Bulleidboy

Under a Hornby headed banner it says "The iconic West End show is now back and celebrating 40 years since its original production in London! To mark the special occasion, we are proud to present a one-off replica of the Hornby 'Starlight Express' in the exact colours as the original and have added 2024 to the sleek silver and blue livery". I would interpret that as saying it was going to be for sale - who will buy it is another question. If it was fitted with a TXS sound decoder I assume it would play "Starlight Express". From the side-on pictures it has wires plugged into the tender!! I saw the show in London back in the eighties.

Once you get used to the new format it really is a piece of cake.

@Rallymatt - The hill is made from sheets of B&Q insulating sheets covered in plaster bandage - everything else is Woodland Scenics. Rock face created using WS rubber molds and then applying heavily diluted washes - I watched the WS tutorial on the subject many times before the wash and brushes came out. I also placed 1.5" nails head first into the plaster before it set, this enable the rockface to be "plugged" into the hill - and could easily be moved about until happy with final position.

I agree about using a smaller gauge that can sometimes put things into perspective. I used a Lyddle End cottage (N gauge) at the back of my layout. It gives the impression of being far away/in the distance.

That looks fine. I used to spot a few stops out from Kings X back in the mid fifties/early sixties, and you rarely saw a clean A4.

I have today fitted a Hornby Lord Nelson Class "Lord Rodney" 30863 with a TXS 8pin decoder, speaker and power bank. All very straightforward, but I extended the speaker wires using a 1.25mm plug and socket. This enabled the speaker to be fitted in the loco under the chimney, rather than in the tender - nothing worse than sound coming from the tender - and it is very obvious.🤥 I may rewire the speaker as the new socket sits under the cab floor and catches the track in one or two places.

I just received 200 points because it was my birthday. 😃

@ Colin - Hornby have stated in the past that it takes approximately three years from when someone comes up with an idea, and that idea arrives in the shops. BB

Another who has no knowledge or understanding of conception through to fruition of a new model, but is ready to come on to the forum and moan.

Listen to the advice JJ - as you say you have waited two years for this loco - and paid a lot of money for it. Do not be tempted to have a little go and see what happens.

@Brew Man - Perhaps Hornby will introduce a Bulleid Pacific with steam/sound?

There is a very good (last day or so) Youtube video of the loco in action. I have to say it looks very tempting😕 Video from Shed Spotter 66.

Hi Al - I have the N Class, but number 31404 and weathered. It is fitted with a Bachmann 36-558A 6pin decoder. It runs well.

Yes you can do this - I have done it. I have only had one speaker plug come off, but it was an easy job - albeit with a steady hand🙂 It is the two pads on the reverse side of the decoder - under the position where the speaker plug would have been.

It was good to see that you can post videos in the Gallery.

Thanks Rob - it's not the end of the world. I'll wait until an update will allow members to delete.

How do you delete an image - I appear to have posted one twice?