Roy Langridge

Firstly, if you ask a shop to order something for you there is an agreement to buy - it is a verbal contract and is as legally binding in the UK as a written one. Proving it can be difficult, but special orders are often recorded so that is not such an issue. Some people above seem to have tried to apply distance-selling regulations to shops - they are different. Secondly, I never tried to suggest that by changing expressions of interest to commitments would mean people could not cancel - rather that if people knew that they were committing (pre-ordering) they may think more about what they really want rather than just think "that would be nice". I don't know what percentage of pre-orders cancelled with the likes of Kernow and Hattons are, but it is nowhere near the percentage that Dave / Andy have suffered on the RMWeb special. Lastly, if an item is made to match a number of pre-orders, it may be considered as custom made as an additional item has been made specifically for that customer. I asked a lawyer friend who said it would be interesting to see it challenged in court where precedence would be set. Roy

Really? Plenty of shops if you have something special ordered that is it, no right of return unless it is not as described. As for committing at the point of expression of interest, why is this any different to the many that pre-order a loco? If DJM or whoever get sufficient numbers of pre-orders (commitments) then they go ahead. Simple. Roy

To be fair to you Dave, is it not time that expressions of interest are binned and commitments made to a project at the start, invoices becoming just that, not a last chance to decide whether you want it or not? If you go into a shop and ask them to get something ordered for you, it is not normal that when they have ordered it in you can say you don't want it. If people such as yourself are going to commit themselves on the basis of the number of people that say they want something, surely there should be a reciprocal commitment? Roy

Larger window is on the driver's side, so I assume it was simply to make sure of a better view run bunker first. Roy

As you say it does not matter for a single speaker. However, some chassis have speaker terminals at both ends, in which case labelling is essential. Roy

Looking at the SulzerType2 website today I noted that two models are listed as "Limited Stock" and one as "Sold Out". Hopefully an indicator that they are selling well and we can expect more from SLW. Roy

Well said. I am beginning to wonder why, and for how much longer, people will invest their time, effort and money in developing the models for us that we have been asking for. Be it DJ Models (oh you might make more...), or Model Rail / Kernow (where's my model...) the level of criticism is reaching disproportionate levels. On DJ Models in particular, Dave has regularly said he would not repeat livery / number combinations. What was that supposed to mean if not that he would make more in the future? I am sure the modelling world would be a far poorer place if he did one run and said that was the lot and no more... I missed out on a Rapido model as I was not in a position to buy one, I would love to see another run but it isn't going to happen. Roy

Not seen mention of it before, but Dave has uploaded a exploded parts diagram for the Class 71 to his website: http://djmodels.co.uk/?page_id=253 Amazing just how many parts go into making one model these days. ​Apologies if this has already been mentioned. Roy

Mine had the usual Kernow marketing material between the top of the outbox box and the loco box as seems to be the norm for Kernow. Perhaps somebody new/different at Kernow packaged yours? Roy

It is amazing how much more yellow the loco looks in photos! Got mine yesterday and have to say it is lovely. Congratulations to all involved. Roy

Think you missed the point being made, the ones available are not what he wanted. Roy

Some interesting comments raised here. I for one will fit sound to my 4-TC if an appropriate chip is available, I also enjoy lighting and running stock in various lighting conditions. I do agree with the comments on the incorrect temperature of lighting so often used. As for DCC, I use ZTC systems and enjoy the ability to drive the locos correctly, not just have off, on, faster etc that DC offers. Real trains need brakes, have inertia etc, which can be enjoyed under DCC, I am also not quite sure why it is believed that DCC stops block signalling etc. - no it does not. See http://www.blocksignalling.co.uk/index.php/block-occupancy-bod1 for example. Have your signals set automatically and drive accordingly under DCC - simples. Roy

I was not aware that they had a Class 21 or 29. Will have to take a look. Ok, taking a look, I realise you said D6xx. oops Roy

It is not quite as simple as that, there are photos of blue 45s with the central bar and I am sure some the green 45s didn't have it. I imagine that there was a change of design and doors just got swapped around at overhaul and replaced as and when necessary. The ex-works photo of D11 when brand new seems not to show a central bar although that may just be the photo quality. ​Roy

Now you have done it, 68068 ordered, and it is not even suitable for my railways. I am afraid Dave, my wife is going to be very angry with you! Roy

Do you know if emails will be sent to those who expressed interest soon? Roy

What I am most looking forward to is receiving my two "free" 71s! Having paid for them some time ago that money has long been accounted for, so two boxes will arrive without a similar size holes in my bank account Roy

I ordered the DJM 71s after seeing what the Hornby model looked like. Whilst the Hornby model looks good, the DJM models seems to go to the next level. Comparing the bogies in particular tells me what I need to know - the DJM model gives the impression of depth that the Hornby version seems to lack. As for future sales, I am firmly in the BR Blue era and have ordered all the blue non-weathered 71s and 74s. If for more are available then I am likely to buy those also. Roy

And therein lies my issue with so much of the factory weathering - some bits must be clean. For example, taking the weathered 71s, whilst the front windows look to have the wiper pattern on them, the side cab windows appear to be far dirtier than they would have been allowed to be. Some weathering jobs (both professional and home weathered) have the front windows so dirty that the wipers have obviously packed in and the driver would have no option but to fail the loco. Roy

And to prove there is always the odd exception: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/galas/070701.htm Only fitted in preservation though I think. Roy

When I was talking to Philip a while ago about my purchase of 24063, I commented that I was looking forward to their next model, his reply was that he had to sell a lot more 24s yet. Whenever it comes and whatever it is, I am sure to will be top-drawer and that I will end up buying several. For me a 25 would be ideal. Having said that, saving for another couple of 24s yet. Roy

I am not so inclined to agree. The red line has not allowed for the angle that the photo has been taken at / perspective. Take a look at the step on the left of the corridor connection, it slops significantly downward in the photo (despite being flat on the model), the red line should similarly slope downwards when it reaches the side of the corridor connection and then back at its original angle across the face of the connector. That would make it look more correct. What we really need is a front-on photo. Roy

I think I was one of the lucky ones who has just had to push my modelling period a bit earlier and not actually have to change much. 2 71s and 2 74s ordered, roll-on delivery! Roy

SEMG states "When first introduced the TCs appeared in overall rail blue livery with small yellow warning panels and small aluminium BR arrows affixed below their side cab windows. The yellow warning panels were subsequently enlarged to cover the whole cab front. They were repainted during the early 1970s into Blue and Grey, losing their aluminium arrows in the process, the 1974 conversions emerging in blue and grey livery from new. The TCs survived in service long enough to receive Network SouthEast livery." Taken from: http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class438_1.html Hope that helps. Roy