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Realtrack Models looking for suggestions!


charliepetty

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I have done a little bit of googling as mentioned in my main post. Rather interesting really. I thought i would present my finding :)

 

For a Plasser & Theurer Tamping Machine could include Colas Rail, Amey, Baffour Beatty, Babcock and Network Rail. Sadly for Volker Rail and Grant Rail..a Matisa Tamping machine would be required, see photo link:

Volker_Rail-News.com-Picture.jpg

 

Balfour Beatty:

DR73928Poole191205e.JPG

 

Just to add, look how complex the 5000 RT is to model! Further supporting a case for a 08-16 :)

 

 

Whilst were on the subject of on track plant, how about a Kirow Crane? In use with Balfours, Volker and a few others i think...

 

As for Tampers, Balfour Beatty are just about to take delivery of several shiny new Matisa Tampers ( Can't remember which ones at the moment though, as it was only briefly mentioned during my apprenticeship interview last Friday)

 

 

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I *think* the Coradia/Adelante would share many components - from a (purely cursory) look the 175 and 180 appear to share centre cars and what in model terms would be the rolling platform/mech, with just a different driving car body.

 

 

Wouldnt it be great if it was just the case of bolting on the correct nose cone, here is the only spare Class 180 cone...

791px-Spare_BR_Class_180_Cab.JPG

 

When studying the Class 175/180. It really does to my eye, esp when seeing nose cones at Old Oak Common like above, the two Coradia classes are the same bodies with different faces. Really would love a few Class 180 models!

 

The first is the 08-4x4/C100RT with 12 machines:

DR73924-8, 73931, 73937-9, 73943-5

 

The other 'common-ish' type looks to be the 08-4x4/4S-RT with 19 machines:

DR73904-10, 14, 17, 18, 23, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 40-42

 

 

The 08-4x4/4S RT totally excaped me! I was so focused on trying to find the 09-3X in anything but Network Rail i forgot to research the 08-4x4/4S RT, what to be honest, you see just as often as the 08-16 100. Many liveries out there, over different times. Was stuck, i mean delayed, outside Bristol Temple Meads a few weeks ago, along side a 08-4x4/4S RT, an outstanding piece of machineary. Would love a tamper model, just a shame the two current models on the market (Bachmanns Plasser 07/xx and Kibra 09-3X) are either crude or epically expensive! Whatever our findings mean to a tamper model in the future, we certainly have shown there is so much oppurtunity to model many different types. I think if i had £100,000 to develop a new model. Two Tampers would be my first model to produce. I better get playing the lottery again!

 

Out of interest and addressed to Charlie and Arran. Have these 8 pages of this thread helped you two out? Have similar models been suggest on here to what your thoughts already hold? Is there anything we can say to twist your arms into making them?

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My votes are for:

 

Industrial steam and diesel locos

 

60s/70s era Freightliners

 

Class 74

 

Bulleid EPB/SUB EMUs

 

 

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Diesel:-

Class 05 would be a good choice. Very distinctive looking, and I don't see any of the big boys jumping on this to readily.

 

I wouldnt be too sure about that; the 05 was mentioned in the Bachmann/ModelRail interview a few years back, and I'd think would be a fairly easy adaptation onto the new 03 chassis.

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I wouldnt be too sure about that; the 05 was mentioned in the Bachmann/ModelRail interview a few years back, and I'd think would be a fairly easy adaptation onto the new 03 chassis.

Appologies, I didn't know that. In a way its a good thing because an 05 is a loco I'd very much like. Great fun to drive for real too!

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So many of these suggestions have an extreme amount of potential R&D to do, and some extremely complex shapes to get right, and are in some cases, two or three car units in various forms. All of this bumps the price up on what has to be a quality product which looks right, and runs extremely well.

 

The Model Rail Sentinel and the Kernow Beattie Well Tank has shown the way for a seriously impressive model that is also selling by the bucketload. Simple, attractive, and necessary for many modellers up and down the country.

 

Even if Realtrack don't go with my suggestion - the Gresley J50 Tank engine - there's no doubt in my mind that selecting a specific tank engine, of a large class, with a wide sphere of influence in this country, to be the next model, is an absolute no brainer. Particularly as the shapes in a steam locomotive are, dare I say, it, less complex than the Plasser Tamper machine illustrated above...!

 

Cheap R&D, smaller material costs and a comfortable niche should see a small steam engine (but equally, a small diesel locomotive such as the very good suggestion of the BR 02) be the top choice if you want guaranteed sales, and a product that will actually make it to market in a reasonable time.

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You are correct.

 

It is however, possible to 00-ise them.....

 

 

Nicely done but I guess it would be quite a job. I'm thinking more along the lines of the lovely Bachman Craven unit. Buy, pop in some P4 wheels, run, enjoy...

 

I suppose such a project would be more relevant to a large manufacturer like Bachman or Hornby and agree with earlier posts that for a small supplier something niche but attractive, like a small shunter would be more suitable. How about Linda from the Festiniog? A lovely memento of a trip on one of our most popular railways but basically a standard Hunslet product which could be seen on lots of Welsh slate mine railways.

 

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm117/Roger_Dimmick/NP1.jpg

 

Ian

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If I have read the thread right....

 

  • You don't want to do anything with only a couple of liveries
  • You don't want to do anything a big name might do.
  • You don't want to touch OHLE stock (and presumably not 3rd Rail either)

 

Is there anything you would make?

 

....So I ask, what about the 319/320-322 family that's still skirting the network today? Pleanty of livery oppertunities and area scope there. I also echo the comments for the Electrostar family....

 

....class 320/321/322 emu's - used over large area's of the country and in many liveries

mk2f (especially the buffet (rfb?))

 

In OO, Bratchell Models already do a fair representation of the Mk3 based units (317/2, 319,320,321,322,455) as a kit, although there are gaps and you do have to find your own motor.

 

They would be most welcome in N gauge though (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

 

If we are going to get the Electrostars, could you possibly put the often forgotten 357s in too. They have three liveries already and a franchise renewal coming up!

 

I personally think, if kept low key until quite late, that the air-con Mk2s (with the DBSO and maybe some of the barrier and test train vehicles that have been well used) would make a killing.

 

If there is to be something out of the ordinary (and I doubt you would do this) how about a class 151........

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If I have read the thread right....

 

  • You don't want to do anything with only a couple of liveries
  • You don't want to do anything a big name might do.
  • You don't want to touch OHLE stock (and presumably not 3rd Rail either)

 

Is there anything you would make?

 

 

If you were spending 100K then you might me carefull!

 

 

In OO, Bratchell Models already do a fair representation of the Mk3 based units (317/2, 319,320,321,322,455) as a kit, although there are gaps and you do have to find your own motor.

 

They would be most welcome in N gauge though (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

 

If we are going to get the Electrostars, could you possibly put the often forgotten 357s in too. They have three liveries already and a franchise renewal coming up!

 

I personally think, if kept low key until quite late, that the air-con Mk2s (with the DBSO and maybe some of the barrier and test train vehicles that have been well used) would make a killing.

 

If there is to be something out of the ordinary (and I doubt you would do this) how about a class 151........

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what would be the best period for business? what is most popular with the model railway buying public for the big and smaller manufacturers?

 

pre 1950s, 1950s-60s, 70s-80s. 90s-2000s?

 

Steam Era was always good but the 'Current Scene' seems to be rapidly catching up, look at the Hornby & Bachmanns products, not Heljan or Dapol '00' stuff, these are not'Lagge Quantity' sales items.

 

what would be the best period for business? what is most popular with the model railway buying public for the big and smaller manufacturers?

 

pre 1950s, 1950s-60s, 70s-80s. 90s-2000s?

 

Steam Era was always good but the 'Current Scene' seems to be rapidly catching up, look at the Hornby & Bachmanns products, not Heljan or Dapol '00' stuff, these are not 'Large Quantity' sales items.

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what would be the best period for business? what is most popular with the model railway buying public for the big and smaller manufacturers?

 

pre 1950s, 1950s-60s, 70s-80s. 90s-2000s?

 

Judging from the recent poll at MREMAG I'd say that it's roughly...

 

1. 1950s-60s

2. 1920s-40s

3. 1970s-80s

4. 1990-Current

 

Although it's only one internet poll so it won't be totally representative of all UK modellers and judging from the number of available models, the current scene seems to be more popular than the poll would suggest.

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Judging from the recent poll at MREMAG I'd say that it's roughly...

 

1. 1950s-60s

2. 1920s-40s

3. 1970s-80s

4. 1990-Current

No. 2 would surprise me - can't be the 'buying public' as there's very little for the early part of the era available RTR.

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The MREmag poll might be more representative of the folk that read MREmag, rather than the hobby at large... ;)

 

 

I'll second that! MREMag's idea of 'modern image' is something where the boiler is used for heating rather than traction...

 

Returning to the topic, I would like to throw in another vote for the already popular:

 

- Southern 'USA' 0-6-0 Tank (several livery variations, and several preserved)

- S160 'USA' 2-8-0 (note as above)

- Class 101, 155 or 156 DMUs (huge range of liveries, widespread geographically)

- Class 308 or 321 EMUs (both used in London and the North, many livery variants)

- BR Mark IIe or Mark IIf coaches (obvious reasons!)

- BR Mark I suburbans (unless you feel there's a risk that Bachmann might update their own)

- PFA wagons, plus British Gypsum containers which could also be used with a variety of existing container wagons

- Modern bogie timber wagons, as popularly photographed on the Chirk trains hauled by all manner of locos

 

 

I will also jot down some suggestions which most people will no doubt think are compeltely bonkers, but you asked what we wanted, so here goes!

 

- Lancashire & Yorkshire Class 25 'Ironclad' 0-6-0 goods engine (satisfies the current demand for 0-6-0 freight locos, one preserved on KWVR)

- Class 332 / 333 EMUs (suitable for GWML and West Yorks, attractive trains, various livery variants)

- Class 325 parcels EMU (this one might not be completely bonkers - suitable for both AC and DC electrified layouts remember)

- Class 141 DMU (three basic liveries, plus a couple more in preservation, 'distinctive' appearance)

- NG-G16 Beyer Garratt or Ffestiniog Railway 'Double Fairlie' (FR/WHR network is now longest heritage line, about time we had a range of 2' gauge models?)

- MFS ballast hoppers (as used in 'High Output Ballast Cleaner' train. Hauled in long rakes of identical wagons (unlike tampers which are all different), used nationwide, compatible with Freightliner/EWS/DBS/DRS)...photo below for those who don't know what these look like:

 

post-9324-0-56780900-1312306177_thumb.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Will

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Judging from the recent poll at MREMAG I'd say that it's roughly...

 

1. 1950s-60s

2. 1920s-40s

3. 1970s-80s

4. 1990-Current

 

Although it's only one internet poll so it won't be totally representative of all UK modellers and judging from the number of available models, the current scene seems to be more popular than the poll would suggest.

 

The art to getting a good range of products is to experiment (if you can afford it) with various era's, Bachmann are very good at this, not the large volume quantities that Hornby shift out to retailers but a steady stream of assorted era models which shops tend to stock a few of each, thus a few of each X 1000 shops is a reasonable quantity. The current trend seems to be the current/modern era! Thus we have Class 70's, 66's, MPV's, Class 350 EMU's, Voyagers, Class 170's & Class 150's. All items based on a chassis currently available in other models, thus reducing production cost and design times.

 

Now Hornby tend to go for wide appeal big hitters like HST's, Javilin & Eurostar (2012 games!!!), Harry Potter, Thomas the Tank, Tornado, Mallard with some specialist stuff slipped in between, why Bachmann never did a HST is a mystery to me!

 

I admire Bachmann with their range where Hornby tend to be 100% commercial.

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Just thinking off-piste, I wonder if the same articulated chassis could be used to make a Tyne and Wear, Manchester Metrolink and Docklands Light Railway vehicles? I realise they are geographically very limited, and very niche, and off hand I don't know how long the actual bodies are on each vehicle but they seem to be roughly the same length, all run parallel to or interface with Network Rail, and in the case of Docklands has the commercially lucrative London effect and Olympic tie-in (although no doubt Hornby's licence deal would prohibit it being targeted as an Olympic souvenir, in any case it's too late to get it done in time I would have thought). I suppose the Manchester vehicle could have a Corrie tie-in if desperate!

 

OK, they are OHLE or third rail, but they do have a number of livery variants (Manchester less so) and in the case of Manchester and Tyne and Wear would have a synergy with your Class 143 and 144 models. I doubt they would be a ground-breaking roaring sales phenomenon, but a readily available range of light rail could generate interest from tramway modellers as well as railway modellers looking for something a bit different, and as Greater Manchester expands to Rochdale and other locations the interfaces with Network Rail will continue to grow. If they do have a common wheelbase articulated chassis it could make it more affordable to make the range.

 

[edit} It would seem the T&W railcars are 27.8m over body, Manchester Firema T68 29m over body, the new M5000 vehicles 28.4m long over body and the DLR vehicles 28m long over body, so there isn't a lot in it between the three types of high floor light rail vehicle.

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