Class 28
 

I had an email from Hattons who say-
"Following the great success of the Hattons and Heljan Class 14 project we are delighted to announce our next exclusive Special Commission. This will take the form of the Metropolitan-Vickers Class 28 Co-Bo locomotive".

D5700 Full BR Green (as delivered into service)
D5705 BR Green with Small Yellow Panels (as preserved)
D5707 BR Green with Full Yellow Ends
D5718 BR Green with Small Yellow Panels (Weathered)
D5708 BR Green with Full Yellow Ends (Weathered)
D5701 BR Blue
D5701 BR Blue (Weathered)

The models will feature:
All wheel drive
Sprung Buffers
RP25 wheel profiles
All wheel pickup
Centrally mounted motor
Flywheels
Separate Handrails
8 open and 8 closed headcode discs
Bufferbeam piping
See through roof grill
Detailed side grills
Fully detailed underframe
Yellow and Red LED lighting
8 pin DCC socket
Full metal chassis
NEM coupling pocket.

Now I see this as an essential future purchase! Looks quality...

I have to agree with you ACE, I will be putting an order in as well.

At £125 I think it is better value than the Class 14 but not for me!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

This special commision business is really taking off! See latest Model Rail due out on Thursday but subsciption copy arrived today.

Rails of Sheffield are joining forces with Bachmann to do 10000/10001 aiming for the same quality as the prototype Deltic. Production aimed for early 2012. Pleased that Bachmann are doing this one as it does interest me.

The second special commision is for no less than the Blue Pullman and the EM1 and EM2 Woodhead Electrics. The commision is from Olivia's Trains of Sheffield in connection with Heljan. The two electrics first with a target price of £149.

No price for the Blue Pullman. The idea is to produce the power cars as a pack (as Hornby do with the HST) and do the coaches separately.

Finally there is a rumour that Hornby have bought Dapol. Would give them an in to N gauge and perhaps a toe hold in the special commision market. So far Hornby have set their face against the special commision market as not viable!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

You never know, we might even see a B.R. Garratt with all these special commisions one of these days. I know that it would be near £300:00 but I for one would pay that.

Still be cheaper than the Blue Pullman, which I calculate will be at least £400 for a six car set!

The LMS garratt got a mention in the 2010 "Wish List" and almost before the ink was dry we have three of the top 25 promised:

1. Blue Pullman : 160 votes; 23. LMS/BR 10000/10001 : 51 votes; 25= BR EM1/Class 76 : 49 votes.

So you never know Syd we might get the LMS Garratt yet. Will it be before or after I motorise my Kitmaster Kit?!

Best wishes,

John.