HO3.5

Its all very well trying to re-write history. We should learn from history rather than try to make it conform to our personal views.? Really? The lesson of history is that no one learns the lesson of history.

Would it be possible for all of Hornby's International brands products to be identified as if they were suitable for British Railways? Although they can be described as suitable for OO/HO, as is well known, the loading gauges of different countries railways can be different and therefore the models of a different size. A comparison of the original Lima HO Class 33 and its later OO Class 33 being a good example. A simple 'as seen on B.R.' would suffice or 'as used on international freight traffic'. As Hornby seems to be embracing it's international brands more, maybe when introducing new models, it should keep an eye on the future and consider ones that were/are seen on the continent and the U.K.? Re-introduce the Jouef HO Eurostar for instance or rebox/rebrand/relivery the Mehano HO Class 66?

I am afraid that some of the comments on 'scale' are incorrect. HO (1:87) scale is 3.5mm/ft. this is the most common scale that the rest of the world uses in railway modelling. OO is a mixture of scales. The model its self is (1:76) scale 4mm/ft, but the track gauge - how far the wheels are apart, is (1:87) scale 3.5mm/ft. This came about due to not being able to fit, the then available size of electic motors in the early days of railway modelling, into the models, because of the smaller loading gauge of British locomotives compared to the rest of the world. A compromise was made in the form of 'OO scale' by Frank Hornby I believe, that the U.K. has been stuck with ever since. OO scale should therefore correctly be described as, 4mm scale narrow gauge. You only have to look at any OO locomotive head on, compared to a similar HO locomotive, to see the difference. How any manufacturer can describe a model locomotive, vehicle etc. as being both OO and HO scale at the same time, is therefore one of the great mysteries of life.

Am I the only railway modeller that laments the lack of the appropriate models in the Airfix range? With the recent t.v. coverage of model railways I would have thought that children would have liked to put together kits, at pocket money prices, that I and thousands of others had the opportunity to do when we were younger. It's will always be a good feeling to look at something you have put together, instead of buying a more expensive item off of the shelf.