Bachmann Times - Summer 2018 (product updates)

[Andy Y]

 

Always a good read, I thought it worth listing what's included in this quarter's  issue.
 
Bachnmann Collectors' Club loco - 9F 92214 in green
The Bachmann Story - Livery samples
8F and LNER 06 profile by Gavin Morrison
Buildings a container terminal (Pt.2) by Pete Marriott
Rail franchises - Go Ahead
Desiro profile by Nigel Burkin
Woodland Scenics water system by Pete Marriott
IC125 profile by Dennis Taylor
Head and Tail Lamps by Tony Wright
Wagon Works (Pt.38) by Pat hammond
Heritage Railway Profile - Great Central
Eras explained - era 2 - Metropolitan Railway by David Brown
Limited Edition Round-Up
Bachmann USA electric models by David Brown
 
In the OO works report we see CAD images of the 24/1, Class 121 and pictures of the Class 117 Ep sample and the Class 158 early assembly.
 
Forthcoming items (with R&D in preparation for the Drawing Office)
Turbostar
G5 (for TMC)
Prestwin
J39 (chassis upgrade)
 
Drawing Office (CAD preparation)
25/1 and 25/2
Quarry Hunslet
Ashiover Coach
Class 812 (for Rails)
Midland 1P
20/3
4BEP
V2 (new tooling)
94xx
Class B TTA
 
Tool Room
Vanwide
Class 159 (new tooling)
 
Engineering Samples in process
158
117
24/1
2HAP
121
 
Artwork
Class 03 (with sound)
ROD 2-8-0 (new tooling)
45T steam crane
J72 (new tooling)
90
Talyllyn slate wagon
 
In Production
2F inc DBSO
LBSCR H1 and H2
Carflat
warflat
parrot
TPO Stowage van
 
Shipping
Jinty (sound)
22T Double bolsters and Plates (TMC)
FFA/FGA Freightliner Flats
 
N Works Report
 
Forthcoming items (with R&D in preparation for the Drawing Office)
158 (new tooling)
47 (Crewe version)
J72
 
Drawing Office (CAD preparation)
Desiro
Refurbished 31
Class 319
 
Tool Room
Stanier 8F
Mark 2F
 
Engineering Samples in process
Thompson Coaches
 
Artwork
SECR C Class
TEA tanks
Class 70/8
Birdcage coaches
Class 170

 

 

Bachmann's Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7RUBd-zCN77uxCkbAyMRQ

[Ronny]

Fantastic to see the H1, Parrot and ROD 2-8-0 so close to availability. My cup runneth over :-)

[MatthewCarty]

Interesting to compare with this list (copied from Andy Y's post at the start of this year). It seems that everything that had got to the stage of tooling has generally moved up one peg on the ladder!

 

FORTHCOMING ITEMS

 

Our development team are working on the following items in readiness for them progressing to the Drawing Office:

 

Class 25/1 and 25/2

Turbostar Family (168, 170 and 171 new tooling)

BR ‘Prestwin’ Twin Silo Wagon

J39 Class 0-6-0 (DCC chassis upgrade)

 

IN THE DRAWING OFFICE

 

These items are at the design stage. From the CAD drawings produced, the toolmakers will commence turning them into EP samples. The following items are currently at this stage:

 

Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0T (OO9)

Ashover coach (OO9)

Bulleid coaches (5 types - new tooling)

Midland Class 1532 (1P)

Class 20/3

Class 410 (4BEP) EMU

VEA Vanwide Ventilated Van

V2 Class 2-6-2 (all new tooling)

94xx Class Pannier Tank

Class 414 2HAP

Class 121 Railcar

Class B Bitumen TTA Tank

 

IN THE TOOL ROOM

 

Class 158 (all new tooling)

Class 159 (new tooling)

Class 117 DMU

Class 24/1

 

EP SAMPLE STAGE

 

The following items have now reached the EP (Engineering Prototype) stage:

 

ROD 2-8-0 (new body tooling)

Class 03 (Sound Upgrade)

Ransomes & Rapier 45T Steam Crane

J72 Class 0-6-0T (all new tooling)

LMS 3F ‘Jinty’ (Sound Upgrade)

 

ARTWORK STAGE

 

Our artwork department are currently working on the following items:

 

H1 Class Atlantic

LBSCR H2 Class 4-4-2

Class 90

Mark 2F Coaches (including DBSO)

4 wheel Talyllyn slate wagon (OO9)

 

IN PRODUCTION

 

The following items have been approved for production:

 

BR Carflat

Baldwin 10-12-D (OO9)

Class 70/8

22T Double Bolster Wagon

     (exclusively for TMC)

22T Plate Wagon

    (exclusively for TMC)

WD Warflat

War Office ‘Parrot’ bogie wagon

FFA/FGA Freightliner Flats

TPO Stowage Van

Edited June 5, 2018 by MatthewCarty

[The Ghost of IKB]

Glacial progress. Ah well, maybe my yet to be born grandchildren can tell me what the class 24/1 looks like, as I fear I'll be so old and blind by then it'll be of no use to me. Come to think of it I'll probably be so deaf I won't hear them tell me. So perhaps the best thing is to sit here and complain about how things were better when I was a lad ad infinitum until I drop off my perch.

Edited June 5, 2018 by The Ghost of IKB

[John M Upton]

Why is the 158 and 159 separate toolings? They are identical!

[The Fatadder]

Why is the 158 and 159 separate toolings? They are identical!

Center coach and different glazing insert

(And yes I know you can get a 158 with the centre coach as well, but I don’t think Bachmann have one in the initial releases

[Dunsignalling]

Center coach and different glazing insert

(And yes I know you can get a 158 with the centre coach as well, but I don’t think Bachmann have one in the initial releases

And some 3-car 158s are actually one-and-a-half 2-car units....

 

John

[brushman47544]

Thanks Andy. So Bachmann has not included their Area Rep Limited Editions in the progress update? That would be useful as their production timescales are not listed on their website either.

[Guest spet0114]

Thanks Andy. So Bachmann has not included their Area Rep Limited Editions in the progress update? That would be useful as their production timescales are not listed on their website either.

The Rep editions aren't new tooling. The Bachmann Times doesn't usually give progress updates on models that are simply new batches from existing tools.

[MRDBLUE17]

I’m looking forward to the TPO stowage vans. Thanks for providing the useful update Andy

 

Cheers

Mark

[GreenGiraffe22]

Good to know the H2 *is* coming =)

[The Johnster]

Little here to comfort me in my long wait for a 94xx.  I am of the opinion that a model which has a picture of a real loco in the catalogue does not physically exist in any form yet, and I will be very surprised to see it next year, or to see the current price maintained.  I am now very seriously thinking about a couple of secondhand 57xx, one of which could act as a chassis donor for a Lima body 94xx and the other of which can replace the moribund Mainline chassis beneath my 8750.  I could probably have 2 running locos for the price of a 94xx whose future existence seems to fade further into the future; it was promised late 2017 when I first got involved in the saga.

 

The worst aspect of this is the temptation to buy secondhand 57xx for donor chassis, which leads me to vaclllate and waste time on eBay, which is a notorious time sucker and a whole new hobby that I don't really want

[Steamport Southport]

Yep. I might even build my one before the Bachmann 94XX appears. I haven't even started it yet and it's well down the pecking order.

 

I was after several though, so if they get their fingers out I'll have at least a couple. As I've previously said, you can't have too many Panniers.

 

 

 

Jason

[Joseph_Pestell]

And some 3-car 158s are actually one-and-a-half 2-car units....

 

John

 

Which would be a good cheap option for them to produce.

[brushman47544]

I am now very seriously thinking about a couple of secondhand 57xx, one of which could act as a chassis donor for a Lima body 94xx and the other of which can replace the moribund Mainline chassis beneath my 8750.

 

I can't speak about their suitability as donors, but I would certainly buy my Bachmann 57xx/8750 chassis second hand. They've seen lots of use and still run as sweetly as when I bought them.

[Andy Y]

[No Decorum]

The editor, Dennis Lovett, is due to retire soon. His is a hard act to follow. I for one have enjoyed the magazine immensely and I should like to thank him for his work over the years and wish him a long and happy retirement.

[Wickham Green]

Good to know the H2 *is* coming =)

I'd agree if the'yd do one in malachite ................. nowt else of interest on the list I'm afraid. ( But I've been spoilt for choice from other manufacturers of late so shouldn't complain TOO loudly ! )

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

...the temptation to buy secondhand 57xx for donor chassis, ...

 Give in to temptation. I have put these (and the mechanically equivalent 3F Jinty) mechanisms into all sorts of bodies to provide reliable power, and even burdened with a near solid block of whitemeatal they are trouble free after years of regular operation.

[tomparryharry]

Little here to comfort me in my long wait for a 94xx.  I am of the opinion that a model which has a picture of a real loco in the catalogue does not physically exist in any form yet, and I will be very surprised to see it next year, or to see the current price maintained.  I am now very seriously thinking about a couple of secondhand 57xx, one of which could act as a chassis donor for a Lima body 94xx and the other of which can replace the moribund Mainline chassis beneath my 8750.  I could probably have 2 running locos for the price of a 94xx whose future existence seems to fade further into the future; it was promised late 2017 when I first got involved in the saga.

 

The worst aspect of this is the temptation to buy secondhand 57xx for donor chassis, which leads me to vaclllate and waste time on eBay, which is a notorious time sucker and a whole new hobby that I don't really want

.

Edited June 9, 2018 by tomparryharry

[tomparryharry]

.

I've gone down the Mainline-Lima Route, without regrets. I'd guess either the Bachmann or Mainline route is ok, and reasonably cost effective as well.

 

Had Bachmann released the 94xx when they originally intended, my guess that they (Bachmann) would have had a successful model on their hands. Time and a slightly changing market demographic may not exactly help Bachmann this time. The question might be this: Are/is there a surfeit of 64xx panniers about? Are/is there a goodly amount of 57-96xx panniers on the new to secondhand market? You can pick up a pretty good & boxed pannier from about £40, which is where Bachmann are entering. Little wonder that you can get 2 current models for the exiting prospect on one brand new 94xx.

 

I'm sure the new model will sell, and sell well, but is it that much more of a model, given the extra cost? Some might, some not.

 

My gut feeling here is that Bachmann will be sitting on their hands with this for another couple of years just yet. Existing stocks, plus the extra cost will decide their hands. The paying public will need to get comfortable with the £140 locomotive, which I'm fairly sure is where the RRP is going.

 

Anyhow, Bachmann seem quite happy producing wagons, where the real money is to be made. If you're selling wagons with a strictly enforced RRP of £17-20, and a gate price of about £3-8... Wouldn't you?

 

Cheers,

 

Ian

[The Johnster]

Not sure that people buying a heavy pannier, 94xx, are in the same market as those buying 64xx, though Bachmann's marketeers may not see it that way.  I had a conversation with their rep at the Bristol show that left me with the impression that they have found the 94xx more of a challenge than they'd reckoned; the ocmment 'it's a bit more complicated than a box on wheels, you know' sounded as if it covered a multitude of issues!

 

I have been looking for an 8750 on ebay and find that they are much scarcer than 57xx, which seem in plentiful supply along with 64xx.  I am in the process of resuscitatiing an old Mainline 57xx body from before they introduced the 8750 version, which I fitted with the cab from my older K's 8750, and need a donor chassis for this as well as a possible 94xx.  The Lima 94xx is not really that horrible above the footplate, it is the appalling chassis and hopeless running that condemn it.  New buffers, cab glazing, side sheet pulled back to keep the weather out, and help block the view of the backeadless and empty cab, and a crew make a decent body to sit on the Bachmann chassis.  I wouldn't bother with a Mainline split frame one though, past experience has taught me to avoid these.  

 

Lima 94xx are not that common on eBay either, and I suspect that this may be because they are in demand for this conversion.  Chassis and a body at the right price when I am in funds will be enough to kick the project in to action!  Of course, a donor chassis only needs to be a good runner Bachmann pannier one, and 57xx are fine.  I can have fun with liveries on the spare bodies...

Edited June 9, 2018 by The Johnster

[Steamport Southport]

I'm not casting aspersions of any underhandedness, but I think Bachmann announced the 94XX as they knew that Hornby were starting to produce one. Hornby certainly measured 9400.

 

Then when other projects were held up it seems that it's dropped down the pecking order a bit.

 

 

 

 

Jason

[hamish_barb]

Hi all

 

As a new collector, when would we realistically be looking at getting the new Class 170s (Turbostars) in terms of availability?

[adb968008]

I'm not casting aspersions of any underhandedness, but I think Bachmann announced the 94XX as they knew that Hornby were starting to produce one. Hornby certainly measured 9400.

 

Then when other projects were held up it seems that it's dropped down the pecking order a bit.

 

 

 

 

Jason

Hornby measured it up quite some time before Bachmann announced it, I think at least a year before it was in the Collectors club magazine, so they had their chance, shared it but didn’t pull the trigger.

Similar to the GWR 813 that was hinted at last year, but nothing raised.