AMJ Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I can commend Bachamann for planning to do the Class 85 AC electric loco. As the wheelbase and body dimensions are prety much identical between the AL1-AL5 classes I think that we might find that some enterprising model shop will probably pay for an exclusive of one of the other classes. The AL1-AL5 locos were all designed so that the cab layouts and most other dimensions were virtually identical. I bet that this has already been thought about in a similar way that we got the variations of the different rats (24 & 25). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted January 4, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 4, 2011 Length varies hugely between some of the early ACs, the 83 is very short compared to the others. Lengths over buffers and bogie centres: Class 81 - 56'6", 31'6" Class 82 - 56'0", 30'9" Class 83 - 52'6", 30'0" Class 84 - 53'6", 29'6" Class 85 - 56'6", 31'6" Only the 81 and 85 share the same bogie centres Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryHN Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Andi, or some other clever person, Don't suppose you know the wheel base of the later AC electrics? Regards Gary Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Hi Gary Do you mean bogie wheelbase? classes 81, 85-90 10ft 9 classes 82-84 - 10ft. Class 81 and 85 are indeed similar (far from identical) the other classes are nothing like (sorry AMJ) Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 It's a nice thought AMJ and a very logical one, but apart from the wheelbase / length differences there are some very subtle ones between the shapes of the cab fronts and cab roof profiles. I for one would love a decent AL3 or AL4, but they are very different beasts to the others! I've placed an order with Hattons for an early spec AL5 though, not because I 'need' one (no space for a layout really), but because I really fancy one as a 'mantlepeice model'. Hopefully, if enough folk do the same it may encourage Bachmann or one of the other manufacturers to have a go at the other classes, over a period of time. Nidge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frobisher Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Class 81 and 85 are indeed similar (far from identical) the other classes are nothing like (sorry AMJ) Mind you, the 81 and the 85 where by far the most numerous and long lived of them so an 81 would make more commercial sense than any of the other three and would be the next AC electric I'd expect unless we get new versions of the 87 and 90. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted January 4, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 4, 2011 Andi, or some other clever person, Don't suppose you know the wheel base of the later AC electrics? Regards Gary bogie wheelbase / bogie centres Class 86/7 10'9" / 32'9" I don't have the data for the 90 but the bogie will be the same as the 87. Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'd be very happy to see the 81 follow on from the 85 (quite a few livery options for the 81 although all are a variation of various shades of blue!) but I'd also be over the moon to see an original format Class 86/0 which had almost identical bogies to the 85 - and given Bachmann haven't been afraid to take on the Danes with a competing Class 47, with luck perhaps an 86 might be on the cards given the luke-warm response to the Heljan version. An 86 with small yellow warning panels and a rake of early Mk2 coaches, drool... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Classes 81 and 85 together made up 65% of the first 100 A.C. electrics (E2001 excepted, of course!). The AL1/81 and AL5/85 bogies are basically identical, though the bracket on the bodyside is square on the AL1 and triangular (as per original AL6/86) on the AL5. Traditionally this part is moulded as part of the bogie rather than the body (and was painted black like the bogie). The original AL6 bogie is a close relative, though fitting Flexicoil suspension changed the appearance very noticeably. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan452 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 An 86 with small yellow warning panels and a rake of early Mk2 coaches, drool... And give the track a good battering in the process! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 And give the track a good battering in the process! Perfect justification for my dopey track laying.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Emily Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Were there any external detail differences that appeared on the class 85s when some were converted to 85/1s or indeed before this? I've had a look around on the internet, and whilst I can find reference to changes in the internals (Germanium to silicon rectifiers) I cannot find whether this affected their external appearance significantly in any way? Tantalisingly there are no expected delivery dates on the Bachmann website and the announced 85s are simply listed as 'on order'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted February 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 5, 2011 About the only real external changes to the appearance of the 85s was the loss of the second pantograph and the gaining of the roof mounted air tanks. IIRC when the rectifiers were changed there was also a change made to the underframe equipment. Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Emily Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks - the Bachmann product list makes reference to the single/twin pantograph versions, so these variants seem to be catered for. Given how many variants they manage of both the 08 and the 25, minor detail differences should pose no issue for the model I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
59205 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 About the only real external changes to the appearance of the 85s was the loss of the second pantograph and the gaining of the roof mounted air tanks. IIRC when the rectifiers were changed there was also a change made to the underframe equipment. Andi Plus the headcodes were removed and plated over with the headlights. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted February 7, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 7, 2011 Plus the headcodes were removed and plated over with the headlights. Oops, isn't it always the most obvious ones that you miss... Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 An AL5 on early Mark 2 stock looks quite good too: E3095 There were lots of livery variations in the 1960s, some of which can be seen in this set. AC locos start on second page. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.