All the comments from George Smith are not internet postings, but things said to my face yesterday.

To be fair, not all the new models are based on 1950s Hornby Dublo. The grain wagon does actually have the correct 10’6″ wheelbase, after this fact was pointed out when they posted early CAD drawings on their website. So they do listen to criticism, but they’ve still got a long way to go.

Another aspect (which I think I commented on in your blog a year or so back) is that Dapol have done the N GWR steam modeller a great service with virtually ‘layouts in a box’ whilst the D&E wallahs only get a scattergun approach. To go N I need cohesive layout options, not isolated items.

Something else that worries me about Dapol’s strategy is the ‘based on old 4mm’ approach – historically most 4mm has been pretty poor and they’re running out of options already. I was cutting the concrete slab from the end of Airfix 21 ton hoppers 25 years ago, I don’t want to start doing it again in 2006 with the Dapol model.

Despite making a lot of noises about listening to the customer, Dapol show precious little sign of doing so. Scorn was poured on requests for a DCC-friendly 66, so I bought the better Farish offering. Demand for a blue 73 was ignored in favour of one-off liveries. Ho-hum. Dapol’s attitude is pretty much ‘buy these now or f*ck off’.

I’ve f*cked off.