[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (ME 26-06 @ 3 Oct 2007, 08:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Looks nice.

Were the colors really as bright at the time like the blue on the engine?

Not quite. The coaches look pretty good. I would buy this set just for the coaches. The loco doesn't look too good though when you compare it with the original.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (Doug @ 3 Oct 2007, 06:52) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

New photos of the Composite and Brake Caledonian coaches

The first Hornby update for October features images of the two coaches included with the Caledonian Single Train Pack (Composite and Brake). See the PDF for details.

Download the lastest update with images (951 KB)
The coaches look good. I really hope they are going to do more to improve that loco though. This is the prototype, spot the difference.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE Think they were based on Grampian stock - although these may have been 12 wheelers.

The ones one the Caley models website have 12 wheels.

Other than the roof they look fairly similar to the 57 foot 8 wheel coaches, colour is spot on.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (Thomas @ 3 Oct 2007, 22:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

305mm - Are these coaches really longer than the MK1s?

Thomas
The Caledonian coaches that I am aware of were 57 and 65 feet long. These shoul both be well under a foot in 1/76 scale. My guess is that these are Grampian coaches which are 65 feet but have incorrect bogies (should be 12 rather than 8 wheels) and the huge couplers extend the length by an inch to take it to the 305mm length.

QUOTE One really big issue with pre-grouping stuff is the very tiny boilers and the shape of the boilers that locos had and the nature of the tender designs for this period makes tender drive a big no no. Trix/Maerklin have got around this problem with the softdrive motor which takes up far less space.

QUOTE And to reply to the critics, and those who find posts that support Hornby as 'offensive.....go build an etched kit if the ready-to-run aint ''good enough??''
What a ridiculous comment. Some of us prefer to buy ready to run which is made to a decent standard. Many of us don't have the time or desire to build brass kits. If the quality of a model is poor then the company need feedback to raise their game. If this does not happen then you would have the poor quality models of a decade or so ago as the manufacturer would think you were quite happy to accept Railroad range standard models. The reason that the models are getting better is through feedback.

In this case Hornby seem to have done a pretty good job on the coaches yet the loco shown is poor. What I have noticed is that the flyer states that the coaches are as shown. It does not say this about the loco. Previously on the Hornby site the pictures of the coaches shown were of poor bright red plastic ones which have now been superseded by these good ones. I am hoping that this means that there will be improvements on the loco yet to come.

QUOTE The one thing that might concern new modellers is the likely limited pulling power (3 to 4 coaches max on the flat) and this is a practical fact that the big bad forum members would be better highlighting if they are genuinely concerned for new modellers.
We did actually discuss this on a previous thread in regard to this loco. The concensus was it would struggle.

As a footnote for the defensive Hornbyists, I have actually already ordered this, purely on the basis of the coaches. They look very good and they are worth the price alone. If they improve the loco then it's a bonus.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (alastairq @ 5 Oct 2007, 04:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>why so?

I refer to the targetting of those who prefer to air an opposing view.

Which seems to be given equal prominence to the provision of positive critiscm of proprietary products??
Your comment insinuates that we should just accept what we are given and accept it gratefully, or should we choose not to accept, it to suddenly acquire a completely new series of skills and take up the new hobby of brass kit building and to give up on ready to run. Ready to run has gradually improved through feedback to the manufacturer, your post implies that should not occur and that Chairman Hornby knows best. Hornby are quite receptive of customer feedback and would probably prefer to listen than to encourage people to take up other hobbies if they are not satisfied with what is on offer.

In this case they have improved the coaches from the ones in the original set so why not the loco? I think there is a fair chance they may well do that.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (Ravenser @ 5 Oct 2007, 22:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>And here we go again - a collectors limited edition rerun of a model from more than half a lifetime ago , representing a singleton pregrouping loco has run to 3 pages of discussion. Total MRF discussion of Hornby's state of the art rebuilt Royal Scot , released a few weeks back , is under 20 posts. The Hornby Maunsell coaches have been out a week , and we are busy discussing release of some 45 year old toy "representations" of CR coaches in preference

I'd argue we need to move on and focus on today

Neil S Wood
The sole improvement is a decent rendering of Caley livery using Sadakan's superb tampo printing. The tooling's untouched . To improve the loco would require retooling. And I think the only Single for which any case could ever be made economically is the Johnson Spinners. But they are way down the list of priorities
The issue, as Russell has rightly pointed out, is the lack of decent Scottish outline RTR. What we are getting is a tarted up rehash of a geriatric model whereas Southern modellers are getting all sorts of new goodies. Maybe it is just numbers that dictate what gets made.

Why would we want to discuss the Maunsel coaches? Personally they're of no interest at all to me as it's not an area I model. Start a new thread if you want to discuss them but this thread is about the Caledonian coaches. There is a limited discussion going on under the thread glitches with new items about the Maunsels.

We are aware that all that has been improved is the printing but when you have next to nothing provided for the CR you have to take what you can get.

What gets me is that in Germany you get all sorts of early 1900's locos in various liveries whereas we get very little of that.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE The same applies to coaching stock. I'd have thought Hornby's newish Stanier coaches would have at least some use to Neil and they are now out in LMS maroon. They're cheaper than the Gresley coaches and the main issue was the exact shade of BR maroon - the LMS livery hasn't been questioned as far as I know. What did a Duchess ever haul but Stanier and BR Mk1 coaches? That doesn't ring any bells, I'd better have a look at their website

Well said there Peter. Saved me a job.

I'm up for a Dun Alastair too!

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (rb277170 @ 7 Oct 2007, 23:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>However if a weird , ugly and geographically challenged prototype like the Q1 can be successful then the beautiful swan that is a Caley Dunalastair IV has got to have more potential.

Caley Blue, Rich LMS Maroon,LMS Black,BR Early Crest Black

Lovely- I'd buy all 4!

Might actually be a better candidate for Bachmann - as they'd produce it at a more reasonable price than Hornby!

Russell
A point that seems to be missed is that even if only one of a prototype was made it doesn't diminish its attraction to modellers. If the DunAlastair could be made in four liveries that may increase its appeal to a manufacturer. If Eureka models can succesfully commission and sell an AD60 in Australia, I'm sure we can have a Scottish equivelant (not a garratt obviously) commissioned and sold.