Moderators AY Mod Posted February 1, 2023 Moderators Share Posted February 1, 2023 EXCLUSIVE AUTO-BALLASTERS KICK OFF BACHMANN COLLECTORS CLUB’S PROGRAMME OF NEW RELEASES FOR 2023 To coincide with Bachmann Europe’s Spring British Railway Announcements, the Bachmann Collectors Club today unveiled its first new products for 2023. Exclusive use has been made of the award-winning Bachmann Branchline tooling for the JJA Mk2 Auto Ballaster to produce two examples of these stunning wagons in Network Rail livery and these can be purchased by Bachmann Collectors Club members now. With both the Generator and non-Generator variants available, the models have been expertly finished to represent the prototypes, where the original Railtrack blue livery has been covered with a yellow band and Network Rail branding. This pristine strip on each side of the wagon contrasts against the worn and rusted paintwork surrounding it, and this condition is captured by the specialist weathered finish applied to each model. The Auto-Ballasters comprise hundreds of components, decorated using multiple paint applications and requiring more than seventy print applications per wagon to capture the plethora or markings and warnings that adorn the prototype. Incorporating such an incredible level of detail, whilst producing a model which remains durable enough for everyday use is no mean feat, but these Branchline wagons achieve that without compromise. The result however is a premium product and one which may not have been commercially viable if sold via Bachmann’s valued retail partners. Instead, by offering these amazing models directly to Bachmann Collectors Club members, Bachmann are once again able deliver this highly desirable product whilst ensuring it remains attainable to their cherished Club members. Priced at £94.95 each, both models are in stock now. Bachmann Collectors Club members can place their orders online via www.bachmanncollectorsclub.co.uk. New members can also join online and purchase from the growing range of Club exclusive models straight away. Orders and membership enquiries can also be made by telephone on 01455 245565. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium curlypaws Posted February 1, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2023 They look very nice, but that price... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HExpressD Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 I'd be tempted by these, despite the price as I think they look great, alas I am not a member of the collector club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted February 1, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted February 1, 2023 1 minute ago, curlypaws said: They look very nice, but that price... They would be an awful lot higher if offered through the normal retail channel. I can't remember which year but the catalogue showed just how many parts made one up. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium curlypaws Posted February 1, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2023 2 minutes ago, AY Mod said: They would be an awful lot higher if offered through the normal retail channel. I can't remember which year but the catalogue showed just how many parts made one up. A very fair point! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomScrut Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 It will be interesting to see how many people are willing to spend £475 for a 5 wagon rake. I expect most will go to collectors who buy one of every model or similar. The thing with these is that you can't really buy one or two for prototypical use, either. Unless they have only made a few, wouldn't surprise me if they end up at retailers for a fraction of the price like the 9F, black 5 and 90 did recently. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 7 minutes ago, HExpressD said: I'd be tempted by these, despite the price as I think they look great, alas I am not a member of the collector club. If only there was a way to solve that problem... 1 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 9 minutes ago, TomScrut said: It will be interesting to see how many people are willing to spend £475 for a 5 wagon rake. I expect most will go to collectors who buy one of every model or similar. I guess there is a reason they call it the 'collectors club' 😄 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold scottystitch Posted February 1, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2023 Worth every penny, I'd say... Best Scott. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolkchinaclay Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 16 minutes ago, Phil Parker said: If only there was a way to solve that problem... I am a club member, and I’ve been waiting for these in NR livery for ever, so I am prepared to stump up money for one at least so it can be run as if going to/from repair behind a suitable 37 😊 Problem is the BCC website appears to be overloaded today.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCML100 Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Tempting, especially as I am now a member of the collectors club - but the price is a hard one to take if your looking to create a prototypical rake... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Hat Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 59 minutes ago, curlypaws said: They look very nice, but that price... Normally Id be one to watch price and be prepared to make comments as such given how some items have seen significant rises. However, given how much these were retailing before, plus the likely demand for this type of wagon I think the price itself is actually below what you would have to pay if it were released on the market and people made aware of their release. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomScrut Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 56 minutes ago, The Black Hat said: Normally Id be one to watch price and be prepared to make comments as such given how some items have seen significant rises. However, given how much these were retailing before, plus the likely demand for this type of wagon I think the price itself is actually below what you would have to pay if it were released on the market and people made aware of their release. Appreciating how much they might cost to make doesn't make them more affordable, however. It is still £475 for 5 wagons, regardless of whether they are expensive to make or not. 1 hour ago, woodenhead said: I guess there is a reason they call it the 'collectors club' 😄 Yes. It is a shame though if they are aiming these at people buying them in one offs to sit on a shelf than in 5s or 10s to run on a layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolkchinaclay Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 1 minute ago, TomScrut said: Appreciating how much they might cost to make doesn't make them more affordable, however. It is still £475 for 5 wagons, regardless of whether they are expensive to make or not. Yes. It is a shame though if they are aiming these at people buying them in one offs to sit on a shelf than in 5s or 10s to run on a layout. I agree as it would make more sense to offer a complete rake although personally I could not justify such an expense at this time especially when I don’t have the room for a complete train. Perhaps they could have offered a discount for three or five when bought together to suit more pockets? I don’t suppose the discount would be much though due to the complexity of these wagons as someone alluded to earlier. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomScrut Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 7 minutes ago, norfolkchinaclay said: Perhaps they could have offered a discount for three or five when bought together to suit more pockets? The more important question in that regard is whether they have made 4x as many non generators as generators. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolkchinaclay Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 2 minutes ago, TomScrut said: The more important question in that regard is whether they have made 4x as many non generators as generators. Certainly there always seemed to be some of the Railtrack livery generator ones knocking about with traders at exhibitions for a long time, without the non-generator ones in evidence. Logic would suggest that they should be produced at a ratio of at least 4-1 surely.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Hat Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 31 minutes ago, TomScrut said: Appreciating how much they might cost to make doesn't make them more affordable, however. It is still £475 for 5 wagons, regardless of whether they are expensive to make or not. Yes. It is a shame though if they are aiming these at people buying them in one offs to sit on a shelf than in 5s or 10s to run on a layout. It can make them more affordable if in real terms the price has not gone up as much. I think these retailed before about the £65 mark, which adjusting for prices in the years since these have been done and its been a while... I'd say the chances are that these could have been more expensive. Yes I know the rake total is more expensive, but its clearly designed to sit below the £500 target and in comparison with other stock such as Mk. 2s for DRS, standard release Mk '2s the price of a rake is similar. The price inflation of something like a standard Mk. 1 in the Bachmann range is probably greater than the auto-ballaster, but Bachmann are clearly able to generate profits from this. It would be interesting to gauge reactions from the idea that having a Collectors Club allows Bachmann to do de facto direct sales and thus use its range here to again gain income. Personally, I have nothing against it, in fact I think its positive for Bachmann but would those same people decry Hornby for direct sales on their own website? A lot of it is presentation, but regardless, the Autoballasters are looking good... just need to rob a bank now... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium James Makin Posted February 1, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2023 The wagons look lovely, I'd long wondered if they would benefit from a more simplified retool, drastically cut down the number of separately-fitted parts and make them equivalent spec to the Dapol/Kernow/EFE blue Nacco Imerys wagons; separate handrails but not a lot else, price them up at under £50 and they may well fly off the shelves in big numbers! Cheers, James 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 1 hour ago, norfolkchinaclay said: Logic would suggest that they should be produced at a ratio of at least 4-1 surely.. Not if they think their market is people who buy one of everything; logic there is 50:50 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toby_tl10 Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Does anyone have information of the year and price of the previous release or first release? Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to lower the average cost by producing more of the wagons and making them into 5-wagon packs? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 1 minute ago, toby_tl10 said: Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to lower the average cost by producing more of the wagons and making them into 5-wagon packs? Not by the £200 per wagon I suspect most people want. Seriously though, the ONLY people who know this will be Bachmann. They may well have considered it already and decided against, but that information would be commercially sensitive. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alan Oliver Posted February 1, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2023 I could not understand why they were not available as a 5 pack as well as singular. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-BOAF Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 I regret not getting a couple in Railtrack livery when they were being produced at the £30-40 mark.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted February 1, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2023 3 minutes ago, G-BOAF said: I regret not getting a couple in Railtrack livery when they were being produced at the £30-40 mark.... I regret nothing…. apart from not buying more than the 5 I did, hindsight is a wonderful thing! When I saw this announcement I was tempted but the collectors club site seems to have crashed this morning so only discovered the price when I looked here, im my head I was expecting around £80-£85 a wagon so I wasn’t far out the actual price doesn’t sound too bad given the complex tooling, Ltd run etc but when you times it by 5 for the rake it for some reason doesn’t sound quite as appealing and it’s not like I’d just buy one for prosperity so at the moment I’m going to have to give them a miss (and no doubt by the time I can justify some they will have sold out!) 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 17 minutes ago, Alan Oliver said: I could not understand why they were not available as a 5 pack as well as singular. Presumably because the manufacturer judged that there is insufficient demand to produce 5-packs at the expected price either via the Club, or more significantly, via their retailers. Stock sat around is not a good use of working capital, when other products that will sell-through have been held back instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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