Southwich

Great work Rich! Fair play for getting this all done before the show Kind regards, Will

Looking great Mark - looking forward to further updates. Kind regards, Will

Double glazing - second new Bachmann 37 glazed over the last few days with the slightly larger glazing which now looks spot on on 37401. Windows need a clean but very pleased with this Thanks Dave - Large Logo tractor next to be 37425 and then all three will have the smaller details fitted. I’ve gone with Pete Harvey’s etched ploughs which I think is a must fit for their finesse. Thanks for your kind words Justin - completely agree with your comment. Well worth the LaserGlaze as you’ll never get that level of glazing under factory conditions. Kind regards, Will

Indeed - and just goes to show how good they’ve got the front of the loco. I do feel the central pane needs to be slightly bigger on Brian’s pack though. Kind regards, Will

Latest Bachmann 37 has been LaserGlazed this morning following the arrival from Brian on Saturday. Very pleased with the result - few more to get cracking with! Kind regards, Will

Busy morning at work this morning… Latest tractor fitted with Brian’s latest LaserGlaze. Sharpie’d edges and Glue & Glaze made light work of the task. Well worth the effort and shows just how good the new tooling is. 2 more painted ones to go… Kind regards, Will

Put latex gloves on - ensures no fingerprint or marks to be seen! Kind regards, Will

My set and the test samples from Brian arrived yesterday (and my shell that he used for the glazing). Test photos from Brian below: Look forward to glazing a few tractors when I’m back from Ally Pally later. Kind regards, Will

Another superb photo! Will

@Steadfast has some rather nice photos of 028 on your rather nice box wagons: A natural choice for the modern modeller - and good timing for the second run 😉 Kind regards, Will

What a cracking photo! I don’t know why, but the GBRF livery sits really nicely on the 60, I have relatively little interest in the modern day Railway scene, but I think the GBRF 60 will be on my Rule 1 list! Very much looking forward to the painted sample of the 60 in GBRF… Will

3D print will be on display at Glasgow this weekend - we’re a little bit excited about this one! The full launch article can be found below, including the history of the prototype: https://www.cavalexmodels.com/cavalex-class-60 Kind regards, Will

Great work Mick! Looking forward to seeing the layout at Glasgow. Kind regards, Will

Given I was born in ‘98 I’m afraid not Dutch… EWS, see photo from Flickr above at Temple Mills which I will get round to building one day. I’ve already done 698 and have mentor on the go to complete the below working: Not sure about noses. When I get the other split box bosh back from Brian at Shawplan I’ll try and fit them and let you know. Kind regards, Will

Thanks for your kind words. As I mentioned previously my post was to show what is achievable with the new model, and this isn't needed to make it look right. The base model of the new 37 is excellent and is very good out of the box, however I felt for a P4 loco that I would like to exhibit on a layout one day I'd push my skills as far as possible, and safe to say I'm very pleased with the result! That said I would be very happy with the new model over the old Bachmann 37, it's streets apart! I sincerely hope the challenge is accepted and the windows can be replicated to the standard of the moulding exhibited on the Bachmann version, as I think we will have the ultimate 37 on our hands (I had a good conversation with Gareth at GETS in 2021 about this). I'd also like to point out for everyone's benefit that I have numerous products from the Accurascale team and have been very supportive of them both publicly and privately, including owning a rake of PCAs that I'm incredibly happy with, so to question my integrity is not needed IMO. Feel free to browse my work - my mantra is to make the best model I possibly can, in my opinion based on my research and the informed facts so far, cosmetically speaking the best starting point is the Bachmann model due to the way they have captured the windscreens. This is based on hours of research of the prototype (yes I probably need to get out more and thanks to Cav for highlighting this addiction lol), using a large number of photographs. The way the subtle join between panels and the window frames have been capture (as highlighted in Andi's original post from DEMU showcase) is second to none, and this can be seen very easily from a short Flickr search of 37s. If anyone would like access to my folder of photos of 37s I have collated over the years drop me a PM with your email and I'll share the folder with you. As I referenced in my original response further up the thread I will also arrange for the screens to be measured on the prototype then we can definitively say. For the sake of completeness - here are the comments I posted on DEMU with regards to the models I had received at the time (37430/37422/37401): Positives: - The windscreen - this has been nailed in my opinion (see photos below) and this is the sole feature that for me makes this worth the extra money over the forthcoming Accurascale offering which uses as separate part in this area. For me not having to take a file to a model to reprofile the front of the loco is a massive positive over the previous generation of Bachmann model. For me the windscreen area on the Bachmann model makes my decision for me between the two new tractors. IMO one captures the look of the loco, and one doesn’t quite. I'm hoping this area is sorted as there are a lot of the WIPAC ones that I would really like, as Fran and Gareth both well know. - Running quality- flawless as usual with Bachmann. Easy enough conversion to P4/EM will just need brake gear sorting out to fit around the wider wheels. - Overall shape - speaking with Alex C on the Bachmann stand you can see they’ve nailed the shape of the new tractor - again well worth the money. - Detail pack - about a million extra bits to add - really lifts the face of the model and all are very nicely moulded - Overall DCC functions/lights - kind of what you’d expect from a model in this day and age but engine room lights, separate functions are all there. A lot of playability if that’s a word! Negatives: - Snow ploughs - these are rubbish and just need to be chucked in all honesty. Whilst the Accurascale offering will certainly be better in this area, the only way to get a proper look to this area is to use Pete Harvey etched ploughs otherwise they’re far too thick moulded in plastic. Again a worthy upgrade to both models IMO. I’ve done two sets of new Bachmann ones with etches ploughs and they work really well with a bit of modelling. The 31 mount works well with the new buffer beam on the Bachmann model - Steps - I think the Accurascale model wins here again - the Bachmann steps are pretty naf in all honesty but I'm happy to upgrade these for fixed Pete Harvey ones. - Sound - without looking into it too much I’m not overly impressed with the sound setup in the Bachmann model, however swapping the sugar cube for a double iPhone certainly helps matters. Long term I will butcher the block and get an EM1 inside to sort this out properly. Again a clear win for Accurascale in this department. Other comments: - Fan grille - I think this is as good as you’re ever going to get in a factory environment. The easy solution here is a Shawplan roof grille if you want an upgrade to do it yourself - well worth it IMO for the improvement, but the new roof grille is streets ahead of the previous generation model. - Glazing - again I think if you’re nitpicking you could improve this with LaserGlaze and I’m working with Brian to do some as it would be a worthwhile upgrade! I don’t think you can expect anything better under factory conditions. Overall comments: If you’re going on price alone I think there’s only one winner, but in my opinion I’m not buying on price, I want the ultimate 37 and happy to sacrifice having less in my fleet to have them right, as well as rectifying any pieces I'm not happy with. To have the windscreens nailed from the outset of having the model in my hands has won me over, and the ease of conversion also plays a part. If you're buying on a budget based on price, or wanting the best sound option straight from the box I think the conclusion is different. Some prototype comparison on the Bachmann model - please excuse the very cruel close ups: My model of 37114: Kernow 37401 with the original glazing: 37042 as the prototype: It's always good to have a proper grown up chat about the pros and cons of the models we spend our very hard earned cash on, and hopefully we can all go for a beer at Glasgow for those attending to discuss them and modelling in general further. Kind regards, Will

Hi Roy, The photos Andi posted previously that you quoted my response to were of the pre-production Bachmann version at DEMU showcase, so comparing the two samples is comparing like for like. As I mentioned previously, I’m in the process of arranging a real 37 to be measured then I can 100% definitely say which is correct when both production versions appear, however comparing the photos earlier in the thread my point still stands at this moment in time. I’m sure someone more tech savvy than myself can knock up a three way comparison photo between the two models and the prototype for everyone to see this. Hopefully Fran can clarify exactly what is being tweaked for production as if the windscreens are done to the standard of the Bachmann one then I’ll be buying those as well! Having tinkered with 37s for years, please feel free to view my work below, which I’ve gone into the cons of the Bachmann model and the areas that need improvement that wouldn’t necessarily need doing on the Accurascale model. I’ve spend hours detailing my model of 37114 and thought it would be useful for others to view the art of the possible in trying to create as good a model as possible, and as a modeller that’s the perspective I will always see things from. Who doesn’t love a load of 37 chat late at night! Kind regards, Will

Excellent Nick - stunning work! Looking forward to seeing these develop further Kind regards, Will

Great to see engagement as always Fran and to hear the other side of the story. I posted a photo of my 37 as a modeller, and those that know me know I’m rather passionate about the subject, so I think the comment about kicking off the debate is a bit over the top (I have no involvement other than my dad being a director and helping at shows - I wish I was involved!) Regarding the model I think all of the previous comments have been fair, and when asked on the DEMU forum I have said there are many positives of your model over the Bachmann model (sound, ploughs, lack of nose join). However, the windscreen area is a very clear winner for Bachmann as Andy has very clearly shown from photos, I’ve asked someone to measure the prototype to illustrate my points with clear facts and measurements to compare when both production models hit the shelves. I’d love for your model to rectify this area (I know a few others have fed this back to Gareth), but for me I’ll take separate noses that I can fill, over separate windscreens that will take significantly more work. If you do sort this area I think I’d certainly be switching my models to reflect this, but currently the windscreens don’t capture the distinctive look of the 37 in my opinion. Are you able to provide more information on the tweaks made? Or is it just with regards to to fitting of the separate part? Kind regards, Will

Great work Dave - love the atmospheric photos! Are you heading to Model Rail Scotland in a few weeks? Would be good to catch up if so! Kind regards, Will

I saw @cairnsroadworks had done this on Instagram - looks really good! Love the diorama too The black surround on the cab front shows off my point exactly, just how well Bachmann have captured this distinct feature of the loco. I think some LaserGlaze from Brian would finish it off nicely! Kind regards, Will

Having studied 37s for hours to try and come up with a list of detailing/improvements, there’s certainly pros and cons of each model (I posted my thoughts on the DEMU forum for anyone interested). The biggest factor for me is the windscreens, which is indisputable that Bachmann have nailed and the other forthcoming model clearly hasn’t. Having fitted Shawplan etched screens to the old generation tractor, I’m pleased to not have to do this on the Bachmann model and more than anything prepared to pay the extra to not have to do this mod, which I can’t say I wouldn’t have to do on the Accurascale model. @Daddyman did a very inspirational thread a few years ago improving the old model, and I think he has also come to the same conclusion that the new generation Bachmann tractor is streets ahead in this area. Once Brian has finished doing the LaserGlaze I think this’ll show the biggest difference. At the end of the day you need to compare the models with the prototype, using a critical eye, and choose the features that are most important for you. For me it’s the windscreens all day long, everything else in terms of detailing can be fixed with a bit of the M word! Kind regards, Will

A few shots of my tarted up Bachmann tractor to be done as 37114 in EWS: A full list of mods can be found on my workbench thread, but in terms of providing a basis for the ultimate 4mm tractor, I don’t think you’ll beat this model. Kind regards, Will

Thanks Mike - email sent! Kind regards, Will

Hi Mike, This looks absolutely stunning. Looking for roughly four of these for various EMUs, do you have these in stock please? Thanks in advance, Will

Excellent work Rich - saying in P4 then given the model is sprung? 😉 Kind regards, Will