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Bachmann Europe launch 2019 catalogues - a view of 2018


Andy Y
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Bachmann Europe Plc Launch 2019 Catalogues

 

The 2019 Bachmann Branchline and Graham Farish Catalogues were launched today at a trade event held in London. Alongside the announcement of several new-tooling projects, a host of new models utilising existing tooling were unveiled and Bachmann were able to provide updates on several highly anticipated models that are currently in development, many of which are expected to come to fruition during 2019.

 

With a changing retail climate and increased competition across multiple sectors, 2018 proved to be a challenging, but ultimately successful year for Bachmann Europe, culminating in the release of several key products during the final quarter. Alongside our in-house brands, such as Bachmann Branchline and Graham Farish, Bachmann Europe are trusted by many established partners, from Woodland Scenics to Trumpeter and Proses to HK Models, to distribute and support their products in the UK and Europe. Together, we continue to bring exciting, new products to the market – such as the Woodland Scenics Field System (static grass) and the HK Models 1:32 scale Avro Lancaster (plastic construction kit). 2018 saw the addition of the ModelMaker range of tools and hobby aids to our ever-growing portfolio, whilst Bachmann Europe was also appointed as the UK distributor for a new brand of plastic military kits – Gecko Models.

 

"Despite the closure of one of the production facilities operated by our parent company, Kader, we are pleased to report that the new facilities in China (Gaobu) that were in the process of being commissioned during 2018, are now fully operational with staffing levels continuing to rise. In addition, we have been encouraged by the number of staff who were previously employed at the now-closed factory, transferring to the new Gaobu site – bringing with them their valuable experience in the manufacture of model railway products."

 

Nevertheless, 2018 saw the release of several highly anticipated new models including the first Bachmann Narrow Gauge OO9 scale Baldwin 10-12-D Steam Locomotives and associated wagons. The Branchline OO scale H1 and H2 Atlantic Steam Locomotives were released, along with the Class 70/8 Diesel Locomotive, BR MK1 POT Stowage Vans, BR FFA/FGA Freightliner Flat Wagons, BR MK1 Carflat Wagons and the 22T Plate & Bolster Wagons – produced exclusively for The Model Centre. No less than five different types of BR MK2F Coach were released, with ‘DCC FITTED’ versions incorporating the latest digital technology giving DCC controlled lighting – including working tail lights and, where applicable, central door locking lights. Other models, such as the GNR C1 Class Atlantic Steam Locomotive and the BR MK1 Horsebox, were made available to our retail network for the first time. The Graham Farish N scale BR MK1 Carflat wagon was produced exclusively for the N Gauge Society whilst new livery variants of several popular models were released. In all, more than 250 new items were released across our Bachmann Branchline, Graham Farish and Scenecraft ranges in 2018. During 2018 Bachmann received numerous accolades for our models and we would like to thank those consumers who voted for our products, resulting in the following achievements:

 

BMRA_logo_awards_2017 200w.jpg

 

2017 British Model Railway Awards (RMweb/BRM):

N Scale Locomotive – Graham Farish Class 40 Diesel Locomotive

N Scale Rolling Stock – Graham Farish Hawksworth Autocoach

N Scale Manufacturer – Graham Farish

OO Scale Rolling Stock – Bachmann Branchline Birdcage Coaches

Overall Manufacturer – Bachmann Europe

 

Model of the Year 2017 (Model Rail):

N Scale Locomotive – Graham Farish Class 40 Diesel Locomotive

N Scale Rolling Stock – Graham Farish Hawksworth Autocoach

N Scale Manufacturer – Graham Farish

OO Scale Multiple Units – Bachmann Branchline 4TC (Kernow)

Electronic Accessory – Woodland Scenics Just Plug Streetlights

 

Hornby Magazine Model Railway Awards 2018:

N Scale Locomotive – Graham Farish Class 40 Diesel Locomotive

Overall Manufacturer – Bachmann Europe

 

The OO9 Society’s P. D. Hancock Award:

Bachmann Narrow Gauge OO9 Scale Baldwin 10-12-D Steam Locomotive

 

Diecast Collector Awards 2017:

Bus & Coaches – Exclusive First Editions Harrington Grenadier in Maidstone & District NBC livery

 

Voting in the 2018 British Model Railway Awards was recently announced and Bachmann products will once again compete in numerous categories.

 

Today’s announcements see 475 new items added to our UK model railway ranges and during the next two weeks the Bachmann team will be travelling the length of the UK to host trade events where our 2019 programme will be presented to our trade customers. Bachmann Europe remain committed to supporting our network of retail customers across the UK, our European customers via our German office (Liliput) and the international distributors who make our products accessible to consumers further afield. Following these trade events, representatives from Bachmann will be attending the Nuremberg Toy Fair to meet with our European retailers and International distributors.

 

Members of the Bachmann Collectors Club will be among the first to see the latest developments ‘in the flesh’ when the Members Lounge returns to the London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace, London on the 23rd and 24th March 2019.

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Looking back at 2018 there’s obviously a fine set of accomplishments from Bachmann Europe although it was a lean year in terms of releases under the Farish brand in terms on new tooling. We shouldn’t forget that alongside the headline-grabbing new models there’s always a steady throughput of new liveries and numbers of existing tooling which is the bread and butter for the modeller and retailer alike.

 

On first viewing of today’s announcements it may lack the impact of previous sets of announcements, although the little Baguley and RNAD wagons gets my vote for a future personal project, it must be tempered with a dose of reality in that Bachmann do have some catching up to do with previous announcements and whilst they’re trying to do that the latter part of 2018 has been affected by the enforced relocation of production sooner than was planned. This has disrupted throughput into the market and I think it will only be after Chinese New Year that impetus resumes which, in turn, means it takes a time for projects to go through production, assembly and decoration before it can be packed on its way for a 4-6 week journey to market.

 

I am sure that everyone is trying to get everything back on track as soon as possible; it would be disappointing to see interminable personal grizzles on here about lack of announcements to cater for personal wants or needs, or enforced delays, and unless any such contributions can be balanced with something worthwhile to say there will be some pruning of pointless comments I daresay. You may have to wait a little longer than you’d like for something personal to you but it’s not the end of your world; meanwhile the team at Bachmann who have for many years kept us well furnished with useful products will be working hard to improve matters.

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Phil's down at the launch and pinging phone snaps back to me.

 

This looks rather useful.

 

Servicing point.jpg

 

Please bear in mind that Phil may have a rather different interpretation as to what's interesting down there.

 

Chopper.jpg

 

It does serve to remind us that Bachmann Europe is far more than just model railways and alarmingly I could see myself buying one of those for purely nostalgic reasons, finished in orange of course and a bruised pair of vegetables to go with the gear lever.

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Bachmann are currently experiencing website issues due to server load. It's being investigated but patience will be required. The best advice is not to keep hammering the site with repeat requests and that may help it stabilise.

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Phil's down at the launch and pinging phone snaps back to me.

 

This looks rather useful.

 

attachicon.gifServicing point.jpg

 

Please bear in mind that Phil may have a rather different interpretation as to what's interesting down there.

 

attachicon.gifChopper.jpg

 

It does serve to remind us that Bachmann Europe is far more than just model railways and alarmingly I could see myself buying one of those for purely nostalgic reasons, finished in orange of course and a bruised pair of vegetables to go with the gear lever.

I couldn't.

 

In the days before the handlebars were welded permanently in the "raked forward" position, after doing the unintentional but very ubiquitous  backflip that these things were prone to I nearly bought it under a Mk 10 Jag that was bearing down on me. The old man called them death traps! He just couldn't fathom that before the discovery of Girls, an orange chopper was the most fun that a ten year old boy could ever experience.

 

Time and experience would prove the old man was right.

 

Sid on the other hand...

 

post-508-0-67899300-1547468852.jpg

 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaar.

 

post-508-0-22139800-1547468933.jpg

 

P

Edited by Porcy Mane
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RMWeb seems to be behaving more gracefully today than this time last week....

 

It was treacly but the good news is I got to see what had been slowing it down last week and sorted it before it became a wider problem today.

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Interestingly (for my psychiatrist, if I even had one) my gaze was directed first to the clean looking Hillman Imp in the background, then to the bike.....

Hillman Imp then the bike! What bike?

 

I think you may be able to get tablets for that. If they don't work there's specialised clinics that can do surgery.    :wink_mini:

 

P

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  • RMweb Gold

Interestingly (for my psychiatrist, if I even had one) my gaze was directed first to the clean looking Hillman Imp in the background, then to the bike.....

 

What bike?  All I noticed was the lack of traffic and plenty of room to park but as the picture wouldn't enlarge I might have been missing something.

 

Now back to Phil?

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Bachmann included updates in their presentation on the anticipated release dates for several projects.

 

Bachmann Branchline

To be shipped from China in Q1

Class 90 Electric Locomotives – 3 liveries

LMS 57’ & 60’ Porthole Stock – 1st release in BR Maroon livery

OO9 Covered Goods Wagons – 2nd batch, including new liveries

 

To be shipped from China in Q2

Warflat Wagons Parrot Wagons

NER E1 (J72) Locomotives – 4 liveries/tooling variants

ROD 2-8-0 Locomotive – War Department (ROD) & LNWR liveries

OO9 Slate Wagons

OO9 Open Bogie Wagons – 2nd batch, including new liveries

 

To be shipped from China in Q3

45T Ransomes & Rapier Breakdown Crane – 4 liveries

SECR Birdcage Stock – SECR Wellington Brown & SR Malachite Green

OO9 Baldwin – 3 New liveries with further tooling options and a SOUND FITTED example

 

To be shipped from China in Q4

Class 24 Diesel – 3 liveries

Class 158 DMU – 3 liveries

Class 159 DMU – BR Network South East

Class 414/2-HAP EMU – 3 liveries

Class 117 DMU – 3 liveries

Class 121 Single Car DMU – 3 liveries

 

That certainly looks to be a busy end to the year!

 

Other project updates

Midland Class 1532 (1P) – Engineering Prototypes expected in time for the London Festival of Railway Modelling – March

Class 94xx Pannier Tank – Engineering Prototypes expected in time for the London Festival of Railway Modelling – March

Class 20/3 Diesel – Engineering Prototypes due Q2

 

Graham Farish

Train Packs & Train Sets – Shipping from China

North Eastern Freight Train Set – Q1

Western Pullman 6-Car DEMU – Q1

Avro Vulcan XH558 Train Pack – Q2

Castle Pullman SOUND FITTED Train Set – Q2

 

Locos & Stock

SECR Birdcage Coaching Stock – Q1

SECR C Class Locomotive – Q2

TEA Bogie Tank Wagon – Q2

Class 70/8 Diesel – Q3

BR MK2F Coach – Q3

Class 8F Locomotive – Q4

Thompson Coach – Q4

 

The Graham Farish catalogue features 159 new items - 13 Steam, 32 Diesel, 7 Multiple Units, 40 Coaches and 96 Wagons

 

The Branchline catalogue contains 182 new items – 22 Steam, 22 Diesel, 13 Multiple Units, 29 Coaches and 96 wagons

 

The Narrow Gauge range has more than doubled in size. With 6 newly tooled products along with new liveries, there are 22 new items in the range

 

The Scenecraft range of Narrow Gauge buildings continues to expand with 10 newly tooled Buildings and Accessories, plus further additions to the OO and N scale ranges

 

The Bachmann R&D Department continues to work on both previously announced projects, and some 30 new projects across our product portfolio for future announcement

 

The number of models offered with SOUND FITTED options continues to grow across the Branchline & Graham Farish ranges, the 2019 Graham Farish range includes 12 SOUND FITTED models and there are no less than 40 SOUND FITTED models in the 2019 Branchline range

 

"We continue to commission and develop sound and other function capabilities, in conjunction with world class DCC hardware manufacturers and leading experts in the sound file recording field – with bespoke sound projects created for each mode."

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