NFSCARBON

Replacement Triang bodies would be the best bet. Nothing else will fit without serious modifications (unless you find an old Kit designed to fit the Triang chassis). If your handy with tools, the Jinty from the Great British Locomotive magazine has a copy of the Bachmann Jinty's bodyshell. I've got mine to fit a Hornby 0-6-0 chassis with a little work, the Triang one could be possible too.

I do love the Triang Jinty, moreso than the later Hornby model. I used mine as a double header or static scenic item for a few months until a suitable motor became available

You'd be right Alessio as I'm 22! I joined this site when I was around 11 or 12 I think, back when it had a dark blue background.

Last Sunday I bought a few items from the Monmouth model railway exhibition. I bought Smiths Crisps and Kitkat boxvans (always wanted them when I was little), a Dapol railbus kit, a Hornby Dublo sprung bufferstop, a Triang short TPO coach and Triang Hymek in BR Green. The Hymek belonged to one of the Barnhill MRC members and was being sold cheaply on a table behind their Kingsfield layout. A test run revealed it was a poor runner due to a broken bogie wheelset, so they swapped the wheels with those from a blue Hymek also being sold. It then purred round the Kingsfield layout almost as quietly as their usual high end locomotives! The TPO is being converted to a 'neverwazza' sorting van by removing the TPO apparatus, blocking up the holes and adding a few small windows.

Early Hornby mk3 coaches were shorter than scale so had 7 near scale length windows rather than the correct 8 which lined up perfectly with the seating units inside. Hornby later altered the coaches to feature 8 shorter windows in order to make them more 'accurate' resulting in the seating unit no longer matching the window spacings.

Triang did try something similar with with it's CKD (completely knocked down) range, but I think logistically, it's cheaper for Hornby to ship completed models from China than individually shipping all the parts. Dapol have something similar with a few of their coach kits, but the range is very limited (i think they were initially sold rtr by Airfix GMR)

Isn't that the point of the Railroad range? Lower priced, less detailed but functional, sturdy models (albeit not a patch on the sturdiness of Triangs offerings). As far as track goes, Hornby seems happy enough with the current system. I think they realise 'serious' modellers will go for Peco or even handmade track, general enthusiasts are happy with the standard track, while those starting out will just use the track that comes in the trainsets.

Popped into Newport town centre today and saw our Hawkins Bizarre is closing down as it was an Xmas Store. Managed to pick up a Railroad Tornado for just £40! They also have a Bagnall Shunter for £15 and a Flying Scotsman for £40. My local second hand shop on the other hand had a BR green tornado from the trainset, unboxed for just £85!

Latest aquisition is a Lima H0/00 'Plymouth' shunter. Obviously it's based on an American or continental design despite the BR livery, but a combination of a dremel, craft knife and poly cement has made it look more British, just by chopping off the overhangs

I've picked up an old Mainline Hinton Manor minus a front bogie wheelset and a glazing unit. Runs sweet enough but the bogie derails with the improvised wheels I've fitted. Also a tidy Hornby Mk1 (the old one) in chocolate and cream for a tenner and an ex display unboxed 5plank coal wagon for £3 from Hornby in Swindon. Always get very good service there from people who know what they're on about. They even gave me some tubes of polycement (same as in Airfix kits) on the house!

My latest purchases were a Triang Track Cleaning Car for £3 and a Hornby Dublo R1 tank for £15 (which runs like it's brand new!). My latest aquisition however is a Triang Nellie that once belonged to my girlfriends late grandfather. It needs some tlc, some motor brushes and a neo magnet, but otherwise is a lovely little thing

Postman Prat said: Hi NSF You said "If it takes them that long Hornby really will have egg on their face!" You've been reading too many posts from the Northampton Nutter (Graskie) I've been on these forums too long PP. It appears that after reading so many of WTD's, Graskie's and your posts the nuttiness has rubbed off on me. Back on topic, I think Hornby's biggest problem is that they constantly have a backlog of delayed models every year. This makes it inevitable that newer models will either be delayed as well or dropped. Maybe come Xmas time rather than announce a raft of new models for the year, they should focus on clearing the backlog, then announce the new models with definite dates. It seems on a few internet forums Hornby is getting a bad name thanks to the delays.

Postman Prat said: Bet you it ends up being Easter next year!!! If it takes them that long Hornby really will have egg on their face!