Class 205 in Conjunction with Kernow Model Shop

[Nobby (John)]

 

Bachmann Europe Plc and Kernow Model Rail Centre Class 205

Bachmann Europe Plc is very pleased to announce that it is to produce a Branchline Model of the Class 205 DEMU in association with Kernow Model Rail Centre. These unique units operated for over 40 years on a great number of services across the BR Southern Region, travelling to London on a daily basis.

 

 

205_DEMU Click For Larger Image

 

David Haarhaus, Sales and Marketing Manager said 'Following on from our great success in the recent Model of the Year awards. We are delighted to be given the opportunity to produce this popular prototype in OO scale. We have gained a lot of experience when developing our Southern EMU models and we will use this knowledge to design a high quality model that this interesting subject deserves. Our all new Branchline models will incorporate highly detailed interiors and under frames, interior lighting and accommodation for Digital sound.'

 

The Branchline Class 205 DEMUs are expected to be available in 2011

 

 

[Pixie]

Interesting - I thought Kernow were going with Dapol for their 205?

 

Pix

[Revolution Mike]

Bachmann Europe Plc and Kernow Model Rail Centre Class 205

Bachmann Europe Plc is very pleased to announce that it is to produce a Branchline Model of the Class 205 DEMU in association with Kernow Model Rail Centre. These unique units operated for over 40 years on a great number of services across the BR Southern Region, travelling to London on a daily basis.

 

 

Haven't Kernow already commissioned a Thumper from Dapol???

[Andy Y]

My understanding from several sources was that Kernow made a decision to change who they were commissioning to produce the Thumper.

[Temeraire]

Very odd, although when I spoke to them about the possibility of the three car unit at Basingstoke they didn't fill me with confidence that it would happen. Watch this space I guess.

[orcadian]

Very odd, although when I spoke to them about the possibility of the three car unit at Basingstoke they didn't fill me with confidence that it would happen. Watch this space I guess.

 

The Bachmann website now carries this announcement, and ofers a link to Kernow. However, Kernow have not (as yet, 11.47, Friday) said anything. The Kernow Newsletter this week (usually posted on line late Friday or early Saturday) will certainly be interesting!

 

It makes sense - remembering that Bachmann must be in a very advanced state with the BR Standard-type 2-EPB - don't shoot me down, but won't there be a lot of similarities between the bodyshells, bogies, underframes, etc? Or did Eastleigh start again from scratch with the 2-H?

 

This might also make a BR-Standard 2-HAP a future possibility!

 

Richard

[cromptonnut]

I'll have a blue/grey one, when it's finally released. I'm sure there must be some good reason they aren't doing blue/grey in their first run.

 

I hope someone is going to do a sound chip for it as well - it's just crying out for one with several bass reflex speakers in it...

 

The Kernow website on "search" still mentions Dapol 205, though.

[Ian J.]

If Bachmann have any influence in taking on the Thumper, hopefully they will convince Kernow that the 3H is likely to be the better seller so it's worth sorting out the centre car now and getting the three car unit into production for the initial releases (and pigs might fly )

[cromptonnut]

Well if the 2EPB and 4CEP are anything to go by then I'd have thought a 3 carriage unit would be a nice "fit in the middle"?

 

I hope they look at the price too - £149 for a 2 car unit does seem a bit hefty compared to Bachmann's 4-CEP which, presumably, would also have been made from new moulds, drawings etc?

 

If they do make a 3 car, then that would give the blue/grey - which matches the 4-CEP too - a possibility. I seem to recall Mr Kernow saying somewhere that they couldn't find proof of a 2 car blue/grey in that particular variant ever running, and presumably they weren't prepared to market an 'inaccurate model'?

[gc4946]

I suppose Dapol couldn't deliver in a suitable timescale, bearing in mind they sub-contract the manufacture of the motorised chassis and electrics to the Far East and in the past have had severe delays with their N scale items.

As Bachmann's already got a proven basic chassis (of course it'll need fuel tanks, etc) they should deliver quite promptly. Moreover I hope Kernow reduces its price as I was most reluctant to pay £149.99 for a two car unit!

[Gwiwer]

Kernow's staff would have been at full stretch recently with the Carn Brea show on their doorstep as well as their every-busy shop to manage. The Newsletter is normally published on a Saturday though can vary by a day either way depending on business needs.

 

The current page at Kernow still indicates that the Thumper will be the originally-announced 2H version from Dapol but also states "Further update on these models due in the next few weeks!" so watch this space. They also have indicated that the model, originally planned for release about now, has gone back to a "Delivery is expected to be during 2011" date.

 

Kernow have indicated that they were unhappy with the amount of space the motor block was to take up and returned the specification for this to be re-worked. If the original production slot at Dapol has been lost and / or there have been issues with the CAD-CAMs which has been suggested might have been the case with other Dapol models recently, then I can understand that they may have reached agreement to switch manufacturers.

 

The power unit fitted to the Bachmann CEP would be adequate and unobtrusive in a Thumper; it doesn't need something as chunky as is fitted to the 150 Sprinters which is what has been suggested was to be the case.

 

The precise wording on the Bachmann site is " We are delighted to be given the opportunity to produce this popular prototype in OO scale" which can be interpreted as them not having planned the release themselves but rather having been handed the commission.

 

Kernow still retains a good deal of special business with Dapol through their several clay wagons both imminent and announced. Watching this space with considerable interest.

 

I seem to recall Mr Kernow saying somewhere that they couldn't find proof of a 2 car blue/grey in that particular variant ever running, and presumably they weren't prepared to market an 'inaccurate model'?

Spot on. They also couldn't find photographic evidence of a 2H in green with V livery for quite a while. As soon as one was produced they duly announced that version as the seventh livery variant.

[Gulliver]

The Kernow website shows this page as being updated on my screen but does show Bachmann as the manufacturer, although the individual items still show Dapol.

 

As Gwiwer says their newsletter generally goes out on a Saturday so my guess is the Bachmann site has been updated a little early! It sounds like something that would perhaps be announced at Ally Pally, assuming Kernow go to that?

[Downendian]

Well if the 2EPB and 4CEP are anything to go by then I'd have thought a 3 carriage unit would be a nice "fit in the middle"?

 

I hope they look at the price too - £149 for a 2 car unit does seem a bit hefty compared to Bachmann's 4-CEP which, presumably, would also have been made from new moulds, drawings etc?

 

If they do make a 3 car, then that would give the blue/grey - which matches the 4-CEP too - a possibility. I seem to recall Mr Kernow saying somewhere that they couldn't find proof of a 2 car blue/grey in that particular variant ever running, and presumably they weren't prepared to market an 'inaccurate model'?

 

I agree completely with the sentiments regarding the 3H, it was more numerous and widespread (some made it to Birmingham Allegedly - I witnessed them at Bristol Parkway in 1975). The 4CEP is a stunning model and really looking forward to see what Bachmann can do for one of my favourite multiple unit types.

Of course CEP pricing would be welcome too. I assume that Kernows preorders will still be honoured, I will await details of my two.

[Gwiwer]

Kernow are not listed as being at Ally Pally. Their next advertised event is at their local Hayle MRC show which they always support. That support will be more welcome than ever this time as the Hayle club suffered a fire in their premises very recently; the extent of the damage / loss sustained (of which there is some) has not been made widely known so far.

 

The 3H became more numerous than the 2H but all units were delivered, and ran for some time, as 2-car. The 2H / 3H units have had rostered duties at times as far afield as Ashford (Kent), Kensington Olympia and Bristol Temple Meads and even on the Brighton - Victoria express (electric!?) service for a while!. They have made occasional visits to Bridport, Yeovil and allegedly Exeter via Honiton. I heard tell of one reaching Barnstaple but I have no supporting evidence or corroborating report on that. I'm not sure about Birmingham New Street but I believe they have worked to Oxford on rare occasions. Reading however was on their regular rosters for many years where they entered General from both ends after Southern closed.

[Downendian]

The 3H became more numerous than the 2H but all units were delivered, and ran for some time, as 2-car. The 2H / 3H units have had rostered duties at times as far afield as Ashford (Kent), Kensington Olympia and Bristol Temple Meads and even on the Brighton - Victoria express (electric!?) service for a while!. They have made occasional visits to Bridport, Yeovil and allegedly Exeter via Honiton. I heard tell of one reaching Barnstaple but I have no supporting evidence or corroborating report on that. I'm not sure about Birmingham New Street but I believe they have worked to Oxford on rare occasions. Reading however was on their regular rosters for many years where they entered General from both ends after Southern closed.

 

Good history here:

http://www.daveh.org...205history.html

1123-1133 were introduced as 3H (thus were not 2H on delivery), most 2Hs were upgraded to 3 car in 1959/60 a couple of years after introduction.

Some 3Hs were downgraded to 2H due to the lack of power of the initial engines used which were later uprated.

Hence the point that 3H were more numerous and should be the Bachy model. I saw many 3Hs (in fact most of them) at Temple Meads in the 1970s but never a 2H, which I think had more restricted movements.

[Gulliver]

If Bachmann have any influence in taking on the Thumper, hopefully they will convince Kernow that the 3H is likely to be the better seller so it's worth sorting out the centre car now and getting the three car unit into production for the initial releases (and pigs might fly )

 

I do not think there is any question of influence needed! Kernow have always said they will do three car versions but the costs of tooling in one hit mean the models have to be staged. If people do not buy two car versions at all then presumably they will not recover their investment to be able to do the three car version.

 

It is actually no different to Bachmann doing a 2 car 108 first and then following with a 3 car surely.

[cromptonnut]

I do not think there is any question of influence needed! Kernow have always said they will do three car versions but the costs of tooling in one hit mean the models have to be staged. If people do not buy two car versions at all then presumably they will not recover their investment to be able to do the three car version.

 

It is actually no different to Bachmann doing a 2 car 108 first and then following with a 3 car surely.

 

I would guess so - but the blue/grey era is certainly a big "gap" that really does need to be filled, although of course if there is no 2 car prototype it'll certainly be difficult to fill.

 

I will almost definitely buy the 3 car in blue/grey - but have no real excuse to buy the 2 car, as my only two options, "all blue" is too early, and "NSE" is too late, for my layout's set period.

[Captain Kernow]

I would hope and assume that relations with Dapol remain cordial, however, and that the Beattie well tank is proceeding as planned (with Dapol manufacturing it)?...

[Gulliver]

Blue and Grey three car is certainly my preferred choice, but in the meantime a 2 car all blue is on order to show support for the venture!

 

I think relations with Dapol must be OK - Kernow have plenty of other projects on the go with them. Having had a chance to think about this surprise a bit it does make sense, with Bachmann making the CEP, EPB etc there have to be advantages of scale of production for all concerned.

[cromptonnut]

I don't suppose anyone happens to know when the first 2 car was painted into Network SouthEast?

 

I might just be able to use a bit of modellers license...

[Flood]

It's obvious.

 

Bachmann will use the DTso from the 2 EPB (assuming it's a 1954 build one) and slap it into the 2H as a centre car to make a 3T (14xx, Class 204). These ran in both all blue and blue and grey.

 

You're now going to tell me that Bachmann have made the wrong sort of 2 EPB to be able to do this.

[spackz]

The new release page now states that Bachmann have taken over it also shows a price drop of £40 on a couple of the BR green models.

[bmthtrains - David]

A good move from Kernow, given how well Bachmann made their EMU. Interesting that they are also now going to make one with DCC Sound on board! With the CEP, VEP and 2EPB, and now a sound Thumper, its getting increasingly hard to resist building an OO layout!

 

David

[The Fatadder]

When were the last units on the SW division withdrawn?

 

I get the feeling that they probably went a bit too early for me but would be interested to find out for certain.

 

Certainly bodes well Bachmann taking this on, while Kernow get their exclusive 205 its not stretching it too much to see Bachmann taking it further and releasing some of the other DEMUs in the standard range....

[RFS]

AFAIK the trailer coach in the class 205 is the same as in a 2-HAP, so now a 2-HAP can be made using that + a 2-EPB motor coach. The Bachmann 2-EPB is to be the BR standard design and not the SR version. And if Bachmann produce the centre coach for the class 205, then 2 of those + 2 x 2-EPB motor coaches (one unpowered presumably) would make a 4-EPB.

 

We SR fans are going to be in clover!

 

Incidentally, will it still be a limited edition? Bachmann make no mention of that.

 

And I can see on the Kernow site that the prices of some versions - including the all-green one that I pre-ordered - have been reduced from £149.99 to £109.99.