The Black Hat

I think most people wont notice about the ends of the coaches being painted maroon either when the Bachmann stock comes out in a standard BR maroon appearance with some lovely WCRC logos added. Still, many will like them and be happy.... I guess that's what matters. I'm doing a set based of coaches on the market that I can get without needing much filling and I know Mick has done a charter set too. The stock can get interesting, but it is possible to do.

I've used Pheonix Paints BR Maroon for coaches, which I think goes with the BR blood and custard livery. It matches quite well. The coaches do have the cantrail strip painted on the lip of the roof, I think its the top yellow and black stripe your thinking of which is no longer there on WCRC stock.

The coaches are not quite so straight forwards if you looking to get them accurately. The coach ends have the steps removed, and they are maroon, so it can be a repaint of the coach. However, applying transfers to a standard maroon coach and a coat of varnish will get you fairly close. All depends how much detail you want...

Theres quite a lot wrong with the current 8F. With the Hornby Black 5 fitted with smoke and lights being done, its firing a gun on the next chapter of DCC: The Next Generation. It will see engines being retooled again, so that full sound and lights can be done as a minimum - cue firebox glows, or even headlamps now on engines. That means that even recent DCC fitted engines can be targets for an upgrade, but plenty of those done when super detail was relatively new have only had basic DCC set ups installed. Now the desire is for more pick-ups through the tender and for the socket and speaker in the tender or tanks able to have room for decent speakers so that the sound quality can match that of the engines appearance. The 8F is massively overdue such an upgrade, but if your getting frustrated over just this one engine - then the future doesnt bode well as just about every single engine done to this point will now have some justification for the DCC upgrade and so be mentioned in the future.

I'll just park this here:

yeah but not all of them have come out with it. So will see what they have.

My predictions: Retool Merchant Navy Retool 8F Rework of the HST, with power cars and stock using the Oxford Rail plans for Mk. 3. Class 50s done in Network South East, H+H, Intercity Class 31 done in CE, EWS, Intercity HST - GNER, Midland Mainline mid blue and grey, Grand Central with orange stripe More 21T hoppers possible class 110 churning out Pullman stock

Agreeing with you through most of this. The problem with 0-6-0s is that (as usual) companies have been going around picking the wrong ones. J14 was just a token gesture as Hornby looked to sew up the GE area and wanted it all for themselves. Problem is that with doing the Brit, L1, D16, etc you just need the one J14/J15 for the collection. Bachmann tried to be clever with the J11, expect GC polls poorly and by going down the middle thought that it would pick up Midland and Eastern demand. Not quite... Again your Southen classes such as C class wont sell in great number as people want them as a token amongst all the other stuff. Oxford made an effort with the J27 to start their range of North Eastern stuff. Its a nice attempt and one thats going to get repeat sales as the choice is good. You dont just run one J27... Grouping designs have been ok. The midland 4F, Deans goods, and the J39 have been done, although retool and DCC gubbins would be welcome for the lot. The Southern Q class would be a nice addition, if useless for me. Instead, what you want a popular engines that worked in numbers and where youd need more than one because the class was that frequent for real. J21 stands clearly above the rest out there as the classic waiting to be done. J25 would be another, and both these tap GE and Western region areas respectively. Another Scottish such as Maude would be another one that would sell well. So its not that 0-6-0s dont sell... its just the companies have been picking the wrong ones....

Hello all, nice to see the poll making a comeback. Some predictions on what I think will be seen in the results to come. Firstly, (due to my own interest) I can see NER/NE Region dropping overall from some results previously, due to many of the popular models having been done - Q6, K1, G5, J27. Each time the top of lists were done for an area there was a corresponding drop, but this area has had a few done so there could be others now that take the place. Its often true though that others dont quite meet it, so I can see the total dropping overall. Ones to watch for are B16, J21 and J25. I think midland areas will grow given they have taken a battering for years but still have a lot of the types wanted and covered. The 8F should return strongly as a new request and retool. Watch out for other WD's and BR standards such as the 3MT, which I think should top the list. Other units I think will also prove high in demand. The modern scene is after a few with the 185 very much in demand. It will be interesting given where the poll is featuring if that gets reflected away from the crowds at exhibitions, social media and some forums where people wanting these might be more inclined to be following the hobby. While thats no criticism, the poll is a great and useful tool, but could show some companies that core markets remain, such as Southern region and Western too that I expect will hit back hard with a vengeance for some grouping companies, but then splinter just as Eastern core votes do. The poll itself has been great at showing us a glimse of what we as modellers would like, but the market too has sectors and companies now getting a strong following and idea of building areas that have not always featured as strongly in the poll. Now just need to see what the results bring.... thanks to the team and Andy Y for hosting it here again.

NER/LNER/NE Region GWR/Western LMS/Midland Industrial Scottish 00 gauge 5 inch gauge narrow gauge N gauge brio lego the train around lightwater valley.... SR/Southern...

I think Railtech or Fox do the Blue and Green Railtrack Transfers

Bellerophon, Vengeance, Nautilus, Endeavour, Majestic, Magnificent, Jupiter, Goliath, Agamemnon, Dominion, Duncan....

Ones Id suggest would be: Anglia Arriva EWS Railtour maroon set. Saphos Maroon and Cream Blue and Grey railtour set Collectors club: Blue Pullman.

How much of the sound programming operation is still going. I still think Howes steam are some of (if not the) best on the market.

Thanks Toby, I can see another engine going into the paint shop if that variant is done....

Provincial Blue 143 will be the proverbial hot cakes...

Nice release. Certainly going to be interesting converting these to sound if possible.

I'm thinking a number of factors at play. Transport costs are higher, and containers still costing a fortune. Did Hornby not delay the 2MT because of some costs but when whack up price when realising it was not going to fall back. I do wonder think the costs of some releases have been too much. Runs of older tin plate models for Hornby anniversary, or modelling the same old models that don't move Hornby on. Has SK gone back to type but doing loads of transition period and southern or express stuff and thus missing that the market has moved on and that privatisation is now a massive market. If Hornby make the wrong stuff, or dont have products coming through then sales and thus profit will suffer.

Is this variant due for release as well?

Hello all... I'm doing some research for a project I am getting involved in and it will involve a curved viaduct. As a result, research is bringing up some interesting results. Do any members have photographs of viaducts built using the following products: 1. Wills Kits OO SS80 Three Arch Viaduct 2. Faller 120466 curved viaduct. 3. Langley models stone viaduct kit. Any photographs or dimensions would be great. I am wondering if the Wills kit can be made into a curved viaduct, or how tight the radius is for double track using the Faller model. Thanks in advance.

Superb announcement from Accurascale. What a Triumph. I love the Defiance that this company has in taking on competition. SK and Hornby must be Furious - will they want Revenge? Howe do they manage to keep costs reasonable with so much detail? Its a Valiant effort to get that right, but in finding that balance other companies are Repulse-d. As such Accurascale are building a Formidable reputation in the sector, to the point they are almost Fearless. I am sure other things coming in the range to be announced will be Courageous and Glorious. Accurascale now reign as Monarch in terms of new DCC tooled and high spec English Electric machines. I do hope they have a GBRF one coming as I would make that a Resolution to get that one - perhaps even the pair. I have always liked 50s as they have quite a lot of character that they are an Achillies of mine, but would certianly love the blue and orange GBRf ones being crowd pullers on my forthcoming Leviathan of a layout...

+1

Get in!! Brilliant announcement and filling a gap in the market that has existed for some time in terms of RTR. I am sure these will be very popular. Hopefully, more NER stuff to follow perhaps from Accurascale.

I did see a Hornby 142 done in metro once pretending to be a class 141. Didnt look too bad.

Renumbering advice for one of your forthcoming 37s might be a nice touch. While I have attacked a few from other brands in the past - a lot depends on different manufacturers for the best methods. A guide on that would be good. Unless you plan or releasing it later as the one requested anyway.... 37401 or 37403 in Large logo with large red lights as in use with DRS.