Some interesting information from talking to the people on trade stands at the show: the chap at the Dapol stand stated that the class 50s were still on course for February/March 2019, and that decoration samples were likely to be available for inspection at Warley. The unpainted samples of these (and of Mk. 3 sleeper) were on display:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1874/44553381721_a3377e4f90_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aT2JaP)Dapol class 50 (https://flic.kr/p/2aT2JaP) by James Petts (https://www.flickr.com/photos/14730981@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1871/44504053602_e28f246e9f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aNEUD1)Dapol class 50 (https://flic.kr/p/2aNEUD1) by James Petts (https://www.flickr.com/photos/14730981@N08/), on Flickr
There was also an unpainted sample of the prototype HST:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1882/29615536757_17349ff8de_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M82nhH)Dapol prototype HST (https://flic.kr/p/M82nhH) by James Petts (https://www.flickr.com/photos/14730981@N08/), on Flickr
I asked the Dapol chap whether they had thought of producing a class 117 - he gave a somewhat guarded response suggesting that this was under consideration, and mentioned that it was a matter of fitting it in the queue of things to be done.
Meanwhile, on the Graham Farish stand (on which there were some splendid "returned stock" bargains, incidentally), I enquired about the air conditioned mark 2 carriages, and the chap there said that he anticipated that they would be on sale by this time next year.
Thanks James. The 50 is looking spot on. :thumbsup: