Class 158 productions

With the MK1 tooling being changed for the West Coast models, maybe some more preserved ones? Would love to see a retooled 165/6 and others have mentioned the fabled 170 retool.

Thought that as well. Some lengthy questions about the Steam models were answered in great detail but a lot of the questions about modern image were either greeted with a 'we'll get back to you' or 'it hasn't been decided/developed'. For example I asked about the livery application of the FGW 153, recent Scotrail releases have had quite a variable quality of the transfers applied that make up the livery. I asked, 'Would it be tampo printed or a transfer for the FGW model', the reply was 'still in development', for a model due in spring 2024. That being said I thought the Q&A format was enjoyable, maybe doing some more throughout the year with the designers for a certain era or projects? Would be nice to be able to understand parts of the manufacturing and research process that is often unseen and be able to have the very people who are experts in model design explain this for a specific modelling time period or selected products.

As others have said, a smaller announcement but hopefully a catchup year. Glad to see a local lines 153 though! Plenty of products from previous years yet to come.

latest upload.

Hi all, been a while, A levels have taken up a fair bit of time! Some house renovations meant that the layout was taken down for a short while in May/June. Now back up again and some small scenic changes, adding of some trees. As well as minor ballast reworking as the whole station area was cut in half. Plenty of rolling stock has arrived, namely accurascale 37/Manors being the most recent! here’s a couple of photos and expect a running session video on YouTube soon.

Trainbow arrived today, finish is top notch (as expected and required on a model of this price). Will compare later with the previous GWR release of 800 003, although I feel the Trainbow has a better standard of painted detail with more picked out, but again I will need to check this.

As long as we are kept informed, which we are, it is such a large improvement compared to what previously happened with other manufacturers (and still does). The delay is a shame, but expected given the current situation. Thanks for keeping us informed, keep it up.

And the lettering the right colour…

DCC Ready version arrived in time for the big day! Exquisite paint job, as it should be. Model runs well , still not as quiet as the previous generation of Bachmann DMU but I’m happy to accept a weaker noisier motor for the low floor. However this is something not exclusive to the 159, the 121,117, 158 all share in this slight annoyance. Now, bring on the SWT versions and a FGW Local lines 158 or 158/9! (A boy can dream) Happy new year!

Hi all! Hope everyone has had a good festive season. Happy new year!

Yes

Couple of photos of the 155/004 pack compared with the 005/041 pack. Fan motors louder than actual motor, pack is running smoothly.

GWR castle pack has arrived! Everything looks in order. Would say the finish is on par with other GWR packs, not as caked in gloss as 198/002 though! Cab area looks better and the doors are an improvement with not opening. Still has that light recess that looks a bit off on refurbed models and I couldn’t tell you what their ‘retooling’ on the guards door was from looking at it, other than the guards windows not having the silver surround and that now being on the body (I’ll put one end to end with an ‘old’ one later to find out). The fans seem more accurate on the Voith cooler group, but a Dapol 68 spare part looks far more realistic in that regard. Xx However, no bits missing, printing done well and the new coupling system feels decent! Now just awaiting the next batch of MK3SDs. Overall verdict, a nice model and the upgrades seem welcome, I don’t run DCC so a lot of the 21 pin stuff is lost on me but for those who do it’s a welcome upgrade. Some areas still feel dated, the lack of variety in the bogies tooling, the actual shape (minor) as well as slightly crude parts like the exhaust cowlings when fitted poorly look particularly bad. Personally I’d see if I could find a cheaper 005/041 pack and fit some plates to them and you wouldn’t be missing much over this pair, but it’s a welcome addition to the collection and a noticeable increase in quality.

Green Machine!

They had a sample of a national power one at the kernow 20th anniversary event.

New tooling 37 430 Older tooling 37 427

Personally whilst I’d agree things like that are small and easily correctable, it is absolutely fine to criticise it. These aren’t cheap models and are advertised as detailed and ‘robust’. Whilst some modellers may see it as a minor issue, for the prices they are, any issue is a pretty large problem. That being said, QC will always miss stuff and the true mark of a decent manufacturer is how they respond to an issue imo, that shows to me at least whether or not they are decent. In my experience Bachmann have been very good. It is quite demeaning when you have just spent £200 upwards on a model and it is not perfect and some modelling wizard says ‘back in my day we didn’t have models so keep quiet etc’.

And there was a few generations of that one. So first ones, dodgy shape, then retooled, then ones with opening doors and then the final ‘old’ ones with metal Handrails by the doors. So first iteration, then 3 I believe of the ‘old’ retooled one. Tooling wise, I think that is what changed as well as DCC and whatnot

Often a problem with most factory weathered models, danger could be by doing more to the wheels, you risk getting paint on pickups, adding another headache to QC. Would be interesting to hear what the manufacturing process is behind weathering. I.e how bits are masked up and in what order etc. Although I get the feeling it’s a trade secret among each brand.

To be frank, any competition model wise is good for us, the consumer. This will push both companies to strive for even better models as well as listen to the consumer to what they want. As said before it’s probably not a case of choosing between accurascale or Bachmann, it’s now what livery and number each is doing. Wish both companies success and hope to see some western region 1980s /4s, but I’m being selfish. Overall will keep my order of 409, it’s the number I need and the samples look great. Hard to judge both with only one out yet but I’d argue the model with a more open development and company willing to listen would get more sales… I digress. Chin up, it’s tractor wars!

An interesting reason to choose the models I must say! Surely you can fit after market ploughs? For example, the Heljan 47 new and old both seem to have shape issues, deciding to not go for in my eyes, the superior Bachmann one just because of the snowploughs Is fascinating. Now back onto 37s, wonder if we’ll see a Bachmann 97, or leave that to accurascale?

Again, will be interesting. Both models seem fantastic, just hope Bachmann can produce what is needed to compete with accurascale! Plenty of 80s /4s please! The 37 market is so wide 2 manufacturers can probably sit in it. Just hope there’s not too much duplication!

Also, could someone clear up the axlebox debate on the loco? Some seem to have different types on the same bogie, yet I don’t think this has been replicated on the model? Many thanks.

They look rather smart! Guessing these are final samples so the finished product will look similar to these? I’m sure the 45 Buffs on this forum will give them a detailed appraisal but to me they look very good. If I remember correctly there was some debate over the Cab Door which put the roof profile and therefore windows out of shape?

DB packs arrived, truly stunning models! Despite the fine detail they feel very sturdy and the hood is rather impressive.