brushman47544

Exactly. The steps were generally positioned closer together on the Crewe cut 47s, which is what Heljan has modelled but with the highly visible inserts at the lower cab corners to model the original cabs, without it seems a tooling option for the steps’ original positions.

My recollection of the Southampton boat trains is that the FKs were mostly of the earlier Mk2 variety originally delivered to the Southern Region and that this continued in the NSE era. I can’t recall how many made it into the revised darker NSE livery though.

No…… I would want to replace my Bachmann Mk2As but couldn’t in any way justify the expense. Mk2Ds first please.

I agree it will come out eventually, but we have already had two plain BR blue versions with dominoes - 47012 and 47435 - so I would expect Bachmann to prioritise other liveries we haven’t already seen on the new tooling. Also, a plated with headlight BR blue version was one of the last from the previous tooling - a weathered 47625 as a Kernow MRC limited edition - which is pretty good if you can’t wait. I expect you could find one second hand. Or the body only is available from Bachmann spares if you have a chassis to fit it to.

Just received an email from Accurascale headed “Will Our Tadpoles Spawn Traffic On Your Layout?” and thought it was an announcement for the Class 206 DEMU. Sadly not, just later timespan banana vans… Never mind…

From new, which RBE has confirmed is 56091onwards.

Sorry but no they didn’t. Here is 56125 in 1986 https://flic.kr/p/GG2U9Z, 56103 https://flic.kr/p/mTUWLZ and 56115 https://flic.kr/p/jxWtyx, so not just the Crewe built ones

That photo reminds me to ask. Which was the lowest numbered 56 that did NOT have the grid under the buffer beam that gave them the nickname? Was it 56087?

I’ve now seen one up close and some of the areas highlighted as being wrong are in reality not that visible at normal viewing distance. For example the curve of the grills at cantrail level is pretty good on the production version. That being said, the cab front is too narrow - the cab is supposed to narrow but this starts in the wrong place in relation to the cab doors and is too angled. This makes the headcode panel look too big but it is actually the correct size, although the individual characters look slightly too small so there is too much black around them - a fine separation between each character might help there. The infill on the cab corners to model the original non Crewe cut cabs is unfortunately very noticeable and the single instead of twin panels on the roof is unfortunate - and presumably a factory error because I don’t remember that error on the pre-production versions. And the triangular frame strengthening (?) behind the buffers is about 1mm too shallow. Obviously everyone will have their own opinions on how important each of the issues are. For me personally these issues make the Heljan version less acceptable visually than the new Bachmann version, but not by a lot.

Looking very good, although I hope the air horns in the headcode panel aren’t painted over like that in the production versions.

I’ve been thinking about the recently announced releases by Bachmann including the absence of steam announcements compared to diesels. In the past, Bachmann has had no problems announcing one or two liveries of a particular model but more recently more liveries have been announced together. This has obviously advantaged the diesels we have seen recently - the 47s, 37s and now the 31s - because it allows Bachmann to produce a minimum number of models spread over more liveries so a lower number of each. Presumably they expect them to sell out more quickly and additional production costs are mostly related to the tampo printing of each livery. We’ve seen the same with the Thompson full brakes and some freight wagons. On the other hand steam loco liveries are more limited so spreading volumes over more liveries is more difficult. There have been lots of comments and suggestions for specific liveries in various threads that would seem to be obvious omissions, but I now wonder if that alone is no longer enough to justify their production. Instead do a wide range of liveries need to be produced together for it to be cost effective to justify the production run? If so, what does that mean for those of us who are waiting for specific liveries and/or tooling options? We may face a long wait.

In C1484, the loco is a Class 37 not a 40.

I had a run on one on the Matlock branch. Definitely a better ride than than the Class 150, but IIRC BR had already ordered 150s before the comparative trials started.

[Photo above taken from the Kernow MRC/ModelRailOffers website] I do think the front cab windows of the Heljan 47 (on the left in MikeParkin65's photo) are too square - the Bachmann 47 is better in that area. However, the Heljan Class 48 looks much better based on the photo above from the ModelRailOffers website. The curve of the front handrail also looks more accurate. The headcode panel is still too big though. Is the Class 48 a completely separate body tooling rather than just different slides for the roof?

Charing Cross trains yes, but presumably those from Cannon Street still call at St Johns and use the crossover at Lewisham. And in the peaks don't the Charing Cross trains go via Parks Bridge Jct.?

Indeed but I’m sure he means comparing the two versions in different areas to see which version is closest to the prototype.

I wonder if @The Johnster has seen your rather nice 2776. In the absence of new 2721 Class RTR tooling he may be interested in your makeover.

I think they look too tall and thin because the narrowing of the cab from the driver’s door forwards is too pronounced. Not by much but enough to niggle.

I agree with you that the Mk2d is the clear priority for a new release, I've always thought of them as ECML coaches hauled by Deltics and so would not consider running them with WR Mk2bs. As my interest is WR, my Mk2bs will be working alongside Bachmann's Mk2a - irrespective of how they look - simply because they are what I remember as running together. Also, once WR Mk2bs transferred to Waterloo-Exeter services, the WR had an excess of first class FKs (W-E used BFKs) they appeared in rakes of coffins vice FO - so another Bachmann product (Mk2fs) mine will be working alongside. Another option would be to replicate the downgraded first class only rakes that worked diagrams including the 10.27 Paddington to Penzance and 10.50 Penzance - Paddington for a while (behind Class 50s). Personally I don't remember Mk2ds on cross country services in any quantity - weren't they mostly Mk2e cascaded from the MML?

Is that a demonstration of why they were called 50-50s at that time? Two hauling, two demic?

I think that Kernow must have acquired bodies for their Bachmann limited editions, where Bachmann had them. I recently bought a pair a Class 205 DEMU bodies from Kernow so it’s not just 47s.

Presumably 31433 is the second number being offered on the 31/4, as with the other liveries, and is 35-825A.

C1585 will be 55013 (or 9013) The Black Watch, as the only Scottish Regiment on a single line without a crest in 1974.

If only… :-)

That’s an SNCF UIC-Y coach between the barrier and the loco, so three railways cooperating. Would you see that now?