Mike at C&M

Agreed. Your previous comment is very true, and it must be a thankless task to decide the ratio/quantity of what is sold direct or via retailers.

Andrew, Production batch quantity will be decided well ahead of any Hornby announcement, considering that Hornby work on the principle that what is announced for any year, say 2017, they will look to release in 2017. We are aware of cancellations and deferments in 2016, but essentially this premise of 'announce and release' in the same year still holds true. There is obviously a system within Hornby that says out of production run of 'X' examples, 'Y' are for direct sales, 'Z' for retailers and 'W' for concessions, and that this will be rigidly stuck to. The concessions allocations will disappear in the near future. One of my major criticisms is that Hornby have told retailers in the past that an item is sold out, yet stock still exists for direct sales and on concessions shelves. I have been very vocal in my criticism of Hornby, and I will repeat that they have been a nightmare to deal with for the past couple of years. The comment made by Coryton where Hornby are encouraging those unable to place a direct website order to try retailers instead is to be applauded, and a small step to improving the way that the retailer/Hornby relationship works. Much work remains to be done to make our relationship work, but there is a slow and gradual improvement as we enter 2017. Ultimately, it is to the benefit of both Hornby and retailer to work together. We will be happy to provide them with a shop window for their products if they support us.

Passenger workings with 1063s are rare, but in the 1980s, before the multi-voltage 'Taurus' locomotives, and at a time when the Iron Curtain was still down, the local service between Hohenau (Austria) and Breclav (Czechoslovakia) was run with 1063s which were dual-voltage. This picture shows one backing down on to a train at Hohenau, after the 1042 which had worked the train from Wien Nord had been removed. The train was taken to Bernhardsthal, the last station in Austria before the Iron Curtain.

NOT SO! What is shown on the Hornby website has nothing to do with retailer orders, at least not at the current time. Our order forms, which were issued to us on Wednesday, at around 10a.m., do not show ANY items sold out for retailer orders. It is known that there tends to be an allocation of stock to direct sales, another allocation to retailers, and an allocation to concessions (this final allocation will obviously cease in the near future), and often there is stock left on one, when another allocations is seemingly sold out. I do not know which items you refer to, but my suspicion is that it will be for new 2017 items which have been previously announced, such as the IEP. This would indicate Hornby direct sales are fully allocated, so if it is something you want, there are plenty of retailers around the UK who would love to supply your order.

At the risk of deviation, Carlisle Sands Centre, Saturday 7th January, 7.30 p.m. Samantha will be performing with Jack Dee, Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke Taylor, Tony Hawks and Jeremy Hardy, all at the same time, and no doubt in front of an appreciative audience. I believe there are still tickets available. See you there.

Hornby have three trade open days around the country. The first of these is on January 4th, so the announcement has been set to coincide with this first open day. Likewise, Bachmann have timed their announcement to be on January 8th, the first of their trade open days.

One game left in the penultimate round of games, and I find myself having to support the Dallas Cowboys for tonight's game, if we are to retain our destiny in our own hands. For a Washington Redskins supporter, this is similar to a Manchester City fan having to support Manchester United!

I feel your pain! The Redskins had the playoffs in the palm of their hand had they beaten the Panthers, as most people expected. Needless to say, they lost, and it looks as if we too are not going to be playing beyond week 17.

There are certainly rules against price fixing, but this is not detrimental to the sales of anyone else. Hornby are doing the 87, Oxford the Mark 3s, and we are not aware that anyone else is doing either of these models, subject to the Hornby 2017 announcement not including any Mark 3s Indeed, we already know that Oxford are proposing to do the Blue/grey, and the InterCity Swallow loco-hauled Mark 3s first, and that Hornby have announced the same liveries on their 87s. Neither will lose out by knowing what other liveries the other will do in the months and years ahead, and indeed it will probably benefit their sales if they do know. There is no under-handiness to this, so why shouldn't they share the relevant information about their future plans.

Might I respectfully suggest that a bit of joined up thinking up thinking be used, and an InterCity Swallow '87' come first so as to tie in with the first release of Oxford Rail Mark 3 hauled stock. Loco number is immaterial No doubt, Executive liveried Mark 3s will follow, and likewise and an Executive liveried 87 as well. We all know how infuriating it is to find out that matching locos and coaches are simply not available. As a retailer, this is one I hear all too regularly. I am sure that a quick conversation between Oxford Rail and Hornby could dovetail the release of 87s and matching Mark 3s to about the same time, at some point in the future. And if Bachmann feel themselves left out, how about another run of 38-352s to form a Ravenscraig - Llanwern steel coil train, with a couple of extra coils to allow them to rest on their sides on the wagons, rather than within the cradles supplied. Ideal for a couple of 87s on the front, or an 87/86 combination (when the latter is announced)

A heart-warming story from the NFL. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/38220797 Always nice to see someone conquer adversity, and get back to where they were.

You tease!

Can it be assumed that 87s only carried these fire bottles when they were in Virgin livery?

INFORMATION REQUIRED, PLEASE During the day, I have been exchanging e-mails with Paul at Hornby with regard to some of the points raised on this thread. There are a few questions with regard to dates that require clarification, please. - When did the radio aerials appear on the locomotives. - When did Brecknell-Willis high-speed pantographs become common. - When did the larger multiple operation boxes get replaced by the t.d.m. cabling on the loco front - When was the fire surpression equipment fitted to the roof. Your help with this is appreciated.

The recessed glazing of the 3D print hinders comparing the window size, as your eye picks up the solidness of the inside of the window frame. However, to my eyes, the depth of yellow showing below the lip of the cab roof suggests to me that the front cab windows do need heightening slightly.

Loved the end of the Bengals v. Ravens today. An inspired piece of play calling to know how you can use the rules to your advantage. Coaching genius from whoever called the play.

The Hattons/Rails clearout was in May, and there have been a few issues since. The new T&Cs were issued at the beginning of October, and there are a few teething problems. We shall see in the weeks ahead if things finally settle down.

Unfortunately. Mike, one thing that did happen was that many retailers were offended by the way that Hornby went dumping huge volumes of stock at greatly reduced prices into a couple of larger retailers, and never gave us a look-in. This has clearly been made known to the new management team at Hornby by many of we retailers, and we hope that they will abide by the promise made to us with the recently issued T&Cs that that exercise will not be repeated.

David, Obligation is possibly the wrong word. However, we do know that Barclays had a review of the company done by a well known form of accountants, and I believe that it is as a result of that review, the decision has been taken to close down most of the concession stores. This will free up a huge amount of stock which is effectively money tied up, so the stock has to be disposed of somehow.

Dave, Added this point to my e-mail to Hornby.

As a retailer, I cannot see a long period of no stock dumping happening. Hornby are now committed to withdrawing from most (if not all) of their concession stores in the near future. I have a concession store close to me (not a model shop, but a garden centre belonging to a large chain) and I am amazed at the stock levels in there, as well as the age of some of the 'new' stock.This will all have to find a home. Hornby are under an obligation to their bank to reduce stock holding, so they will not sit on this, but look to find a home for it. My hope is that all retailers get a bite of this cherry, and that our finances are good enough to be able to help those of Hornby. If we get a repeat of the recent Hattons/Rails clearance or cheap direct selling at the exclusion of everybody else, then Hornby's decision to work with their retailers will backfire catastrophically, and where would they go to from there.

The problem with doing special commissions with Hornby is the length of run required. Last I heard was 1,000 required. With a price of £170 per loco, that is one hell of a gamble. 'Thane of Fife', I suggest you do not hold your breath on any specials being done. As an aside, Bachmann do runs of 500-ish, and I have commissioned runs of 200 from Dapol

Appetite well and truly whetted! For those who have commented on the radio aerials on the CAD for the BR Blue version, I have sent an e-mail off to Hornby to point this out. (Now then, 87 029 for my Oxford Mark 3s with a Mark 1 catering vehicle, another pair for the Ravenscraig coils, a pair for a Freightliner, one for a set of Bachmann Mark 2s...........)

This picture is taken from a link from a trade e-mail we have just received. Definitely a cross-arm pantograph, and the centre headlight is of the correct style too. Noted as being for release in quarter 4 2017.

Is there any indication of what liveries are being produced?