It looks like this whole buffers issue has got out of hand and the original point missed.
Some of you are defending Hornby's Mk3 coach for having buffers because it leaves the modeller to choose weather to run it in HST or loco-hauled guise. This is fair enough.
The only liveries produced so far on Hornby's scale length Mk3 coaches which can be seen on both HST and loco-hauled trains to my knowledge are Virgin and BR Blue and Grey.
That leaves First Great Western, GNER, and Midland Mainline liveries only seen on
HST Mk3 coaches.
The
Mk3 TGS was built for HST sets only so unless you count anomolies such as specific conversions for certain duties these
TGS coaches do not have buffers.
For this reason the ex-Lima Mk3 TGS coach is wrong and Hornby missed the oppourtunity to correct it. This ex-Lima coach actually has these buffers moulded into the underframe.
Hornby's own scale length coaches have detachable buffers, ie they can be removed and refitted.
The point is why do Hornby fit the removable buffers when they are not required for First Great Western, GNER and Midland Mainline and why didn't they correct the Lima mould while they had the chance?
Moving on to the rather persistant 'Ever heard of a craft knife' issue.
Personally I don't see any joy in correcting manufacturers silly mistakes. This is time which could be better spent in other areas.
However I find it incredible that somebody should be told to question their modelling skills and indeed their hobby because someone else finds it acceptable to take a craft knife to a brand new model and remove something which should have never been there in the first place!
I for one have several tools which I use in modelling including a scalpel and Stanley knife and have used these to convert all sorts of rolling stock into more unusual vehicles that are not available to buy.
In the past, making basic toy trains more realistic by taking a knife to them I can understand.
However it is now 2007 and much of these trains are aimed at more serious modellers. In the age of precision engineering, computer aided design, and with a wealth of history, experience and reference at manufacturers disposal, it's really not acceptable for obvious and silly errors to find there way onto detailed scale models.
Especially in the case of the HST - there have been thirty years worth of opportunity to get this one right!
If you are happy accepting manufacturers mistakes and taking a craft knife to your new model thats your choice. Just don't ask people who find this unacceptabe to question their modelling skills.
If you enjoy using knives so much maybe you should have been a knife thrower! (LOL)
