me, although I believe the experts . Oh dear, but still not sure its fundamental (speaking as someone who has never seen the real thing and would have been unaware if hadn't seen above posts)

I'm a bit puzzled by this, not subscribing to MR and having seen review. What exactly is the issue with the footplate? I'm referring to pics in May BRM of Formarke Hall. There is a review there by Ben Jones that doesn't pick up on any points on footplate " The front end arrangement with plate frame extensions projecting beyond the smokebox towards the bufferbeam. plate frame bogie design and revised outside steam pipes is well modelled. The "face" is utterly convincing" further "Overall , the model conveys the outline of the prototype perfectly, from the utterly convincing face......." I know we can get caught up in rivet counting , and I initially thought that the issue was not severe, but if we are talking about cutting into Mazak chassis it appears to me that its something fairly critical and spoiling the look of it, but for the life of me comparing BRM pics with pics in a GW steam portfolio I can't see it. What am I missing?

I can't see a new tooled Class 91. If you were going to do this you would need to similarly upgrade the Mk4s and DVT. That's a large investment , for what would become an expensive train to buy and I just can't see it would make a return. What might make more sense is a limited upgrade to model with front/rear lights. I'm rather struck by the new Virgin East Coast "coke can" livery. I think that would make an ideal flagship for a revamped Railroad range, Along with their existing 66 with TTS and maybe the 156 in a myriad of colourful liveries. Attract youngsters into the hobby with models they can see on the current railway rather than superannuated steamers (excepting Tornado , of course)

Its Hornby territory, but I think Ron means that it'll be made to trainset standard rather than full spec. I think there's scope for a railroad/ trainset one. Lets face it this is going to be the standard express train on many regions for some time to come , so we need a trainset for youngsters( and some oldsters). Bachmann could maybe make the fullspec one, but it is a multiple unit so is likely to cost a pretty penny.

Very nice. Actually already capturing the look of Springburn. You going to model the back of the station at an angle like the real thing? Springburn gives you the option of running electric services , of course, you planning that? I thought the red ballast was too much to begin with ,but by your last set of photos I was getting used to it. I've previously mixed in grey ballast with the red just to tone it down a bit. Actually if you look at the real thing its quite often a mixture of greys and reds Looking forward to watching progress on this. You've already come a long way in a short period of time, given that in the same time I'm still struggling to put a backscene up!

Thanks for the tip off Jon. I know that MV means motor vessel but whats a TSMV? Long and the short of it is that the model concerned is the Bute of 1953-1978, and so would fit a lot of transition era layouts in her Caledonian Steam Packet buff funnel, which changed to Calmac Red in 1973 I think.Her sister ships were Arran and Cowal , fondly known as the ABC ferries This is not to be confused with the current Bute which is one of the Calmac ferries on Wemyss Bay- Rothsay run Its my period, might speculate on the mag. Wouldn't have seen it without your note .Cheers!