Karl

All my preorders moved across now too. Seems to have been a smooth process for those of us with orders. So thanks Hattons and Accurascale!

Isn't it just the announcement that they're picking up the Andrew Barclays and P class from Hattons.

I've just seen the price that the Class 31 is available for pre-order on and I think Bachmann deserve some praise here as it seems that the price is actually very comparable to the competitor version. So it's great to see the prices coming down/stabilising/being competitive, not sure what the word is but it looks good.

Or saying, it's too long can't they go back to the more frequent announcements then we didn't have to wait long. 😂

Baldwin 590 on the ledge in some dramatic lighting with the WD train.

I suspect there is a much larger overhead at Bachmann than the others that will need to be covered that will account for some of the price differential.

I think I should just clarify that the comments I make are in relation to new toolings announced since the change of announcement method. The Bulleid were new toolings but announced before the change the rest are not new toolings, but tweaked tooling. I think that is why there is disappointment is that in the last 2/3 years there have been 5/6 new diesel toolings but no steam all new tooling in 00. There is probably the subliminal assumption too of 'there will be a finite resource of research and development and so if they've been doing all these diesels they won't have even started any steam yet' meaning we're assuming on going disappoints too 😂. It is fair to say that this apparent 'slack' is being taken up by other companies who don't seem to do diesels. So across the industry steam does do very well. A few of Bachmann's apparent decisions do surprise me. For example it is 2 years since the Double Fairlies were released but there has been no FR stock which would seem to have made sense to follow the engines an annoucement or two later. Any one wanting to have some passenger coaches therefore gives their money to Peco, Nigel Brooks or Parkside and not Bachmann. I find this one very odd when the Dinorwic slates have followed the quarry hunslets very quickly so having bought the engine Bachmann get the secondary spend on stock too. Anyway, this isn't an 'nothing in it for me thing', I'm just surprised there not been any new 00 steam at all in a few years now whether it's one I'd buy or not. With regards to the comments about the 'modellers model what they remember and those in their 60's now will remember the 1970s and 1980s so will want that' are true to a point. I'm in my 30's and model steam. So the model what you remember is true for some not for others. I think I've taken enough time on this thread now anyway and think it'll reflect on us all better if the thread is full of more excited at what has been announced posts than yet more disappointed at what hasn't been ones. 😃

I quite agree that the G5 is excellent and the Rails/Bachmann 812 is very good. Perhaps this is hinting at a reality now that for Bachmann the cost benefit analysis that they do shows better returns on Diesels as that has been their focus for a few years, it wouldn't interest me but there's not been much for the Electric traction fan either over that time. Perhaps the financial maths works out that for a steam outline model it is better to work with a model shop as well and share the cost of production. I don't think steam era modellers are having a fit as it has been put, it's just a case of disappointment. Yes there is some murmouring and grumbling which comes with every disappointment. The statement of 'it's one of four announcements in the year' is quite true. The reason for said grumblings I think are that every 3 months for the last 2 and a half years that has been said for each announcement and the wait for a new steam model goes on. So it's 2 and a half rounds of 4 announcements and no new steam outline. Anyway, this is taking the topic away from what it should be which is discussing what will be produced not what wasn't. It's not a case of having a fit just a bit disappointed as when you see the quality of the new Diesels there is a bit of envy that there's no new steam coming at that standard too. 😂

The absence of steam toolings isn't the only thing that I thing is causing the disappointment amongst steam modellers. It's an apparent lack of 00 steam era being developed. Happy to be corrected but in the last 2 years or so I think in terms of steam era new toolings there is only the Dancehall brakevan. So that is where the wider 'Bachmann have turned their back on steam' has come from. It's not just an absence of engines but also period stock. I think we are now at almost 4/5 years since the last Bachmann all new steam engine tooling as a solely Bachmann model was announced and perhaps 2 years since released (V2). So we can only hope that the quietness is because Bachmann are beavering away in the background and at some point we are going to get a run of 4/5 new tooling annoucement over 18-24months, a bit like diesel fans have had with the 24/1, 20/3, 37, 47, 31 and 69 over the last 2 and a half years. A problem for Bachmann as I see it is perception. The Caley tank has been mentioned (a model I would love) and that type of engine and an 8F type always 'felt' like a Bachmann type model in the same way that LNER pacifics 'feel' like they are Hornby. An 8F now feels more like something Accurascale would do and a Caley Tank possibly feels more Rapido. Why do I bring this up? Well I have been a Bachmann CC member for about 15 years but if I am now starting to feel that Bachmann have moved their market to the modern image then there is less point me renewing as over the course of a year I no longer will expect a steam era model in the club exclusives or the magazine to have a mix of articles covering modern and steam. To be clear I don't expect Bachmann to include a steam era model and articles in every club magazine but I do expect that over the course of a year there'll be a fair spread. At the minute it is feeling like the spread is not even. Perhaps us 00 steam era are now learning how N gauge have felt for years!

Ah, thanks. I got muddled as they had some exclusive versions.

That could be interesting as that would bring in the Austerity/J94 too but didn't EFE use that tooling as it was owned by the factory? The only reason I mention that is I think the 14xx was developed in the same way as the austerity, ie. With DJmodels, so I would assume that that tooling may be the property of the factory too. Could be a cat amongst the pigeons if EFE announce 14xx tomorrow! Looking forward to my confirmation of transfer email for my orders.

On the duplication element it is only duplication with the benefit of hindsight. As the decision to make these items will be made yes in advance the decision is based on what is available then not what will be available in x number of years. Bachmann will have looked at can they make what they believe is a better model than Hornby's if they believe that they can they it makes sense to go ahead. When Accurascale announced then I suppose the question at Bachmann would be, having already spent x are we a) too far along to pull out as that is then expenditure with no return b) will our model still be better and do we forecast that we will still make enough sales to make it viable. As modellers wanting ever higher levels of detail we invite manufacturers to revisit popular prototype toolings on an increasing frequency to add the latest innovations and so some duplication is unfortunately likely.

They did a video like this for the 37/47 with footage at the GC. So I'm thinking a major new tooling with lots of variations. I'm going to go steam and 8f.

I agree. So my second guess in addition to the note being about taking on the distribution of hattons models is the second batch of Manors. I seem to recall the second batch of class 37s being teased in a similar "little announcement" way.

Could it be that they will be doing the dispatching for the Hattons P, Andrew Barclay and Genesis coaches? Having acquired the 66 tooling there's some sort of relationship there already.

A distinct Cambrian air on shed this morning with a number of engines being prepped for railtour duties.

Peckett 560 was this weeks engine on West Street.

I love this layout and it's a part of the world I go to regular now to photograph the steam services. I haven't used the deep pour but I have used realistic water for a few things and find depth can be suggested by colour. So a thought I've had is could you paint the bottom of the lochs black or more likely a dark navy blue, then add a clear perspex level say 2cm below the top of the loch and put the resin water on this but have a blue tint added to it. That might give you a slightly opaque water that you can just see through to the dark blue painted below. It might give you an illusion of depth without using lots of resin. Probably would need an off board trial.

Another bit of work this evening, the first slates going on the roof, the first guttering and that resin body kit has been cut up and is going to be rusting over night for use in the corners. Lots of work still to do.

BR Standard 2 starts the 1 in 50 descent of Parkfield Bank with a local.

I'm hopeful that they haven't given up. Whilst I not longer expect a new steam announcement the lack so far may well be the development period. If we consider the decision to make a certain model to delivery to shops period is 3 years or so then we're about at the period that any model that was chosen since the change in announcement policy may be approaching delivery.

Rapido have chosen to produce the blue 01 but I think it's subject to getting enough orders.

As each announcement has approached I've been more convinced each time that they'll be a new steam as each time is longer since one was announced but also each passing announcement goes without one I become less convinced one ever will be. I'm sure one will eventually I'm just less convinced each time that it'll be 'this time'. I do hope that we see another Double Fairlie as 'James Spooner' as it is 'almost' just a relivery of the green Merrdin Emrys with bells added. Not being a new tool I think it is a possibility not a definite.

Some more visible progress on Port Nadolig this evening with the lighting fitting and testing. Some quick phone snaps.

Thanks very much, thanks the type of atmosphere I was hoping for.