TomScrut

I agree, although there a couple of reasons why it was chosen; 1. To use Accurascale unique nose tooling, I believe the rest are normal centre headcode ends. 2. The other three I think have been subject to more attention from the other manufacturers. Bachmann have done 303 and 304 in their old tooling, VI have done 302 and 304. Hornby have done 302 as well but I think this is post Accurascales model and doesn't really compete with the VI or old Bachmann let alone the Accurascale.

That is perhaps the rub of it really. Most people modelling 2000s on will have a handful of units to make the layout realistic but not have cupboards full of them like they do locos. I am also disappointed that they aren't doing the 185. Here's hoping Revolution decide to do it! There's plenty of Northern stuff about and the 185 covers very similar ground. Far less niche than the mk5as I might add!

Although that loco is a Heljan one. Actually, I had a Bachmann 37669 and a 37706 and I think they were slightly different colours anyway!

The thing is, for whatever reason, the shade of paint they put on locos appears to be slightly darker than that if coaches so I think there should be a mismatch between loco and coach. Not sure that's the case with Bachmann ones (don't have an appropriate loco at the moment)

Accurascale 37s in DRS blue £135 at Bure Valley: https://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/20924/ACC231237605---Class-37-6-37605-DRS-Blue https://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/20926/ACC231237607---Class-37-6-37607-DRS-Blue 2 of each left at each time of posting

I expect there's still a licensing issue, given the word (IIRC) used was "exclusive" I presume GBRF aren't allowed to let anyone else do one in OO (and N perhaps)? However I do expect there's an element of tongue in cheek with your statement given their record with 57s that look a little too much like 47s.

I thought it was said that the 69 was exclusive to Bachmann when they announced it

Whilst I think you are on the right lines, I aren't sure about the need for a better 80X. They are around to stay so another model is probably sustainable but the only thing wrong with the Hornby one IMO is the RRP! (Oh, and the pantograph) HST I think would be a good option however I do wonder what's going to come from Bachmann with respect to their prototype HST, surely they aren't hoping Hornby are going to be making coaches for it? If Bachmann did the coaches then it would be daft not to do the class 43 power cars too. 185 is the main one for me that I'd be keen on although Voyagers would also be on the list to buy.

All three have been tooled and IIRC don't fly off the shelves either. I'd much rather effort was put into stuff that hadn't already got model that are adequate to most.

I think I had to program my 156 decoders so the head and tail lamps were opposite way round for one car. As in I expect your mates situation is that one end works absolutely fine, the other is the wrong way round? Just needs one decoder reprogramming to use the tail function instead of headlights and vice versa.

TBH, I don't think anyone does paint as well as Bachmann, both in terms of the colours and the finish. It always seems to have a nice sheen to it that doesn't look glossy but doesn't look matte like a lot of the others do.

Due March/April according to Bachmann so they should either on their way or soon should be.

Hope so, it's the one I want! Livery probably suits being a CC model too.

They might think that the more recent 31s have been well catered for by AS. The only present day (ish, since it's now been repainted) 37 they have done since the new tooling was the Kernow exclusive 418, but again, AS had done loads of present day/recent ones.

I think a lot of it might be a case of finding out what each other are doing a little too late perhaps? Bachmann will probably have already been financially committed when they found out about the AS31.