valeofyork

I agree with this - the moquette is a dark purple colour with black flecks and white lines, apart from the priority seats which omit the white lines See here: http://www.gbrailwayworld.co.uk/keyword/interior/1412382137_P4vw2xf#!i=1412382137&k=P4vw2xf&lb=1&s=A Northern have used this moquette for all interior refurbishments with the sole exception of the 321s, which have new red moquette. The blue plastic pictured in the sample above is nowhere near the right colour. These promise to be excellent models, and it would be a shame if the Northern ones were let down by an easily-avoidable mistake such as this.

What are the differences in the seating layout in the XC sets? Have to say I thought they were all the same as all the carriages have been stripped out and fitted with new interiors. As you say, there are other differences based on the coaches' origins: loco-hauled conversions have CDL panels on the opposite side to HST-built stock, and the aircon external roof vents are different too (three small ones as opposed to one larger square one in the middle). In your view, how much better is this than the Farish set? I've got the Farish one and am debating whether to get the Dapol one too. Other option is the EMT one, but I'm slightly reluctant there as the coaches in the set don't match the extra ones available (branding is missing from the set ones). Yes, I know it's a fairly simply thing to fix, but with models costing this much it shouldn't be necessary! And a question for Dave - when can we expect the Grand Central and WSMR buffets to appear? When they arrive (plus extra TFO for WSMR) that will be those sets completed!

Think I'll be getting one of these! Minor point - it's not usual to see a Pacer doing York-Leeds - that route is almost always 158s, usually the York-Blackpool North services. The Harrogate Loop services are announced and on the screens as York-Burley Park (to discourage people from using them to get to Leeds, as it takes over twice as long as the main route, and the trains are usually full at peak times as it is). I don't think I've ever actually checked to see what the destination boards on the Pacers usually display when on the loop, but I will do in the next few days!

GC's standard carriages do indeed have silver doors.

I agree that at this price I would expect them to be right - Hornby have modelled all the different cooler group types. If Dapol didn't want to go to the expense of doing this they would have been better to stick to liveries (such as the old GC one) where Martson cooolers were correct. And from the pictures on Hattons' website it does look like all the TSs have gold doors. How has this mistake happened? It can't be a case of avoiding additional expenditure, as the cooler group probably is. I was going to buy this set, but I'm having second thoughts - might buy some more Hornby ones instead (I collect HSTs in both gauges).

Thanks. The roof on that doesn't look right - it appears to have a Marston cooler. The re-engined ones have Brush coolers with a different vent arrangement.

Which version of the livery will the Grand Central versions be in? The painted sample which I saw at a show last year was in the new (orange-stripe) version, but the set now available for advance order on Rails' website lists 43123 and 43084. This suggests the old livery as the power cars were all renumberered in the 434xx range when they were repainted and fitted with new engines.

I've got the most recent Farish one (Crosscountry livery), and it's at least as good as the one pictured; rather better in fact. Not up to the standard of the Dapol one by quite a way, though.

The finest example of Pacer bounceage I've ever encountered is Bishop Auckland to Stanhope on the Weardale Railway's 141!

I think the roof of the cooler group is incorrect on that Grand Central sample above - will it be changed on the production model? That looks to be a Marston cooler, which would be correct for the original GC livery, but the orange stripes were put on following the fitting of MTU engines and Brush coolers, so if the model is going to be in the revised livery it needs to have the Brush cooler.