Jump to content
 

Bachmann 2018 mid-year update


Andy Y
 Share

Recommended Posts

Bachmann today held their mid-year press day to update us with latest progress; back with a big bang with loads to see and an upbeat message on new production facilities coming on-stream at Gaobo with a dedicated railway production facility. Steve Tooley, R&D manager demonstrated that the workflow is improving backed up with the evidence of many new models reaching EP stage.

 

Press Day 31 August 2018

Presentation Notes

 

Overview

 

Branchline products due for/delivered 2018

 

Class 150/2

Class 70 (with revised air intake)

LBSCR Atlantic – in transit

BR Jinty with Sound

GNR Atlantic – (new tender variant)

Thompson Coaches

MK2F Coaches – in transit

POTS Coaches – in transit

FFA/FGA Container Flats – in transit

Carflats

OO9 – 
Baldwin Tank loco
Bogie Covered (Ambulance) Van
Open D bogie wagon

 

Farish – delivered 2018

Hawksworth coaches – 1st run in maroon livery

 

Commissions – delivered 2018

Carflats – 6 variants for The N Gauge Society

Commisions – Flats and Bolster wagons (13 variants) for TMC

 

Since December 2017 there have been 16 upgraded or totally new products delivered or due for imminent arrival.

The Narrow-Gauge range has been very well received and has sold out in each instance prior to arrival.

 

Branchline - Western Pullman

 

Western Pullman.jpg

 

 

  • Sound capability with two independant DCC sound systems each mounted in the roof of the power cars
  • Upgraded speaker system with roof mounted sugar cube speakers and custom designed sound chamber  

Pre-orders for this premium train set have been extremely strong and we believe the fully configured independently controlled twin sound system we are demonstrating today will continue to build on this.

Likewise the Farish train pack version has again seen very strong pre-sale order intake. 

 

 

Branchine EP1’s

 

Class 117

 

 

117.jpg

 

  • 3-Car Diesel Multiple Unit
  • To be produced in 3 liveries – BR Green, BR Blue & Grey, Network South East
  • Features – Directional Lighting, Interior Lighting, Speaker fitted
  • 21 Pin DCC Decoder socket

 

Class 117 – Highly detailed underframe – plated and non-plated headcode variants – earlier variants with no tail lights – square buffers and no corridor connector – later version gangwayed 

 

CLASS.117.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.117.EP.03.jpg

 

CLASS.117.EP.04.jpg

 

 

 

Class 121

 

CLASS.121.GROUP.EP.jpg

 

  • Diesel Railcar
  • To be produced in 3 liveries – BR Green, BR Blue & Grey, Network South East
  • Features Directional Lighting, Interior Lighting, Speaker fitted, Flexible Speedo Drive between body and bogie, 21 Pin DCC Socket

Class 121 – Plated and non-plated headcode boxes – again  highly detailed underframe – square and round buffer variants – later variant with bodyside grill

 

CLASS.121.35-525.BACK.EP.jpg

 

CLASS.121.35-525.FRONT.EP.jpg

 

CLASS.121.35-527.BACK.EP.jpg

 

CLASS.121.35-527.FRONT.EP.jpg

 

CLASS.121.DETAIL.EP.jpg

 

CLASS.121.Z001.FRONT.EP.jpg

 

 

 

Class 414/2HAP

 

CLASS.414.2HAP.EP.01.jpg

 

 

Class 414/2HAP – Flexible speedo drive – high intensity headlight – highly detailed underframe – not just a simple combination of a Thumper and an EPB as was initially suggested

  • 2 Car Electric Multiple Unit
  • To be produced in 3 liveries – BR Green, BR Blue & Grey, Network South East
  • Features – Illuminated and Interchangeable Head-code panels, all wheel pick up with conductive coupling, Speaker fitted
  • 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket

CLASS.414.2HAP.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.414.2HAP.EP.03.jpg

 

 

Class 24

 

CLASS.24.01.EP.01.jpg

 

 

  • To be produced in 3 liveries – BR Green with small yellow panel,

BR Green & BR Blue

  • Includes Directional Lighting, Cab lighting, Sprung Buffers and pre-fitted speaker
  • 21 Pin DCC Decoder socket

 

Class 24 – Accurate cab roof and window profile – highly detailed moulded grill variants – comprehensive tooling to cover many sub-class variants – with and without underframe fairing – highly detailed bogies with etched components to enhance detail – plated and open boiler grill variants

 

CLASS.24.01.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.24.02.EP.01.jpg

 

CLASS.24.02.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.24.DETAIL.EP.01.jpg

 

CLASS.24.DETAIL.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.24.DETAIL.EP.03.jpg

 

 

Engineering Prototypes at EP2 Stage

 

Class 158

 

CLASS.158.01.EP.01.jpg

 

  • 3 Livery Variants
  • Multiple detail variants
  • Switchable day/night modes, illuminated destination blinds, factory fitted speaker
  • 21 Pin DCC decoder socket installed

 

Class 158 – Working door interlock lights – Interior and directional lights – day/night light mode – Cummins and Perkins diesel engine variants – low profile mechanism – easy access decoder install via underframe clip fit hatch

 

CLASS.158.01.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.158.02.EP.01.jpg

 

CLASS.158.02.EP.02.jpg

 

CLASS.158.GROUP.EP.jpg

 

CAD design stage

 

Johnson 1P

  • Produced in Midland Railway Crimson, LMS Unlined Black and BR Lined Black
  • Includes pre fitted speaker, Realistic Firebox Flicker, Sprung Buffers
  • Variants include Round top and Belpaire firebox, Condensing Equipment for Metropolitan Railway working

Enable with an 18 Pin Decoder socket

Johnson 1P – number of variants have effectively demanded two body shell types to cover – different vacuum ejectors – different sandboxes – Salter and Ross Pop safety valves – with or without push pull apparatus – condensing and non-condensing boilers – two versions of chimney, smoke box door and coal rails    

 

Quarry Hunslet

  • To be produced in 4 liveries specific to the Quarry’s they operated at
  • Cob or no cab variants
  • Includes 6 Pin DCC Decoder Socket

 

Quarry Hunslet – with or without cab – different chimney heights – different buffer beams – different handrails – Ramsbottom and Salter safety valve versions with trumpet where relevant

 

94xx Pannier

  • To be produced in 3 liveries – GWR Green, BR Black early Crest, BR black late crest
  • Body variations dependant on Swindon works or outside contractor built loco’s
  • Factory fitted speaker, sprung buffers, realistic firebox flicker
  • Includes Next 18 Decoder socket

 

94xx Pannier Tank – tooling to cover GWR and BR build variants (lamp irons etc.) – different bunker step variants – plated or non-plated front valance below smokebox – coreless motor

 

 

Engineering Prototypes at EP1 Stage – Farish

 

Thompson Corridor Coaches

 

THOMPSON.BRAKE.THIRD.CORRIDOR.EP.jpg

 

 

 

  • 4 Variants of coach – Corridor First, Corridor Composite, Corridor Third and Corridor Brake Third
  • 2 Liveries to be produced – LNER Teak, BR Crimson & Cream

Thompson Corridor Coaches – 4 coach types to create prototypical train

 

THOMPSON.COMPOSITE.CORIDOR.EP.jpg

 

THOMPSON.FIRST.CORRIDOR.EP.jpg

 

THOMPSON.THIRD.CORIDOR.EP.jpg

 

CAD design stage

 

Stanier Class 8F

  • Loco Drive Chassis with Coreless Motor
  • Current collected through loco and tender
  • Rivetted and Flush sided tender variants
  • Speaker fitted, factory installed sound on 372-163DS

 

Stanier Class 8F – rivetted and non-rivetted tender types – 2 wheel designs to cover cast and built up balance weight variants – late BR variant with reduced height lamp iron on smokebox door – snow plough fitted variant – with or without AWS fitment

 

Class 31 Refurbished

  • To  be produced in BR original Railfreight livery, BR Railfreight Petroleum Sector livery and Network Rail livery
  • Multiple detail varoiants
  • Includes directional lighting and factory fitted speaker
  • Includes Next 18 Decoder socket

 

Class 31 Refurbished – with or without roof cowl (hat) – side grills in horizontal or vertical position – 2 variants of high intensity headlight positions or no headlight– optional snow ploughs – prototypical A1A drive system

 

 

Further Engineering updates updates to be released at the Warley Show in November

 

Livery samples of the J72 were on show; a very appealing loco!


31-060.FRONT.jpg

 

31-061.FRONT.jpg

 

31-062.FRONT.jpg

 

31-063.FRONT.jpg

 

We'll have lots more to show in video form in a forthcoming BRM about the products and the Collectors' Club event including a ride along the Churnet Valley.

  • Like 15
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you Andy Y.

 

You mentioned the class 150/2 is being delivered in 2018, did Bachmann confirm whether they are adjusting to tooling to accommodate the toilet modification (missing small window) and WiFi modules to the roof? 

 

The class 158 looks terrific! Did Bachmann say whether they have tooled the additional WiFi modules to the roof of the GWR (and any current future livery) version? 

 

Was there any report on the status of the Class 20/3? 

 

Surprised and slightly saddened for the hobby by seeing Bachmann have not taken the opportunity to put Hatton's straight and announce a re-tool of the class 66 as rumoured. 

 

Rather chuffed with 37025 as a limited edition! Just need some Network Rail test coaches out of the Mk2F tooling! 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

Rather chuffed with 37025 as a limited edition!

 

Did I miss that above? EDIT: Now seen on separate thread.

 

Thanks Andy, but on the subject of 37s was there anything said about the timing of the Sales Rep. limited editions?

Edited by brushman47544
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

 

Surprised and slightly saddened for the hobby by seeing Bachmann have not taken the opportunity to put Hatton's straight and announce a re-tool of the class 66 as rumoured. 

 

 

Why?

 

Head to head duplication (as opposed to a manufacturer bringing out a more highly detailed model) has been proven do do nothing other than split the profits (i.e. the number of purchasers doesn't suddenly double because there are now 2 models to chose from).

 

This changes what was a positive expenditure / revenue ratio to a negative one and no half sensible business will tolerate that. It may of course be that Bachmann were working on a 66 upgrade that got put on hold when Hattons announced theirs.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

Thank you for the update Andy and to individual members who have contributed photos and information. It's much appreciated. 

 

Happy to see that 37025 has been announced as a new Rep Edition, although for modellers/collectors like myself who already have the Rails Limited Edition model from a few years ago, it's slightly annoying that a Limited Edition has been repeated even if it is in the updated guise. I would really like the new 025 but it's wether I can sell the old one first. 

 

But apart from 025 it's slightly dissapointing that 116 and 704 have been announced as older liveried models. I can think of a few modern 37s that could have been announced instead. Especially considering that the first batch of Rep Editions of 37s were all older liveries with the exception of 425 in Compass.

 

Good to see photos of the 158, I am sure the GWR one will look amazing. 

 

Alike 159220 I would be interested to hear if their are any updates on the 20/3s. After all these were announced 20 months ago now. 

 

Also interesting to see that a new Class 66 hasn't been announced, unless one gets announced at the beginning of 2019...

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

Why?

 

Head to head duplication (as opposed to a manufacturer bringing out a more highly detailed model) has been proven do do nothing other than split the profits (i.e. the number of purchasers doesn't suddenly double because there are now 2 models to chose from).

 

This changes what was a positive expenditure / revenue ratio to a negative one and no half sensible business will tolerate that. It may of course be that Bachmann were working on a 66 upgrade that got put on hold when Hattons announced theirs.

 

Agreed.

Look what has happened with the Class 71.

Eventual discounting on both models - the dealer loses out, the manufacturers lose out. We may gain in the short term as buyers, but reduced profits means less models/model shops in the future.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

 

 

Surprised and slightly saddened for the hobby by seeing Bachmann have not taken the opportunity to put Hatton's straight and announce a re-tool of the class 66 as rumoured. 

 

 

 

That presumably only matters to those who want model Class 66's in Bachmann boxes as opposed to models of Class 66's.

 

Given the customary length of Bachmann's gestation process, and the variety of liveries so far announced by Hatton's, I suspect the market would have been well-and-truly sated long before such a model came to fruition.

 

John

Edited by Dunsignalling
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Agreed.

Look what has happened with the Class 71.

Eventual discounting on both models - the dealer loses out, the manufacturers lose out. We may gain in the short term as buyers, but reduced profits means less models/model shops in the future.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

And the fragmented market probably ended the chance to have a RTR Class 74 as everyone filled their boots with discounted Class 71s.

 

 

 

Jason

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for posting Andy. Typically the long term models I am waiting for (aircon's and Freightliner's) look like they are all going to arrive at the same time. The EPs shown of all the models look very good and I am very interested in the 2HAP and class 117.

 

Rumoured retooled class 66 - why?

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

Surprised and slightly saddened for the hobby by seeing Bachmann have not taken the opportunity to put Hatton's straight and announce a re-tool of the class 66 as rumoured.

 

Why on earth would they do that? It would take them 5 years to bring it to market, and Hattons are already at first EP stage. Bachmann could never hope to catch up, especially the level of detail Hattons are announcing.

Link to post
Share on other sites

.

 

I am amazed at the detailing underneath the multiple units  -  superb.

 

Now, whether it is worth it instead of spending the money on detailed "painted" interiors is a matter of debate.

 

What is not up for debate is the fact that a 2-car unit at over £200 (discounted) is rather off putting.

 

.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Whats the latest on the crane front ?

 

 

 

You mentioned the class 150/2 is being delivered in 2018, did Bachmann confirm whether they are adjusting to tooling to accommodate the toilet modification (missing small window) and WiFi modules to the roof? 

 

The class 158 looks terrific! Did Bachmann say whether they have tooled the additional WiFi modules to the roof of the GWR (and any current future livery) version? 

 

Was there any report on the status of the Class 20/3? 

 

 

 

Does the J72 come with proper (useable) three link couplings or is it just a mock up?

 

 

If I didn't post it, it wasn't covered in the briefing but I may be able to get some answers during the week ahead.

  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

Interesting that they are going to release a Refurbished Class 31.  Hopefully they will also release non refurbished versions in the future.

 

It's a Farish product; the early-body style has already been released a few years ago.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

Delighted to see progress with the class 24. Although I realise Bachmann had always stated they were doing the version that mainly saw service on the LMR, with minute tooling differences they could easily produce the Highland version, with headlights and slotted boiler blanking grilles. However, SLW are almost certain to be doing that, so perhaps avoiding duplication is the reason.

I really love the water/fuel tanks on the 24, hope they will be available as spares. The class 117 and 121 are on my shopping list and agree with other comments that the underframe detail sets new standards of superdetailing.

Edit : surprising that the first generation DMUs are not initially offered in BR blue (as opposed the blue/grey). The livery that dominated in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. I'm sure they will come in due course.

Neil

Edited by Downendian
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...