Southwich

Bit more tractor progress using the new Bachmann model before I head down under for work (don’t worry the tractors will be following me out to continue on with them!). 
 

New glazing for 37422/37401 has continued to lift the fact of the model:

Very pleased with the glazing now - really captures the characteristic windows of these locos now! 
 

Continuing on the 37/4 theme I’ve been working on 37425 which is one of my favourite mid 2000s EWS machine. Using 37430 as the donor, this has been debranded, and I’ve stripped the noses. The rationale behind this being that it’ll be easier to repaint when I’ve added the etched lamp bracket each end (2nd man side seems to be missing lamp brackets each end!). I’ve also glued and filled the nose join, reglazed using LaserGlaze and added a Shawplan roof fan grille. Snowploughs have been prepared but just missed adding before it had to be packed away:

Split boxes - I’ve continued on detailing my fleet of EWS split boxes of 37042/37109/37057:

37042 - Nose glued & filled, Scottish headlamp filled, boiler port filled, Shawplan roof grille added. Horn grilles have been removed ready for etched ones. 

37109 - Nose glued & filled, Scottish headlamp filled, boiler port filled, Shawplan roof grille added. Horn grilles have been removed ready for etched ones, I’ve also started removing the rivet strapping from the roof. 

37057 - Buffers changed, nose glued & filled, Scottish headlamp filled, boiler port filled, Shawplan roof grille added. Horn grilles have been removed ready for etched ones. 

Next steps are to finish the body work with high intensity headlamps, lamp brackets and other small details then onto the underframes.

I’ve also packed some units to keep me busy in Straya so looking forward to posting some progress when I manage!

Kind regards,

Will

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

On 23/03/2023 at 09:27, Waverley West said:

 

Very nice, Will. That really looks the part. Have yet to take the plunge with a new Bachmann 37, mainly being put off by the price and the apparent difficulty of fitting snowploughs to them. That certainly looks worth the effort you've put into it though.

 

It's the wrong colour though of course. It should be Large Logo. 😜

 

Hope all is well.

 

Cheers

Dave

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.

On 23/03/2023 at 13:10, jjnewitt said:

 

That looks excellent Will. I shall have to try and get some laserglaze off Brian for my D6829 when it arrives.  

 

Bachmann have done a really good job capturing the face of the 37s. They just look right (to me at least), they've got the right 'expression'; unlike the other new 37 which somehow doesn't.

 

Justin  

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

1 minute ago, 97406 said:

That's a massive improvement!

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

6 minutes ago, cairnsroadworks said:

This looks great. I hate fitting them though, never get a clean finish, there’s always a fingerprint somewhere 🤣

Put latex gloves on - ensures no fingerprint or marks to be seen!

Kind regards,

Will

2 hours ago, 97406 said:

 

The windscreen glazing also lets the model down due to it being very prismatic and not as flush as I’d like. There is Laserglaze available now and I will be fitting it to ‘Cwmbran’ over the next few days.

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

7 minutes ago, Steadfast said:

Thanks Will, I can do red on Mendip Rail silver Revolution boxes too!

 

Jo

Another superb photo!

Will

3 minutes ago, Revolution Mike said:

Fortunately we’re working on a second batch of JNAs/MMAs at the moment - just working on the additional tooling needed to produce some of the newer versions. Will go well with of the newer Cavalex 60s!

 

Sorry for butting in!

@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

1 minute ago, 4630 said:

Excellent news. 👍

 

Here's GBRf 60087, when fresh from its repaint, at Colne Bridge on 18th July 2021 working 6M51, Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal, empty biomass hoppers.

 

 

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

19 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Is your 37114 going to be in Dutch as it appeared at Worcester Openday in 1993 ?

 

I was torn that day… I remember Dunrobin Castle… one of my IS favourites.

But then someone gave me a cab ride on it in Dutch dragging the GW150 DMU around and I was won over.

only 1 plough…
 

(As an aside, its great to see someone unafraid of taking a £200+ model apart).

 

 

This day saw Lima release 37069 in Dutch (an easy renumber, but ominously, it was the first model at the new price of £39.99… a scare after the glut of £19.99 sale ones).

 

one question on the noses, are they backwards compatible with the previous release 37’s ?

 

 

I think this year is year of the tractor, and the debate over who makes which version of what, and whom is better than whom is going to be the Tractexit discussion of the summer.

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

4 hours ago, TH47541 said:

 

Thank you for posting this blog. I was thinking about buying one of the new Bachmann Class 37s but seeing it needs all this work to look right has put me right off it. I just cant be doing with all that extra work. I was torn between a 37/4 and another Hornby 60, but I know the 60 is good so I will order that instead. 

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!

2 hours ago, adb968008 said:

sounds like a challenge to me…

 

i’ve not read that in anything ive seen. Indeed I think you enhanced my knowledge on Will, and am intrigued to read more of his work.

 

 

I for one do enjoy both reading and making side by side comparisons of models of similar ilk or competing types. I am just a “clean and pure” customer in making my comment in that regard… I just buy them, play with them, and well rip em apart.  I look forwards to buying a 56 with big round buffers and having a look over it, just as much as I have a Bachmann 37 hiding in my cubbyhole waiting for the “as delivered” Accurascale 37.

 

I appreciate for manufacturers its real money, and incomes at stake, so motivations maybe different. But its still a hobby, and banter comes with it, its not as if your going head to head on a 37… had this been the MGR thread, I think i would be sitting with pop corn holding my breath. 

At the end of day, its market competition, and if one rises to the challenge of the other.. we win, so if banter raises the stakes.. great, plus it entertains us, and sells more…

https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/oasis/inside-britpops-biggest-battle-blur-vs-oasis/

Bachmann is winning on the potential scale imo currently, theyve shown a lot of advanced EPs in a lot more varities than Accurascale, and of course, theyve released some too. However under the hood the jury is still out, and that to me matters as much as the hood itself.

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 

32 minutes ago, Roy Langridge said:

Given we are yet to see a production run 37 from Accurascale, what evidence do you have to support that statement? You have to compare like for like. 
 

Roy

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

15 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said:

Hi everyone,

 

Just for clarification (and I hate commenting on another manufacturers channel, but I guess a member of another manufacturer kicked off the debate on this thread too) the samples we have shown off to date, and the one referenced above, ARE the first decorative samples received over 12 months ago and feedback on the refining of these windows was top of the list fed back to the factory. Factory samples are due in February which will show the improvement and they will be the ones to judge.

 

Anyway, that’s enough from me and hope a clarification isn’t seen in poor form on this thread.

 

Cheers!

 

Fran

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

16 minutes ago, Dicky L said:

I am very pleased with the latest Bachmann 37. Here’s one that’s had a repaint. 

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

51 minutes ago, Mophead45143 said:

 

That's like red rag to a bull for Accurascale! I'm excited to see theirs. 

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

4 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

Yes, plenty in stock.

Thanks Mike - email sent!

Kind regards,

Will

On 04/04/2022 at 10:09, Michael Edge said:

Stone-Faiveley 25kv pantograph kit

Shown here fitted to a Bachmann AL5, this retains the rtr model's air motor but parts for this are included in the kit.

Price is £10 + £2 postage.

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