Horsetan

It's my view that the Class 35 Hymeks are still the best all-round that Heljan ever produced. Their Class 17 Clayton was the most realistic 'cos it kept breaking down, just like the real things. However, the spare parts were the best bit about Heljan - incredibly useful for lifting / modifying other models.

I have two-and-a-half Heljan Hymeks, half a Western, and one of their 1366 class pannier tanks. All bought at substantial discounts, and all for conversion to P4. When Howes of Oxford were running the Heljan spare parts service years ago, I frequently hoovered up whatever they had available, including a set of spares for the Met Bo-Bo, as they were useful for detailing a resin Bo-Bo body. Likewise, the Hymek bogie casing is the correct overall wheelbase for a CIE Sulzer.

I notice a fair few retailers - AGR, Rails of Sheffield, etc. - have come out with quite verbose "Support your local model shop" press releases on antisocial media in the last 48 hours. Could this possibly be related to the Accurascale takeover? I think we should be told..... The Markits wheel option is dead in the water as supplies are no longer available.

I suspect Heljan spares will become unavailable. This is a shame, as they were useful for other things.

It'll be waiting like a Quoiled spring

World domination can come at considerable cost, as I'm sure the Middle East might agree at the moment....

David Geen kit?

Yes, he's done practically all of the West Clare and much of the County Donegal

Would it not be easier for me to just wait 'til 31st March and then pay? After all, the invoice is there now....

Even then. Pay by 31st March, it says.

*checks e-mail* Ah, I see I'm being tapped up to pay the invoice for the first of the two Park Royals....

Has he?

Introduced 1979 by Hornby, but disappeared from the catalogue by 1983.... Not a cheap system back then either, and you were limited to 16 locomotives - that was the maximum it was designed for given the state of technology back then. Nowadays, many people have five or six times that number in their collections.

That's basically the RRP plus a top-up.

'Tis only another variant of can-kicking.

They will be delivered in Q1....of 2027. This aassumes that the various hostile elements in the Gulf region don't start taking potshots at shipping way outside the Strait of Hormuz.

It has been said before, but the island of Ireland and those who run it really don't have time for railway heritage. Neither is there the same thirst amongst the populace for it, unlike Britain. The legacy of decades without enough money for things runs deep, and I don't think that will ever change.

I don't think I've ever seen an actual layout in "black 'n white" before. Will be interesting to see if it sets a trend.

If Foxrock and also Ennis/Lahinch are available, would it be possible to view them, please?

I think we may have to resort to writing a letter and sending it by post....

Weird enough, I'm just after taking delivery of a London North Western meets (London) Midland kit - to build a reboilered Claughton but which has so many bits on the frets that it's very nearly possible to build two engines (one original, one reboilered). Quite a remarkable and ingenious artwork from a man named Dave Basford who seems to have had a go at doing etches for himself a few years ago....and then discovered that there was quite a lot more he could do. Loads more.

Have you joined the Lucky Dip Gang?

It does look like Hornby have managed to do what Bachmann didn't: make the nose (especially the curve over the top) less bulbous. There's not much in it, but it does look less awkward.

Wait 'til some eejit hacks into the system from overseas