Torn-on-the-platform

Always enjoy the Skrifa but particularly good to hear such a thorough update from Peco. Always exciting to hear updates on their projects, particularly on this occasion Bowsiders and Englands. Great to hear track production is back underway. They have been quiet on this front for some time and I have seen the odd grumbles about difficulty getting hold of track and have myself been waiting on the arrival of a OO9 starter set for possibly nearly a year! (I forget when it was ordered, but at the time it was expected relatively imminently).

No worries, I rarely edit photos as I don't have an eye for whether I've actually improved it or not! Had thought this one was a little pale, but the early morning conditions and slight haze are reasonably well reflected. Your changes improved the colours and the sharpness, thank you!

When a seaside-bound steam engine heads through a National Park early on a Saturday morning, could you be anywhere else in the world? Leander heads through Edale at the foot of Kinder Scout on 5/6/21, in charge of the Scarborough Flyer.

I'm a big fan of really useful boxes as many have mentioned. I have not transported my models anywhere recently but with foam inserts (made by a friend of a club colleague, looking similar to the JB's model world inserts above), I feel that the stock is well looked after. My club has done similar for it's stock for many years. When at home, all of my stock however is in a bespoke made pine cabinet, commissioned from a friend's brother who was at a loose end following completion of his engineering degree. Each shelf is just taller than the height of an item of rolling stock. This makes it particularly heavy to move, and I'm worried about getting it out the house for our forthcoming house move... but we got it in in the first place so it must be possible! It is not 100% dust free but it is certainly better than leaving the models out. I also feel it is safer for my models in case of a break-in rather than having them in their boxes ready to move.

Port of Bristol 'Henry' has arrived with me today. My first purchase from Derails, great service. No QC issues but a note inside to say it had been checked by the shop. I hadn't planned to buy a B2, quite happy with my brace of W4s, but Chris Nevard's shots of Henry for Kernow on his layout sold the engine to me! Hornby have really got the running qualities right on their Pecketts. Smooth, quiet and more than enough power. Matched only by Rapido products in my opinion!

The platform at Moretonhampstead has been dug up today as part of a new development. I understand the goods she'd is to be saved as part of this scheme. Sad to see the station site progress to being less recognisable but I suppose any development on 'brownfield' land is better than expanding the town into the countryside.

I do agree in principle, but on a personal level I wanted the Stroudley(ish) carriages to satisfy a childhood itch, and the lights were an interesting feature so I shelled out the extra few quid per model to see what it was all about. As Compound says, it is a design issue, so returning them to Hornby in the hope of a better production run could take months, years or not even happen at all. The next batches are likely to be new liveries too. There is plenty of evidence on this forum alone that us railway modellers are not the most patient of breeds! I've managed to improve mine and have enjoyed working on them, and will continue to do so until I'm happy. Its been a good opportunity to practice some modelling without any risk to the exterior of the product. Lessons learnt and now I know for next time, if there is one, that Hornby's new lighting system is a poorly designed gimmick to be avoided.

A layer of acrylic for me! I also covered the flooring and partition of the brake compartment as the colouring of the plastic was inconsistent. I don't have fine decorating skills and this is the first time I've set about painting an RTR product, so not perfect, but I hope you'll agree I've given an improvement. Another coat when I get round to adding passengers. Before: After:

It seems only a couple of versions of 1638 in preserved liveries have appeared so far. The BR black versions that I have seen have been samples, so hopefully these will break cover in the week! Brilliant to see a fantastic Scottish modeller finding a reason to get involved in a GWR thread!

1638 in GWR livery has arrived with me today. I only ordered it on Monday, got the dispatch email on Tuesday and it arrived today. Slightly slower than usual from Cornwall but still very good service. I've never understood those who need to get the new release IMMEDIATELY. I felt it was a bit odd that Kernow had to ask people to stop calling to find out the status of their order more than once this week. Each to their own I guess. I have elected for this livery as I have seen the loco in this condition, and in steam, possibly more than any other loco! I have never actively sought this engine out but it seems to have been active for most of my life! It is particularly special to me having had a footplate ride at K&ESR for my 21st Birthday. One of only 2 locos that I have had footplate rides on! The package arrived the day after my 30th Birthday. I have taken photos of the real thing in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2018. I think I may have first encountered it in the early 1990s at a Day out With Thomas - there was a pannier tank running that day and it was described as 'Duck's cousin'. I have seen it in Kent/Sussex, Norfolk and Cornwall. Hopefully one day I will be able to see it back in Devon! The first thing I noticed is just how big the box is - I actually thought that I had been sent 2! It is exceedingly well packed. I remember a youtube video of the chaps at Rapido enjoying some extreme drop testing on one of their North American models, and I would imagine the 16xx would also survive such treatment. There is a pleasing weight to the loco it and it has run well straight out of the box. I'm very happy with the shade of green, somewhere between Bachmann's dark GWR green and the matt, slightly anaemic Heljan interpretation. The front of the panniers are painted black, looking back through my photos of the real 1638, they have been green for some time, not to say this isn't correct for some point in its presrvation career though.

Lovely layout Markn! Great showcase of what is looking to be a great model. Postie didn't come today but I am hopeful of a birthday delivery tomorrow.

What is quite exciting about this release is that it has barely broken cover online. We've often waited months from decorated and production samples before getting our hands on it. Aside from a couple of superb looking BR black samples, Model Rail have largely stuck with photos of the prototype. For once, most of us who have ordered one will be seeing it for the first time when the postman arrives.

Very effective editing that!

Kernow had 0 Cornwall stock level on Sunday evening so I was initially concerned I'd missed the boat there, as I had with my local emporium. However, Kernow tweeted that stock arrived in Guildford but was expected in Cornwall on Monday (accompanied by fantastic shots of all 3 locos on a Chris Nevard layout), so I thought I would take a punt and order one. Success! It arrived at 9.30 this morning via their standard delivery. Very impressed so far with the loco and as usual, with the service and communication from Kernow.

I believe that some Stroudleys had seats across the carriage but with no partitions. A bit like the RHDR or Tallylyn Railway carriages are today. One of the LBSCR carriages in the Bluebell's carriage shop is so arranged, one of the staff/volunteers was quite blunt and dismissive of me when I asked about the lack of partition!

RE fishing, trainspotting in a 'responsible' and distanced way, unfortunately when making these rules, lines had to be drawn and those who unfortunately fall the 'wrong side' of the line will understandably never be happy, especially those who's activities are agonisingly close to said line. Responsible fishing and trainspotting certainly fall into this category, so I can see why those who enjoy the past-times or perhaps even rely upon them for mental health, would be frustrated. Using anglers as an example, most I see will be tucked out the way, off the main path (even pre-covid), but a visible minority also sit on the path itself. 2m distancing then becomes pretty impossible if you want your walk to continue. Allowing angling as an activity during this time is pretty thin end of the wedge stuff as people have mentioned above. Allow the responsible majority to do so is great, but then how do you stop the irresponsible minority from continuing in the way that they always have. (Unfair to use anglers, I appreciate, as this applies to many past times and hobbies, it is just one that is popping up regularly on this thread!) When lockdown 2 ended and outdoor sport was permitted again, the rules changed to prevent car sharing. Whilst a very sensible change to the rules, it proved problematic for our hockey community, with pitches spread out across cities and therefore the carless who usually rely on lifts could not even access matches at their home pitch. My club did discuss not arranging any hockey in this time, but ultimately decided the benefit to those who could play outweighed the frustration of those who couldn't. Whilst I was in the former category, I acknowledge that if i'd been in the latter, I wouldn't been best pleased but I'd also not wanted to prevent others enjoying the sport because I was unable to. The line simply had to be drawn somewhere, and the principle in my anecdote applies just as well to the current situation, even if the line has moved significantly. I hope everyone can get back to their activities as soon as possible, but for now please make the best of what we are allowed to do within the rules. As a GP, I want people to stay as safe as possible but to continue to exercise within the restrictions to keep up their physical and mental health in the best shape possible. Stay safe everyone!

I'm lucky enough to have got Bluebell first time round, but given how popular it seems to have been, it would be nice to see another run at the normal price for those who missed out. Its a shame that for 'special' liveries, if you're not in a position to buy when they are released (or sometimes even before), you will not get the loco you want. Look at the Bachmann SECR C! A great choice for Hattons to have made: Beautiful, unique and exquisitely finished livery on an already fantastic model Whilst this livery is unique, it is based on the popular SECR livery which is already a proven seller Prototype at a world famous railway, which was running at the time of release Seems to have been popular amongst the Thomas contingent on Twitter I'm sure people with more industry knowledge than I could add in several more points as to why it sold well, and commands a high second hand price. The model seems to be pretty robust as well, so even well used loco would likely still look great if sold second hand. The other original model that sold well was the Olive green livery. I was a bit surprised to see them produce two ROD liveries and not a further southern Olive, aside from the tie in with the Hattons warwells. Olive seems to always be a fast selling livery. I have probably said before on the other P class thread but, I would be in the market for an Olive Green A27 as this is the planned livery for No.27 when it is outshopped from its current overhaul (unless plans have changed). I wonder if 323 in early Bluebell black may also come in a future batch, to complement Primrose in this condition. Alternatively, it appeared in a similar livery but with Yellow lettering and red connecting rods. If you haven't seen James Pegg's lined SR black, it can be found here: Hattons have done well to cover so many liveries already. Hopefully the market can sustain a plethora of further releases!

The title says it all! The SVR seems to set its panniers similar duties to that of their larger locos. This was the second time I had come across 1501. The first time was at the Bodmin pannier gala. 5 panniers without a 57xx derivative in sight! Remarkable stuff. One day we shall meet on a dry day...

Does anyone know the lineage of the Lucston buildings? Google isn't telling me where it is. A generic line of buildings perhaps? Please with this announcement. Prices are surely not a surprise at this point. Good to see the Well tanks into the main range. Further Atlantics looking fantastic. Can't justify another one myself but LBSC modellers are currently being rather spoiled!

Please can someone who has both the Rails SECR livery terrier and a C/P/H class in the same livery post a photo of them side-by-side?

Very much enjoyed in my household!

I was interested in comparing the new one with this 12 coach benchmark as it certainly felt lighter than expected when it first came out of the box. Mine has had no issues with 12 coaches on test (I would usually have 6 or 7 maximum, more commonly 5 coaches). 7 Maunsells and 5 Mk1s if that makes any difference. I couldn't see any point in adding any more carriages! My similarly sized 52xx can shift them but appeared far less comfortable with the job. The prairie did have trouble shifting 9 Hornby Pullmans, but I'm not sure that they would be a fair test with their pick-ups creating extra drag.

Really enjoyed this movie. SVR features heavily, though as usual some continuity errors crept in. 2857 changed tender mid-way through a dramatic scene, which it kept for the rest of the film. The replacement was comically oversized and I think, most likely a practical filming prop which was then sliced in with CGI for the wider angles. It gave memories of the 'C-dog' in the early years at the Bluebell with 9017 running with SE&CR 592's tender.

I am pleased have picked up 32650 to accompany 32655. Was able to check in the shop, which is itself looking very smart, and have not noted any QC issues so far. Runs well and the two terriers are happy running together as well.

Ordered mine on Sunday evening, arrived Tuesday morning. Excellent service from Kernow, though a shame my local no longer stocks Hornby! Brilliant runner right away and I've not noted any QC issues. I was pleased with the colour on opening but agree it is a little flat compared to Bachmann's interpretation. Plates to re-number to 4117 already in my possession!