JonathonAG

My own Preserved and late BR Black versions have arrived, and the few details covered before, it's still a rather wonderful looking model thats Rails and Bachmann should be congratulated for creating. Some photos later and then some running in! Caledonian Coaches and a 439 next?

So, after a phone call over three weeks ago (like others) to ensure that current details on my account are still correct, payment has went out today. No email from Rails to say today would be the intended day of payment, nor any email to say that the models have arrived and will be dispatched. Rather odd way of working. Whenever I've held a pre order with other establisments, I have then received a phone call when the model has been ready to dispatch and money taken then. Just as a cautionary heads up for anybody who may want to check their bank account today. *Edit at 1545 : Should also add that, through the pre order page on Rails of Sheffield personal account section, the balance paid has not been updated to reflect the above.

From watching the video several times, my own views: Pros : 1. The livery application is exceptional on the Caledonian versions we've seen so far. Obviously the Black versions are also to a high standard, but the overall basic design of those post-CR schemes means it should be very difficult to get wrong. 2. Pre fitted speakers on all versions. That is a god send for anybody who is into the basics of DCC sound, without wanting the fuss of self fitting speakers. This could mean, for those who are purchasing multiple models over the different eras which may not be run together, there could be a saving of buying only one fitted with sound, and swapping the chip over to the desired model when wanting to run it with the noise. 3. The sounds themselves, appear rather good from what I can gather from Jenny's video. My fear with sound files for steam is that the beat of each revolution begins to sound rather machine-gun fire and tinny when above the prototypical 30mph range. While not seeing too much higher speed running on the tests in video, it does appear to be a bit easier on the ear than some offerings from elsewhere. 4. The price, so far, hasn't increased yet again. The Cons: 1. That tender flare. Covered more than enough by previous posts, but certainly confusing to see in this era when Hornby are knocking out similar flared tenders with no compromise. Having handled more J36's from Hornby than is safe to admit to the better half, and recently altering two SR Class 700s into a J35 and J37, none suffered any damage to the flared areas of the tender. This is especially impressive on the 700 tenders, which required the upper sides of the flares cut away and new coal rails and supports added. There should be no need for that amount of extra plastic on the 812's. 2. Thickness again, this time on the cab handrails and smokebox turning wheel. The former is rather oblong and thick, whereas in reality it's perfectly cylindrical. The smokebox door dart was previously brought up several months ago, and again is disappointing to see that it hasn't been addressed. 'Caley Coaches' may need to restock on their far superior brass versions, as I can see many taking a scalpel to the original and replacing it with the mucher finer detail. 3. Price. Are we getting a fantastic model for value? Jury is out. As said elsewhere, the locomotive body itself is very near high detail standards of this day minus the criticisms of point 2, but the tender is very Hornby Dublo. It's fine when RTR models produced by the big brands from 30 years ago are being surpassed by home 3d prints, the same shouldn't be said for new releases now. Is £200 for the CR Blue versions justified if the customer feels they need to cut away and replace certain pieces for it to match up alongside a similar model of similar release generation? I'm torn on this. On the one hand, the Caledonian livery application is far beyond what I could achieve and so I'm likely to keep that order in for the preserved 828. As for my 57566 order, having to spend another £30 for a 3d printed tender body in attempt to paint match it seems like a lot of trouble, especially for something that should have been correct when leaving the factory.

An attempt to blur the line between model and real as much as many of the fantastic photos already posted here, another from Charlestown Kiln. The backdrop, sky and exhaust are all from a 'reality' photo of Caledonian No. 828 during a visit to Bo'ness. Everything else is model.

A few more from Dunfermline Upper 62C, with a small inclusion from the Charlestown diorama that isn't quite complete yet.

Agreed, the marketing strategy and lack of information thereafter seems very disjointed. Having went off with a bang at Model Rail Scotland, the update thereafter has fizzled and the latest information regarding transportation from China has come from Bachmann's own Collectors Club magazine, not from Rails themselves. As we move further and further towards the Deposit and Reserve method, surely those companies should feel obliged to give semi regular updates regarding the product being purchased. As it stands, Bachmann have said in their magazine that it is on it's way from China. When should I be expecting Rails to come knocking regarding paying the outstanding bill on my reservations? If I weren't on this forum, I wouldn't know that the models are even in transportation. Decency would hope that the sellers would give as much notice as possible to the client of when that final stage is approaching, especially considering the sums of money involved aren't small. From the side of the sellers, the current situation risks surprising the buyer and resulting in possible cancellations or requests to hold on to the model until a more convenient time to pay, affecting the cashflow expectations based off current deposits and reservations.

If September is still the expected release, would it be wise to assume that they are in process of shipment across to the UK? Everything has went rather quiet, in comparison to lead ups towards other Rails releases of recent.

I believe the last update was giving September as an estimate.

For Rails/DC kits, could either of you provide a short video perhaps of this DCC module and the quality it gives of the 812 class recordings? It's a lot of money to spend blindly, regardless of how much I would like a sound fitted version, and I'm betting I'm not in this boat alone.

Hopefully my own layout of Dunfermline Upper Shed 62C fit in this thread. Just a couple, as some work still in progress including fitment of a turntable (relocated to South East of it's real life situ due to space restrictions). 1 - A2 No. 60532 'Blue Peter' simmers on shed during railtour layover in the mid 60's, as a D11 is serviced over the ash pit in the background. 2 - Home based J36 No. 65288 sits quietly inside the shed, with a fellow shedmate B1 and rare visiting J39. 3 - Re-allocated to Fife after the West Highlands, K4 No. 61994 'The Great Marquess' stands on the backroads before heading for the turntable. 4 - Thornton's J36 No. 65345 has been brought down to Dunfermline, being prepared over a couple of days leading up to railtour duty after being cleaned by members of the MNA.

Thanks for the update Oliver, looking forward to the livery samples.

Thanks for the update Legend and Rembrow. Perhaps an issue to flag with RoS. Why is information regarding the 812 project then being issued via Bachmann Times, but not on their own website or via email to those who have already paid deposits? Not everybody (including myself) are subscribed to Bachmann Members club, and any information regarding the build should be finding it's way to those who have already put money into the allocations?

As we're nearing the end of Q3, is there a further update to the information we were provided at Model Rail Scotland in February?

They look brilliant Oliver! Certainly doing the class justice. One query regarding the Caledonian liveried versions. I see the correct cab sheet lamps have been modelled, will these be available to buy separately too just to ensure the whole range of a) liveries and b) lamp codes can be covered? The latter involves different forward facing colours of white or green on either or both sides, while always showing red to the rear, to show different classifications of Caley passenger and freight workings. And now to try model a Caley semaphore route indicator!

Unfortunately I'm not able to make it along to MRS this weekend due to work commitments. Would anybody attending be able to share if any further updates are being given at the Rails stand, and if even an EP version has made it (although understandable if not, can foresee a delay on that due to the coronavirus issues). Thanks in advance.

Beautiful! Can I ask where you sourced the painted name from, but also what method you used to remove the original identity as there seems to be very little evidence of it?

Believe it is just the BR livery version that is due soon in December from Hornby, with the NBR and LNER versions still cited for a January 2019 release.

Sadly that isn't the case. 'Caledonian Railway Livery by Caledonian Railway historian Jim Macintosh is very insightful to the livery debate of the blues.

Reading the 'Caledonian Railway Livery' book, research has shown that the lighter blue livery was introduced in the late 1890's by McIntosh for select locomotives (with different lining style however), but the light shade with the usual Caley lining began to spread it's way through the fleet from this point right up until LMS ownership.

Thanks for the update Oliver, it's much appreciated and certainly 2020 will be looked forward to.

As somebody else with two pre-orders, a possible third being considered, a project update would be greatly appreciated.

One thing that isn't too clear from the images, and again could be entirely down to the prototype stage rather than finalised model, is the lack of rivets on the smokebox wrapper and wingplates. Considering the NBR version of 'Maude' is set in the preservation era, I'd have imagined these rivets would have been present on all three of the final 2018 releases having been the snap head variety on the class since LNER days.

Having seen the latest update, already with 'Maude' and a single BR version on order....another two BR for renumberings may be required to further justify how stunning a model the J36 is looking to be. If Rails can match this with the Caley 812, then we Scottish based enthusiasts are in for a good 18 months....

Yesterday I finally got around to ordering No. 6, having fired her at Bo'ness on various occasions during her many times of station pilot during galas! The speed at which it arrived however, on par with what is clearly an excellent model. Well done to Hattons, already seriously considering No. 10..... My only question is, has anybody had difficulty removing the NEM couplings. There's a real fear of snapping these off, so what methods have worked best so far that I could implement on my own?

Take my money, and a bit extra if to next look at either the Jones Good, Glen or Gordon Highlander The latter two, I'll take both pre-grouping and BR liveries please.....