Suffolk Rob

Thanks Mike, 2018 works and have orderedy

Morning all Hoping some of you 66 experts can advise if I've got my research and option choices right before placing an order Looking at 66111 in it's most recent guise. I think the base EWS 66 is appropriate re lights etc and also that the stags can be added as they're an option in the DB livery bespoke. Beyond that debranded with DB stickers on front and sides seems to match what I'm seeing in photos Greatful if anyone could confirm or set me straight before I shell out for the sound version Rob

Does the Fairburn share fundamentally the same chassis as the 4MT tank? If so I wouldn't be totally surprised if either or both turned up this year with sound Rob

Good to see Revolution giving these a chance in N Hoping someone interested in these, or the Revolution chaps may be able to help with a linked question. Have these been seen operating on the West Highland behind any GBRF 66s available under the bespoke banner. My trawl of photos has drawn a blank Rob

A new hi spec model of a class of 2 diesels including their differences and a new tooling break van. OK not a lot of reliveries but this follows a couple of bumper n gauge quarters Clearly still committed to n so underwhelming is possibly unfair. Rob

Yep, hoping there's a Scottish blue one to order Rob

Got my replacement in the week and running it for the first time today- much much better and quiet before a full running in. I see the point about top speed but not an issue for me for same reasons as JBQFC above Slight shame it doesn't apparantly couple to Dapol units as I had a plan to run with the Gaugemaster Scotrail 153 when it arrives, provided the "banana" body has been addressed. Still, that's hardly a criticism of Farish. For those of you with sound, is it just me that can't stop playing with the door opening/closing? Hoping there's a 170 upgrade or new first gen DMU to this standard in the works at Bachmann. Rob

Absolutely 20s 24/25s 37s 55s seem to the last diesels awaiting sound upgrade (sure I may have missed one)and its hard to imagine they aren't in the pipeline, when seems to be the million dollar question but I'd like to think we'll see at least a couple of them in this year's 4 announcements Hopefully those upgrades bring some new body variants with them, the 25/3 0f course but also split nose 80s 37s with doors and the later Drs 20s. The more 37s in 80s 90s scottish liveries the better from my point of view with the added hope that any chassis redesign also addresses the body/bogie gap Rob

Absolutely love this James and not just because n and northen Scotland are my big modelling interests. The sense of space despite having little of it to play with, and the way it would scream Highland Railway even without a 37/4 as a major clue really do tick all my boxes. Enjoying the read and looking forward to more Rob

Far from an expert on Peaks (or much else to be honest) despite a diet of little other than 45s and 46s on passenger services in my trainspotting days on Loughborough Station. But I must say that the wire looks much better to me. To a non- expert the alternative looks far more like a compromise even though your intention is quite the opposite, especially so close to the fabulous detail in the grills. Rob

For what it's worth that's where I'm putting my money too, couple more in the main range and either club or regional specials. Based on recent evidence, same livery, new number is also possible although not my preference. Of course a 158 club special is also a possibility. Were I wishlisting, which of course I never would, I still hold out hope for an OTA ROB

Got my Scotrail one today and it really is a beautiful model. Sadly there is a real grinding sound at low speed, different to the one Kris reported having rewatched his video. Gave it the running in period just in case but no improvement So hey ho, just bad luck on my part, these things happen and back off to a very helpful and understanding retailer for a replacement. Rob

My experience too Rob

So my 2 arrived today and I took a look at them alongside my farish ones and the linked pictures and can now see and understand the points made by many of you above The chassis is notably more refined on the Farish and more correct. On the other hand the bodysides on the peco are notably less thick and they couple, I'd estimate, 2-3mm closer. So my conclusion is as I said above, you pay your (similar) money and you make your choice. Mine for what it's worth is that when I play with them, I'm viewing them at 45 degrees from a couple of feet away. The sides and the coupling distance are the differences most visible for me so I edge toward Peco whilst still happily running my Farish. Oh for the ability to combine the best features of each Rob

Read this TMC e mail this morning when my inbox updated. Quite taken aback by the respect and affection shown by TMC alongside other retailers elsewhere in this thread. My own purchases became fewer in recent years, mainly due to the loss of Farish, but before that they were very much my go to. For me, the big test for a retailer is when there's a problem, a missing part, a duff loco, whatever. It was only rare but Hattons' response was always prompt and first class. Thinking about my experiences, the many postings on here with similar experiences to mine, coupled with the way they are dealing with a situation that must be impacting all at the business emotionally as well as professionally there is one word that keeps coming to mind. INTEGRITY Wishing the best for the future of all at Hattons Rob

Ordered a couple of these to take a look (including a sad moment of realisation as I would usually order peco stuff through Hattons) I'm sure the chassis probably is less refined/accurate than the Farish one. I have a number of the Farish but, for me, the refined chassis is far less noticeable than the excessive coupling gap- not a problem of course if you're competent to fit alternatives but I'm not. Based on the revised 5 and 7 planks, I'm hoping that gap is smaller with the peco ones Yes lots of farish ones in circulation after the last couple of announcements but quite possible that that could be it for a while (NO dig there, just reflecting the Bachmann approach) With peco there's a stronger likelihood of regular availability. Along with their upcoming vans, I think that's a plus for the staple wagons from the first 30 odd years of BR Ultimately the plus is that we will all have a choice based on the factors that we each see as most important. Rob

I think Ben has confirmed, here or elsewhere, that there will be a lot more on bespoke next week, The impression I got, and I was also thinking about DB branding, was that if you ordered a bespoke EWS one for example, the factory will deliver (to Revolution) a 66083 with literally only the number missing. Your choice will then be added through an arrangement with Rainbow So it would need to be a number where livery and detail was exactly as 083. So in one sense the fact that 083 is still running about without the DB embellishment makes it a good choice. I'm sure the debranded will be released in due course complete with the DB bits. Personally I'd love 111 in this variation complete with its stags but suspect there are more obvious choices for exclusives Rob

Didn't they show test shots of these at one of the big exhibitions last year, alongside the 16t mineral and conflat? The first version of the mineral "family", the tippler I think, has just been released with pics available on varied retailer websites. Can't judge the chassis personally from the enlarged pic but, based on the new 5&7 planks I'd imagine that it's an improvement on the very old peco tooling they replace but yes, not as finely moulded as the Farish equivalents. On the plus side, and again based on the new wooden bodied wagons, they will be a bit cheaper, likely result in a more ready and regular supply of the staple British Railways wagons, and, most importantly for me, not replicate the far bigger eyesore of the Farish ones, the coupling distance that I think undoes most of the benefits of some very nice and effective mouldings. Rob Actually I think the Coronation special was the fist release of the new mineral wagon

Pleased about the 47 and would imagine further liveries early next year with possibly regional dealer liveries too. Will be patient and await a blue one. Can't help wondering if it is only Rails with an exclusive, news to come at a time of their choosing from Kernow? Not many diesels awaiting a sound upgrade now, from memory just 20, 24, 25, 37 and 66. Hard to imagine those not being worked on with a couple appearing in 2024 along with the 69. Will be interesting to see where farish go when those upgrades across the existing range are complete. Plenty of existing steam tooling to work their way through in respect of sound upgrades of course but next steps in D&E in the next couple of years is intriguing Don't aquire steamers very often but really tempted by a sound 2mt. A combination of it being 46464 which I'm sure pulled my train on a childhood visit to the Strathspey plus the minitix one being my starter loco in N at a similar time may be to overwhelming from a nostalgia perspective. Also good to see a further supply of coaches so soon to top up supplies. We aren't going back to the days of always available I'm sure, but not quite the once and gone of more recent times either. All in all the 2023 announcements seem to be getting closer to what Bachmann probably envisaged with the quarterly approach before a few real world problems got in the way. Here's hoping so Rob

Bar some of the 08 sound variants where chip supply may be an issue, their website suggests only the 14s and 47s outstanding amongst diesel locos with both having scheduled delivery dates for this year as mentioned above Rather hoping that next week's "surprise" might be a sound upgrade for the 47, possibly with more liveries/body styles. It does seem a long time since any 47s were released. Might it be that their supplies of sound chips have been prioritised for something new over the next batch of 08s? Speculation of corse but all will be clearer in a week's time Rob

Thanks for the quick reply, I thought I'd seen at least one pic of them on a pw train but couldn't remember where Rob

I'm aware that this doesn't happen, it's a question about whether it could technically. I've seen pics from back in the day of the 67 off the sleeper on the oil train to Lairg. If, in my imaginary world, these still ran, and GBRF had the contract, could the sleeper liveried 73/9s couple up to a 4 wheel TTA? Rob

Absolutely agree with what others have said. Had my WR Green and Royal mail ones running all afternoon coupled together on a small kato oval-7.5inch if anyone likes their curves really tight In fact I like them so much I've just ordered a Midland blue one and can't stop hovering over the dealer special livery. Must resist! Thanks Revolution Rob

My Fort William set arrived this morning. Not played with them yet but detail wise they are the best n gauge coaches I have seen by a distance. Immediate impression is quite weighty by my highly unscientific hold one in one hand and a farish mk1 in the other method and really close coupling Well done Revolution, is it too soon to ask for a 73/9 to pull them? Rob

Ferrywagons ordered at midday on Tuesday, delivered before midday on Thursday, all by volunteer packers. Great little models, thanks to all involved at the Society Rob