Torn-on-the-platform

This model does look brilliant. Hornby have certainly fine-tuned the production and decoration, but it being a limited run of a popular model, perhaps leaves the door open for RoS/Dapol to still take this specific loco on. Dapol have already announced it in N and it forms part of the Gaugemaster collection in O gauge. I'd be peeved if they did a certain other A1x in IEG through the collectors club!

I did go in today and met the man himself. Lovely little shop with some of the faster selling OO items of recent years still on his shelves with a further 20% off the already reasonable prices. 1st August is the end! I picked up a few items for very good price and am very pleased to have visited today. I wouldnt have known about it without RMWeb, just a shame I discovered it so late!

I'm hoping to visit tomorrow, is the shop still open?

Edit: Got my Exeter/Exmoth model shops confused and couldn't delete my post. Apologies

Always a shame to lose a model shop! If anyone visits in the next couple of weeks, please keep us updated! I will be in Exeter later in July so if it is still open, would be keen to visit.

Oval for me too. In the space I have, it allows me to run longer trains, and just set them off and enjoy watching them go by as I get on with work/admin. My loft doubles as an office so the layout can't be too intrusive into the main footprint of the room. In an ideal world I'd want an oval around the room, perhaps inclusive of a junction station, with an off-shoot branch line/terminus coming into the middle. I do enjoy shunting, running round etc. Not a chance in this house though!

From what I have seen of the Hornby terriers, I still agree that Rails have produced the finer model. As many have said, Hornby's does what it says on the tin but has a slightly more toy-like quality, particularly in BR black. If anyone reading this has both Hornby and Rail's editions of 32655 in early BR livery, it would be interesting to see the direct comparison.

https://railsofsheffield.com/news/articles/3395-rails-terrier-update Update from Rails today. Due late July due to production issues that have required correction. I am pleased Rails/Dapol would take this step.

Please can I double check that it wouldn't be inappropriate to re-number the forthcoming BR green 4160 as 4117 with a simple change of number + shed plates? Thanks in advance! Edit: Secondary question removed as managed to answer it myself!

The replacement for my much-analysed wonky chimney 32655 arrived on Wednesday. Much happier with this one. No obvious issues and runs very well. Good service from Rails, especially on the communication front. Quick reply with the return label to my initial email. 11 days after posting and not hearing anything, I sent another email to check it had been received, this was confirmed very rapidly and I was assured that the replacement had been posted that morning. It arrived day 15 after I had posted the original. I assume the delay was more in the hands of Royal Mail. I am pleased the shop is now open for collection, in time for the next batch!

Thank you, Andy. My reply to the other replies (Legend and blueeighties) was going to touch on this point before you acknowledged it. Indeed, I am very much on the fringe and do not know the ins and outs of it. My comments were based on my reading and interpretation of the information within the thread as well as my previous experience of DJM. There are clearly contributors to this thread who are party to more detail, as has been reference frequently but rarely evidenced. I assume that this information would not necessarily be appropriate for publication on the forum and it is therefore understandable that it remains outside of the public domain. However, it does leave those of us without insider knowledge trying to draw conclusions from the innuendo and riddles, so please forgive my initial scepticism. I still stand by my point that we need to be careful how we talk about individuals on a public forum. In my line of work, I am looking after an ever increasing amount of anxiety and other mental health conditions. I have seen the damage that internet comments can do. Edit: since I started typing this, more info about holidays/aircraft shows have been mentioned, providing useful context.

Brilliant stuff!

Quite possibly. Should we not perhaps bear this in mind? I hope he isn't reading. There is a rather nasty atmosphere. I appreciate that some will feel aggrieved if they have lost their deposits for those models that they applied to and in my opinion, probably have every right to voice their thoughts on this. I don't understand the business side of things, I have plenty enough to worry about already, and accept that he has clearly made some bad decisions, but I doubt he ever meant any harm when he was trying to produce model trains for us to enjoy. Some of these comments are pretty direct and personal in a way that is usually discouraged on this forum. Given that this man has staked a good reputation of designing models and his own career and finances (yes, again, accepting it affected other people financially too) to try to fill holes in the market that we wanted filling, and seems to have lost it all in a very public way, I'm not surprised that he is acting in a defensive manner. Perhaps he is embarrassed or in denial? He'll certainly be upset about it. I don't know Dave, though it appears that many of you do. I only ever had dealings with him online and he was always swift to reply, courteous and helpful. Perhaps that isn't the same experience that others have had on this forum, and in a way, I hope it isn't because it would go some way to explaining why so many seem so excited to kick a man who has seemingly lost it all. Only a few weeks ago there was vociferous defence of a model advertised as 'museum quality' that didn't quite live up to others' expectations in terms of design or quality control. Those who were not satisfied were told that compromise is to be accepted, and were reminded that the design and production process were difficult, whilst being asked not to point out the errors that had already been pointed out. Yet now there is open mocking of an actual individual human being, with clear hope that he is reading the less than pleasant words. Something doesn't feel quite right about that.

When it arrived, my first thought was that it just wasn't pushed in properly at the cab end, but it is in place and simply sticks out at this odd angle. I haven't actually looked at manipulating it as it hasn't bothered me that much. For the avoidance of doubt regarding the chimney to those who have put squares on the original image, whilst the image isn't perfect, there is definitely a significant slant of the chimney. No camera trickery, the issue is there. Another RMWeb member has dismantled their terrier and kindly sent me the shots of the smokebox/funnel set up and it does not look like an easy, accessible fix. I have been weighing up returning this model, but remain undecided. If I could just pop into the shop and swap it, I'm sure I would do, but obviously this is not yet possible. It has run very well, and the overall loco is a huge upgrade on my other terriers, the issues that bother me the most are in the assembly/QC rather than in the design.

It is indeed.

I rang Rails on Tuesday to ask to change my order to delivery rather than for pick up. It was dispatched later that day and has arrived this morning. Running very smoothly straight away. Good service from Rails.

If we were all in a room together (preferably a pub!) and could see each other's facial expressions and mannerisms, we would probably find that we could have had a nice discussion about the comparisons and comprimises that would not have become so heated. I think there is maybe an assumption that those who are not wholly satisfied are banging their fists on the desk and snorting steam out of their nose! I'm sure that isn't the case (for most of us at least!). I am awaiting my 32655 (ordered for pick up, but aware Rails must be very busy so I will await them contacting me as they tend to do, to discuss options), and when the pictures were published, I must admit I was (quietly) disappointed by the c**l r**ls, as they, to me, are an important feature of the shape and character of the particular locomotive that I have chosen. I am however reassured by Jenny Kirk's video review and the astonishingly fantastic photos from twitter above from 'West Hill Wagon Works' that it is still an absolutely superb model, and whilst not right, the bunker isn't as big a detraction as I was concerned it might be. For some, it may well be an issue big enough to cancel an order, we all have different tollerances and opinions. I don't think their opinion is any less valid, nor is the opinion of those who are not bothered by it in the slightest. Whilst it isn't usually my way, I would like to reserve the right to calmly identify errors on a £110 tank engine in a public forum where debate and opinion is encouraged. I hope that everyone who buys a terrier derives huge enjoyment from it. I anticipate that after my initial two purchases, my resolve will crack and buy more! I also hope that those who choose to not part with the money, derive the same enjoyment from whatever else they spend their money on. Finally from me until I receive my models, when I will post photos, I wish Rails and Dapol the best success with this venture.

Joey died over a year ago now, but he seemed particularly keen on narrow guage! Here he is enjoying the Welsh countryside back in 2012. Pedigree black lab, made it to 13 years old. I'm not in a position to have a dog with shifts, inappropriate garden, small house footprint with steep stairs, but my parents have new Lab who is now just over 6 months old. I've not had the impact on his formative months as I had hoped, but looking forward to going to seeing him (and my parents of course) when safe to do so!

Now in stock with photos updated on the individual pages for the locos that have arrived (you can tell by the couplings being placed in the NEM pockets). Bunker extensions for the BR versions still appear to be a concern but there is no rear view shot yet. Otherwise, very promising and excited for mine to arrive! https://railsofsheffield.com/news/articles/3395-first-terriers-in-stock-now

The late 00s was a great period for Terriers! 2006 in particular saw K&ESR and Bluebell have Terrier galas, 5 of the operational 6 at each. If Stepney, Fenchurch, Knowle, Bodiam, Martello or Freshwater are produced in a similar condition to how they appeared at that time, Rails/Dapol could be assured of my money! I can't claim to be an expert in the detail of what sells and what doesn't, but I can imagine most who want Bodiam as preserved (in Blue livery) will be happy enough with Bodiam in A1 form, as many fans of Stepney were when Hornby released their model. Hopefully this doesn't prevent the latter from appearing in IEG as an A1x in the future. Out of interest, anyone who has an order in for Bodiam, what are your reasons? Seeing the real thing at the preserved K&ESR? Modelling the original K&ESR? Just like the lovely livery? Very much looking forward to getting 32655 onto the layout, with 32650 joining later!

It's been a while since we talked about moguls and prairies. Here's a real one:

Apologies, I really did get that wrong! Pleased I didn't imagine that a J72 had worn the livery at some point in service though. Thanks for correcting.

The images in my first link below are not captioned but appear to show Joem in BR service, in the BR/NER lined green livery. I have another Bachmann model in the same colour scheme, I believe it to be 68723. The real one can be seen in a photo down the page on my second link: https://www.lner.info/locos/J/j72.php https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/j72-68670-68754-69001-69028-58-59-0-6-0t-ner-br-worsdell/ I appreciate it was a niche livery, but still technically one worn pre-preservation. Performance of my old Bachmann J72s has been terrible - both requiring new motors at some point with these subsequently failing. The second was actually bought as a donor for Joem, bought after the death of my Grandmother as my 'inheritance', so always special to me. I have always thought that the body shell was quite good for its time though. I have previously joined the collector's club in order to get hold of certain limited editions, but I don't think I will go so far this time. Bachmann are usually quite good for producing preserved examples, particularly when they release a new class. Hornby have frequently omitted them over the years - Q1 (except recent limited editions), S15, K1, J15 to name a few off the top of my head. None of the terriers released so far have been close to representative of preserved condition either. I don't think the planned release of the 2MT includes a preserved example? Always baffled me - expands the market for a loco. I'm not a model railway business expert though...

Finding Just a Minute on iPlayer introduced me to radio comedy and by extension, talk radio and podcasts. I feel I have a lot to thank Nicholas Parsons for! I have always thought his gentlemanly and jovial manner set a fine example. I don't remember the other much talked about work of his, but it sounds like he packed in an awful lot in his 96 years. A life to be celebrated.

Not impossible as both Hornby and Rails/Dapol are producing Stepney in its BR form which is very similar in shape to Stepney's current form. Stepney in true LBSCR condition seemed to sell very well when released by Hornby - either a blessing or a curse as they may feel that the market for an Improved Engine Green Stepney has been sated, or the popularity of Stepney is so great that it can sustain further runs, albeit in a different condition. I hope that Rails/Dapol take up the mantle, but they still have 12 models to get out there so I wouldn't hold my breath for the next announcement. More likely, I feel, would be Fenchurch in preserved condition, as Dapol have done this in O gauge and many of the announced released in OO have matched the releases in O. Fingers crossed! Disappointed that delivery keeps being pushed back, Hornby's second round of terriers appear likely/certain to beat Rails to market. Still very excited for my 2 BR early crest versions though!