S.A.C Martin Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 News From Bachmann In the Thomas range, we've found that the Emily loco is basheable into a fair representation of a stirling single (mine still needs painting!), and with Donald & Douglas being released next year, I wonder if this could be an opportunity for someone to come up with a pack of components to turn these two models into proper 812s...no pictures as yet, but the Bachmann thomas range normally has a turnaround time of six or seven months after the announcement. Seems, albeit in a roundabout way, that we've got our Caledonian 812 model after all...! EDIT: To include discussion about the Port of Par alikes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted February 12, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 12, 2010 Ooh this is most excellent news! There will no doubt be several that end up on my workbench when they arrive. I see they are releasing the China Clay twins as well, I predict there will be a flurry of Port of Par layouts being built in the next few months Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Ooh this is most excellent news! There will no doubt be several that end up on my workbench when they arrive. I see they are releasing the China Clay twins as well, I predict there will be a flurry of Port of Par layouts being built in the next few months Didn't notice the twins there! If they make them prototypically correct I suspect the B&B chassis may find themselves under some 0-16.5 bodies before long... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RW James Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I'm excited about the lighthouse. It's hard to find a good scale lighthouse. I tried to google for it to find an image, but all I could find was the above press release. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted February 12, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 12, 2010 Ooh this is most excellent news! There will no doubt be several that end up on my workbench when they arrive. I see they are releasing the China Clay twins as well, I predict there will be a flurry of Port of Par layouts being built in the next few months Interesting...... I haven't seen any comparison of the Hornby versions to scale size but an image on e-Hattons site look like the length is around 100 mm over headstocks = 25 feet; the real ones being 16.5 feet long! The real wheelbase being 5 feet = 20mm, but the Hornby wheelbase is around 35mm.... I do wonder if Bachmann will be able to make something closer to scale size given how tiny the real ones are? EDIT - I'm talking about the Port of Par locos here......! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
60B Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Interesting that the UK is now seeing Bachy Thomas products, even if it is large scale. Bachmann's TTTE range is far superior to the Hornby range in looks and scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill8F Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 To start with, I'm very happy that Bachmann have decided to model both sets of classic twins. However, i'll lay off pre-ordering them until I can see them lined up with other rolling stock, so I can get an idea on how to scale either set are. If they are to scale, i'll be ordering all 4, as two can be converted to Scottish region locos and two to Industrial ones. Ace. The announcement of Bachmann getting an almost world wide license on their Large Scale items is good too, as it gives them a better leg on the market. With James now on the way, I can see plenty of conversions coming this way I can imagine the unconfirmed rolling stock being covered vans and tankers, with possibly brown and grey versions of the former, and milk/tar versions of the latter. Again, ripe for conversion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
terriertankengine Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I'm definatly looking forward to the Caley 812s. Even if my layout has a weight rescriction. I run what I want. I hope a proper conversion kit comes out.B) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
60B Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Problem with bashing the twins is that the dimensions could be wrong. Plus they'll have to be imported. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill8F Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Problem with bashing the twins is that the dimensions could be wrong. Plus they'll have to be imported. True, but we'll just have to wait and see how they scale up with OO rolling stock. To be honest, they are toys, but I imagine they won't be too bad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 True, but we'll just have to wait and see how they scale up with OO rolling stock. To be honest, they are toys, but I imagine they won't be too bad. Given that all of the Bachmann thomas range, bar Edward, seem to be overscale for HO and undersize for 00 (and given how large the Hornby Bill & Ben models are!) I would assume they would be smaller in any event, with better valve gear as a plus point... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSWR Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 As somebody who has taken a look at Bachmann's Thomas range here in the U.S. I would say don't get your hopes up too high. To me, the models look designed down to a price as a toy and for simple manufacturing. For some models Bachmann has used its British OO molds, others appear to have been developed from scratch and it's the latter that don't impress me. Of course, even the Underground Ernie range had bits that were useful to scale modellers, so your opinion may be different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stuartp Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Problem with bashing the twins is that the dimensions could be wrong. Agreed. It would be nice to have a starting point on which to bash an 812, but if it's as near to prototype as their 'Thomas' is to an E2 it'll be a caricature of an 812 with a cheap mechanism. You never know though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 That sounds like a challenge, RE Bill & Ben! I may give it a go - I've always fancied the two Port of Par engines in green... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Emily Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 The Bachmann Thomas the Tank engine stuff has always looked like a robust toy, designed down to a price and to be suitable for being played with by ham-fisted four year olds. However, I have to say that from what I've seen they are a lot better than the Hornby offerings. It's a shame that the consumer can't have a choice and get an easier supply of the Bachmann models in the UK - the Hornby ones have all disappointed me when out shopping for my nephew. So much so that my nephew has ended up with some of my Bachmann duplicate stock in preference. The Salty shunter has interested me, as it appears to be loosely based on an 07 shunter. An 07 is one of the BR locomotives quite high on the list of locomotives I would buy if they were readily available RTR. Also the Mavis version of the 04 looks ripe for Wisbech and Upwell convertion. I look forward to seeing any photos of the Donald and Douglas pairs. Would Bachmann think ahead and make them suitable for a UK market in non-Thomas guises? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted February 26, 2010 Author Share Posted February 26, 2010 I look forward to seeing any photos of the Donald and Douglas pairs. Would Bachmann think ahead and make them suitable for a UK market in non-Thomas guises? Unfortunately as has been discussed elsewhere here, Bachmann are not allowed under their licensing to re-release the thomas moulds under different liveries - hence why the starter engines changed rather abruptly, and the old LNER/GWR starter engines disappeared from the shelves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Agreed. It would be nice to have a starting point on which to bash an 812, but if it's as near to prototype as their 'Thomas' is to an E2 it'll be a caricature of an 812 with a cheap mechanism. You never know though... But the Bachmann range is based on the TV series models, whilst the earlier books are clearly proper railway locomotives. As others have said, don't hold out too much hope.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stuartp Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 But the Bachmann range is based on the TV series models, whilst the earlier books are clearly proper railway locomotives. As others have said, don't hold out too much hope.... Yes, that was kind of my point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Emily Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 But the Bachmann range is based on the TV series models, whilst the earlier books are clearly proper railway locomotives. As others have said, don't hold out too much hope.... It is an interesting point that to make a more accurate model of the real locomotives that the books were based on, rather than the caricatures in the TV series, it would neatly get around the licencing issues for selling what would amount to Donald and Douglas models without the faces on the front* * When I was little we were too poor for the Hornby TTTE offerings, and several Hornby Dublo locos were drafted in to represent TTTE locomotives, using a dollop of imagination to replace the faces (and other small details) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill8F Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 I see that an earlier comment has described the Bachmann Thomas range as "cheap caricatures with cheap mechanisms" Can I point out that these have been a learning curve for Bachmann. Whilst Thomas, Percy and James (the oldest models in the range) may not be that good, the likes of Salty (07), Mavis (04) and Edward (???) have very good mechanisms. And the price! I picked up a Bachmann Gordon for £45, and it's not a bad loco. In fact, it's a shame Bachmann didn't get the UK liscence, as they produce better products IMO. Hopefully, they could retool T, P & J with new mechanisms and detail for 2011, giving them a nice, well balanced range. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNWR18901910 Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 I got Donald and Douglas, but Bill and Ben are next on my list. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyburns56 Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Not Bill & Ben, but Judy & Alfred at Port of Par in 1968 Seeing it pulling full height vans makes you realise just how small they were. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TravisM Posted June 22, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2020 As I’ve never seen any advertised, would it be a fair bet that the Port of Par pair have not even left the drawing board? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyburns56 Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 They've already been released.... https://www.tootallythomas.co.uk/ourshop/prod_2151733-Ben-Bachmann-Thomas-and-Friends.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted June 23, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 23, 2020 You have missed them apparently; they are not in the current Bachmann 'Thomas' list online. I bet getting decent ballast weight in them was difficult! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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