frobisher

As I understand it, there was a difference in the control systems between the EMUs and DEMUs which would come into play. The two types couldn't work together so effectively isolating the two from each other would stop the problem occurring (because let's face it, if you could connect two MU types together, SR would do it). So that might have pre-empted the obvious step of making the DEMUs bimode.

The set numbers persisted well into 80's. But a quick trawl around seems to indicate that first ones didn't have them in 1977 but the stripe is present in PCs in 1979 so there is definitely crossover.

With the right code framework (and plenty are available), the size of your team should have no real impact on cross platform development. If you chose to develop with no such framework, start on one and then port to the other then again your team size will have little effect on the self inflicted shots to your feet.

The "obvious" gaps for now for another manufacturer would be classes 20, 24/25, 26/27/33, 40, 44/45/46, 55 and 56 (which mildly favours potential activity from Heljan over the others out there).

And that's all about ownership of tooling and/or source CAD files and/or "loopholes" in contracts

Which could perhaps be a way for Bachmann Europe to unclog its (unseen) development backlog against the internally imposed production allocation.

A big factor for Bluray was the Playstation 3 having it (it worked out to be a relatively cheap BD player at the time) which pushed a lot of purchasing of films during the initial games content drought, but there was plenty of early adult content on HD-DVD (JVC again...) and no region locking on any content.

There's also the porn factor, Sony originally blocked adult content being released on Betamax, JVC didn't care, that was a major driving factor in the rental market as well...

And pretty much has done since Android launched (and I very much had a professional interest then...).

Not if you're criticising the questions, and hence the questioner. 😃

You just need a better set of numbers... I'm thinking 6,8,9,10,11,13 and a bonus of 40 ;)

Unless you've left your device wide open, you're as safe as using your own wifi or phone connection in general. People in general have a very skewed version of how security and risk actually works, and some of the most paranoid about "security" and "the man" are still doggedly running Windows XP PCs in an irony free zone...

By "a few" you mean 30+ years ago... But those were 28mm gaming scale, rather than the 20 to 22 mm scale needed, which is a very uncommon gaming scale, and they weren't that detailed, at least compared to the more recent Eureka or Warlords 28/32mm ones (there's been a steady trend to upsize, Citadel/Games Workshop started at 25mm nominally back in the late 70's).

One thing we can probably assume at the moment is that Hornby are benefitting from a higher margin on direct sales for TT (hence the TT Club discount after which they are still making a profit I should hope) and ultimately if they start selling through retailers they'll need to maintain the current levels of RRPs or there will be a stink. We'll see discounted levels at retailers similar to the discount the TT club gives I should reckon. So a 33% price difference on RRP between a roughly similar item with Hornby and Heljan shows one or more of the following; The cost of manufacture is quite different between the two due to differing specifications Heljan were keen to stick to a known price point (i.e. that of 00) Heljan may have been front loading more of their development risk than Hornby What we've seen so far is that Hornby have sensibly opted for more moulded detail than they do in 00, and the CAD Heljan showed of their 31 seemed to indicate construction more like their newer 00 models, which leans into 1. above at least, though 2. would inform 1. At the moment, Hornby are setting the rules for the market, Heljan quickly learnt from that.

Hornby's approach is somewhat all encompassing, but with no proper indication of time scales. Until Hornby has actually released some of the promised items that seemed to gazump those other announcements, is it a commercial risk you would take to "dip a toe" to the tune of several hundred thousand pounds? Duplication at this stage of the game on locos in particular would be a very bad thing. The early indications were that Heljan were aiming at a different price/feature point than Hornby as well, which could have been catastrophic. Heljan cut their losses at the tens rather than hundreds of thousands of pounds point. I'd not rule Heljan coming back for a second stab down the line when it is obvious how Hornby's development cycle is working in this instance, and I'll call their Deltic now in that regard.

I'm not 100% sure about the 313/314/315 but there were early differences between the 507 and 508, notably the 508 external passenger door switches that were plated over when they were sent to Merseyside.

Quite low I would say as there are no MK2Ds tooled up in N at the moment.

That's the dummy bogie unfortunately, the one you want is X6404 which they don't seem to have :( Whilst the prototypes all have the same wheel base, (86,87,90) I seem to recall that at least one of these differ on the Hornby, Limby and Hornby models respectively and I can't remember which if any match the 86 X6413 Hornby Spares - Motor Side Frames Class 86 and Class 87 - New Modellers Shop - This seems to indicate that the 86 and 87 have a common wheel base now so the 90 may be right but incorrect for your purposes? But the part for the 87 is X6114 and for the 90 is X6274 (X7904 is the older non-nem version which should be fine for your purposes if the right wheel base) They do have the ones for the Class 90 :( X6274 Hornby Spares - Drive Unit - Class 90 (newmodellersshop.co.uk) X7904 Hornby Spares - Drive Unit - Class 90 (newmodellersshop.co.uk)

The new ones are power bogies like these, just with a can motor rather than a ringfield one and generally run a bit more sweetly.

Plus there were 2Ds that were built for IE...

As it's simulating gas lighting, how about we just say it's fine, repeatedly and all will be good..? [Hat, coat and door located...]

I have a vague recollection of metal polish loaded cotton wool type product (Duraglit?) working in removing this "back in the day" as it seemed to shift this kind of staining/tarnish like nobody's business...

Yes on 769, and DOH! on 369.

Well yes, I suppose I should have said that any consideration to keeping the 369's on at all went out the window when they had the potential to home grow a similar solution.

Vivarail - Wikipedia says... And taken on 9 of the staff too, so clearly they see some kind of future. Ah, this also might explain why the 369's weren't taken up...