phil gollin

 

.......... Back at the end of October I spoke to Simon Kohler at the NRM and he seemed to indicate that it would be easy for them to change the solid compartment moulding. ................

 

Well ! Why didn't they do it right first time !

That is a dreadful thing to say, almost an admission that the "B-team" were on duty for this model.

I find that an almost impossibly weird thing to say.

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So, did anyone who attended Warley over the weekend ask Hornby about the 4-VEP problems ?

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Merely to note that whilst all the mainline diesel classes MIGHT now be "complete" (?) - there are STILL some mainline DCElectric locos to be done RTR.

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He asked which retailer I had purchased from (hattons - who I can't fault in this in terms of willingness to exchange / refund) and to confirm whether I was running on DC or DCC (tried both).

That would imply that he knows nothing, or very little, of the 4-VEP issue.

AND, more importantly, that he takes little of no interest in the Model Railway Internet forums, not even THIS one (!)

Strange

 

I had an email acknowledgement from Mr Kohler just a couple of days after sending my letter asking for a bit more info and saying he was off to Peterborough and would investigate further the following week. That was two weeks ago so I would hope to see something back in the next week otherwise I will chase.

I do hope that that was just a standard e-mail/letter as other wise Hornby would seem to be ill-advised over what SEEMS to be a well spread problem which has involved several retailers.

Rather worrying.

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When will the next model railway show be with the Official Hornby Stand present ?

Surely a reasonable number of people with REAL LIFE complaints would be the best representation ?

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Was there a reason for the angled recess at the bottom of the centre door ?

Thanks

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(Yes, I agree a little adjustment to the front door position on the corridor connection would make them look much better.)

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I have been thinking about this, and this is my carefully considered GUESS (!)

First, I applaude the production of the accurate models (I am surprised that Heljan has failed so notably with regards to the 33/0).

Second, looking at the matter of producing only "twin packs" of the same livery, I can only understand this in terms of "using" the collectors market. A real collector will "need" the twin pack - a single model will not suffice. An ordinary modeller may need two of a single livery, but with most layouts being quite small and 33/0s being mostly oddities encroaching on steam or EMU service, a "single" would be more likely useful. In addition, the "sharing" option (espoused both here AND by Rail Exclusive !!!) does not bring any more money to Rail Exclusive.

Third, whether Rail Exclusive or E-Bay sharks hoard some of the more popular ones to release over time on E-Bay is something for them.

Fourth, as the locos will be manufactured and sold in their own boxes there is NO sensible reason for Rail Exclusive not to sell mixed livery pairs as long as they could choose the running number. They would only be left with a maximum of one each !

This last point is, to me at least, a VITAL point - my take is that it shows a lack of respect to the railway modelling fraternity (!)

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So, I believe this is merely a marketing ploy to make "collectors" buy more. As I am an "operator"/amateur hoarder - I am only interested in a single model of a plain green AND/OR a small yellow panel green model. I would be most happy with a mixed livery pairing of a plain green/syp green. In this matter I am, quite selfishly, happy to see collectors have to shell out more, but as the matter rebounds on me I cannot just accept it happily.

So, I can either find a "partner" who also wants this sort of pairing (as I have no preferences for specific numbers) or just not buy.

It is a balance between "wanting" the models and whether I believe Rail Exclusive are abusing the "ordinary modeller" (mostly "me" but also my fellow sufferers). At present I am inclined to go with the " *** them, I refused to be used " and won't put in an order. However, when the first reviews come out, or an actual deadline for final order of models is announced/imminent then I may have to think again.

Remember - there is no SENSIBLE reason for Rail Express NOT to sell mixed livery pairs.

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Some locos were fitted with air brakes and the compressors were located on the right-hand side just under the cab window. There's a nice picture in Locomotives Illustrated 64 of 31589 hauling a long train of continental ferry vans. However the loco is not dual-fitted so the stock must have had vacuum brakes. The date is August 1957 at which time these vans would have been steam-hauled in France as well.

 

I suspect the dual-fitted locos would have been used with Central Section (ex-LBSCR) stock where air brakes were the norm.

 

There's also a picture of 31588 in LI 64 at Paddock Wood in October 1960 with the later BR emblem on the tender. It's the only example of this I can find.

 

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I don't have that photo, however, the photo I was referring to is in "Kent Steam - Scenes from the fifties and sixties" by Michael Welch, published by Capital Transport in 2002. There is a photo of 31716 on page 65, dated 18th May 1961, leaving East Farleigh with two coaches and a van. This has a huge mass of piping on the right-hand side, including what seems to be an air-compressor just in front of the cab, and various bits and pieces between the first and second splashers.

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I might as well start a thread nice and early.

I am mainly interested in BR era "C"s, maybe people can help.

1: I can find relatively few photos from the late 50s/early 60s - does anyone have a few good book (or website) references ? (Is there an Ian Allan Loco special magazine I might pick-up on e-bay ?)

2: Does anyone know how many (roughly) made it into "late" BR livery (late emblem).

3: On a couple of photos I have found the "plumbing" (small diameter oil lubrication pipes ?????) on the right hand side seems rather hit and miss (sagging and running diagonally) - was this normal or merely one of the class having a "bad hair day" ?

4: One of these photos shows air compressors on the right-side quite near the cab front. I PRESUME this is an "auto" fitted loco - was this common ?

Thanks in advance.

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If one has money to burn one can get small "vingettes" from continental ("HO") manufacturers.

These range from moving fairground rides, falling trees down to moving people.

See, FOR INSTANCE, http://www.gaugemast...rch_results.asp

Try "HO" scale and put in the keyword "moving" ....... (try to ignore the childish ones)

And, likewise obviously, the Faller motorised vehicles may be converted to more usual UK ones.

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Thanks.

"Hope springs eternal"

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I see that Hattons are advertising two "future release" Green Class 33/0's ;

"Pristine" ;

http://www.ehattons.com/stockdetail.aspx?sid=33721

and "weathered" ;

http://www.ehattons.com/StockDetail.aspx?SID=33722

Any idea whether these might, at last, be "right" ?

Thanks.

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Typical Hornby marketing !

I know that most sales will probably be to ancients - but three weeks earlier would mean more "Christmas" sales - AND IT IS GETTING PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO THE "V.A.T." RISE DATE.

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First, I don't know that the mixing of 4-VEPs and steam is really on except in "one-off" type scenarios.

Secondly, I didn't know that the announced units will be "refurbished" types, thanks for that. I think a proper back-dating will be quite a major undertaking unless the moulds have been specifically designed for it.

Third, this should mean that the front runners for future releases "SHOULD" be ;-

Hornby ; Class 455, 4-SUB

Bachmann ; 4-COR, 2-BIL or 2-HAL, Class 442 Wessex units

That should give a suitable mixture and complementary units.

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