Bachmann 2018 range

[No Decorum]

Now that Bachmann's taken over EFE, could we expect motorised LT 1938/1959/1962 tube stock in their main range (as well as commissions by LT Museum)

I was looking at my Tube train and wondering about that. It has exquisite internal and roof detail but the external finish of the sides and ends looks out of place beside the more usual model railway items, especially the silver-painted end lights. I know these have been motorised by specialists and even had lighting installed but I’m inclined to think that if Bachmann undertakes them, it would best be done from scratch.

 

Not a bad idea, though. LT is much neglected. I’d love to see some more stock, perhaps a little better executed than the S Stock.

[coachmann]

Considering the model bus manufacturers think all pre-war buses fell off a cliff in 1945, I hope Bachmann/EFE recognize the fact that mid to late 1930's-built buses held sway in many parts of the UK until the mid 1950's and the lucky ones even longer. So as a starter, I humbly suggest the Leyland Bodied Leyland TD5, a bus type that saw service the length and breadth of Britain and a model that should keep the company busy for a good few years in hundreds of liveries.

Edited December 30, 2017 by coachmann

[Dick Turpin]

Tube stock, mmm, could be, maybe we might see a trend developing in underfloor layouts. Anyone remember that famous RM April spoof? 

[Downendian]

Although mentioned before, the sealed beam front peak must surely emerge soon. These previously were modelzone limited editions from the new tooling, and are well sought after. A general release would surely make economic sense.

If my past experience is anything to go by, I’d spent a bit of time converting original release Bachmann 46s to split headcode only to see these emerge. I’ve spent some time this Christmas working on a couple of sealed beam conversions, I can predict what will happen next.

Neil

[Dick Turpin]

I'm always surprised that no-one has so far bagged the Sentinel steam railcar - small, self contained, colourful and satisfying a North Eastern area need to boot. No branch line bay platform should be without one surely.

[Steamport Southport]

I'm always surprised that no-one has so far bagged the Sentinel steam railcar - small, self contained, colourful and satisfying a North Eastern area need to boot. No branch line bay platform should be without one surely.

 

Short lived. Didn't last until nationalisation. None preserved. Too many varieties in a small class. North Eastern apparently doesn't sell.

 

There's a few reasons against. Maybe one for crowdfunding or someone like Rails. I couldn't see any of the "big boys" doing it.

 

 

Jason

[Mark Saunders]

Should we not have a who is going to duplicate what thread for 2018?

[tomparryharry]

North Eastern doesn't sell?

 

There must be a lot of hype over those Gresley Pacifics then.

[phil gollin]

.

 

The problem SEEMS to be that some Eastern fans seem to think that every constituent company of the LNER should be numerously, indeed comprehensively, covered  -  that would take a long time, even if the manufacturers thought it sensible.

 

They make a lot of noise, but SEEMINGLY don't understand just how over-the-top their demands are.   The best they can do is ensure that every "Eastern" loco (no matter from which constituent company) is an instant sell out.  They, so far, haven't managed to persuade the manufacturer to release a GE version of the forthcoming Tram loco - I would concentrate on the low-hanging fruit before asking for more, and more and more.

 

I HOPE that they are given a chance to sell out one or two locos when the main ranges are announced in early January - THAT is the way to get more, by giving the manufacturers a profit incentive.

 

.

 

.

[coachmann]

Ivor Screwloose said :

"I wish they would do a NER  J42 . I have always said it would sell well. I know I will buy two. Can't understand why it hasn't been done before now. There were over 10 in the Class. Roll-on January 8th. Yippee, it's been announced. When will we see the first EP's?  Someone on another thread has seen something on the official Oxbach page. Oh no, everyone says it's got a rivet out of place. How do they expect to enter the market with this mistake?  I really wanted one of these too. They shouldn't be in business.  Hattens have sold out to pre-orders. Has anyone got one?  I'll hang back. Please somebody post a photo before I part with my hard earned state benefits. Oh, this really is too much......That rivet is still there. It ruins it for me. I hope they make a better job of the next NER loco"....

 

Edited December 30, 2017 by coachmann

[Steamport Southport]

North Eastern doesn't sell?

 

There must be a lot of hype over those Gresley Pacifics then.

 

Since when have Gresley Pacifics been North Eastern Railway? They had their own rubbish Pacifics. The original A2s.

 

The evidence is there that NER doesn't sell. How many Q6s are there in the bargain bins? Listening to some, then they would be selling them by the thousand and would be the most successful model ever. The same goes for the K1s which spent most of their lives in the NE.

 

 

 

Jason

[PenrithBeacon]

Since when have Gresley Pacifics been North Eastern Railway? They had their own rubbish Pacifics. The original A2s.

 

The evidence is there that NER doesn't sell. How many Q6s are there in the bargain bins? Listening to some, then they would be selling them by the thousand and would be the most successful model ever. The same goes for the K1s which spent most of their lives in the NE.

 

 

 

Jason

Actually the NER Pacifics were at least as good as the GNR ones as originally designed and the boiler was better. Not so after NHG further developed his engines though.

 

The NER isn't my enthusiasm although I seem to have a good many books on the topic. More MR,LNW and LYR for me please

[Steamport Southport]

Actually the NER Pacifics were at least as good as the GNR ones as originally designed and the boiler was better. Not so after NHG further developed his engines though.

 

The NER isn't my enthusiasm although I seem to have a good many books on the topic. More MR,LNW and LYR for me please

 

They were much nicer looking I'll give you that.

 

But I doubt it you would get one round 3rd Radius track.

 

 

 

Jason

[JDW]

I noticed on the Hattons website whilst looking at Dapol 121s that they have "Bachmann Branchline Class 121 DMU"s listed, is this right?  I haven't heard or seen anything else about them, and seems an odd choice as Dapol have that market pretty well covered at the minute!

[Steamport Southport]

I noticed on the Hattons website whilst looking at Dapol 121s that they have "Bachmann Branchline Class 121 DMU"s listed, is this right?  I haven't heard or seen anything else about them, and seems an odd choice as Dapol have that market pretty well covered at the minute!

 

I think they were announced at the same time as the 117s. 

 

 

 

Jason

[micklner]

Short lived. Didn't last until nationalisation. None preserved. Too many varieties in a small class. North Eastern apparently doesn't sell.

 

There's a few reasons against. Maybe one for crowdfunding or someone like Rails. I couldn't see any of the "big boys" doing it.

 

 

Jason

 

Short lived?? they lasted from 1925 to 1948 only two years less than the LNER itself. They were used in many parts of the LNER not just the NE area as well.

 

https://www.lner.info/locos/Railcar/railcar.php

 

 

There are a number of Railcars in existence from the "big boys" already, a very recent GWR version springs too mind, which appears to be selling well !!

[Steamport Southport]

Short lived?? they lasted from 1925 to 1948 only two years less than the LNER itself. They were used in many parts of the LNER not just the NE area as well.

 

https://www.lner.info/locos/Railcar/railcar.php

 

 

There are a number of Railcars in existence from the "big boys" already, a very recent GWR version springs too mind, which appears to be selling well !!

 

 

But that's GWR and lasted until the mid 1960s with preserved examples. Everyone knows that GWR stuff sells, even if it is a bit average. Which by all accounts it seems to be, particularly the interior.

 

 

I still think it's a bit too niche for a mainstream model though. I would possibly even buy one, especially if it was the LMS version. And that's even more obscure.

 

 

 

Jason

Edited December 30, 2017 by Steamport Southport

[tomparryharry]

Since when have Gresley Pacifics been North Eastern Railway? They had their own rubbish Pacifics. The original A2s.

 

The evidence is there that NER doesn't sell. How many Q6s are there in the bargain bins? Listening to some, then they would be selling them by the thousand and would be the most successful model ever. The same goes for the K1s which spent most of their lives in the NE.

 

 

 

Jason

 

Anything above & to the right of Watford is North Eastern.

 

I went Norwich once. That was close enough.......

 

Ian.

[Steamport Southport]

Anything above & to the right of Watford is North Eastern.

 

I went Norwich once. That was close enough.......

 

Ian.

 

Oh. Like everything below Runcorn Bridge is Southern. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason

[The Black Hat]

.The problem SEEMS to be that some Eastern fans seem to think that every constituent company of the LNER should be numerously, indeed comprehensively, covered  -  that would take a long time, even if the manufacturers thought it sensible.

 

They make a lot of noise, but SEEMINGLY don't understand just how over-the-top their demands are.   The best they can do is ensure that every "Eastern" loco (no matter from which constituent company) is an instant sell out.  They, so far, haven't managed to persuade the manufacturer to release a GE version of the forthcoming Tram loco - I would concentrate on the low-hanging fruit before asking for more, and more and more.

 

I HOPE that they are given a chance to sell out one or two locos when the main ranges are announced in early January - THAT is the way to get more, by giving the manufacturers a profit incentive.

 

Oh dear. The Anti-Eastern region Southern cheerleaders are all out again. I have to say that by comparison the above post is blatantly hypocritical at best or hilarious in the extreme. Lets see why...

 

First of all is SEEMS that some Southern fans seem to think that every constituent company of the Southern should be numerously, indeed comprehensively covered - that would take a long time, even if the manufacturers thought it sensible. Add that by size and ability most Southern pregrouping companies were the size of the workload of one shed area in the North East region - in other words much smaller by comparison, or comparable with a smaller constituent part like the GE. 

 

Southern fans make a lot of noise but SEEMINGLY don't understand just over-the-top their demands are. The best they can do is ensure that every "Southern" loco (no matter how rubbish the design actually is) is an instant sell out. They, so far, haven't managed to persuade the manufacturer to release a DCC engine that will actually wheel slip on command as per proto-type. Model companies should be ashamed that the models will actually grip and haul without wheel slip which is not what protoypes of the region used to do. Its far from acceptable and needs to get sorted. 

 

I hope that they are given the chance to sell out of two locos when the main ranges are announced, as the problem with the Southern market now is that is over saturated with models for the region and that will divide choices for the consumer and thus see what sells. Maybe that explains all the Southern region engines all sat on shelves or in the bargain racks and that's before the new wave of models to come actually arrive. That's the way to get more, by giving the manufacturers a profit and cash flow incentive. 

[DougN]

Have to agree with the above black hat, the argument that the southern doesn't have loco's in the bargain bin has a large E1 shaped hole in it let alone the schools,or S15 ! The E4 Is in the bargain bin at Hattons for example... and it is the lbsc livery. I believe the red box have semi admitted that there was mistakes made with the releases of some of the "NE" locomotives..,ie the B1, the K1, which flooded as there was an over reaction when the sales numbers come in.

 

I would suggest that all the manufacturers are spreading their products wider as the "wish list" has spread wider since they have been producing the "most wanted" as each of the companies in turn.

 

I could see a lean year as both companies assess their Strategies and their future investments. Bachmann have to catch up on their previous lists and Hornby look to rein in their accounts,

 

I know what is on my wish list and to upset the others it is NE inspired... a 20t wooden hopper wagon! Which would compliment the NER locos that both manufacturers have produced.

Edited December 31, 2017 by DougN

[SRman]

Anything above & to the right of Watford is North Eastern.

 

I went Norwich once. That was close enough.......

 

Ian.

 

Anything above and to the right of Watford is wilderness, I tells ya, wilderness!!      

[The Black Hat]

Since when have Gresley Pacifics been North Eastern Railway? They had their own rubbish Pacifics. The original A2s.

 

The evidence is there that NER doesn't sell. How many Q6s are there in the bargain bins? Listening to some, then they would be selling them by the thousand and would be the most successful model ever. The same goes for the K1s which spent most of their lives in the NE.

 

The problem with the Southern market now is that is over saturated with models for the region and that will divide choices for the consumer and thus see what sells. 

 

Okay, lets take a more reasoned look at the situation and explain - fairly - some of the trends in the market. 

 

First, people again are confusing the North Eastern Railway, with what became the North East Region. People from a pro-Southern lobby are trying to suggest that the NER vanishes under the LNER when actually, it was very much an operation continuing as before within its previous regional area. Thus, engines like Gresley pacifics passed through, and are known for working in the area. Its like saying a Merchant Navy isn't a Southern engine as it wasn't a pre-grouping design too and actually Ravens A2 was pretty much equal to Gresley's A1 the reason why the latter was chosen might be more due to lessons from Swindon, another bastion of evolution, standardization and excellence - just like the NER. 

 

So, North East engines have finally been produced. Lets just check where and when. The K1 and Q6 have both been done by Hornby. As usual Hornby follow up a full release in one year by several more the year afterwards. That means that a lot come in quick succession. However, both these engines arrived when the standard freight engine breached the £100 mark. Had they been made at the same time as Bachmann's Super-D or the WD, or Hornbys O1, then things would have been different. They retailed at a price of around £75 just a few years ago, which is an increase of about 1/4 to 1/3 of the price of a model of a similar duty model for a different region. That causes issues with the price rise. Id also factor in that wages through-out these years has seen a real terms cut, so in many ways Southern fans got lucky when so many models have been produced for them before all these factors then hit afterwards. Still, from where I see it sales of Q6 and K1 are steady and the models moving off the shelves. 

 

Thus, Steamports own reasoning the evidence is there that the Southern doesn't sell! How many S15s, Black Motors, Schools class are all listed as Bargains - all sat on shelves. Hate to say it but in areas those Black Wainwright C's dont seem to shift either. Listening to some, they would be selling by the thousand and would be the most sucessful ever. Ah well. I guess that we shouldn't go making any more Western region tanks - given that they are in the same bins. Those King class means express is out for the Western too. Kiss goodbye too to more Midland region tanks and small southern engines like the E4 from Bachmann. Its all good news if you model Steam in Scotland! Your the only region not touched so there should be a massive launch of a range coming your way! Sadly though, such reasoning is badly flawed. (By the way I did you a favour of not including the Radial as that's been duplicated so wouldnt be fair to mention).

 

Companies go on where the range compliments existing models and where demand and information seems to express a need for models to be made. The areas that are strong in polling still resonate around the Southern area, Western, the Great Eastern and the North Eastern. Midland areas recently has seen its figures plummet, but Bachmann insist that such a range can be made so I expect them to model more. The Western are served by steady releases. Hornby moved in to Great Eastern and a range followed, but the easy options have been done for this. Looking at figures that Q6 was wanted, Hornby ventured north. The figures are interesting, on average over the past few years North Eastern or Great Eastern area engines out number the Great Central or Great Northern by about 2 to 1. Its a consistent trend that I have noticed. That left the Eastern region being satisfied, and a market there for the unserved North. We all know various engines are being made it left North Eastern ones looking positive for a change. I still think such sales have been good given the first release was followed up by more soon afterwards.  

 

Even if sales of the Q6 matched the second most popular Southern region model made that year on new release, the answer would not be to stop making more Q6s and make more southern engines. Companies need to balance their range, and as such you get Southern engines made and an engine like a Q6 put out on a bi-annual cycle shared with somewhere else that augments the range, and offers choice to other areas. Otherwise you ignore pent up demand and over supply one area. That is now a problem the Southern fans are yet to realise. Now, the problem will be you have too much and cant buy it all. Prices are rising, and even stock like Bachmanns birdcage stock runs the risk of being so expensive sales might just be a little slower than expected (I still expect these to fly off the shelves really but it is a risk). Now, served well by both Bachmann and Hornby, other retailers, shops and magazines have joined in. Now you can get a Dock Tank, P-class, and more from the various other smaller outfits in the market. However, that isnt the telling reason of why Southern dominates - its actually EMUs. These slam door stock are of no use to anyone else pretty much. Whereas a class 25 can operate from penzance to scotland, Southern 3rd rail is even more limited in geographical coverage than a Q6. That means transition most diesels can actually appeal to Western, Midland and Eastern regions and thats before you add the period modelling for later eras. Southern meanwhile has a load of specific slam door EMUs or 3rd rail ED's electrics that are of no use to any other area. Its pretty much a case of one for Southern area, one for everyone else. When you add these into consideration the number of Southern specific models to model the transition period in particular looks massive, but thats the point. The companies are giving you the range and now magazines and shop comissions offer the novelty ones too. Buying all of these is bound to be massively expensive, but if you start picking and choosing, you fall foul of the same thinking that your using to bash the Eastern region - by being too specific on area and your focus is accused of being too narrow. 

 

Thats why in years to come Southern stuff could actually diminish as there's just so much available to buy at the moment and while you might want more, your requests are getting ever more regional specific and thus might not be as popular as something like a B16. 

 

The sad part is that even with a fair minded and even judgement as I have tried to convey, the Southern lot will still bash this attempt to level the playing field. I have no doubt that plenty of usual suspects (I could actually list them) will try to unpick this, and insist that yet more stuff is needed at the expense of every other region. There are many trends and issues at the heart of how the market is behaving and what effects products moving off the shelves. The problem with them, is that they assume they are the most popular and therefore the most important and that little or nothing can stop them. Sorry guys. Your wrong again. 

[Steamport Southport]

Have to agree with the above black hat, the argument that the southern doesn't have loco's in the bargain bin has a large E1 shaped hole in it let alone the schools,or S15 ! The E1 Is in the bargain bin at Hattons for example... and it is the lbsc livery. I believe the red box have semi admitted that there was mistakes made with the releases of some of the "NE" locomotives..,ie the B1, the K1, which flooded as there was an over reaction when the sales numbers come in.

 

I would suggest that all the manufacturers are spreading their products wider as the "wish list" has spread wider since they have been producing the "most wanted" as each of the companies in turn.

 

I could see a lean year as both companies assess their Strategies and their future investments. Bachmann have to catch up on their previous lists and Hornby look to rein in their accounts,

 

I know what is on my wish list and to upset the others it is NE inspired... a 20t wooden hopper wagon! Which would compliment the NER locos that both manufacturers have produced.

 

Nope. Nobody has ever made an E1. Neither a LBSC version, nor a SECR/SR version.

 

But I know either of them would outsell any NER model tenfold.

 

 

 

Jason

[The Black Hat]

Nope. Nobody has ever made an E1. Neither a LBSC version, nor a SECR/SR version.

 

But I know either of them would outsell any NER model tenfold.

 

 

 

Jason

 

Wrong again. Bachmann are making a proper E1. 

 

Do try and keep up....

 

https://www.lner.info/locos/J/j72.php