Neal Ball

Quite right on both points Rob, I reckon we need to get Mike to email Simon Kohler and lobby on our behalf! Shirtbutton is long overdue eh!

That is a real shame Rob, hope you are pleased with the replacement. I now have two (1st one had issues - see earlier in the thread). But now I have the correct versions - thankfully with no issues, they both run like a dream! I'm looking forward to a shirtbutton liveried version for 2013 !! - Maybe I can then have 3 or 4 - how many is too many GWR Castles????

I too need to crack on and get some more non-GWR wagons, vans and of course even cattle wagons which would have travelled away from their area. I like the use of the Harbuns wagon-loads - something different, plus of course adding that all important extra weight.

I saw a couple of Tintagel Castles at the Signal Box Rochester stand a couple of weeks ago. My 2nd Tintagel came via eBay from a model shop in Eastleigh. I would have thought 2013 will see another Great Western version with Collet tender

The pictures of the waiters and kitchen staff are particularly good. I think I need some of those in the Centenary project! - Are they also Preiser? Someone else also commented about conductive paint and taking wheels apart. As long as you reset the back to back, it should not be a problem.

Will definitely not be starting another wish-list - gonna do some modelling instead! Mind you..... with Bachmann announcing on Monday (I think), Dapol at Ally Pally and then the catalogue...... what will we have to talk about until next Christmas for Hornby - No your'e right - go model, get the carriage finished! (Comet GWR H43 Centenary coach)

It certainly has been a fascinating journey, thanks go to Dapol and Dave for encouraging / putting up with all of the suggestions. Thanks to everyone at Dapol.... so what is the next collaborative loco from Dapol?

Hi Bill, I currently use the DCC Concepts flickr free, which I purchase from Bromsgrove Models. To date, I have three coaches lit, (1 x Bachmann Collett & 2 x Hornby Collett). they all use the springs to collect current from the rails. They are arranged so you have one spring on each axle of a bogie, one axle collecting left, the other right. (DCC Concepts suggest that one bogie collects left, the other bogie right). I then apply to opposing wheels / axle a small amount of electrical conductivity paint which I got from Ebay. (I also use this method to get extra pick-ups on loco tenders!) However, I am not using decoders in my rakes, preferring them to be on constant. I probably would not recommend a propriety decoder due to the cost of converting a whole rake, let alone all of my stock! - But I have found on the web, an article about making your own, basic lighting decoder. The parts would come from maplins and cost less than £3. Or you can buy it as part of a DIY kit, in which case the chip is already programmed, you just need to solder it all together. Good luck!

Hi Jules, Just been on a catch up on the thread, great to see everything developing along. I need to get Wharncliffe to the same photogenic state! Thanks for sharing

What about the round - ship type wipers on a couple of locos!! - Or is that going too far!!

Dave - which ever way I look at the loco it's great - better than anything we have had before - your approach to this has been terrific, thank you very much. It looks like the best Western ever and maybe setting new standards for model locomotive construction and design, particularly as far as collaborative efforts are concerned. More power to your elbow Dave. I would say that this and some of the other "goodies" up the Dapol sleeve, 2012 will certainly be the year of Dapol !!

Given that Bachmann said sometime ago that they were going to start updating some of the locos, I hope the 2251 is done pretty soon! Not sure I want to start re-building a new loco, the way you have. I might have been inclined to use the DCC Concepts small decoder with stay alive, but clearly that would need to go into the tender. Let's hope Bachmann do new tooling soon!

Excellent news thank you Dave.

Another great CAD drawing Dave. When can we expect to see deliveries in the UK? Thanks again, this is looking pretty superb!

But of course Rob, I suspect this is the view for the 2012 catalogue. That view might change with the release of the 2013 or maybe the 2014 releases! I'm not giving up hope!! - It's a lovely model and my railway is obviously crying out for several Castles. - I still fancy Clun Castle, double chimney, DCC sound..... Can I repaint into the roundel !!!!!!!!!!!!

I have today received a reply from Hornby, (who also apologised for the delay in replying). They advise that there are no plans at the moment to release a Great Western castle with a Collett tender. I guess this might change with the 2013 and 2014 release schedule(?)

Simply stunning!

Thanks very much Mike. I think at the moment I am going to stick with the 1930's era. In any case, I still have the Centenary project, so will concentrate on that ahead of going down a Hawkesworth route! - Thanks again though. I agree they must have loads of emails sent from the website. I have previously also sent them letters and received rather terce replies, as if suggestions are not really required. But at the end of the day, if you have that option on a website, you need to ensure its properly serviced. If you cant deal with the quantity of mail, take the option off the page! I remember years ago, a colleague was not getting anywhere with a supplier, so bought some shares and raised the issues at the shareholders meetings! - Anyone thought of buying Hornby shares to lobby for their particular model????

That typeface makes it look like a Tetleys house! - Is that right?

Last year I chose not to buy the Hawksworth coaches and have now caught a cold! I decided against as they are too late in the period I model, preferring to stick to the mid-thirties. I am surprised the coaches only stayed in the catalogue for 1 year though in the GWR livery. It's a good idea, but it's like the guys in the Dapol Western thread calling for un-numbered locos - that could limit the sales of that loco..... If tenders were available separately, again it could limit the sales of locos as it would be so easier to swap around. But I take the point about colour differences, which would show up very clearly and we would all be up in arms about that one! Clearly, I have a choice: 1. Wait until 2013 in the hope the Castle gets released as a GWR loco with a Collett tender. 2. Find another Tintagel Castle on Ebay and renumber. 3. Buy Wellington and put up with the Tender. 4. Find a Kit manufactorer who has a Collett tender. I have just found that the Hornby website still has quantities of Tintagel in stock, so option 2 it is then.... now which number will the new one adopt??? I guess the point though is that I would have expected a reply from Hornby. I received the auto reply, but nothing from a human. Maybe Dilbert could slip it into the conversation next time someone in the office talks to Simon!

I emailed Hornby last weekend to see if the Great Western Castle will appear with a Collett tnder, rather then the Hawksworth one. At the time of writing, I have not had a reply. Be nice if we knew a Great Western version is going to make it into the 2013 catalogue. Otherwise, I might have to buy Wellington, get a Collett Castle and back-date it to Devizes Castle.

Great looking layout, particularly like the Canal and Black & white 'photos. Thanks for sharing.

Dave, Thanks for the latest CAD designs - it looks fabulous - from every angle! What is the anticipated delivery date now? Many thanks,

Looking at Russell Vol 2 the Tare is shown as either 10 or 12 ton.

Wow! - I didn't realise they were allowed to haul so much.