Invicta

I'd missed this until I saw it mentioned in this month's Railway Modeller!

Its been quite a while since they did anything LMS/LMR (IIRC the last were the Midland 2Fs about 10 years ago!), so I'll definitely be having one of these.

41 minutes ago, wainwright1 said:

How about an LMS brake van in Somerset and Dorset livery.

They already have the tooling.

Could be a club model.

 

Ray

Given the trend over the last year or so for pre-48 and pre-grouping wagon releases from Rapido etc., might we get something to follow on from the recent EFE LSWR vans?

2 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Apart from it being a MR version of the 4F rather than LMS?

 

There is only 575 locomotives they can't make from the tooling!

 

I had hoped that Hornby would have updated their version of the LMS 4F, but they have even released that as a MR version in The Railway Children guise....

 

 

Jason

Ah, yes- I'd forgotten that Bachmann's 4F was the of the RHD Midland variety!

7 hours ago, Jon Harbour said:

A revamped 4F or 3F would be nice,

Although to be honest, I'd rather see them add a 2F -or maybe an L&Y 0-6-0.

I know the 3F has been around for a few years now, and I don't recall whether it has any accuracy issues or not. but is there much wrong with the Bachmann 4F? I certainly wouldn't be rushing out to replace my existing ones with an all-new Bachmann 3F or 4F, though I might add an extra one to the collection.

4 hours ago, D9020 Nimbus said:

Of course, there's nothing to say that any/all of the projects are in fact locomotives. In coaches, one thing missing in OO is the pre-Stanier LMS coaches. Didn't Mainline once do these?

Mainline did a Composite and Brake 3rd, (plus a Stanier Full Brake). They reappeared in an improved form in the Bachmann range but haven't been released in a while- IIRC the last time they appeared was in the WW1 Ambulance train pack Bachmann did a few years back. A re-tool to modern standards (to say nothing of a wider range) would be  very welcome.

2 hours ago, rogerzilla said:

It looks good but, based on the S*m's Tr**ns review, the motor isn't quite up to the job of hauling such a heavy loco, even before you add a train.

1 hour ago, Ian Hargrave said:

Sam however,to the best of my knowledge, is not a forum member.Maybe a good idea if some of us tested its haulage capabilities for ourselves ? Personally speaking,I have no issues with this model on that account.  

It would be certainly interesting to see how typical the performance ST appears to have experienced is compared to a wider sample- I can't add much to the debate as mine has so far only had a run on the model shop's test track, and 10 minutes on my rolling road, but  video clips were posted on Facebook last week of one handling a 12-coach set (looked like a mixture of Hornby Staniers and Bachmann LMS Period 1s) on the Manchester MRS 'Dewsbury Midland' layout - Has Sam just got a duff example, or one in need of a bit of running in?

On 27/09/2023 at 12:38, Ruston said:

We as modellers make stuff up all the time to justify running something on our layouts and that's our prerogative - Modeller's Licence, if you will , but I'm against manufacturers doing it. There are so many people who seem to take as gospel what the manufacturers put out and they think that the manufacturers know more than anyone, even when they are wrong. This kind of deliberate fiction only makes it worse.

 

Oh well, I can't wait to see the the Caledonian-liveried one! 😁

I can see the appeal of offering it in a couple of generic liveries for those modelling a fictitious light railway or industrial location to re-name/number, similar to how Planet released the Victory in plain colours as well as the ROD/IWDD versions, but personally, I don't see the appeal of a fictitious livery as specific as the Longmoor one

3 hours ago, woodenhead said:

What is this, they say Bachmann but it has a Ringfield motor and some other additions.

 

The motion look like it's off a streamlined Coronation.

 

https://www.hattons.co.uk/1518948/bachmann_branchline_31_150_po04_class_5xp_jubilee_4_6_0_5552_silver_jubilee_with_stanier_tender_in_lms_black_liv/stockdetail

2 hours ago, Bigskybirds said:

 

Looks like a limited edition of just 1

Bachmann limited edition release (early/mid-90's IIRC?) of the ex-Mainline Jubilee tooling as 5552 'Silver Jubilee' in the black with silver trim livery for George V's Jubilee in 1935.

I've never owned one so don't recall what Bachmann used to represent the chrome-plated cast numbers, LMS lettering and other trim on the prototype, but IIRC the model is prone to the lettering etc. falling off, which seems to be what's going on with the silver boiler bands on the one Hattons are offering.

16 hours ago, The Johnster said:

Might be useful to consider which older models are best suited to attempts to work them up to pass muster on modern layouts.  I'm thinking in particular of models that have not been released to current standards, where the older RTR might be a useful starting point.  We have decided that the HD 8F has potential, but not for this consideration as a modern equivalent exists and is generally available.

 

 

 

And any others you might be able to remember that I've forgotten.  To qualify for this list it must have been available in the past in RTR form but is not currently available; desired upgrades of old models in current production like Hornby shorty clerestories or Dapol Fruit Ds don't count!

One I don't think anyone has mentioned is the Lima LMS 42' GUV (Diagram 1870 or something like that?), one of the bits of ex-Lima tooling that I don't think has ever reappeared in a Hornby box. IIRC the body is pretty spot-on dimensionally, and the underframe is pretty ropey (in particular it's on BR1 bogies rather than anything LMS), but I'm told it scrubs up quite nicely with a change of bogies and a bit of work

10 hours ago, Flying Pig said:

 

Clearly of Airfix parentage and a sibling of their 4F.  The latter looked very good indeed to me and got a number of additional grabrails and other details, but the tender drive as supplied was awful and needed a remedial bearing on the front right wheel (40 thou plasticard Evostuck to the chassis) to mesh its gears and stay on the track.  After that it would plod round nicely with all my wagons, but it was never quiet. A good example of how the new manufacturers of the time prioritised their efforts.

 

Hornby have never attended to the skinny dome on their Midland pair, with its odd taper for easier mould extraction.  A decent 2P or Midland 483 is a hole waiting to be filled when all the freaks and one-offs have been done by current manufacturers. (LMS fans should be required to show proof of purchase for at least one before they are permitted to buy a Lickey Banker or Turbomotive.)

Although it certainly has it's faults, I've always quite liked the Airfix 4F (I currently have two, plus a Hornby version, and have bought and sold a couple more over the years). As you say, that Airfix tender drive was awful, although my oldest one in particular (one of the early blue-boxed releases, bought new when I was about 12/13) has always been quite a nice slow runner, much like you describe - and at least I've established my credentials to own a Lickey Banker or Turbo! 😄

Haven't looked in at the live stream yet, but images of a Sept '23-Jan '24 new releases brochure are on Oxford's Facebook

No mention of anything rail in that, just diecasts, but new tooling seems to be:

1:76

Volvo F88 tipper- first livery is "Russell's of Bathgate"

Ford County tractor

Mazda MX5 Mk1

Bond Bug

Ford Transit Mk2

Ford Transit Mk4- first releases for both Transits are in plain white

JCB Hydradig shovel

Bedford CF- first livery is "Gunn JCB Parts & Service"

1:120 'TT'

Mini 

VW T2 van

Ferguson TEA tractor

Routemaster bus

There's always the potential human error factor- I've never exhibited in my own right, but some years ago spent a fair few weekends behind a couple of clubmates' layouts at shows. I think the biggest drama I can recall was doing a fairly local show about 25 miles away, and we were travelling in two cars. We were about half-way there when we got a text from  the other car, asking  "have you got the station buildings, or have we?" Basically ,the main station building, canopy, goods shed and signal box were all removable from the layout, and travelled in a separate box- which was still in the layout owner's garage.... After he'd made a detour back home to retrieve the buildings box, while we pressed on to start setting up the half of the layout that was in our car, we made it by the skin of our teeth- IIRC we'd just got everything connected up and were still putting stock on the layout when the doors opened to let the punters in....

8 hours ago, Mad McCann said:

There are two very nice main line locos at Bo'ness, generally active, that could do with a measure up... 😉

On 02/09/2023 at 18:19, Robin Brasher said:

You will be pleased to read that 563 has arrived at Swanage and can be viewed from King George's playing field

That really is a beautiful loco - I'll bet Swanage are already getting enquiries from other heritage lines about 563's potential availability to hire for steam gala weekends next year and beyond!

On 25/08/2023 at 10:23, Jammy2305 said:

 

So how about a 3 pack of regionally/locally appropriate wagons? I believe Bachmann did this many years ago although I'd argue theirs was spread too far (for example one Norwich, one Ipswich and one Colchester). A pack of three county (and company/route) specific wagons would sell surely? 

 

For example, an M&GN pack with P.Softley, J O Vinter and Bessey and Palmer, all of whom operated at various sites across the Joint (assuming of course they had RCH 1907 wagons - It's just an example!).

 

Just my two pennies worth!

 

- James

Yes, Bachmann did 'regional' packs labelled 'Coal Traders Classics', from memory there were packs for East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and Wales amongst others -  think this was back in the late 90's/early 2000's and as you say, some of the choices were a bit widespread.

One of the better ones (both in terms of geography and using Bachmann's 'Blue Riband' RCH 1923 7-plank tooling, rather than the old ex-Palitoy? version) was a Modelzone commission of 3 Leicestershire wagons- South Leicester and Snibston collieries (only a couple of miles apart), plus a 5-plank for a Leicester coal merchant, Wood & Co..

I'd suspect anything too-narrowly focussed in terms of location might be better left for local model shops to commission, but I can definitely see the attraction of a themed set including three of the bigger colliery or coal merchant fleets in a region.

On 28/04/2023 at 14:02, Nick Holliday said:

There are, at the last count, 29 of these ornate stench pipes in the borough of Sutton, locally listed, not that that guarantees their survival. Presumably other areas would have similar numbers - perhaps people just fail to notice them. All the Sutton ones were apparently supplied by one contractor.

 

The pipe that houses and all other buildings have is a soil vent pipe. This is mainly to prevent discharging waste creating a vacuum in the down pipe, which might siphon the water from the u-bends of other toilets on the way down, or cause other problems. If properly built and maintained there shouldn’t be a buildup of toxic gases in the down pipe.

I lived in Herne Bay for a number of years and there are a number of similar MacFarlane stench pipes surviving around the town- there were a couple in my road, although lacking the weathervanes seen on the Sutton example- though this listed one in Grand Drive Herne Bay still has both crown and vane.

18 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

Never mind a church - do I not recall some sort of problem with a supermarket being built over a tunnel? 

..or a university- Tyler Hill Tunnel on the old Canterbury & Whitstable line which passes under the University of Kent site- with predictable results in 1974 when part of the tunnel collapsed, and a part of the university's Cornwallis Building had to be demolished after it subsided by about a metre....

On 30/03/2023 at 16:20, jon attwood said:

And a couple of unidentified figures to round off my posting for today, in blue plastic, these do seem to turn up fairly regularly, but I have yet to attribute them to a particular manufacturer, any ideas?

 

1 hour ago, jon attwood said:

Thanks for your replies, great info to get my collection in shape.

I followed up the Mainline/Palitoy/Replica references and have found pics of those in loco accessory packs so that's a confirmed identification. I also noticed that I had the two seated drivers already fitted in a Mainline warship, I should have noticed them before and made the connection!

Not yet sure which locos the standing fireman  appeared with though.

 

It looks as if Bachmann were still offering these figures in the accessory packs for some of their locos into the early 2000's- I've just had a dig in my stock boxes for a circa 2001/2 Bachmann Royal Scot (6155, 'The Lancer', catalogue no. 31-281, which is of course the ex-Mainline tooling) which includes driver, fireman and  a little black plastic seat moulding for the driver. I think they also appeared in their early releases of the Ivatt 2-6-2T, amongst others. 

8 hours ago, jafcreasey said:

 

Seconded!

 

Albeit just over the county border, The Hobby Shop commision is Tilmanstone Colliery, Kent.

IIRC, Tilmanstone was a bit of an odd one- I've read suggestions (think it's in the John Arkell South-East PO Wagons book?) that they were almost certainly internal user wagons, or at best used on the EKLR.

3 hours ago, RapidoLinny said:

 You'll not find our wagons wearing liveries only seen on post '23-spec wagons, for example!

The one that immediately caught my eye was  South Leicester - pretty much every release I've seen in the past took the livery from a late 30's RCH 1923 7-plank, so it's good to see an earlier version.

17 hours ago, meatloaf said:

Never seen a Brit at the railway museum. When i last went Evening star had a class 20 one side and Ellerman lines, an SR pacific, the other side. Ellerman lines is the other loco that was in shot. Its also been sectioned so you can see all the bits inside it.

At risk of dragging the thread into discussing the NRM, although the National Collection includes a Brit ("Oliver Cromwell"), I don't think it's ever been seen in the NRM? Think it went straight from BR service to Bressingham, and then after a spell on the main line in the early 2000's, to the GCR at Loughborough?

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

Not within a country mile. They are simply the old Tri-ang BR Mk.1s with different sides fitted.

 

Whatever similarity they might exhibit to any design of Caley coach beyond the panelling and livery will be purely coincidental. 

 

John

IIRC the panelled sides are based on CR 65' "Grampian" coaches, which ran on 6-wheel bogies, so as you say, not within a country mile of the BR Mk1 Tri-ang put them on

8 hours ago, Aire Head said:

I'm sorry but that LMS 3 plank is outrageous.

 

How does that in anyway represent a 17'6" over headstocks D1927?

3 hours ago, Aire Head said:

 

That's what really irks me about it! Why chose a number for a 1930s wagon. It's not like their isn't enough images of more appropriate ones.

🙃

IIRC they've got previous form for this one- I'm sure there was an LMS 3-plank in the catalogue a couple of years back where they'd taken the livery details from a pic of a D.1927 and put them on their little 3-plank, which looks a bit like a Midland D.305

That's a real curve ball, I'd be impressed if anyone had predicted that one!

On 01/01/2023 at 11:04, Dunsignalling said:

The thing I would like to see (from anybody) would be some decent LMS vacuum-fitted ventilated vans. The Bachmann one is a mis-proportioned mess and the Dapol/old Airfix model, whilst very decent "above the waist" considering its elderly origins, is of a BR derivative. 

 

Unfortunately the prototypes varied so much that our OO r-t-r producers could each pick one diagram without any duplication being inevitable!

 

On 01/01/2023 at 12:08, The Stationmaster said:

The way things are going nowadays I suspect it's more likely to appear from someone other than Hornby.  And at the rate a couple of companies are going we could perhaps hope that it might not be f roo far off.

 

I mentioned well up thread that I can't see Hornby spending money on new tooling for 'traditional' wagons in 00.   The area has become much more competitive in the past year or two and, maybe even more worrying for Hornby (if they are awake to what is happening?), the pace of new releases from Rapido in particular seems to be being sustained.  Thus, with their longer lead times, spending money in this area would, I think, represent a potential risk for Hornby especially when they have plenty of other things, now including of course TT120, demanding investment cash when they have already built up substantial borrowings so far this year.

 

It might well be that one or two projects which have been under development could possibly still make it to market dependng on where they sit in the process and the amount of money already spent?  But i still wonder if we'll see anything.

I'd be frankly amazed not to see an LMS van in the next year or two, but suspect that in the light of the fairly recent D1666 open announcement, it will come from Rapido rather than Hornby- it seems like a totally logical follow-up to the open for Rapido, given the way they've approached their SECR and GWR wagon releases recently -and I can see Stationmaster's point about Hornby being preoccupied with TT120 etc. rather than re/new-tooled 'traditional' wagons.

Having said that, I've probably guaranteed an LMS van announcement from Margate next week, it'll just be a re-tool of the Palethorpes Sausage van!

20 minutes ago, e30ftw said:

Not a new or unique opinion, its probably already been mentioned

 

Is Hornby  at a turning point, or approaching it.

 

They can continue to invest in OO gauge steam locos as these will sell to the "grey pound" as well as to collectors who never take them out the box however, the people who remember main line steam are dwindling. What % of people who model do so because they remember the prototype? What % of people have a steam layout that have never seen BR steam ?

 

They can continue to do Dublo throw backs and limited editions for so long but they have to look at the future.

 

Thus when people slowly stop buying OO steam in the numbers they currently are they are in a better position.

 

Purely from a D&E point of view of course.

 

I'm maybe playing devils' advocate a bit, because I have no idea of the numbers, but is it just the "grey pound" , and will the market for OO steam die out to the degree you're suggesting? As you say, the number who remember main line steam are dwindling, but how many of those who don't remember BR steam (I certainly don't) have visited a heritage line or two and see steam there, and in some cases maybe even more often than they travel on the D&E  'big railway'.- that was very much my experience growing up in a town where passenger services ended in 1964, several years before I was born, and the 1970's/80's local railway scene consisted of freight trains rolling across a couple of local level crossings, unless you travelled 10 miles or so to neighbouring towns which still had a functioning station- until I went away to uni, train travel was basically occasional trips to London or further afield

On 15/12/2022 at 10:02, fodenway said:

The Ramblers could legitimately be shown on a British layout as they were officially imported at the time, although usually in right-hand drive form rather than the LHD of the Minix. The estate versions especially seemed to be quite popular here for a while.

 

Indeed - I can remember a near-neighbour having a 60's Rambler estate when I was a kid in the early 70's - they were in the market garden/garden centre business, so the amount of boot space in a big US estate car probably outweighed the fuel mileage etc.