curlypaws

Is it just me, or have Bachmann removed mention of the Sound Fitted Deluxe version of the InterCity Class 47 (35-413SFX) from their website?

May/June for the DBSOs according to the Bachmann site.

I'm looking forward to getting the ones I've ordered, but I'm perfectly happy to wait. Given all the effects of the pandemic (which are still impacting trade and manufacturing) waiting a few more months isn't an issue. And that picture of the model and its box look gorgeous.

I think this is exactly right - particularly with more niche models. If you judge value on some kind of length or weight basis, and you've no real preference on era or region then something like the Precedent will look too expensive. Ultimately it is down to the judgement of the individual as to what represents value. We can probably all think of a favourite locomotive we'd love to see modelled which wouldn't sell in large numbers. And we'd probably be willing to pay a bit more for it as a result, while still considering it good value.

I find his reviews to be useful on occasion - for example, he was quite honest about the Hornby W1 Hush-Hush issues. At other times, he lets his biases show rather too much. The endless harping about the price of a locomotive becomes a bit wearing, and seems to ignore the economic realities of the pandemic, shipping costs and inflation. I'm sure we'd all love everything to be cheaper, but it isn't happening. And while it may raise some questions regarding the relative price increases in the model railway world (which Euvirail covered much better) it isn't like Bachmann's pricing is particularly far out of line with Hornby's pricing for 2022. Can a model locomotive never be worth £200? Should we expect "all the features possible, and more besides" (from his Caledonian class 812 review)? Neither point seems reasonable to me and while it makes sense to raise the topic of value in a review, complaining about it all the way through just means I unsubscribe.

Well, either it is meant to be like that or my coach B is also missing the same underbody detail. I see that coach C & D do have the silver underbody boxes at one end, as do the driving cars. But, as best I can tell, this is how Hornby have represented it. So it looks like it is not generally present. I'm not sure whether something should be there or not though, I can't see any online images which would allow you to tell for sure. It also looks like their GWR Class 800 is the same.

I love the Rails of Sheffield video showing their two exclusive Bachmann V2 models. Shot on Neville Grove, the excellent camera work really shows off the locomotives very well. To make it clear, I've no link with Rails (although I did buy my V2 from them), just love the video.

Sadly even once the doors are opened my V2 has a very, very dim firebox flicker.

I found that the wheels on my weathered Early Crest model did need a bit of cleaning before it ran smoothly. But once done, it runs beautifully and is a very nice looking locomotive. It's interesting to see that the firebox flicker is far brighter than the Gresley V2 - where you'd need to be sitting in a darkened room with a magnifying glass to see any kind of glow.

I had a similar 'unable to gain access to your property' email from the Royal Mail, despite the postman having delivered letters and small parcels that same day. This was on a 'Special Delivery' item. I got the 'fob off' reply that the parcel would be delivered the next day (which, to be fair, it was). I can understand that they are, like most businesses, having to contend with difficult circumstances. But they would be better just telling you that than inventing strange excuses!

Our 03 has a Zimo MX658N18 chip (it's a Bachmann 31-368DS). There is some guidance on the YouChoos site about fitting a stay-alive to that chip (if that is the one your loco has).

@russ p You may find this guide useful - https://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=16644&jump_to=300307 it helped me quite a bit with getting the body off. Prising the cab off was the bit that I hated doing, but fortunately it seems quite resilient!

We had a similar problem and eventually fitted a TCS stay-alive which transformed the performance (it is a Zimo sound fitted model). Like @Izzy I fitted the stay-alive into the cab due to the lack of space elsewhere. My partner did the tricky soldering. The TCS is small which means that I didn't have to remove anything in the cab. Now nothing will stop the little 03! I also checked the gauging and found it was a little off - fixing that improved its running a little, but it couldn't manage more than a foot or so before it stopped prior to fitting the stay-alive. One word of caution - it is quite a tricky thing to get the body off, given that it is small and fragile. And not a lot easier to get the body back on afterwards either. Since (in real life) I believe they always tended to run with a converted Conflat A as a shunting wagon to ensure they tripped the track circuits, the other option would be to wire pickups to a similar wagon and always run the two together. But that is a lot less flexible. I had thought of doing this originally but felt that the stay-alive was a tidier fix.

Personally, having experienced issues with two Hornby B1s (one had a faulty motor amongst other issues and it is impossible to get a replacement, the other damaged its own valve gear). I would think that Hornby would be better to concentrate on improving their quality control (e.g. the W1 Hush Hush), keeping a stock of spare parts and producing the locomotives they have already announced rather than trying to compete with Bachmann for the likely small market of those looking for the 'perfect' V2 RTR model. And who is to say that any Hornby V2 model wouldn't have some design decisions that upset potential purchasers? I'd take a Bachmann model over a Hornby any day!

Very pleased with my BR lined black version - it runs beautifully and looks superb.

Yes, I quickly reached for F19. I guess it is good that there is a wide range of volumes - but I'm slightly surprised that they seem to have defaulted it to the loudest!

I'd just like to echo @Trainsandtravel and wish all at Accurascale a very happy Christmas and a good New Year. I hope you are all putting your feet up, as next year looks like being busy. I'm looking forward to my Class 37s, Deltics, Mk2s, Mk5s and various wagons. Not to mention what additional goodies you may announce to strain my purse even further...

I wondered that too - but even after the ESU auto tune it was just the same. I tried to convince myself that it was slightly better, but realised that (at the price) I really just needed to bite the bullet and send it back. Hopefully a replacement will be fine - nobody else seems to have had issues. I think I was just unlucky.

Sadly not for me - the locomotive ran smoothly but on stopping came to a halt and then jumped forward 1-3 times. And then on subsequent start it leapt forward before gradually pulling away. I tried cleaning track and wheels but even with extensive running in, it still happens. It is going back - my first faulty Bachmann. I also see what Dean Park's review meant about the braking distance - you do need to plan ahead to try to bring it to a halt at a particular point - even using F2 heavily (and not counting the leaps forward afterwards).

Has anyone received notification of their Rails of Sheffield Class 47 starting its journey to them? Having pre-ordered a lovely two-tone green model I'm casting envious glances at all those who already have theirs. Yes, I could ask them. But I'm sure that the last thing they need is a lot of "are they there yet" chasers.

Now coming by January 2 according to Kernow's news page. A bit of a moveable feast, but understandable given the state of the world today.

Waiting impatiently for my BR Black Weathered model to come into stock. I have to say, the loco looks stunning in the Caledonian Blue livery though.

I'm certainly no fan of Sam's Trains. But he regularly takes the baseplate off locomotives and they run OK. So I don't think we can reasonably infer that his locomotive was fine before he took a look at it. It does seem that Hornby's QC is lacking. I've experienced far more problems with Hornby locomotives than all other manufacturers combined (and most of my locomotives are Bachmann or Heljan).

I enjoyed the review. Not a loco I’d normally consider - but after your video and the Hornby Magazine layout build with the Fairlie I am tempted.

According to the Railway Modeller review, the handrails on the model are metal with the exception of the main cab grab rails - which are plastic.