GNR Dave

According to the latest Collectors Club magazine I received yesterday, there is no change to their status. They're still in the drawing office 2 years and six months after being announced.

It's in a preservation only livery, which the loco no longer carries, so I think 500 odd is probably about right for the production run. Just ordered mine ! For those not members of the Bachmann Collectors Club, I thoroughly recommend joining. It is by far the best model railway manufacturers club I have come across and represents good value for money even if you don't want the limited editions.

Strange that they're not on Dapol's own website. I fancy the Club members limited edition 'Waddon' as it's named for one of my local stations, but can't seem to place the order on line.

The gloss on the King does give it a real look of quality. If it was in GWR livery instead of BR, I'd definitely have one. (Nothing post 1950 for me !) As it is, I'm tempted to load the airbrush with Johnsons Klear and see if I can add a bit of extra quality so some of the locos in my collection.

If this is the price for a faux grained teak finish, then it is on a par with Hornby's LNER 61' 6" teaks, which retail for between £50 - £55. As the Bachmann coaches are still in the drawing office two and a half years after they were first announced, I'm guessing that they won't be hitting dealer shelves 'till next year. I'm guessing also that the simpler to produce maroon, crimson, plain non grained brown 'teak' or blood and custard liveries would, as with Hornby's coaches, be a little cheaper than the teaks. Don't know, just guessing.

10th August at Dapol is apparently the latest ETA for the non sound equipped Southern and 2 LB&SCR liveried versions.

Rather un-inspiring photos. Quite amateurish I think, (possibly a mobile phone job ?) unfortunately doing the product no favours. Still eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on a couple though.

There could be good money to make for a RTR manufacturer willing to take the plunge with pre-grouping. Bachmann's C class in SECR livery is fetching £500 on ebay, despite there being no RTR stock for it to run with. I wonder what price it will fetch when the birdcages eventually arrive in SECR livery. Even the E4 in (by comparison) the relatively drab LB&SC livery is selling well with no stock to back it up. With Locomotion's Atlantic and Stirling Single, the floodgates could be about to open ! If these bow enders are back datable, (my GWR knowledge is less than minimal !) I think it would be short sighted of Hornby not to dip the proverbial toe. Especially if it is only a livery change.

Sorry but I think DEFECT is too strong a word. The handrail issue is a conscious decision by Hornby. It is a compromise to simplify manufacturing. All model trains have compromises. If you're unhappy with those compromises, don't buy the model. The model is not defective because it is supplied and works as Hornby have specified it. Again if you are not happy with the way Hornby have spec'd the model, don't buy it. If enough people don't buy their product they will get the message and up their game, and presumably their prices. I would suspect however, that the vast majority of purchasers are / will be more than happy with their 700s & J15s, most will not even be aware of the handrail issue and most of those that are, won't let it spoil their enjoyment of a couple of lovely models (IMHO) Getting back on topic, I think the D16s look superb. To my eye it is a beautifully proportioned loco and I'll be getting an LNER and British Railways example, no matter what angle the handrails are at (So long as they're not moulded on !)

Couldn't agree more. Although to be fair to Bachmann's B1 it is probably several decades older than the far superior (IMHO) Hornby model, new chassis aside. I believe the original tooling was made by Kader for Replica, and was incorporated into the Branchline range with Replica's demise.

Pardon my ignorance but what are the main visual differences between the A1 and the A3 ? I had thought the biggest visual change (at least from layout viewing position) was the banjo dome, which this model does not have. Hope this isn't too big a question. I'm referring to external appearance, not mechanical / internal improvements.

LNER on the tender is about 1.2mm higher than the cab side number. Wouldn't the height of the tender vary depending on how much water / coal was on board at the time ? Surely the more carried, the lower the ride height. Did the LNER line them up for an empty or full tender ? I know that on Hornbys Coronation liveried LNER A4s the chrome trim that runs along the bottom edge of the valance, doesn't line up with the corresponding trim on the tender. The trim on the tender is over 1mm higher. I assumed this was because Hornby measured Mallards tender, which as a museum exhibit, would presumably have been empty. I'm no expert, just putting forward a possible explanation. Book Law still looks like a stunning model IMHO

Has anyone seen / received the Southern liveried version ? All pics and stock listings I've seen so far have been the BR versions.

Way to kill a guys dream man !

Named version, possibly in the 'Improved engine green' for the next Collectors Club model anyone ? Maybe the 'feature not seen on a club model' will be blank tank sides and a decal sheet with multiple name / number choices for us to apply. Well I can dream can't I ?

When I said free to make, I meant that it would not infringe the exclusivity deal announced at the time of the C1 launch. The C2 is a different loco. I am fully aware that any producer of a replica from the National Collection will have to negotiate a licence agreement etc. before proceeding.

Good to see the cab as a separate component. Maybe in the future we'll get the earlier Great Northern style cab roof.

I believe the exclusivity deal between Bachmann and the NRM was only for the C1 large boilered Atlantic. Henry Oakley is a C2 small boilered Atlantic and probably not covered by the 'deal'. I'm guessing Bachmann are therefore free to do the C2 for their own range, and not break the deal with the NRM. We can only hope they do so !

It's not so much that it's their first steam loco. More that it's a Stirling Single, with all the problems that particular shape / wheel arrangement has for the OO gauge manufacturer. Problems that have been discussed in this very thread. Having said all that, I hope they do pull it off because I would love to have a model of such an iconic loco in the display cabinet above the layout. (It's a bit early for the period that I model, although I'll give it a sneaky test run when no rivet counters / era Nazis are looking ! )

Can't make up my mind on this one. With all due respect to Rapido, this seems like a bit 'in at the deep end' for your first steam loco. Also they're not a company that I'm familiar with product wise. I think if it was Bachmann or Hornby I'd be more inclined to purchase. As it is, I'll probably wait until I see a working, liveried model before I decide. If I miss out then so be it.

Unlikely. I spoke to Locomotion today. The only version currently available is the weathered British Railways livery. The GNR version will probably be next, but in a few weeks time. Probably on the same container as the missing LB&SCR E4s

Has anyone had an E4 from Rails of Sheffield ? I've got a couple on order with them, but have heard nothing, and their website still says 'forthcoming release'. Not sure if I've missed out (again) or if they've not yet received their allocation.

I thought the Terriers on the stand at Ally Pally this weekend looked superb. Hard to believe they're only £200 a pop. Dapol hope to have them in the shops May / June time. I feel the strange urge to build a small Southern based O gauge layout coming on.

Most of the traders at Ally Pally had plenty of the BR and Southern ones on the Saturday. According to Bachmann the LB&SCR version didn't get onto the same container and so will be about 3 weeks later.

Rails don't seem to have them yet. Strange that the LBSCR doesn't seem to be available anywhere yet either.