Mike at C&M

We have been told that production should be completed by mid-August. So all being well, the models should be with us about mid-September.

11 p.m. and 33 degrees, according to the camera temperature. Time to sit back and watch the approaching thunderstorm.

Newbryford, Big Jim is a regular visitor to C&M Models whenever he is in Carlisle. See you tomorrow, Jim.

The model will be released with the 'First' logos on, as these are what we photographed when the livery was being researched. At that time, it was not known what the 'Abellio' labelling would be. Obviously with the livery remaining the same under the new franchise, anyone who must have an Abellio unit can amend the 'First' logos without affecting the livery as modelled.

I am sorry to have to report a further delay. We are now being quoted late August/September for the release date of our model.

No grain hoppers in the latest batch of new releases received by us today, but you can also add the "Cumbrian Mountain Express" and "Landship Train" Train packs in 'N' gauge to the list. And for those grumbling about delays. I also received today a Minichamps model of a LeMans 24 Porsche which was ordered for my customer in 2006! Unfortunately, he passed away some 6 years ago.

Hartlepool United have made it a tradition that for the last away game of the season, they wear fancy dress on a theme. Anyone who was at Plymouth last year will have shared the stands with some 300 away supporters in Thunderbirds outfits, whilst the stands at Charlton Athletic in 2012 were full of Smurfs! Today, they were at Carlisle United with a theme of Bob Marley and Reggae, so 'Chapeau', or should that be Rastacap, to the Hartlepool supporters who provided us a good laugh to warm us up on a cold Spring day. Some 2,200 supporters came across from the north-east, and were treated to a 3-3 draw. Thank you for putting a smile on our faces.

http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime This is my preferred point of reference for seeing where the storms are. Covers UK, Europe, USA and Australia.

Couple of thunderstorms (lightning) on the horizon. If anyone is interested.

Spot On! The Farish Class 47/7 (pre-production model) and our Dapol Mark 3s. Photographed in Edinburgh this afternoon

TerrySVR, If it is more cab ride videos from Germany that you want, there will be several links to others appear once the video reaches its' end, which in turn will lead to many others. There are several people post cab ride videos on Youtube from Europe, and the German TV station of ARD regularly shows them on national television in the small hours of the morning.

For those of you who would like an alternative viewpoint of Plattling, the following is a Youtube video of a cab ride from Munchen Hbf. to Passau. Plattling is arrived at at 1:27:00 into the video, and once the train is stopped in the station, the large building to the left of centre is the one that holds up the webcam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cV0jkjDA5g

Ben, I had heard of the colour versus scale problem, but never come across it in real life until now. With the original samples, in some lights, the blue dots were not particularly visible, and yet when Michael Portillo did his Scottish tour on TV the same week, even at distance the 156s light blue dots were clearly visible. So something had to be done to 'correct' the problem. I suspect I gave a few people a good laugh kneeling down next to a 156 in Carlisle station trying to photograph an 'N' gauge bodyshell held up against the full size version. The decision is mine to change the lighter blue colour, and I have done this based solely on the fact the dots are as visible on the model, as they are on the prototype. I feel that as it was, I would face more criticism for having the livery of the unit not looking right, even though the RAL colours used have been copied. Who would commission a model?

As promised, some photographs of the livery samples. There are some obvious things missing, such as the chassis and corridor connections, but you will get a flavour of what the final model will look like. The two bodies sitting one on top of the other are to show the difference in the colour of the light blue dots on the bodywork. Even though we used the correct RAL colouring, they were not as obvious as they should have been, at least under artificial light. However, the difference is not as striking in the natural light that the picture was taken in.

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. We have been informed that delivery of our ScotRail 156s has been put back to June.

If all goes to plan, the livery sample bodies should be on display on the "Model Rail" stand at the Model Rail Scotland exhibition at the Glasgow SEC this weekend. For those who look at these, you are asked to note that the blue bodyside dots will be lighter on the final version. All being well, we are a few weeks away from the 156 becoming available.

All being well, John, you have about 3 months before your train arrives.

More to the point BoD, how come she's never in the shop when I'm there!

A beautiful seasonal picture to make you smile Featuring a Christmas hat and stocking, a virgin and a model. . . . . . . . . . . Picture is copyright, so please do not reproduce. . . . . . . . . . . .

Hornby sent out a trade bulletin on Wednesday 10th to say that the R3243 version of the K1 was in the process of being despatched, and trade orders were being honoured in full. So Margate have notified us in advance that the first of the K1s was on the way. Furthermore, a trade bulletin issued today states that the R3243 are allocated from the current batch, and we can order now for future delivery. Slightly ironic that my order from today was refused as no stock is available. The other K1s are currently scheduled for release in February 2015.

2 sets left in perfect condition, and 2 sets with paint imperfections at a reduced price. Last chance to buy.

Not letting me on either. And the other live cameras also do not appear to be accessible Time to sing and yodel along to the Bayerwaldradio link in the bottom left hand corner

My attendance at Glasgow show will be as a paying customer, rather than a trader. However, I have received an offer that if the 156s are available by then, someone will be offering them for sale at the show on my behalf. I hope to get a provisional delivery date in the next few days.

To anyone who has to settle on the livery details for a model, you now have my greatest sympathy! I have just been down to Carlisle station, with the livery samples, to answer a few specific questions on the livery details. And I have come away with more doubt, then when I walked on to the platform. Today's unit was 156.501, and it was sufficiently dirty on top to not be able to tell what was painted black, and what was painted blue. Whereas 156.512 had one blanked out window, the toilet window, 156.501 had two blanked out windows - the toilet and the vestibule in the other car. The overhead warning panel that is in the windscreen of 156.512, is not there on 156.501. The main reason for going was to compare the blue colouring of the livery sample with the 12 inches to the foot version. What became immediately apparent was that where the vinyls are applied, it changes the background dark blue colour slightly, although this is not noticeable at distance. So the final decisions on the livery have been made, and these will be passed on to Dapol

Thank you to everyone for their comments about the livery details. The fact that all comments relate to details means that we have the basics correct. The main comment has been with regards to the bar across the front windscreens where the wipers are positioned. This isn't there because the front of our livery sample has no glazing in it! The left hand window also has an overhead warning flash within it. The roof on 156.512 may be unique, but we are doing a specific unit. At the front of the car, it comes right the way to the edge of the full yellow end, a close scrutiny of the roof at the inside end shows the black finishing at the end of the ribbing, the smooth area at the car is blue right the way across. Comment has also been made about the alignment of the "ScotRail" writing and its; alignment compared to the doors open warning light. It is not the same on both cars when looking at the complete unit from one side. One car, has the 'o' in ScotRail under the warning light, the other car has the writing offset to the right hand side of the light. One final point I would appreciate guidance on is the blanking out of one of the smaller bodyside windows. The final photograph below shows a blanked out window at the cab end of car No. 52512. However, I made the error of not photographing the entire bodysides of both cars on this side, due to the platform. Can anyone please confirm, or deny, that there is only one window in the unit blanked out like this. As for release date, it is likely to be early Spring, but I hope that there me an outside chance that they may be released by the time of the Glasgow SEC show at the end of February.