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Bratchell models class 320 kit


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Been wanting to build a new emu for quite a while. Last was a class 325 back in 2001. So took the plunge with a Bratchells class 320 & decided to put her in the ScotRail Saltaire livery. Nice kit to build , powered using a spare Lima HST power bogie & pick up. 6 packs of Railtec mk2f bso transfer packs to craft the livery together. Definatley be building another Bratchells kit , hopefully a class 319

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  • 4 months later...

I've been toying with the idea of doing one of the class 321/9 models for a while, but never actually seen the contents of these kits so this is quite interesting.

I tried building a DC kits class 304 quite some time ago and found it rather difficult, though the end result wasn't too bad.

  This looks like it might be rather easier to construct (?). 

 

  I never thought I'd miss these humdrum units but now they are gone (the small fleet of Northern ones at least) I am feeling nostalgic for them and the WYPTE red livery was quite attractive.

PS you could do with some better insulators/pantograph bits for the roof, those parts look very low-res/toy like on this otherwise nice model.

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They’re nice kits to build. I used a Lima HST as I had a spare motorised chassis spare. Hornby class 153 parts look as though they will work quite well. The one issue that does afflict these models is getting hold of pantographs. They’re designed to take the Hornby class 86/90/91 pantographs , at one time when Hornby when Margate made would supply them as spares , now it’s very hard / expensive to source. The one I used is a spare off a Jouef Eurostar &some odds & ends out of the scrap box. The one thing I’d do differently for the next build is to paint the cab fronts inside first before sticking them on. This is the first Bratchells kit I’ve built since the resin mk3dvt back in 2000,  before that it’s been Cambrian kits BBA/BAA steel carriers. Hopefully 2021 should see a 319 / 769 in northern livery get built. Got a 3d print 323 on the go at the mo that’s a more long term project. 

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Having built (or being in the process of building) several Bratchell kits, I can say the basic shells go together very well and form a nice, robust structure. The underframe details supplied are a little crude, and could be improved, but the units can go together quite quickly and be made to run very nicely with a little added weight. My own units have all been motorised using Replica Railways motorised chassis with 12mm wheels. 

So far I have done, or am still finishing, two class 455 units, a class 456 (unmotorised but soon to receive half of a Replica chassis), and two class 319s. All benefit from removing moulded handrails and adding wire ones, plus the necessary SR jumper cables where appropriate.

They are getting a little expensive now (but what else isn't?), but I still have plans for one more class 319 when the livery I want is released.

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10 minutes ago, SRman said:


They are getting a little expensive now (but what else isn't?), but I still have plans for one more class 319 when the livery I want is released.

 

Yes, but they go together at least as well as any other kit I have built so you get what you pay for.

The pre-painted ones look nice too.

 

Credit to the OP of this thread for building & painting it nicely.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Looking at the price list I noticed that for the 4-car kits Bratchell charge and incredible £72 for the wheel sets and bearings which add significantly to the overall price! 

Are they worth it in your opinion, or is it better value to source alternatives elsewhere?

 

The basic kit is about £180 which seems fair enough for a 4 car unit, but then there is the cost of a motor, pantograph, wheel sets, paints and transfers to add to that so it ends up being rather more expensive than it first appears.  I suppose you can at least spread the cost out over time.

 

I've always been puzzled why non of the mainstream manufactures took on the Class 320/321/322, since they are quite prolific, cover a wide range of locations, and have carried many different liveries over the 30+ year careers.

The 319s are another interesting class due to their broad and varied history and remarkably large operating area, which includes the southern region.

Bachmann made the curious decision to produce the Class 350 instead which is a very nice model, but covers a comparatively narrow operating area/period.

Speaking of Bachmann, I wonder if they offer the Class 90 pantograph and roof bits as spares? They would be of the correct type for this class.

Failing that I might actually have one or two of the old Hornby ones in my box of spares if you are stuck...

 

 

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39 minutes ago, NorthenElectric91 said:

Looking at the price list I noticed that for the 4-car kits Bratchell charge and incredible £72 for the wheel sets and bearings which add significantly to the overall price! 

Are they worth it in your opinion, or is it better value to source alternatives elsewhere?

 

The basic kit is about £180 which seems fair enough for a 4 car unit, but then there is the cost of a motor, pantograph, wheel sets, paints and transfers to add to that so it ends up being rather more expensive than it first appears.  I suppose you can at least spread the cost out over time.

 

I've always been puzzled why non of the mainstream manufactures took on the Class 320/321/322, since they are quite prolific, cover a wide range of locations, and have carried many different liveries over the 30+ year careers.

The 319s are another interesting class due to their broad and varied history and remarkably large operating area, which includes the southern region.

Bachmann made the curious decision to produce the Class 350 instead which is a very nice model, but covers a comparatively narrow operating area/period.

Speaking of Bachmann, I wonder if they offer the Class 90 pantograph and roof bits as spares? They would be of the correct type for this class.

Failing that I might actually have one or two of the old Hornby ones in my box of spares if you are stuck...

 

 

 

£72 for the wheels & bearings but Bratchell has sourced, stored & supplied the correct ones so you don't have to worry about any of this if you don't want.

 

Regarding the class 350, there are several variants of Desiro which have similarities & widen the scope of use, so maybe Bachmann intend to produce more? We have already seen the 450 but they seem to keep their developments more quiet now so maybe we will see something else soon? The 350 seemed like a good one to start with because the 1st sub-class also ran on 3rd rail.

317-322 all have similarities but from a manufacturer's point of view, an AC Electric common commuter EMU is more of a risk than something like a class 31/37/47 which you can sell as a single item then sell each coach or wagon separately.

I was surprised Bachmann chose a Desiro instead of a Mk3 based EMU, but they had to choose one & it makes sense to make more variations of it than switch to a completely different type.

 

As for a BW pan, it is a delicate item but if a manufacturer believes a market for them is there, they will make it.

When the Bach 90 was introduced, several of us on here speculated about the possibility of it being made as a spare. Some felt that it was just 'too much trouble' but for what? Bachmann may well have looked into it & felt that the price of selling them individually would prevent sufficient sales.

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3 hours ago, NorthenElectric91 said:

Looking at the price list I noticed that for the 4-car kits Bratchell charge and incredible £72 for the wheel sets and bearings which add significantly to the overall price! 

Are they worth it in your opinion, or is it better value to source alternatives elsewhere?

 

The basic kit is about £180 which seems fair enough for a 4 car unit, but then there is the cost of a motor, pantograph, wheel sets, paints and transfers to add to that so it ends up being rather more expensive than it first appears.  I suppose you can at least spread the cost out over time.

 

I've always been puzzled why non of the mainstream manufactures took on the Class 320/321/322, since they are quite prolific, cover a wide range of locations, and have carried many different liveries over the 30+ year careers.

The 319s are another interesting class due to their broad and varied history and remarkably large operating area, which includes the southern region.

Bachmann made the curious decision to produce the Class 350 instead which is a very nice model, but covers a comparatively narrow operating area/period.

Speaking of Bachmann, I wonder if they offer the Class 90 pantograph and roof bits as spares? They would be of the correct type for this class.

Failing that I might actually have one or two of the old Hornby ones in my box of spares if you are stuck...

 

 

 

Yes - Revolution are doing one in N.  I think the hopes are - after the N gauge one has been done they will look at "possibly" doing an OO  one.  But it has taken them along time to get enough modellers to support some liveries in N, plus they have changed factory etc..  There has been plenty of other things on the go in OO, so hopefully they will look at it in OO in due course.  Plus when people see the N gauge one - it will increase demand for an OO one!

 

Best Wishes,

 

Chris.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Many thanks for all your kind comments. I was asking Bachmann about spares & they stated that a pantograph would only be supplied as a spare if a bodyshell of the model it came on was ordered, which is about £50 min for a 350. Sommerfeldt ones are about £26. I must admit I’m pretty much past caring about what Hornby / Bachmann announce for new models as they just seem to be going through the motions / remakes / retools , same old same. The wheels I used for this are Bachmann air braked wheels & Alan Gibson axle cups. Couplings are sparkler wire bent at each end that locate into holes I made in the bogies , makes for closer coupling. I am on YouTube as Luciton St James. Just lots of 1-5 min videos of the layout / stuff running round , don’t do waffle / reviews of models. Layout is mostly made up of Lima / Margate Hornby / Jouef / Roco / Airfix / Electrotren. 

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