XChris

I have 3 AS ones on order through Accurascale/local shop, I will have to see what liveries and running numbers they announce if they do the right ones then I’ll buy them, if AS get round to them first I’ll buy there’s. Much the same as the 37’s. In my opinion the only people to blame for two new 31’s on the market is Hornby, if they had re-tooled and DCC Sound-ed there model we wouldn’t have had a gap which is now filled by two companies that obviously saw the gap in the market, makes you think what else from Hornby's range could go to another manufacturer…

Sorry if I’ve missed this earlier on in the thread, but when will the order book close on these wagons on the website? Cheers Chris

@nickb4141 personally I used the team up at Rainbow Railways, I’ve never been a fan of using the biggest retailers as I feel you loose a personal touch. I’ve shopped with rainbow railways for some time among other retailers and you don’t get lost as just a customer number. (Not attempting to bad mouth rails). I used them for my cavalex purchase of which I got 4 56’s from them, all sent next day delivery, received the day after a friendly phone call to confirm they were charging my card and they arrived the next day. Always helpful and always a pleasure!

I don’t think they’ve announced what it is yet, probably to be announced later on…

Can’t wait for my WCRC pair the arrive hopefully they get out to my retailer quickly after they arrive with you guys!

Thats because Bachmann seem to be picking the most awkward locos to model. 37422 in the condition is not possible to renumber accurately. Look at 47790 in DRS is not accurate for a renumber. They would sell more if they picked ones that can be changed and re-worked into others rather than one-offs. Would that be the class 66, of which releases have disappeared and with Accurascale’s release looming there market share looks to be disappearing in the 66 range.

So Ultimate Model Railways are having there own limited edition? So we have 60062 & 60081 for rails and now another for ultimate to look forward too…

With the 185, there are quite a few liveries now. So we’ve had the First Dynamic lines TPE (with and without First Branding) now the silver/blue TPE Livery (with and without First Branding). But there was at least one set in First barbie/swoosh style livery, you’ve had the dynamic lines Capital of culture, the poppy livery and Manchester pride one. Then the TPE liveries for Andy’s man club another poppy livery, Victoria cross hero’s and the Manchester Bee livery. Would be good to do some of those as exclusives and maybe charity editions like the 66’s we are seeing, but if AS didn’t do it then I doubt the charity’s would see a donation.

Quick question on these, I’m guessing that the couplings and front valances are the same as the Hattons ones?

Does anyone have a spare front valence (can be for coupler or not) for a DRS Plain Blue model or a central sandbox? if you do have either of those spares, please drop me a message, cheers all!

Well this really has opened a tin of worms hasn’t it 🤣 Here’s my MU wish list; 170: 2/3 First Dynamic Lines, 1 Northern 185; 6-9. 2/3 First Dynamic lines, 2/3 Dynamic line debranded, 2/3 current TPE livery. 220/1; 3/4 Cross Country Livery, 2 Virgin 222: 1 7 car set EMT 313: T7 translator vehicles 319 : 1/2 Northern Blue 321: 1 Northern Plain Blue, 1 WYPTE 322: 1 Northern Plain Blue 333: 2 x WYPTE 325: 4 Differing mail liveries 350: 2 x First Dynamic lines, 2 x TPE, 2x London Midland 390: 3 Virgin, (1/2 special liveries) Obviously don’t release them all at the same time 😳😬🫠 I know that a lot of these you can already buy, However I do feel those ones are low hanging fruit (barring maybe the 390 and 350 but these are certainly not all singing all dancing models). The 170, 220/221 toolings are very old, and not even DCC ready and with the second hand sale prices of voyagers especially there has to be a demand for a new tooling. I own one of each of the old toolings but I’d be getting rid tomorrow for an all singing all dancing model. Other than the 185’s I think the rest are fairly niche unfortunately, there’s a chance a 321/9 or 322 would happen if demand for the units was great enough for other liveries (these units have had lots of liveries in there time). I think I’m unlikely to see a class 333 ever made, they have had a few liveries now (3 I believe) and been around a good 20ish years but only ever in the Leeds area which is limiting unfortunately. Again though I share the feelings around Hornby making units, I have a TPE 802 on order but I can’t help feeling that actually it would be better if someone else made it… To leap to there defence the Stadler Flirt they are doing does look very good! Although it is of no interest to me. My hope would be they transfer those level of details to everything else now, we will see in time. I know Bachman are probably the favourites to do the 170, 185, 220, 221, 319 and 350 but they are certainly taking there time on re-tooling or creating a tooling or upscaling and then there is the question of if they can make it cost effective? In the mean time, it’s seeing who else is after the same style units and building a better understanding of the market and what would go down well and how to do it, I think if you have a multigenerational unit (20+ Years of use), being able to release one unit for a region and era at a time would allow everyone who wants it to buy it then in a re-run offering a second one allowing funds to recoup for a second purchase, while maximising a tooling and production run would be a good idea.

I have some Class 180’s and 175’s on order as a modern image modeller, and young(ish) modeller I think it’s an interesting thought of what I want to see and what I want to pay for it. Personally I model what I saw when I used to go train spotting and travel on trains, so for me 2010-2018 is my era so I’ll always enjoy seeing stuff that did run in that time period being made. There’s a big gap in the EMU market especially late 1990’s onwards in OO. We’ve seen some southern units being made and now I think we are beginning to see people dip the toe into other areas and eras (Dapol 323’s among others). I think the greatest market is for those units that have had the longest time in service. Immediately I’m struck by 313’s, 507/8’s, 319’s, 321’s, 365’s, 455’s as such the investment in tooling these models would mean that they cover 30+ years of service allowing for livery changes and maximum spread over eras to suit more modellers and regions. I do see the appeal for things such as Electrostars as with a good tooling suite it might be possible to make all the variations and thus make the most from an investment from the tooling. This doesn’t appeal to me personally as it’s not my region but how many more people would model it if the units were available? I think the phrase “Build it and they will come” feels appropriate for the Electrostar family. In terms of price I feel that £500 for a sound fitted 5 car is probably the top end of the budget, however if it’s all singing all dancing then people may squeeze the pockets for it and we know that Accurascale do all singing all dancing but the IRM models are all very competitively priced as well. I’ll stop rambling now, all of the above is opinion and not fact 🤣

I’m pretty sure they didn’t choose to put a faulty motor into the models, I also think they had assurances from manufacturers regarding quality and failure rates. It’s unfortunate, I’m sure they will learn from it, and in the meantime the customer service and 24/7 helpfulness of the AS team can help get things sorted.

As someone who doesn’t have half of the Bachmann limited editions such as the TFL ones or 66720 or 66111 among others I would actually welcome AS doing these to there standard as I’d be able to get hold of them, I think the sale values on eBay show there is a demand and I like to see the bubble being burst on those trying to sell them for so much!

Has @Accurascale Fran set you on as his common sense PA, each reply you save him gives you Accurascale points to use towards models 🤣

I’ve now got all 6 of mine, look lovely and I think when the Revolution Parr’s, Mullet’s and SuperTench’s arrive will look brilliant all together! I’m hoping there are some plans for some osprey’s in the pipeline…

I mean Bachmann have only released one modern one (2011+) and I’ve bought it, I’ll wait and see when they get round to doing some more for my era! Meanwhile there’s larger boxes with 37’s in everywhere because they’ve hit my era!

I think that there are bigger gaps in Modern image units than 150’s. I can agree to a point with a 155, as that hasn’t had any upgrade since pre DCC ready or even directional lights! But the 170’s and the Desiro family are another few models lacking detail and the 220/221 and also 222 fleets are in need of revamp, especially if you look at how much these sets (220/221) are selling for on eBay second hand. I also think there are markets for brand new units such as Electrostar’s, 320/321/322 etc. and 185’s that would be more profitable then a diluted market that may or may not want to replace what they have. Even though if someone did a 150 to the Bachmann 158/ Realtrack 156 standards I would replace my 150’s.

Depends which 325 you are on about 325 is indeed what you state, but this is a normal part of the set but also the met-cam Pullman coach Amber which has the same 325 number although it is known by 99025 as well. This is the replacement for the coach that suffered an electrical fire. I believe this will be fixed and put back into the set once fixed.

Yes, WCRC have had this out in recent trips. Flickr along with my own recent sightings while out on the network confirm this. It now looks a bit worse for wear but so does the whole set now it’s being used as much, often one of the sleeper coaches is swapped out for it, not that the BG has any sleeper facilities to my knowledge.

Actually, if they were to put lights on some steam models I’d be happy as a modern image modeller. Mainly because steam on the mainline now usually has the same headlamp layout, black central main headlight lit, and then smaller fake lamps either lit or not either side. And as a DCC modeller if I can light them and turn them on off or even have a red light if done right I’d welcome it, but I can see how a DC modeller wouldn’t want them but why not have like a blue box company and have DC, DCC and DCC deluxe versions, no lights, fake lights and DCC lights. Our hobby is evolving and technology is at the heart of it, if it’s done well we should welcome it!

If I were to use my mystic Meg powers, or a crystal ball then I would think another batch is in the offing. Obviously the current ones should sell through first, once all gone then a new batch would be announced when a production slot is sorted. I would think we could see; 92029 in New DB red (it’s new) 92031 in EWS (they did tell us they had tooled this one) any of the 3TG w/ EWS stickers (popular and ever present) GBRf grey 92044 (missing from the last batch and different to 043’s grey) Another RFD model (popular and lots of choice) another SNCF model (rails exclusive went quickly) GBRF 92028 in blue (020&032 been done) CS 92033 (seen as it’s named, because who doesn’t like a named one). Or something along these lines. New liveries and current additions for those in the here and now, along with late 90’s models for those in the RFD/ early EWS days and some for the in-between too like me.

I suppose buying a Romanian example and then modifying it might work depending on how the chassis would look with the cab cut away, then giving it a respray.

Doesn't this one need it own special tooling if it was made? Is it not a Doncaster example but with cut away buffer beams meaning it’s unlike any other one? I’d love a model of this one too but unless I’m wrong it would be very expensive to make, here’s hoping I am!

It looks more like a storm trooper there to me!😆