More model ideas

[25901]

15 hours ago, mdvle said:

 

Which is a problem for those like me who want a Class 155, as I have fond memories of them in South Devon.

 

 

Don’t think so, more like South Yorkshire

[Gilbert]

On 21/07/2020 at 12:56, McC said:

 

Not wanting to stirrup trouble, having to rein it in a little bit might  be better than foals rushing in, we don't want to be saddled with a spur of the moment decision that could end up a right mare!

Fnarrr....

You know it makes sense....

[mdvle]

55 minutes ago, 25901 said:

Don’t think so, more like South Yorkshire

 

The Class 155 units spent time when first introduced down in Devon/Cornwall prior to being split up to create the Class 153's.

 

Paignton 1991

 

Teignmouth in 1990

 

Edited May 31, 2021 by mdvle

[66738]

3 hours ago, 25901 said:

Don’t think so, more like South Yorkshire

West Yorkshire and Calder valley to Leeds/York - Man Vic/Blackpool. And only very recently the East Riding/Hull. No drivers based in South Yorkshire have ever signed them. Very rare for them to venture into South Yorkshire. I’ve taken a 155 to Sheffield only twice in my entire career. 

66738

Edited May 31, 2021 by 66738

[atom3624]

UK had 2 0-10-0 locomotives.

Either - or both! - would be very interesting models.

Both were historically significant - one for speeding up commuting, the other for aiding heavy / stalled trains on a certain hill.

 

Al.

[The Stationmaster]

Simples.  a quik shuffle through the Freight Manual brought this one to mind - a nice Paul Bartlett pic to stir interest

 

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brbco

 

This must be the ultimate BoBol - the Bogie Bolster C haf d GWR origins but over the years the desgn was adapted and adopted so basically a long life, livery variations, some detail changes to keep the researcher and  tool makers employed, suitable for multi packs and a variety of loads to give Accuraloads something to do as well.   What more could you want?  (I'll take three on announcement please).

[Deltic Man]

These would be my wish list wagons (not my pictures) both versions in may livery variants

[sulzer71]

Not for everyone but I'd love to see the Interfrigo vans made as per thread below

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/133740-photos-of-mixed-trains-passenger-trains-with-tail-traffic-west-highland-mallaig-extension-blue-diesel-era/&tab=comments#comment-3582636

[XChris]

If i was looking at Wagons, I'd really like to see the PNA Plasmor Brick Wagons or the WBB minerals Sand wagons PAA wagons, however I feel Cavalex are probe closer to tooling a PAA wagon from there earlier releases. Photo credit to the links on flickr...

 

 

 

Then I'd probably be looking at 175/180 & 185 DMU's as mentioned before by others or 320/1/2 EMU's which I think would be popular and have various liveries and run all over from greater anglia, to Scotland and west Yorkshire to Tring in era's to suit lots of people's layouts.

[Ncarter2]

Seeing as the AS team like a challenge and something different, what about the HOBC or TRS systems? If that might be a little too ambitions then there is also the MOBC or the LWRT / RDT. 
MK1 & 2 Bodied EMU’s would surly be a big hit.

Personally, I would be very keen to see the 58. Heljan and EFE is good, but could be so much better! 

[TravisM]

13 hours ago, XChris said:

If i was looking at Wagons, I'd really like to see the PNA Plasmor Brick Wagons or the WBB minerals Sand wagons PAA wagons, however I feel Cavalex are probe closer to tooling a PAA wagon from there earlier releases. Photo credit to the links on flickr...

 

 

 

Then I'd probably be looking at 175/180 & 185 DMU's as mentioned before by others or 320/1/2 EMU's which I think would be popular and have various liveries and run all over from greater anglia, to Scotland and west Yorkshire to Tring in era's to suit lots of people's layouts.

From a personal point of view, I think the PNA Plasmoor has to be the wagon for me.  If they were doing a EMU, start with the first and move on - the Class 313 family.

[Phatbob]

As Accurascale seem to have carved themselves a niche as the provider of nuclear related rolling stock, how about and original 12-wheeler Magnox flask wagon for us transition era types?

[Wickham Green too]

On 15/06/2021 at 20:09, Ncarter2 said:

...... MK1 & 2 Bodied EMU’s would surly be a big hit. ........

As surely as a MkII bodied DEMU has got to be on Accurascale / I.R.M.'s own wish list !

[reddragon]

On 30/04/2021 at 02:48, jools1959 said:

Not being able to sleep because of being in terrible pain in my back, I’ve decided to compile a list of TOPS RTR OO/4mm diesel and electric loco’s that have been produced since 2000.  It’s a broad spectrum and I know there will be gaps and errors, but the guys from Accurascale might take a look and see where the interest for their next loco or loco’s might be.

 

Diesel;

 

Class 01 - Barclay 0-4-0 shunter - Never been produced in rtr

Class 02 - YEC 0-4-0 shunter - Being produced by Heljan 

Class 03 - BR 0-6-0 shunter - Bachmann

Class 04 - Drury 0-6-0 shunter - Bachmann

Class 05 - Hunslet 0-6-0 shunter - Heljan 

Class 06 - Barclay 0-4-0 shunter - Hornby - very poor representation 

Class 07 - R&H 0-6-0 shunter - Heljan

Class 08/09 - BR 0-6-0 shunter - Bachmann/Hornby

Class 10 - BR 0-6-0 shunter - Never been produced in rtr

Class 11 - LMS/BR 0-6-0 shunter - Model Rail exclusive by Heljan 

Class 12 - LMS/BR 0-6-0 shunter - Never been produced in rtr

Class 13 - BR 0-6-0+0-6-0 shunter- Never been produced in rtr

Class 14 - BR 0-6-0 - Heljan 

Class 15 - BTH Bo-Bo - Heljan 

Class 16 - NB Bo-Bo - Heljan 

Class 17 - Clayton Bo-Bo - Heljan 

Class 20 - Bachmann/ Hornby Railroad range

Class 21 - NB Bo-Bo - Dapol

Class 22 - NB B-B - Dapol

Class 23 - EE Bo-Bo - Heljan 

Class 24 - BR Bo-Bo - Bachmann/SLW

Class 25 - BR Bo-Bo - Bachmann/SLW

Class 26 - BRCW Bo-Bo - Heljan 

Class 27 - BRCW Bo-Bo - Heljan 

Class 28 - MetroVic Co-Bo - Heljan

Class 29 - NB Bo-Bo - Dapol

Class 31 - Brush A1A-A1A - Hornby

Class 33 - BRCW Bo-Bo - Heljan - Early models had dimension issues 

Class 35 - PB B-B - Heljan 

Class 37 - EE Co-Co - Accurascale/Bachmann/Hornby Railroad range/Vi-Trains

Class 40 - EE 1Co-Co1 - Bachmann

Class 41 - NB C-C - Kernow

Class 42 - BR B-B - Bachmann

Class 43 - NB B-B - Bachmann

Class 43 - BR Bo-Bo HST Power Car - Hornby

Class 44 - BR 1Co-Co1 - Bachmann

Class 45/46 - BR 1Co-Co1 - Bachmann/Heljan 

Class 47 - Brush/BR Co-Co - Bachmann/Heljan/Hornby Railroad range/Vi-Trains

Class 48 - Brush/BR Co-Co - Model Rail exclusive by Heljan 

Class 50 - EE Co-Co - Hornby

Class 52 - BR C-C - Dapol

Class 53 - Brush Co-Co - Heljan

Class 55 - EE Co-Co - Accurascale/Bachmann

Class 56 - BR Co-Co - Hornby

Class 57 - BR Co-Co - Bachmann

Class 58 - BR Co-Co - Heljan

Class 59 - EMD Co-Co - Dapol/Hornby Railroad range

Class 60 - Brush Co-Co - Hornby

Class 66 - EMD Co-Co - Bachmann/Hatton’s/Hornby

Class 67 - EMD Bo-Bo - Hornby

Class 68 - Stadler - Bo-Bo - Dapol

Class 70 - GE Co-Co - Bachmann

 

Electro-Diesel and 3rd Rail;

 

Class 71 - BR Bo-Bo - DJ Models/Hornby 

Class 73 - BR/EE Bo-Bo - Dapol/Hornby

Class 74 - BR Rebuild Bo-Bo - Never been produced in rtr

 

OHLE Electric;

 

Class 76 - BR Bo+Bo - Heljan

Class 77 - BR Co-Co - Heljan 

Class 81 - BRCW Bo-Bo - Never been produced in rtr

Class 82 - MetroVic/BP Bo-Bo - Never been produced in rtr

Class 83 - EE Bo-Bo - Never been produced in rtr

Class 84 - NB Bo-Bo - Never been produced in rtr

Class 85 - BR Bo-Bo - Bachmann

Class 86 - BR Bo-Bo - Heljan/Hornby 

Class 87 - BR Bo-Bo - Hornby

Class 88 - Stadler Bo-Bo - Never been produced in rtr

Class 89 - BR Co-Co - Proposed by Rails of Sheffield 

Class 90 - BR Bo-Bo - Bachmann/Hornby 

Class 91 - BR Bo-Bo - Hornby 

Class 92 - Brush Co-Co - Accurascale/Hornby 

 

I was hoping that doing this list would send me off to sleep, even that didn’t work.  I’ve not included one off’s, prototypes and PWay loco’s, I just put this together to show what’s been done, what can be improved on and what’s in the pipeline.

What about the Bulleid DC Southern Railway class 70's CC1 - CC3 or 20001-20003 ? You missed that critical gap!

[reddragon]

There are so many posts on here asking for revamps of locos already made, surely that simply dilutes demand or a business case? Most people will not buy a new loco just because its a bit better than the Bachmann / Hornby / Heljan version.

 

There is a black hole of EMUs, but longer units (eg 442) are very expensive models with very limited demand. Maybe the Electrostar family, BREL Mk3 family or the new Aventura family might be workable but if other manufacturers cannot shift them why could Accurascale? Probably only Southern units have enough of a following to work as there are enough to make a good modelling range / choice .

 

My top choices would be: -

 

1st (by far) - On track plant - tampers, blowers, track layers, road-railers etc hopefully with some operational functionality.

2nd - Modern stuff, the latest new stock - MUs, locos, wagons - whatever is going to sell at a deliverable price / scale.

3rd - Gaps in popular modelling areas - Southern Railway DC Class 70 20001-20003; 4COR; 4DD maybe big 4 Tyneside / Merseyside / North London Line units that fit steam modellers layouts

4th Decent looking units - Class 123/124/309/303/306-506 

 

Nobody wants the Pigs, they don't fly, are being scrapped and at 5 cars unviable

[TomScrut]

12 minutes ago, reddragon said:

There are so many posts on here asking for revamps of locos already made, surely that simply dilutes demand or a business case? Most people will not buy a new loco just because its a bit better than the Bachmann / Hornby / Heljan version.

 

There is a black hole of EMUs, but longer units (eg 442) are very expensive models with very limited demand. Maybe the Electrostar family, BREL Mk3 family or the new Aventura family might be workable but if other manufacturers cannot shift them why could Accurascale? Probably only Southern units have enough of a following to work as there are enough to make a good modelling range / choice .

 

It's a funny one isn't it. I'd have thought some of the newly emerged families would be a good target. Aventura, Civity, DesiroCity etc. along with the Electrostar which I have been amazed at not being done for a while.

 

While I aren't complaining about it, I was surprised by the 56 announcement from elsewhere this last week simply because I never thought the existing one from Hornby was worth competing with, not amazing but I think there will be some sort of reaction to make things difficult. Good for the consumer nonetheless.

 

If people are wanting to go into battle vs existing tooling then I think the HST would be a good target. More prolific than pretty than any other loco class and 2 shells and chassis need to go into each train.

[atom3624]

There's a couple of interesting electric locomotives on 'the Woodhead Line' which could be considered ..... ??

 

Al.

[Jack374]

I think units are a strange proposition because they’re becoming increasingly expensive as we demand more functionality such as interior lights, low profile mechanism, inter-vehicle electrical contacts and multi-vehicle pick-ups. While all of these are possible, they come at a premium price. Look at units such as the Pendolino, with no fancy couplings or interior detail/lighting due to heavily tinted windows, which is why they’re still churned out for £45 per coach RRP, although ever increasing. Whereas for an all-singing and dancing unit vehicle, complexity is comparable with a loco, minus a motor in each vehicle.

 

However, there will come a point when there are enough new units on the railway and not enough modelled, to prompt them to be produced. The idea of the recent Bombardier units (class 710, 720, 701 etc) will seem more attractive the more they’re used in service. I’m surprised a Northern 195/331 has not been announced, these units having effectively replaced or at least heavily supplemented the 14x/15x classes across the north...and available in 2-car form.

 

I'm sure in the near future, when the loco classes left to improve on run dry, manufacturers will produce more units. After all, units make up the backbone of passenger rolling stock, like it or not!

 

Just my two pence worth!

Jack.

[The Black Hat]

12 hours ago, Jack374 said:

I think units are a strange proposition because they’re becoming increasingly expensive as we demand more functionality such as interior lights, low profile mechanism, inter-vehicle electrical contacts and multi-vehicle pick-ups. While all of these are possible, they come at a premium price. Look at units such as the Pendolino, with no fancy couplings or interior detail/lighting due to heavily tinted windows, which is why they’re still churned out for £45 per coach RRP, although ever increasing. Whereas for an all-singing and dancing unit vehicle, complexity is comparable with a loco, minus a motor in each vehicle.

 

However, there will come a point when there are enough new units on the railway and not enough modelled, to prompt them to be produced. The idea of the recent Bombardier units (class 710, 720, 701 etc) will seem more attractive the more they’re used in service. I’m surprised a Northern 195/331 has not been announced, these units having effectively replaced or at least heavily supplemented the 14x/15x classes across the north...and available in 2-car form.

 

I'm sure in the near future, when the loco classes left to improve on run dry, manufacturers will produce more units. After all, units make up the backbone of passenger rolling stock, like it or not!

 

Just my two pence worth!

Jack.

I agree with a lot of the above. Especially with the drive for units to be done to the same standard as a locomotive. However, there is also the benefit of the fact that in some ways, the extra coaches of units then are in effect a locomotive (ie the unit car with the motor) and coaches (that are then the coaches in the unit), all fixed with a semi permanent coupling. Some units having bespoke kit might then push up costs further, such as an EMU with a pantograph - more so if the feature is working. So the extra coaches can appear to be somewhere between a coach and a coach fitted with the working kit needed. 

 

This might make 3 car plus units more appealing if there are some coaches in the unit that can then be repeated, but more do not tend to have such a feature, as a toilet will soon supper this. So it will depend on the unit that is selected and then more so if the tooling variations can then take into account changes in the model so that you can get both the DMU and EMU version of some.

Hence the 319 might be a proposition as now you have all the 319 liveries across the south for years but now the north too. Add on that such a unit has been converted to become a 769 and your onto something else. Other similar units could be the Turbostar family, featuring all the class 168/170 variants but could also feature class 171 and 172. Add on the Electro-star family and you could be churning out parts for these almost continuously. Finally the other one is the Desiro family with the class 185 cousin another additional option. I would not be surprised if Bachmann were looking at this. The 319 is being worked on by farish, so upscaling that could be being worked on. However, silence has been coming on this and given the lack of statements now, you will only get 3 months notice if one appears in 00. 

Yet, the main drive for these remains the diesel version. Layouts still do not tend to feature much electrification infrastructure when being built for a more modern scene. A DMU can be placed onto an existing layout and your away with the standard track layout. That is partly explaining why some units tend to sell well as these also are classes that cover a national area over their operational history. Hence things like the class 158 can sell well as they can run everywhere from Wales to Scotland, North and Midlands or South West. EMUs can be more tricky given they tend to operate on specific routes and are not as widely travelled. This then comes up with the same issue of specific steam engines where you come up against the problem of engines not being made due to them having "a specific geographical coverage or livery variation." A chestnut that should come back and haunt the company that first coined the phrase. 

 

If I was anticipating what units should be made, then I think the Turbostar might end up with duplication. Bachamnn announced as another land grab but if it is like class 158 could still be taking years. Someone else could jump in or start a project too late to stop. The Class 185 is another that would be a good seller, it will fit nicely into the many different Northern layouts have have had their fleet well covered, the 68 and Mk 5 sets are already coming. Yet, I still think the class 319 and 769 family will be forthcoming too as this will be a type and design that will still be around for considerable time yet and thus makes the operational history of a model that encompasses it all even more attractive for future sales. Then you have models already done and I think a DCC Voyager/Meridian is one that must be high on the target list. 
 

The issue will be to decide what can be done and work out the tooling variations to include. Putting in too many will make it too expensive and to protracted. Then pricing it at an area that gives profit, competes with competition but will not put off customers. Once all that has been done and if your able to make it happen then your project is onto a winner with a good return. Theres loads to factor in, but then the rewards of a unit are likely to be stronger sales over time and so perhaps more companies will look to them as the locomotive scene gets crowded and then these models are made and thats a win for everyone after all. 

[The Stationmaster]

Step 1 - Find a helpful book

 

 

Step 2 - Go to Index page

 

 

Step 3 Make selections - these two first obviously

 

 

 

Step 4 Detail research, design, and tooling including variants as considered necessary to get the widest market

 

Step 5 Reveal to devoted customer base  with order pages ready to roll.

 

Step 6 Take orders

 

Step 7 Deliver product after approving EPs, livery samples, productions samples etc

 

Step 8 Contact well known Dublin brewery to arrange celebratory supplies of processed Liffey water containing various added nutrients and flavours such as to delight the palate.

Edited June 23, 2021 by The Stationmaster

[wombatofludham]

Whilst supporting the calls for more units (AM10) and in particular the NIR 80 Class (and Mk2b/c coaches, just sayin') given the cheers of approval from around here for the Cavalex 56, a 50 or a 31 from yourselves must now be worth the risk.  Hornby have a lackadaisical attitude to bringing out further models of the 31, and the 50, whilst a nice model from Hornby, would be worth a look given their cult following.  The fact that Cavalex have gone toe to toe with Hornby on the 56 (and stolen a potential sale from me) must be encouraging that a 31 or 50 to your standards of attention to detail might be worth pursuing.

[Monkersson]

I think Bachmann missed a trick with Mk3 family of units - 317 to 322 and 455/6 units in 2 to 4 car formations, plus the various conversions in the current era of the 319 to new classifications (not too up on current unit classes!)  They could have capitalised on the Turbostar tooling to cover the various diesel units and the Electrostar family - although Im aware some of the bodyshells are of different lengths.

 

These 2 families of units cover practically the whole country and must be a low hanging fruit, though the tooling would need to be carefully designed to allow slides for different window/door/cab/roofs/underframes etc and would require quite an investment and an obvious worry if they would sell well enough to justify the complex tooling.  I think they would sell well, judging by comments on RMWeb alone but Im not an expert!

 

Personally I would like to see the Mk1 AM based units

[The Black Hat]

20 hours ago, wombatofludham said:

Whilst supporting the calls for more units (AM10) and in particular the NIR 80 Class (and Mk2b/c coaches, just sayin') given the cheers of approval from around here for the Cavalex 56, a 50 or a 31 from yourselves must now be worth the risk.  Hornby have a lackadaisical attitude to bringing out further models of the 31, and the 50, whilst a nice model from Hornby, would be worth a look given their cult following.  The fact that Cavalex have gone toe to toe with Hornby on the 56 (and stolen a potential sale from me) must be encouraging that a 31 or 50 to your standards of attention to detail might be worth pursuing.

I think a 50 is coming but not from Cavalex. 

[66738]

2 hours ago, The Black Hat said:

I think a 50 is coming but not from Cavalex. 

I do hope so. Hornby’s was good at the time it came out but has always had its issues. As for the 31, I seems to me that Hornby never really believed in this model. So many liveries still to do on the 31/1 and as for the 31/4, they have only scratched the surface. Since the 31/4 was released all them years ago, people have asked for a 31/4 in blue. It’s never come. Why have they not pushed it over the years?

66738

[Ultimate Model Railways]

I would love a set of 80s and 90s 31s. As you said, they have only scratched the surface. Mainline and Blue 31/4s are a shoe in, surely!