orcadian

Bachmann's time machine running early, or just a typo? I'm still on the 1st of May! Richard

Well, Dave, as I have 'only' seen it through this thread and not yet in (very)'hard copy', I should perhaps reserve judgement, but it's hard to imagine a better-looking rtr diesel! However, suppose they had given you very close to, or even the magical 'ton', then you'd have been left with no room for improvement on future models! In my teaching days, I did once tell a star pupil that he had better not get less than 98% in a certain public exam. He saw me as he came out of the exam room, and said 'I'll get that 98% - I left out a 2-mark answer!' He was right - he did get 98%. Perhaps 'Western Perfection' is going to be the N Gauge one? Then there's always the best-ever Class 50 still coming, as well as a blooming good 73! Seriously, Dave, you and your team have done wonders with the Western - keep on listening and keep on making models like this one, please! Richard

I have similar sentiments about this, but it appears to be a direct link to Hattons' Facebook pages, whatever they are! (Whilst I'm comfortable with corresponding via this Forum, and very comfortable with on-line shopping, I don't plan to use 'social media'!) Richard

And in green livery, please! Richard

Yes, that's it! (Sorry - smileys greyed out and I cant add any for you!) But do have a very happy New Year and a long and prosperous life! (And enjoy your modelling!) Richard

I use a totally different strategy of openness and involvement! My wife gives me the parcel and says 'I think you've got some more train stuff. Is this another nice one?' When I open it with her, if she likes it, she says 'Only one of them? Would you like another one for Christmas?' Oh drat, Hornby are out of Sound Crewkernes! Richard

As others have said, it will have dark green paint, brass beading on its individual splashers, a copper cap to its chimney and 'Castle' on its nameplates! Am I biased? Yes! I spent the first 18 months of my life within sight and sound of the GWR main line East of Bath. Formative years form deeply engraved subconsious 'memories'. First train journey I remember was from Paddington to Weston-super-Mare at the age of 6 - and a Castle slid silently into a nearby platform as we awaited departure.Mechanical perfection - not a clank, not a wisp of escaping steam anywhere! Richard

Conversation with Modelfair this morning - presently sold out of the coach packs, but more ("the main batch") coming late July. Probably same info applies to the Train Pack, although they still had at least one in stock this morning (it's now mine!) Richard

At risk of being a 'me too', mine also arrived yesterday, accompanied by a debit card slip for £39.49. Can't remember how much they were when I ordered them when first announced, nor postage details. My card had not been processed until 30th April, but as it was current, TMC hadn't contacted me since confirming receipt to the order way back. Yes, they are nice looking wagons, etc, but I think I prefer to buy (when possible) from other establishments who make more effort to keep the customer informed! Richard

John, Many thanks for this helpful post! Being slightly under the weather provides the perfect focus for a deep trawl through the book collection for me, too! Hope you're feeling brighter today! Richard

Thanks for the reminder, Ian! There's at least one more booked out to a fellow - RMWeb member now! I think the Museum deserves the 'donation' of the extra few pounds for this exclusive edition. It may be of interest to others that STEAM don't take card details at the time of ordering - when the models become available, they will phone to get your payment method, and to confirm whether it is for posting out or collection at the museum. They used to take card details at the time of ordering, but I think the long-delayed arrival of a Castle from Hornby led to a change of policy! Yes, Karhedron, the N gauge one from Devon is cheaper - one of the few times when an N scale model is significantly cheaper than its big sibling! Interesting pricing this - I've not seen a figure for the N gauge one quoted by Dapol yet, and hope that Osborn's don't take a hit from this! Richard

"Ooh - that looks really nice!" :sungum: Now surely you'll be doing D1074 western Excellence; D1075 Western Beauty; and the two with spelling errors on the nameplates: D1061 Western ENVY (sic) D1066 Western Perfect! Before I lay some 3rd rail, where can I offload some Bachmann BR(SR) emus? Dave, and Dapol in general - I endorse the thanks you are gettingfor your openness, open ears and patient persistance from others. Yes, Dapol does do it differently from at least one other British model company! Richard

Just an idle thought or two about the 3ft 8 in or 3 ft 2 in question: 3 ft 2in is 38 inches. Might it be that someone has misread a diagram marked with 3'8" as 38" ? If only draughtsmen, whether professional or amateur had used the convention of using a place-filling zero, and written 3'8" as 3' 08", or if we had made an earlier and more complete acceptance of the metric scheme, perhaps things would have been more certain! I've already got my coat, thanks - it's cold outside! Richard

That seems to be an admirably balanced, extremely concise and very well phrased summary of the best of 39 pages! This doesn't surprise me - I'm used to reading fair-minded common sense from Gwiwer! Perhaps it would also be the point for all of us to say 'enough said!', but I sense that this thread will still be running at least until Warley next month! Richard

Does the Replica motorised chassis offer any possibilities, I wonder? Just a thought, it may be miles out, but just perhaps ...? You are doing a great job with your VEP - as others have said, perhaps Hornby could or should have done some more of this themselves! Richard

Hello, C R! Although it is quite difficult to follow a post seemingly written in one sentence, without any punctuation, it seems that one reason for the delayed receipt of your order was that Rails had been let down by their supplier. This is hardly the fault of Rails - they can only supply what they have in stock! However, there have been a few issues, over the years, with Rails adverts appearing to show new stock as available even before it has been released by the manufacturers. Their printed adverts do now clearly state that in-stock items will be despatched very promptly (and they usually are), whilst orders for items not in stock will be dealt with as items become available. As far as I can determine from your post, when you contacted Rails they said they hoped to have the points at the end of last week, and in fact they did better than this, because you received them on Saturday! You haven't told us at what time on Saturday 27th August you ordered on-line, nor at what time on 1st September they sent you the e-mail explaining that only part of your order was actually in stock, but it seems to me that they have kept you as well informed as they could, and delivered your order promptly once the items were in stock. As we are considering hobby items, rather than urgently needed business or medical items, etc. it's rather hard to expect more than this, I think! As ever, other suppliers are available, but with different prices! I'm writing only as a well-satisfied Rails continuing customer. Richard

It looks to me as though you're doing better than Hornby's Chinese workers! :no: Richard

Ooh, err, bloomin'eck! and similar expressions! Sorry, Hornby! Without any measurements or facts available at the time, I wonder why the assumption had been made that Baccy came first and look right, Hornby came second , look different, so Hornby are wrong! And, yes, on reading this thread through before these measurements appeared, I admit that I had mentally joined that group! Most certainly food for thought - probably tasting remarkably like humble pie! (Some will still say never let the facts spoil a good story, though ) Richard

Gareth, What an incredible difference in overall impression, well done! :no: But, as others have said, pity it had to be done!. We've read from Dapol Dave and others that it seems very difficult to stop some folk in China from doing it 'their way' rather than sticking to the letter of the instructions, so perhaps Hornby just had to , reluctantly, accept it as 'good enough' rather than 'picture perfect'. Now for the nightmare scenario - September 2014 - Mazak rot discovered in a Hornby VEP in Peterborough!!!!! No!!!!!!!!!! Richard

Perhaps he feels that he has had sufficient orders already by selling it in the way he's announced? Richard

Thanks again, chaps - all is sorted and working for me again now! I was still trying to use the .co.uk which worked until a few days ago. Dotcom does it ok! Richard.

Thank you for these two replies! It must be a local problem centred on my machine or my ISP. Got in perfectly using your link, Rick. Thanks again! Richard

Please, is anyone else finding it impossible to connect to the Rails of Sheffield website? I've not been able to visit it for about three days now, and wonder if it's just my machine, or have they got a problem? Richard

May I put the pricing into perspective a little? With impeccable bad timing, last Thursday I ordered one of the inaccurate green Class 33's from Howes, for £69, togther with Howes Class 33 sound card and speaker at £117.50. The optional fitting charge for the sound card is £17.50, and p&p adds another £5.50. So a green 33 with sound from Howes costs at least £192. As of this morning, Howes are only showing one choice for a green 33 - D6580 at £79. Hattons have them (various models) from £72 to £79 + p&p. So on price terms, yes, these 'accurate' green ones are a bit dear in today's terms, but the sound option seems to be a saving. Will the currently-available inaccurate green 33's now become bargain basement clearance items? Only time will tell! Oh, decisions, decisions! Richard

Time to give Colin a 'Thank you!'. I posted a request for his current list on Tuesday 8th March from mainland UK, to the Isle of Man, and received the list Thursday 10th. Then I posted my order and cheque on Friday 11th March. The loco arrived on Tuesday morning, 15th March. With our once-a-day rural mail collections and deliveries, these times could not have been bettered - so I'll not talk about 'snail mail' for a bit now! Well done, and thanks, to Union Mills, to Royal Mail Letters and to Isle of Man Post Office staff! Richard