frobisher

That in a nutshell.

You'd still have that feeding the trainset DC controller which would come with the set, just the back end would be more future proof.

Yes you can, provided it doesn't look the same and isn't dependent on unauthorised sight of their code base.

Do they have the drop head Delner couplings fitted, that would be the deal breaker..?

Microsoft Word - nem365_d.doc (morop.org) is about as close is it gets, and I can't think of anything UK outline that has these or the capability. [EDIT] Tell a lie, in theory the 362 pocket is used (same as 00/H0). Not really that good for 0 by the looks of it :( Though putting a detachable NEM 362 (so you can remove the ugly...) on their stuff might be a possible selling point for AS in 0. Norm Europäischer Modellbahnen (morop.org)

A decent framework knocks that all into a cocked hat though (Unity for instance, whilst mostly used for games will hit just about any platform you care to name including some you didn't know were a thing at all), but you have to have the mind set to know why you're doing it. But there is this iPhone first attitude that is prevalent (mainly because of the awkwardness of any development on the Apple platform) and the tendency to try and develop with Apple's tools and then finding their cross platform capabilities are near zero. Amazon is even better in that regard, which is why their appstore is the one being used for the Windows 11 Android emulator...

Just one operating system, Android. Lots of different handsets, but Apple is the same really. If Hornby's developer need to do the conversion port of the code rather than use a common codebase, I shake my head in despair (and it is unfortunately not uncommon enough for "iOS first" developers to do this).

No more than coping with the myriad of iPhones Apple have produced. A compliant bit of code will just work (maybe not optimally on a particular phone's feature set, but this isn't console development where the platform holder has their particular hardware features as a requirement). Differing versions of the operating system are a bigger problem than who makes the phone and what model it is. Google is considerably more lax on certain issues than Apple and most definitely Amazon. If you're coding from scratch and not using a framework, then yes, but then you also need to be taken out back and shot for crimes against production coding (Your iPhone version is also produced on the same framework otherwise out back for that as well...).

That's the bunnies. There's also the Scotrail CO as well. Obviously the SO/FO/CO/TSO/TFO are at their base the same bodyshell, differing only by interior layout. I suppose that's the next can of worms, the seating differences. As introduced, the TSO pretty much had table seating bays only and no "airline" style seating for instance.

Ah, okay. You missed the BFO then...

Did you mean BFO? I seem to recall that the retooled Hornby ones are CDL only, as were the previous ones that weren't ex-Lima (which had the offending printing). But definitely an area a manufacturer could go to town.

Just spitballing, but perhaps it's something to develop a standard for. Lots of if's coming, but if you can develop an easy interface near the NEM socket (possibly just two wires?) then there is no reason why you couldn't then develop a suitable Tension lock and/or Kadee compatible and/or electro magnetic (but compatible at least one of the current magnetic close couplers) coupling(s) to plug into the NEM socket and a flylead to the interface. This could then be operated via the DCC decoder or with a wand in a suitable location. It would be down to how much could be built into the couplings.

The HST really should be in the same category as the 47,37 and 08, it's just that it has associated rolling stock which is what has held things back to date. It's not an easy ask for AS, but if they go down that route it will sell by the bucket load, especially where Hornby haven't quite hit the set of features desired.

Hornby raised this with the TT 08 as well, it's got a lot of components for a small loco and requires quite a lot of labour input (partially because of nearly the same level of parts as the A1/3/4) putting it above price bracket of their forthcoming 66 in the scale. From what's been said by the AS guys, I suspect we'd get one maybe near the price of the Hornby and Bachmann ones, but with all those extra goodies you mentioned.

There's probably room for another 08/09, because they will always sell. But do a 13 at the same time, THAT will sell (and if you were to ever produce a model with remote uncoupling built in, that's your bunny). But also properly tool up some of the oddballs, notably the buckeye equipped ones used for shunting HSTs, and the lower cabbed Welsh ones. The 70 has ended up being somewhat niche, I don't think there's real opportunity there at all. People will buy a "definitive" Western and Dapol have set the benchmark to better there, but there is lower hanging fruit out there. The 81-84 as you said (81 would be best first), the long neglected 06 and various MUs. I suspect a winner would be the HST, but approaching it first from the prototype pair and rolling stock. This way, you get a PC with a working front coupler sorted from day one (Hornby still seem resistant to this, despite the popularity of the buffer fitted PCs), you get a proper stab at loco hauled MK3s from near the start, and presumably the ability to do a deal with the NRM...

In a nutshell, you need two feeds from the controller. One to the outer loop, and one to the inner loop. You do not need insulating rail joiners (they'd actually make your situation worse). The power is currently being routed to the inner circuit by the the points in the crossover. You'll only get power on the inner loop when both are set to allow the crossover. If either of them is set against (as will happen when you try to run through the other side of the inner point when completing the inner loop, the circuit gets broken. You can get the same effect by setting the outer point back to not crossover.

You said recruiting, NOT employing said recruit. Different things...

Then they're using the wrong recruiters... most agencies charge a lot less than that.

chassis :)

Yup. They're also limited by the platform providers (Apple and Google) approving the apps in a timely manner. Just noticed the HM DC app doesn't have Hornby as the publisher - their app developer is. Having done work for hire app development in a former existence, that strikes me as a little risky for Hornby. What could possibly go wrong..?

Not an expert, but could it be down to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I'm presuming the TGV fleet will be maintained in centralised depots, which will be presumably be set up for the current PCs plus train setup where as distributed traction would require new facilities which they don't have. Also, a PC fails, you can swap it out reasonably easily. It might also provide an easier solution for these double deck trains in regards power equipment placement (you'd likely lose the second deck around the pantograph in any case given where it sits retracted relative to the roofline). There's French stubbornness in the mix as well I suspect, and the desire to not follow the crowd.

I've only just watched both series, and the focus on steam above anything else is quite noticeable (very much playing to Mr Kohler's foibles I think) - most of the footage of DE subjects rolling around seem to come from the competition's models on the featured layouts. The only exception seems to have been the HST revamp (unless I snoozed through another one). If they have any DE experts they are definitely camera shy.

The first version of Android with 64bit support was 5.0 which has been around since 2014. iOS has been 64bit capable since 7.0 in 2013. So if you have a working smartphone, it's very likely to be 64bit app compatible or complaining constantly that it can't run anything.

Or Bachmann Europe plc - LMS Coach Bogies (x2),LMS Coach Bogies (x2)?

Nope, just most filing the bodyside detail flush and cutting out anything that would show through the etched windows. Careful removal of the flush glazing would make a lot of that reusable as well... Of course if an enterprising soul were to produce a transparent smooth bodyshell to host those etched sides that could sit on top of the Hornby underframes...