For 9 months I had eagerly awaited this very moment, a moment that should be savoured and enjoyed to the full. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Bursting with excitement and with trembling hands, I had already launched a frenzied attack on the box and the tape that kept me from its contents. After much cutting and tearing, the box revealed its inner self........ and I discovered wads of foam rubber padding, which 2 seconds later were flying across the kitchen, just missing my wife who sleepily came to see what all the commotion was about.
"Oh it's arrived then" she said unexcitedly.
I peered into the box, now minus padding, and saw ...... arrrrgghhhhhhhhhh!!! ANOTHER box. My brain started to urge me to treat this somewhat smaller box with more respect and sanity was partially restored. I gently lifted it to the table and proceeded to cut the tape on the lid. I eased the lid off, then more foam padding flew threw the air. I began to wonder if the contents that I had been expecting were actually there, as I realised that this box now contained a thick wad of tissue paper bound up with what looked like an endless amount of wide packing tape....grrrrrrrrr!
Again the scissors went into action.... and after a few frantic minutes I eventally found what I was looking for...a steam loco. I proudly lifted it out... and heard "Ooo...Oooo" noises from my wife, followed by, "wow, that looks so good".
And it does look good too... in fact my first reaction was "wow, what a masterpiece of a model". It is a loco I have fancied for years. So much detail and so well made. We gave it a run on blocks in the afternoon, and a quick "light engine" run on the railway, and it went very well, even running light engine produced a very good chuff and it ran at a contollable speed despite lacking R/C at the moment. Last saturday we ran the loco at an exhibition pulling 4 goods wagons, two open wagons filled with stone, 2 Bachmann bogie passenger coaches and a brake van. It pulled the train effortlessy.
So for the benefit of those of you, who have patiently read all of the twaddle written above...here's a pic.... even for those who "cheated" and skipped the text
Such a shame that our loco is one of the last batch produced :(
.
I will never get one now. 
) I am glad I did order it, otherwise I may have missed out on getting one.
I will never get one now. :roll: :(