I've seen some people have removed the magnadhesion magnet to reduce the drag on the rear axle, but that makes it all the more front-heavy. I have a Lord of the Isles, so I will be interested to see what changes need to be made. (Haven't tried servicing it since buying it -- it's a pre-Bill purchase! -- but it would be lovely to get it running properly!)

I have a strict £50 limit rule on used locomotives on ebay and often less depending on condition. I bid what I think a model is worth and leave it. If I win I win if I lose I lose. There are bidding apps that will snipe for you so it's a bit of a minefield really. Sometimes you get lucky and other times people pay daft money for something.

Cheers for that. Hornby should have gone for a tender driven option. It would have worked!

Fairs, exhibitions and shops? Not in my neck of the woods.

Bill. You've got a car haven't you? And if not, there's always public transport. Any excuse to stay at home. You should come south of Hadrian's Wall and see how us Sassenachs manage to get from A to B without looking for reasons not to. We're made of tougher stuff you know. 😀 Paul.

Northern Toy Fairs who run excellent quarterly events at Gateshead Stadium have been threatening to hold events at Musselburgh Sports Centre. Would be worth keeping an eye on them.

Hi Richard. Thanks for that info. Let's hope Bill reads it and takes note. However, unfortunately for me, I'm located in SE London and believe me, I'm not impressed with what my area has to offer. There's now only one model train shop within reach of me and due to its small size, is limited in stock availability. Parking in London is nigh on impossible, not to mention the extortionate charges for doing so, therefore, as a pensioner, I rely on the internet for my purchases. Have a good day mate! 👍 Paul.

Buying blind IS a risk, but (private seller) eBay prices are usually way lower than commercial dealers at model railway exhibitions. Patience is usually the key (whether buying or selling), deciding a limit price and then waiting for one to come within your grasp (at the right condition!), and bidding as much as you are prepared to pay (in the last few seconds -- you're not the only one, Keith!). You may have to wait years, but when it works... If you are hunting rarities, like I am these days, the chance of finding one at any show is vanishingly small. Recently I managed to secure a specific Lima beer tanker wagon after searching for, probably, ten years -- that's properly rare! I have bought hundreds of items through ebay, and have only been really caught out on a few occasions -- balanced out by a few purchases that have been way better than expected! But sometimes, if you want a really top condition item, you have to be prepared to pay 'top dollar' to get it. (Currently I'm trying to extend my rake of a particular bogie tanker wagon. I'd rather have unboxed, and I don't mind a bit scruffy, but my target price is £12+pp, and they usually go for £20-£40 these days. Crazy! Still looking...)

Boxception.....