Tom J

Sorry it wasn't a 'Thomas weekend', or we would have had the operator vacancy sorted for you, Ian! Have a good show.

Interestingly, one of Bachmann's senior staff told me categorically what good value my ex-preorder was, quoting a price that was close to what Hattons promised. Moral of the story is if you aren't in a position to promise something, don't.

I am very disappointed with Hattons' approach on this - I had a Farish 'Cumbrian Mountain' train pack on order. I don't like the idea that a pre-order becomes a blank cheque if I happen to miss an email. I have cancelled my long-standing pre-order and will give my local shop the business as and when it finally shows up. Maybe it feels worse because it's one of those Farish products that has been advertised for what seems like a very, very long time now. If your resources are limited, you can't afford for Hattons to take whatever they deem the new price to be, whenever the goods finally appear in the country. Too great a risk of being 'caught short', and the young lady I spoke to in Liverpool when I cancelled seemed sympathetic to that and suggested I am not the only one!

Another one for the shrink ray, please!

Except we didn't get a TRFB, which is what most modern HSTs have; we didn't get an HST buffet at all, did we? Mine's sat in the box. Most of us swallowed that one gladly as a compromise.

Start to finish, the process of buying a full length HST will be measured as several years, with inconsistent livery application between vehicles, the wrong buffet, and all the other generic QC issues. That's a long wait to complete a purchase you end up disappointed with, and to see them pushing on with other things (especially repeats) having not finished what they started, and what I invested in, is very unhelpful. The HST will be the last time I put my faith in such a product from that manufacturer.

Meantime they release another fGW HST when those of us who in faith bought the first one, and then waited years to acquire more trailers for it (including the wrong buffet and livery variations), are still waiting for a TGS... Dapol producing a model you really want is an absolute curse, because all it does is guarantee that nobody else will make a good one. I have spent hundreds of hopefulpounds on their tat and I have given up, but it's all the more galling knowing that there will not be a decent Britannia, 9F, A4, or various classes of diesel without self-destructing PCBs, any time soon. I know I'm not the only one boycotting their products now and it's such a huge shame because I had no reason to wish them anything but tremendous success.

I know Thomas Ivor would love to come again but the date is tricky this year and other people deserve a shot! I can thoroughly recommend the day out, though. Good on you for doing this again, Castle & Co.

Leave my monobrow alone! Only bit that applies mind you.

I'm so sorry you came so close without nailing it, guys. I have just rushed here with a terrible sinking feeling having realised the deadline was yesterday, having been wrapped up in family crises for the last week or so, which might have put paid to my chances of affording to join in anyway. Delighted that your efforts have nevertheless yielded a result. You deserve tremendous credit for all your hard work and tenacity. We need do-ers in our movement, Brian!

A mere 47 hours after I picked him up, Thomas Ivor has been and gone! He had a wonderful time yesterday at the NEC, although the crowding was hard work in the morning and I am starting to wonder whether the show represents best value for us. Flat GoPro batteries precluded us making a planned video to show what a child's experience of the show. It is hard work! It was therefore such a pleasure to spend some time taking a rest from the crowds and operating 'Banbury'! Thank you so much to Ian, Mike and the team for your patience and kindness. Thomas Ivor emphatically determined that it was the highlight of his outing, and to have the opportunity to do it in front of such a crowd was a big thing for him. I am very proud of his achievement! A few happy snaps with our gratitude:

Hope all is well upon assembly, Ian. After a fraught few weeks and a rotten trip up from Devon tonight we are ready to go in the morning. Thomas Ivor very much looking forward to seeing you! Have you got 950001 with you, perchance? We have at least started ours now...

I have never forgotten the apocalyptic sinking feeling I had years ago when 'Pendennis Castle' shot off the end of my layout with my little brother at the controller. As such, and having operated layouts at exhibitions, I have every sympathy for skilled modellers who have spent thousands of hours and pounds crafting a layout being justifiably nervous about keeping them in one piece when on the road. I am also familiar with some of the behaviour from little people that everyone at an exhibition has to deal with. One particular child terrorising a demonstrator at Stafford springs immediately to mind! We keep drilling into the lad that he gets to do things most other 6 year olds don't, because we expect him to behave better than most other 6 year olds. That's all very well for me to have faith in him but I am very grateful to Ian and his team (amongst others) for trusting him and keeping him enthused. I made it clear to Thomas Ivor at Leamington that if he got to operate Santa Barbara, he had to do such a good job that the people watching the layout wouldn't realise who was driving... 'Banbury' remains an inspiration for us both; one day, Thomas Ivor says he wants to return the favour and invite you to come and operate 'Swithland' at an exhibition somewhere. He is doing nothing if not aiming high!

Yeah, it's very busy. Has kept him out of mischief as far as Athelney. Hoping to make Warley on the Saturday. I arranged his weekends for the next half term around it. I will endeavour to bring him a step this time. He couldn't see over the backscene on Santa Barbara! He says he is looking forward to seeing your Royal Mail vans... No pressure ;-)

Ian, thank you as ever to you and your team for making Thomas Ivor's day at TINGS! Just left Exeter St Davids having picked him up and he is doing a grand job of reading your article. Congratulations on this particular modelling honour! It's not the sleeper, honest... :-s

Even though I can't see mine being so treated, I am grateful to you for showing what is possible and helping me to understand what is I inside!

This really is a lovely layout - I keep impressing on my son the importance of quality scenic modelling when we go to exhibitions and this fine piece of work sets the standard as far as I'm concerned. Loving the steam visitors - keeping close to the intended period, it would be great to see 'KGV' on the Bulmers Pullmans...

Those containers should have gone by rail... Ok, perhaps this once we'll let them off.

Looks like I have got to this thread too late! No longer on the Lidl website.

"Do you use a particular brand of toilet brush for your trees?"

An 'N2' in 'N' was a good shout. I'd be up for one of them.

Ask, pointing at the notice inviting you to do so, if the operators would mind your flashing at them. And then do so.

You forgot that the rucksack should have a bicycle pump poking out of it, the flapping adaptor threatening to poke taller exhibition-goers in the eye!

Wire the two sides of a loco together and ask DCC layouts if they can test run it for you?

Certainly the only pictures I can find other than ENPARTS use (and these are all in England) seem to be on the WR... What a shame!