Nigel Emery

2 hours ago, B15nac said:

Is there any stock of any accurascale 37's anywhere? I know I'm late to this but i can't find stock anywhere? Not fussed on livery etc.

 

Regards Neil 

Arcadia in Shaw have a couple showing on their website. (D6702 and 37606) No online ordering so you’ll need to ring.

18 minutes ago, Tim-Hale said:

Just a heads up. Purchasing from MSL, results in them removing the Mwst and the employ FedEx as couriers, never been charged irrespective of the value of the goods.

 

However on every occasion that DPD were entrusted with any item when Parcel Force is their trading partner in the UK and I have been hit with VAT and the handling charge. The most recent was an item costing €100 which attracted £17+ VAT plus £12 handling charge moreover Parcel Force often forget to send the bill by  snailmail which features the unique reference number without which it is impossible to pay the import fees. Instead, I have to drive to Poole and ask if they have anything awaiting my attention…….

Hence, I avoid buying from abroad unless the seller uses FedEx.

 

Tim 

You’ve been lucky then, I use MSL a lot and if the value is over the £135 then I’ve always received the VAT bill from FedEx after delivery has taken place. Usually the bill comes first by txt message, then by email and eventually by snail mail.

It’s been mentioned a few times in this thread but worth repeating. You don’t need to wait for the letter to arrive from ParcelForce. Once you can see on the tracking that the parcel is in the local depot you can ring ParcelForce who will translate the tracking number into the payment number allowing you to pay online (and usefully pick a delivery date that suits you). You were unlucky to get charged on a €100 item, that doesn’t normally happen although as this thread constantly proves the rules aren’t always applied correctly!

12 hours ago, Stefan88 said:

Finally been able to call up, get my code and pay, took 2 days for it to clear customs and travel across Coventry from the international hub to the delivery centre, and being a Friday naturally the next available delivery day isn't until Monday.

 

Something new - I'm being charged duty on this one!

 

 

I'll await the letter but I think I'll be putting in a claim on this one as model railways shouldn't be attracting any duty, I'm curious to see what code they have put it under. I'll also see if I can get back the VAT for the postage element - this already had VAT included, then eBay put on another 20% and the total VAT charged is for the item AND the postage, so I have paid VAT 3 times on that! It only accounts for £3.90 of the VAT charged but still...

 

Once you see the letter I’d be interested to know what the Duty element is for!

I’ve got another interesting one ongoing at the moment. About a month ago PF unexpectedly delivered a parcel without waiting for me to pay. The parcel even had a big label “not to be delivered until charges paid”. A few days later the normal letter arrived which I placed in my pending file! We’re now roughly at the date when if I hadn’t paid the parcel would be returned to sender. I’m intrigued to see what happens next!

9 hours ago, MOB 2002 said:

Was thinking about this thread last night; from the outside looking in, it seems like absolutely everything a Swiss modeller could possibly want is available in HO. Are there any big gaps?

 

Mark

I don’t think there’s much main line missing but there’s multiple shunters that have never been done. Lots that could be improved though and top of my wish list would be what n modellers have got this year. A decent Re4/4 IV. An updated Re6/6 including 11601/2 would be good as well. I have a feeling that might come from Piko as a Swiss Special with pricing even higher than the admittedly rather good Ae6/6.

20 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

Received an order (which I thought would be over the so called threshold) from Lippe the other day but it arrived 'unscathed' by Fed Ex 

FedEx usually bill retrospectively, first by txt and email which I usually ignore and then a couple of weeks later by letter which is when I pay!

On 16/10/2023 at 19:03, MikeParkin65 said:

Aren’t these luvlies from the next batch?

Good to see the 3 rivets / bolt heads on the nose that were missing from the first batch have appeared. Good improvement!

19 minutes ago, Krieghoff said:

Hi Chaps

could you enlighten me on 31276 class 31 'calder hall power station' for Key Publishing. It doesnt seem to have been mentioned in despatches. 
 

just need an idea of roughly which Qtr that will arrive. 
 

thanks

I think there’s only one limited edition for Hornby Magazine / Key and therefore it’s Q3/24

At the time of writing Arcadia in Shaw (01706 882900) still have 37027, 37409 and 37606 (all non sound). No online ordering so you’ll need to ring and speak to Tim or Karen.

12 hours ago, John M Upton said:

What version is being sold in the UK though? US spec two rail RP25 or the European three rail version?

I don’t think we’ll know the answer to that until they arrive. Despite being the same part number 97447 (2 Rail non sound) has a different spec on the Piko US website to that on the piko.de website. If I get one it will probably come from Germany as I resent paying Gaugemaster prices. I’d like a US spec one but not at the cost of having to fly one across the Atlantic!

On 04/05/2023 at 18:29, Peter749 said:

I think it is an older version - I purchased it before I had a full layout and the locos at the time worked ok

Some people have said I could change the mapping using a computer but my knowledge of how to do it is lacking.

 

I had sent a message to DC Kits asking if it was something they could do - but I have not heard back yet.

Assuming A&H models in Brackley are still the Lenz importer then they can upgrade your command station and throttle to the latest software version which allows access to the higher functions. When I had mine done before the pandemic it wasn’t too expensive. That said Lenz have gone from market leaders to a bit of dead end in 20 years. At some point you’re probably going to have to bite the bullet and change to a more modern / user friendly system. 

32 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

A quick look online shows them pretty much sold out at retailers, 37425 especially seems scarce.

 

37419 and 37423 still show a couple of places (Gaugemaster / Olivias).

Looks like Arcadia still have 425 (and 419). There’re closed on Tuesdays so the next chance is to phone at 9.30am on Wednesday.

3 minutes ago, Bucoops said:

Great Eastern Models in Norwich may have some left, they were advertising them on facebook earlier.

As may Arcadia in Shaw but you’ll need to ring to check.

11 hours ago, Accurascale Fran said:

Hi everyone,

 

Just a wee update on our Run 2 Deltics. 

 

 

Above is the CAD for D9000/55022 in her Virgin XC days as we are modelling her. Due to the different cab footstep and era, RSG received a slightly different style of high intensity headlight that our other preserved Deltics wear. So, did we just fudge it and go with the same headlight that 95% of people wouldnt notice, or do we do it properly and tool the correct style of headlight? 

 

Well, as you can guess, we have gone for the latter, tooling up the new headlight and relationship between it and the unique footstep on a new end tooling. 

 

Just an insight into the complexity when it comes to detail on these beasts!

 

Cheers!

 

Fran 

Good to see the 3 nose end rivets (or whatever they are) on the CAD. Hope they make it into the finished model. From talking to the team I understand the reason for their omission on the original batch is a bit unclear!

21 minutes ago, Krieghoff said:

The boys at ACC kept that one quiet.....................mine ordered as well

 

Nige.

Many thanks for this ive ordered a sound fitted one

 

 

No problem, mine was ordered before I posted here, I wasn’t taking any chances 🤣

7 minutes ago, IRC said:

No official announcement and no sound fitted option?

Apologies, I posted the shop link rather than the announcement link, try this:

https://hubs.ly/Q01DlwD10

On 21/02/2023 at 20:15, Krieghoff said:

Are we likely Fran to get any further class 31 announcements any time soon. Im getting itchy palms waiting for one of these 😁😁

This just appeared in my twitter feed:

https://hubs.ly/Q01DlwD10

23 hours ago, newbryford said:

My TPE set arrived without a magic wand in the pack

Either that, or it was that magic, it was invisible................

 

I have been assured that I will be sent one when spares arrive.

Ah, that’s means I’ve probably got yours as strangely my Aberdeen set arrived with 2, one in the correct place and the other one underneath the plastic inlay held there by some magic force. Seriously if it’s going to be a while from Accurascale then DM me your address and I’ll pop the spare in the post.

Bemo announced today. pdf in the usual place:

https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturer_catalogs

Bemo new items have appeared online today. The pdf can as usual be found at:

https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturer_catalogs
It probably doesn’t come as a big surprise to see it includes the new Golden Pass trains in both H0 and H0m. 👏👏

Am I being unreasonable in expecting it to have come with gauge changing bogies? 🤣🤣

2 hours ago, davknigh said:

The only possible excuse for traction tyres in a unit like this would be that only one bogie is powered. With a minimum radius of 354mm or so, I suspect that the couplers would be mounted on the bogies which would be another strike against them for sales in North America. So, to sum up; it looks like the model will have:  truck mounted couplers, traction tyres, only one bogie powered.  AFAICS if all this turns out to be true, Piko has hatched a turkey.

 

Cheers,

 

David

OK, so I've just checked a random selection of some of my recent Piko locos. All are exactly the same so there’s a good chance this will follow the same design pattern:

Bogies - both powered although on 3 axles bogies only the outer 2 axles are driven. Pickup on all 6 axles. 1 driven axle per bogie has traction tyres. Piko mechanisms are generally up there with the best.
Couplers - these are body mounted but on a cam like mechanism similar to continental coaches which is how I assume the small radius is achieved. So not bogie mounted but different to what the US market is used to.

Unlike other European manufacturers Piko are known for good spares availability so replacing those traction tyres axles should in theory be possible. 
I’m no fan of traction tyres but as others have said not including them gets you an immediate negative comment on DSO (the German equivalent of RMWeb). When I first starting Swiss modelling I initially purchased the extra axles but it’s cost prohibitive with a large fleet so in the end I just went with it and accepted the downsides! 

Adverts in rh column sometimes encroaching into main area. Interestingly if you flick to portrait the ad moves to the bottom and if you then go back to landscape it sizes correctly.

IPadOS 15.7.1

I don’t suppose many readers of this forum would have been looking forward to Piko’s new items in the same way that European modellers would be.

It was a bit of surprise to find that Piko have announced the Southern Pacific Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 (the original cab units)

https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturers/pdfs/view/970/piko_novelties_2023_pdf  Page 22

Hopefully Piko have done their research as Piko (like most continental manufacturers) locos usually come with traction tyres!

22 hours ago, SBB1 said:

The shipping was very steep, but worth it for the order I was making. I won't be ordering from them again, unless it's a bargain and/or hard-to-find item.

 

I emailed the model shop not long after my above post and they kindly provided a PostNord tracking number. The package left Malmö on 15th Dec and showed up in GB 2 days ago. The same PostNord tracking number works with ParcelForce, who apparently sent me the customs clearence letter yesterday, so who knows when that'll turn up?! At least we're making some progress.

 

Overall, it's been hard graft ordering from Sweden compared to Germany (my usual go-to).

The ParcelForce letters are sent 2nd class which can take a few days even without the current disruption. However once you can see on the tracking that the letter has been sent you can ring ParcelForce and either pay over the phone or ask them to convert the tracking number to a 17 digit payment number. When you phone the menu system is fairly obvious. You can then pay on line at which point you can pick your delivery day which I find quite useful.

3 hours ago, tetsudofan said:

 

- at 20:07 last night the parcel was collected by DHL 

- at 08:20 this morning the parcel was at the delivery depot somewhere in Kent

- at 09:20 the parcel was out for delivery

- at 15:58 the parcel was delivered by DHL to my home on the southeast Kent coast

 

Mine was even quicker, pick-up notified yesterday evening, delivery just before 8am this morning so just about 12 hours to arrive in South Cheshire. I’m not normally a DHL fan but that’s damn good. That said I’ve not opened the box yet!

On 09/12/2022 at 10:54, Dave55 said:

Dear Sir, I would like to buy  your Volumes of Scotlands Diesel Fleet but I don't do Bank transfer, is there any other way that I can purchase them.

Regards Dave 

To be clear I’m not answering on behalf of SDEG but my parents don’t do online banking but they do do bank transfers from the counter at their local Lloyds. Your bank may offer the same facility.