Flying Snail

Just got an email today confirming that my 186 is ready for dispatch (was on standby for a cancellation) .. very excited but it'll be a while before I get my grubby paws on it though as I'm getting it delivered to my man in Blighty!

Shows what I know Every day's a school day!

I think it's too big to be a chair. It's wooden platform of some type - you can see the steps up to it on the bridge side of it. There's also what looks to be a post or pipe to the rear by the wall. I don't know whats it's for, but given that tablets/tokens could be passed just as well by the signalman from the platform, so I don't think its for that. I'd guess it could be for one of either .. Hanging mail bags for snatching by a TPO. Providing water to a loco. Those are just wild guesses - I'd say one of the more learned forum members will be able to solve the mystery. EDIT: perhaps its just a platform for engine crew to mount and dismount?? I can't actually see in the picture how a mail snatching device (don't know the technical term) or a water pipe would swing out closer to the track ... so perhaps not either of those after all

So ....... you're telling me there's a chance?

There were? Excellent!! Looking forward to getting a rake of these TBH I don't remember seeing any Mk2Ds at the show, I only remember the 141/181s ... they had my full attention

Never underestimate the fact that farmers love a good deal ... and as Mayner pointed out, its been done here before. Noel's right too, I think, about the direction of travel in the wider auto industry. Sure lets see what happens. Also, am I the only one who clicked into this thread cos I thought it was about the accurascale 37s????

Santa is going to be broke!

Hatton's have just announced details of the upcoming 141/181s now too .... due sometime between Nov and Feb apparently (and the pictures are from previous runs too )

Following hot on the heals of the Mk2D announcement, hattons have post up details of the upcoming 141/181 models: https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/article?id=1406

Welcome Stuart - love the weathering, especially on the U class!

I'm not aware of any decorated samples having been shown off to the public so I'd go with the livery descriptions for now. Those photos on Hattons are of previous runs (Yes the photos are supertrain livery)

I like this. Nice to see the mods you've made to this kit to enhance it! Also, they don't seem too difficult for anyone willing to roll their sleeves up, get the glue out and build a kit in the first place

The cream and green looks very well - a freshly painted station would have looked very smart indeed back in the day.

Yes, please do continue to share your sketches!!!

They're doing a rerun of the earlier batch ... and they've re-opened orders for the 'Z' boiler ones too

Great to see that they're happy with the level of interest they're getting in the J15 - they've done a few Irish locos to date and hopefully will do more in future. I've put an order in for 186

I agree .. would love to see more Irish narrow gauge in general too. Not sure that it currently makes business-sense for them (or will for a long time yet), but we can dream

Thats very reasonable - I know I'd probably get a couple of each at that money.

It's nice to see a positive report, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. This is a (still only a draft) 'strategic review' that makes recommendations, there's been no decision yet to implement any of it.

... and breathe! Phew, I was worried there for a little while. Good to see all's still on track

Thanks @BosKonay, email signed up and fingers crossed ... its a particularly attractive livery, I'd say they'll fly out the door!

Now that the Large Logo 37s have landed, any word on how long you think before you've completed sending out pre-orders and stock to shops? Hoping to pounce on one of these if there's surplus stock ...

Don't, we all been there - banging our head against a brick wall trying to solve something that's turned out to be relatively simple in the end. If it wasn't for your question, the rest of us wouldn't have gotten such a great list of things to check for when something like that inevitably happens to someone else in future

According to ESU's website 'LEDs mounted on the boogies facilitate realistic flicker during braking'. Apparently the smoke generator will generate different amounts of smoke depending on the load too. So definitely some interesting features, but still a lot of money Some more details here: https://www.esu.eu/en/products/former-locomotives/engineering-edition/class-77-in-h0/

Thats true, DJ its a well specced loco to be fair, but I still can't get away from the price ... €444 is a big step up in price from Accurascale's pricing. Even if I do get to send Mrs. Snail into a panic with thoughts that my models are going on fire and about to burn down the house, is it really money well spent? (actually, its a good job she can't see any of my wiring)