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Locomotion Models announce D8000 and King George V models


Andy Y
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Royal Addition to the National Collection in Miniature

 

 

Two shiny new models will soon be part of the 2015 National Collection in Miniature and only available from locomotionmodels.com

 

Locomotionmodels.com are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of two new models that will be part of their ‘National Collection in Miniature’.  Working with two of the leading UK model railway manufactures, locomotionmodels.com will be releasing within the next two to three months two new ‘00’ models which are sure to be in demand with their loyal and collecting enthusiasts.

 

The first will be a limited production run by Bachmann of 500 English Electric BR Class 20 No. D8000 locomotive, produced in the early BR green livery and with exWorks gloss finish. Of the 500 produced 150 will be made available with Sound for those who enjoy the authentic sounds of the railway. 

 

D8000a.jpg

 

D8000b.jpg

 

The second model to be announced by the team at Shildon is the BR 6000 Class, ‘King George V’ again presented in the exWorks and preserved gloss finish of the prototype.  This special commission from Hornby is a limited edition of just 250 pieces with each model being provided with a limited edition certificate individually signed by Brian Greenwood, Chairman of the Locomotion Joint Management Board and Simon Kohler. 

 

Locomotion_King.jpg

 

Locomotion_King_box.jpg

 

Asked to comment, Brian Greenwood said, ’We are genuinely excited and pleased with these two new releases, not only because of their uniqueness in finish but also because each will be supplied in packaging featuring our new ‘National Collection in Miniature’ brand style.  The D8000 will have a packaging sleeve which features the generic artwork of locomotionmodels.com while the ‘King George V’ will have its own unique and dedicated ‘National Collection in Miniature’ packaging.’

 

Never one to miss an opportunity to pass comment, Simon Kohler added, ‘The DCC Ready Class 20 models will be with Locomotionmodels.com in July with the 150 Sound versions being released some weeks later.  As for the ‘King George V’ limited edition, we have been assured by Hornby that they will be available by mid to late September.’ Simon continued, ‘These are exciting times for us at Locomotionmodels.com and we will have plenty more to talk about in the forthcoming months. Watch this space!’

  

As advised there will be further announcements of several new models later in the year and it is suggested that collectors should register for the Locomotionmodels.com newsletter so as to be aware of forthcoming new releases. 

 

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Good to see these - and in the 'new style packing'. I was at the NRM (York) a few days ago and thought then that the model display cabinet could do with some 'corporate identity'. I wish Brian and Simon all the best in this worthwhile venture - with more to come.

 

Brian

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Is this in the wrong sub forum? Surely Locomotion are a shop/commissioner not manufacturer? Maybe time to revamp and make new division for manufacturers and commissioners. It would be much fairer all round and more obvious where to look.

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Because the announcement concerns two separate manufacturers and it is at the point where Locomotion now merits a separate section. Others may do in due course.

 

It is a product/trade area and not necessarily just for a manufacturer.

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Because the announcement concerns two separate manufacturers and it is at the point where Locomotion now merits a separate section. Others may do in due course.

By that description then, we should already have had such as Hattons, Kernow, Harburn, Invicta, Osbournes, Rail Exclusives, N Gauge Society, etc etc for some time. Surely need to be fair all and equal.

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I wonder how many of these are destined for collector's shelves, never to be run, rather than on actual layouts ?

 

Maybe a separate version, without a motor, might sell well ?

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I wonder how many of these are destined for collector's shelves, never to be run, rather than on actual layouts ?

 

Maybe a separate version, without a motor, might sell well ?

A significant proportion of every model produced goes into storage boxes, lofts and in display cases, never to be run. Even many of those bought with good intentions never turn a wheel in my experience.

The motor is such a tiny part of the cost (literally a few pence in the case of mass produced basic motors) that it's not worth the additional work and cost of producing a separate, unpowered version. There's also the question of what collectors want. Is it the proper version, or would they settle for the second class solution of one without a motor?

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The timing of the release of D8000 seems a bit strange. Surely it might have had more significance if the model was introduced in June 2017, sixty years after the introduction of the first of the modernisation mainline diesel locomotives.

 

Just a thought

 

Clive, who like D8000 is 58 years old this month.

Edited by Clive Mortimore
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Interesting that we now have two major (in one case 'national') railway museums marketing under their own brands models of the same National Collection engine.  Interesting too that the NRM seem to be at last prepared to trust a model in their 'National Collection in Miniature' brand to one of Hornby parentage - an interesting step forward.  As is the reported quantity which represents a major step change in numbers for a Hornby commission; will they now be taking on wider commission orders for fewer than batches of 1,000 models I wonder?  Maybe the reduction in number shows just how keen they were to finally get into the NRM range?

 

So lots of interesting questions, and departures from past policy, in this particular announcement.

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I wonder how many of these are destined for collector's shelves, never to be run, rather than on actual layouts ?

 

 

With only 250 being done, I'd guess very nearly all of them.

 

KGV is a very popular loco and Hornby have effectively locked themselves out of doing it in that livery as a production model.

 

It seems to me that the NRM shouldn't have had any difficulty selling at least twice that number.

 

Hatton's/DJM must be rubbing their hands in glee.

 

John

Edited by Dunsignalling
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The King is just a high gloss finish model of the standard release R3330 which Hornby are doing this year with a certificate and special box for Locomotion. Not sure if this will cut down on the number of standard models available or if the run has been increased to produce the extra models.

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The King is just a high gloss finish model of the standard release R3330 which Hornby are doing this year with a certificate and special box for Locomotion. Not sure if this will cut down on the number of standard models available or if the run has been increased to produce the extra models.

That explains everything. The special edition is only aimed at collectors.

 

John

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Interesting choice of Diesel prototype (which may well tempt me); I had wondered whether they'd do D200 but hadn't thought of the other English Electric pioneer in the National Collection!

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I doubt it they are rubbing hands with glee, and we have the option of twice that number too..

 

Steam museum in Swindon are als doing an "exclusive limited edition of 500" as preserved, using the DJM tooling.

 

So 250 of one and 500 of the other, but no one so far has bothered about the other preserved king... 6024.

 

We don't know:

A. The price

B. The quality of the job.

 

Both of these factors are quite important and will over time determine the winner.

6024 in preserved condition is included in the Hattons list of a multitude of 'Kings'.

 

Steam have a  price on their website for their version; Locomotion have yet to add anything online regarding the two new releases which kicked off this thread but they might well be following their usual course of contacting past customers direct in view of the very limited number of 'Kings' they will have available?

 

PS It would appear from descriptions/illustrations that both of the museum editions (i.e. from Shildon and Swindon) only represent the engine is its preserved state and therefore are not correct for it when it was in traffic

Edited by The Stationmaster
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As I struggle on with the restoration of my Wills Finecast King I am reminded of a time when I owned and completely rebuilt a 1952 MG TD. I shipped it to Houston where I found it was in competition with replica MGs, built on a VW Beetle platform. The value of my investment went down in the short term but then all those VW fakes started to disappear and I was able to find a good home for the car when it was no longer a part of my life.

 

So I continue on with the white metal King in the knowledge that all these modern collectors items will ultimately disappear, leaving the old paper weight to regain its status of King of the Hill (Snow Hill, of course!)

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I doubt it they are rubbing hands with glee, and we have the option of twice that number too..

 

Steam museum in Swindon are als doing an "exclusive limited edition of 500" as preserved, using the DJM tooling.

 

So 250 of one and 500 of the other, but no one so far has bothered about the other preserved king... 6024.

 

We don't know:

A. The price

B. The quality of the job.

 

Both of these factors are quite important and will over time determine the winner.

Yes, but the main thing is that what is likely to be one of the more popular versions of the King (the as-preserved KGV but without the "benefit" of an extra coat of gloss varnish) is being made in the sort of numbers (by both players) that should satisfy those who actually want one to run.

 

Hatton's have the DJM KGV listed as a normal issue (Ref. HK15).

 

Presumably 6024 in preserved form would require extra tooling for its cut-down fittings.

 

John

 

,

Edited by Dunsignalling
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As I struggle on with the restoration of my Wills Finecast King I am reminded of a time when I owned and completely rebuilt a 1952 MG TD. I shipped it to Houston where I found it was in competition with replica MGs, built on a VW Beetle platform. The value of my investment went down in the short term but then all those VW fakes started to disappear and I was able to find a good home for the car when it was no longer a part of my life.

So I continue on with the white metal King in the knowledge that all these modern collectors items will ultimately disappear, leaving the old paper weight to regain its status of King of the Hill (Snow Hill, of course!)[/quote

 

I cannot really see that happening but I am glad you feel optimist.

 

So, is anyone intending to buy all 4 brand new King George Vs in their various packaging and minor quirks?

 

While a popular loco, I starting to get worried that museums and shops will be stuck with an abundance. This model will only look correct on a 21st century layout and out of place with the popular BR steam era. However I hope time shows I am wrong on that one.

 

And soon there will 3 DCC sound fitted 20s to choose from (the weather blue one, the collectors club one, now the NRM one) shame it does not have lights which would make the deal for me.

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As I struggle on with the restoration of my Wills Finecast King I am reminded of a time when I owned and completely rebuilt a 1952 MG TD. I shipped it to Houston where I found it was in competition with replica MGs, built on a VW Beetle platform. The value of my investment went down in the short term but then all those VW fakes started to disappear and I was able to find a good home for the car when it was no longer a part of my life.

So I continue on with the white metal King in the knowledge that all these modern collectors items will ultimately disappear, leaving the old paper weight to regain its status of King of the Hill (Snow Hill, of course!)[/quote

 

I cannot really see that happening but I am glad you feel optimist.

 

So, is anyone intending to buy all 4 brand new King George Vs in their various packaging and minor quirks?

 

While a popular loco, I starting to get worried that museums and shops will be stuck with an abundance. This model will only look correct on a 21st century layout and out of place with the popular BR steam era. However I hope time shows I am wrong on that one.

 

And soon there will 3 DCC sound fitted 20s to choose from (the weather blue one, the collectors club one, now the NRM one) shame it does not have lights which would make the deal for me.

I suspect the potential problem is most likely to impact on Steam rather than Locomotion.  I think it fairly certain that the Locomotion model will be on, and no doubt off, the shelves first as the date of delivery implies that actual production is as near to starting as makes little difference but I do wonder if there really is a market for 750 museum priced examples in total although Steam's will undoubtedly sell to a hardcore of local supporters and followers many of whom might not even have a  model railway and the total number is admittedly less than one past 'museum edition' of a GWR 4-6-0.

 

Overall I would however be concerned to see the Locomotion (as representative of the NRM and what amounts to the controller of commercial licensing of models of  National Collection items) starting to get into a fragmented situation such as is represented by two 'Kings' and to a lesser extent as appears to be happening with the Class 71.  I have tried to support the museums through purchase of the models as I know the premium on the 'normal' price, certainly in the case of Steam (where I know some of the past numbers) creates a worthwhile financial contribution to the development of the museum - no doubt the same applies with Locomotion/the NRM (although I don't know of any numbers in that case).  But when both are offering the same thing I, and possibly others, am not really in a situation where I can support both, especially because in effect I would simply be buying what amounts to a duplicated model (notwithstanding various potential technical differences between them).  

 

Duplication in the overall marketplace is one thing - duplication in a very specialised, limited, and usually more expensive market is rather different and i seriously wonder if 'someone' is more likely to be damaged in consequence?

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PS It would appear from descriptions/illustrations that both of the museum editions (i.e. from Shildon and Swindon) only represent the engine is its preserved state and therefore are not correct for it when it was in traffic

Yes. It was my understanding that only the Hattons HK01 version of No. 6000 with the garter crest (confusingly labelled as "roundel" will represent KGV in (GWR) running condition.

 

The second, Hattons, version HK15, (also available from STEAM with brass bell etc) represents 1971 condition, similar to both the Hornby R3330 and this new version by Locomotion Models.

Edited by Ozexpatriate
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