John Isherwood

What you are looking at there is not the original livery. Copyright unknown Look closely - the faded remains of the lining, as per Hornby's model, are present. ..... and here https://railphotoprints.uk/p852530460/h959512F7#h959512f7 John Isherwood.

Really? Rude and unpleasant? First, a question; then a personal opinion; and finally a personal observation; all intended to help achieve a finish closer to the prototype. I'm sorry that these simple comments have offended; I (wrongly) assumed that posted photos of modelling output were supposed to elicit honest comment, not sycophantic froth. CJI.

Having reread my post, I can see nothing at which to take offence. Being Lancastrian by birth, I tell it as I see it - better than the flannel which is all to prevalent nowadays. I post pictures of my models and accept any observations that are forthcoming as the honest opinions of those who make them. If anything less than fulsome praise is going to offend - best not to post, perhaps? CJI.

Fine - I just thought that, having seen hundreds of the real thing when they were an everyday sight, I might be able to assist you in creating more accurate models. I know that there are advocates of painting models in a colour that comes close to their extremely weathered state - but I have yet to see one that convinces me. CJI.

I'm sure that you must already be aware but - just in case - the Airfix / Dapol Interfrigo kit is HO (3.5mm.) scale, not OO (4mm.) scale. CJI.

Assuming that the intention was not to represent departmental vans, why did you not use the correct BR(SR) green? IMHO, the only way to convincingly represent weathered stock is to apply an ex-works finish and then weather it - exactly as per the prototype. To my eyes, your ex-SR vans look like BR Engineers' vehicles. Sorry - just my two penn'orth. CJI.

Look closer - that's a CARTRUCK; one of the SWB ones. CJI.

It would help to see the photos in question. CJI.

It could be an effect of the lighting, but the ex-SR vans look to be more of a military drab shade than BR(SR) green. What paint did you use? CJI.

As a matter of design interest, what is the symbol intended to represent visually - it is not intuitive, to me at least? CJI.

Unfortunately, work life patterns, human expectations and physical fitness are no longer what they were, pre-mass car use. You can't simply turn back the clock - or do we have to un-invent every aspect of technology and improved living standard that has occurred since the 1940s? I'm afraid that your 'more robust' view is wholly unrealistic, and would never be acceptable to the vast majority of the populace. CJI.

It's not largely true - it is THE truth, believe me! As my career was spent in Cambridge, where the railway station is not within easy walking distance of the city centre - (a not uncommon situation) - I am acutely aware of the problem of accommodating public transport in city centres where it is not practicable to wholly exclude private and commercial motor traffic. The example of Europe is invariably bandied about in these discussions - forgetting that much of urban Europe underwent an necessary total redesign post WWII, as a consequence of war damage. Fortunately, (or not, depending upon your perspective), this did not happen in the UK - with the notable exception of heavily targetted conurbations such as Plymouth and Coventry. There are no obvious, easy solutions to the problems of urban congestion in the UK - but the enforced shift in energy use MAY be a spur to improving matters. CJI.

Having been professionally involved in urban highway design for most of my forty year career, I can assure you that finding roadspace for bus priority in what are still basically Victorian road systems is nigh-on impossible. CJI.

Peco / Parkside and Cambrian will both supply their DF bogies as separate items. CJI.

You miss the essential point; of course they sell, but in diminishing numbers. The producers even acknowledge this - that's why the batches are tiny and, when demand is greater than they predicted, potential customers are dumped from pre-order lists and a certain producer hangs onto pre-ordered retail stock to meet its own direct sales orders. The current production and sales policies will prevail for a while yet - but then we'll see some seismic shifts in producers and product policy! John Isherwood.

Andy, I used that particular word as being mildly amusing and topical - but the point remains valid. The pricing of the latest announcements is simply beyond the means of a rapidly increasing proportion of potential purchasers on modest incomes. Others of us, with an appreciation of the fact that toy trains have a finite value in the greater scheme of things, simply draw the line and say "enough is enough". As predicted, such comments are ridiculed here by those in control, for reasons which are well understood by most members. So be it - let's give it a couple or three years and see if there's been a marked change in marketing policy, shall we? John Isherwood.

Phil, Let's not get silly! "Excessive pricing" can imply two things - an over-inflation of the profit margin, or exceeding the price that the market feels reasonable for the product offered for sale, regardless of the cost of production. In the latter case, the producer must review the product specification and seek to reduce production costs. I am certainly not advocating a return to 'Design Clever' but, as producers endlessly pursue greater and greater sophistication in thir products, they also pursue a smaller and smaller sector of the market that can still afford to buy their output. Time was when models met the needs of the majority of the market. Those who desired greater sophistication either built their own, or at least learned the skills to add the detail that they craved. Today, there are those who demand the ultimate in detail, in every livery under the sun - no matter how obscure - and with every conceivable electronic gimmick. Moreover, they buy their locos and stock in numbers that rival the prototype. Fine - if they can afford it, then that's their business. But what of lesser mortals? In pandering to these modelling oligarchs, the mainstream producers are chasing an ever-diminishing market that can afford to buy, so please do not get prissy if some of our brethren seek more affordable sources. You will no doubt dismiss the above as sour grapes - not so! I am fortunate enough to have the means to buy these high-spec / high price wonder-models, BUT I WON'T - primarily because there is little or no scope for putting my 'personality' on them via actual MODELLING. RTR model railway producers pursue the ultimate in sophistication and pricing at their peril - I read here the ever-increasing protests about the latter, and they are dismissed far too readily by the administration of this forum. I expect / hope to be around to see the consequences of the "commission small batches and sell them at the necessary high price" policies come back and bite those responsible - and it won't be a pretty sight! Some amongst us may, though, find the need to learn how to model. John Isherwood.

Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt; it's a fact of life nowadays. I rely on my reputation, and the fact that the genuine article can only be obtained directly from me. In-house production is the key to retaining control of one's products. I would also comment that excessive pricing can increase the chance of the circulation of 'back door' product 'leakage'! John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Whilst acknowledging your sensitive position, I do feel that your approach is overly aggressive / rude. Some time ago I reported here that some Bachmann range locos were being sold on Aliexpress at reduced prices. It was by no means evident that these models were unauthorised sales / 'knock-offs'; nor was there any reason to suppose that the were a 'scam' offering. Such information is useful to fellow modellers - it is for the individual to judge if the offering is legitimate. CJI.

Look at the appropriate section of Ali Express - there is some direct sale content. Some Bachmann locos have been offered recently - though not named as such. CJI.

Any chance Hattons might have a body kicking around? CJI.

Any bodies on Ebay from which you could cannibalise the fittings? CJI.

Ear wax hoovering - does anyone know why most medical practices now refuse to do this on the NHS - and what is their justification / authority for adopting such a policy? CJI.

Hornby Dublo usually got paint shades correct, and their 1960s wagons matched the prototype - at least, they matched newly-built wagons. My experience is that Phoenix BR early wagon grey and wagon bauxite match the Hornby Dublo shades, and thereby the colour of new BR wagons. I use nothing else, and achieve prototypical shade variation in the weathering process. John Isherwood.

I can supply waterslide lining transfers for BR crimson / cream, maroon and chocolate / cream liveries - see Sheet BL28 @ https://www.cctrans.org.uk/products.htm . John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.