reddragon

On 05/02/2024 at 09:34, Accurascale Fran said:

Hi everyone,

 

We should have an interesting little announcement later this week all going well that will please many. Just awaiting some final details before we go public. 
 

What could it be?

 

Cheers!

 

Fran

I would take my hat off to you for bagging those models but I'll keep my Hatt on. 🙃

I managed to form a rake of of 6 different crimson & cream Mk1s for WR all Bachmann

BSK+SO+SO+RU+RFO+FK

I have never found any others.

1 minute ago, E100 said:

 

When you say little it could mean:

 

3.  Could be totally having us on and is a Class 40

What's wrong with the Joeuff or Lima models? 🙃

59 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said:

Hi everyone,

 

We should have an interesting little announcement later this week all going well that will please many. Just awaiting some final details before we go public. 
 

What could it be?

 

Cheers!

 

Fran

Maybe one type of train, not done before that comes in so many liveries? 

I have now put my DCC Sound Class 56 to the test to check on 3 issues.

Test 1 - Sound using F6 which I wasn't happy with.

Following advice from @RBE, I powered away using F6, ran to line speed, switched off F6, then F5 on & powered down for coasting, before turning F5 off & slowing down with F5/6 off.

Absolutely brilliant driving & sound experience, I really recommend it. This actually makes the class 56 my best driving experience, thanks Cavalex!

The only small issue, only when on F6 the loco stalls on points a crawl speed, engine sound working, no wheel slip. Other locos do stall on these points but not any with stay alive capacitors. I think it's a load / speed issue / setting issue. I am not bothered by this, so just remember no slow speed over points in F6.

Test 2 - Coupling - loco coupling unhooking.

AS short HYA - loco unhooks (only loco to do so)

Hattons FEA - loco unhooks (as do most locos)

Dapol HIA - loco remains hooked

I assume this is due to NEM coupling heights being all over the place!

Test 3 - Haulage - is A1A-A1A good enough?

I have a variety of heavy freight wagon rakes that only my stronger locos can haul, so lets test the class 56: -

12 AS short HYAs - pass

16 mixed freightliner wagons - pass

21 Dapol HIAs - pass

12 AS short HYAs + 21 Dapol HIAs - FAIL

To put this into context, No other locos including my AS class 37 can pull it except my AS class 92 that can just pull it & my AS class 55 that can pull it with ease. Also not many locos can haul my freightliner or HIA rakes, so that's excellent but not best in class.

Overall that's a pass for me and I shall be ordering a class 60.

12 hours ago, RBE said:

As I have said before, we are not preaching that it will be the most powerful loco in the world, we are saying it will be more sure footed in OO, and especially the finer scales, because of the design which to us is more important than brute strength. As long as the loco can haul in model form what the prototype can in real life that's what matters, and it will.

Once run in, I will load test my 56 on my heavier wagon rakes of 20-30 wagons. If it passes, I will look forward to a class 60 or 2.

14 minutes ago, RBE said:

You aren't driving F6 correctly that's all. I didn't like it at first until I spoke to our actual driver. The description that I gave to tlm above describes how F6 works and there is also a section in the manual under driver experience that spells it out. Regarding the engine sticking, that's part of it and is to simulate the driver giving it amps to charge the compressor proper to releasing the brakes. Again that is explained on the post above and in the manual. I love doing heavy train moves now but it's not a press F6 and forget function by any means.

Seems like I need to learn how to drive a class 56 properly!!

Having moved gradually from DCC to DCC Sound, learning to drive each loco properly is quite a challenge, especially stopping in the right place.

Well, I opened my new arrival fingers crossed hoping to have bogies correctly aligned & no issue.

Opened the box & oh sh*t! Its both!!

So I tentatively put her on the track and she ran perfectly! A few laps each way before her first haul of a heavy rake of wagons.

First issue was she will not stay coupled to my wagons properly, uncoupling quickly & relying on the wagon to hold on.

Next I tried sound, what a sound, yes it's great, one of the best considering the class 56 sound isn't that great compared to other locos. I don't like F6 heavy load though. Even though the acceleration / braking are great, the engine sticks in a monotone sound from start to stop, at all speeds from moving off, to speed, down to almost stopped. Maybe the 56 sound is that dull & monotone? Anyway, reverted to standard and the sound is much better, with acceleration sounds & slowing sounds. Maybe just me?

Any ideas?

Bit shiny too! Asking to be weathered.

Mine is due tomorrow and after plenty of testing, I will decide if to order the class 60.

Surely AS are well overdue a major announcement now with so many items on ships to the UK!

I asked RoS when my 56 is likely to be dispatched & charged for.

Their response was "this is by far the largest pre-order we have seen, and it is taking a little while. you should have your 56 in the next few days."

Wow!

I have the Z21 with a twin power booster giving 3 sections in total, enough to operate all I have.

The highest power draw tends to be from older Hornby / Lima with well worn motors, not sound locos, even with 12 coaches / 20+ wagons in tow, but we shall see when my Mk2d's arrive!

12-car EMUs seem fine too.

23 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said:

Hi folks,

 

Thanks very much fo the feedback, and it really is great to get some insight into what the market itself thinks. I'm aware that my question was and method was not the most scientific, but there is some food for thought there and some good suggestions thrown into the mix.

 

Now that desired price has been outlined, what about quantities? If we were to make your dream unit tomorrow, at the price you have in mind, how many units would you buy?

 

Answers on a postcard, and of course should anyone else wish to post their thoughts to my previous query about price, please continue to do so below too.

 

Cheers!

 

Fran 

I would purchase a realistic full set, be that 8-12 cars, not a single unit of 3/4 cars.

To go beyond one set, it would have to be Electrostar or similar, so widely spread & liveried. Also available on AC or DC only lines is a bonus too! C2C, Southern, Connex, Thameslink, GWR, Great Northern, Anglia, GWR, Heathrow, TfL and who knows where next for the class 379s.

1 hour ago, Accurascale Fran said:

 

Hi Godfrey,

 

It is my understanding that a 5-WES has been laser scanned by another company, which seems pretty concrete about intentions there. 

 

As a matter of interest though, perhaps you guys could help us with something? It's not very scientific, but perhaps will spark a wider debate among modellers.

 

While we have lost two institutions in our hobby over the last week, (Hattons and Warley) we don't necessarily buy into the notion that the doom mongers have reported (even in the national media now!) that the hobby is "dying". Indeed, for someone like ourselves, we're growing thanks to your support, which is excellent.

 

However, young companies always have to be cautious, and get decisions right as they grow. 

 

The "large gap" in modern era modelling (very loose term, but let's say 70s-present) is 4 and 5 car multiple units such as the 5-WES etc. These represent a HUGE capital investment, over say a locomotive, and take a lot more development time due to researching 4 different vehicles, electronics between each car talking to each other, and you are less likely to sell more due to modellers being "loco-centric" in the main, and of course the higher RRP.

 

So, for the 5-WES, what do you think would be a fair RRP that you would be willing the pay, for a 5 car unit to the standards we aim for with all our models? The means working interior lights, all the detail, variations, motor hidden away, DC/DCC ready and DCC sound fitted, stay alives etc. 

 

Likewise, how much for a 4 car unit with the same spec, and say working raising and lowering pan (where applicable).

 

Knowing what you would be willing to pay, and how many you would buy would be interesting research for us to know. 

 

Spread the word and post below!

 

(also, this is not us committing to a 5-WES!)

 

Cheers!

 

Fran 

 

 

Fran,

Our hobby is changing, not declining but that does require the industry to keep up with what younger / newer modellers will want.

I am not surprised that Hattons has failed. I used to take advantage of their bargains & trunk store but things changed. They fell out with Hornby & Bachmann limiting their stock, bargains vanished. Covid came along and they had to shut, but other smaller more agile shops were found by many. TMC with their isolated shop were able to trade freely and with many hunting down hard to find stock, we all found new suppliers and lower prices. The final straw for me was that the minimum free postage amount doubled negating the value of their trunk service, combined with Rails nailing the second hand market. Rails would do a deal, Hattons would not.

Then many of us switched to AS, and direct is alway better except for shop exclusives with you points scheme.

As for what I'd pay for a new EMU.

For Hornby its £50 per coach or £200 for a 4-car unit due to quality issues but I did pay more for the class 800. Bachmann a little more as in £250 for a 4CEP from TMC as we all know that's where prices go.

From AS I would pay more and your Irish Rail unit prices are realistic. Any more than the cost of a loco & 8 coaches for an 8-car unit would be too much. What would be important for me would be discount system to create an 8 or 12 car unit. I know that dummy units wouldn't work, but maybe other options could. You'd need DDC ready, fitted & sound sets. Maybe electrical interconnectivity to enable all units to operate off one sound chip so I could get one sound and 2 linked units, you are a clever bunch, you could work that out.

For longer units, like Hornby a short powered set and extension sets, as they do with the 8xx family. I'd love a class 345 as a base 5 car with a 4 car add on option as that would cover all tastes & budgets.

When I started this hobby everyone was into big 4 steam, then as people aged it became BR steam, then BR blue. As for the future, younger generations will want what is on the railways today.

As into what units. They must be current, have several liveries, be popular or be Southern units. Local long lost units are a dead end. I'd go for an Electrostar but would be terrified if you did all unit options at once!! or the newer Aventra unit. Hitachi units are ugly but Stadler units look good. The only old units would be the 4COR family, rule 1 Southern, but you have a limited window on these before demographics change.

Would I want working pantos / destination blinds / doors? Not at a high cost, maybe as an add on if you can make retrofitting viable. I'd rather the unit to all the bells & whistles!

With so many diesel shunters, 1st Gen DMUs & DeMUs, most AC EMUs, many DC EMUs not modelled I see little point of redoing a slightly substandard model.

Many would have already bought a specific model if already made if they really wanted it.

I had a class 170, it was fine & DCC fitted. I sold it. I have a DCC fitted class 220 I plan to sell next year, the DCC fitting cost more than the unit itself! Hoping for a suitable MU in 2024.

Due date now "The coaches are due to end with us in late January, when we will QC them and then post them out to the masses of excited modellers who have been patiently waiting for us to fill this large gap in BR coaching stock."

https://www.accurascale.com/blogs/news/a-close-look-at-our-mark-2b-coaches-with-added-delivery-update

On 01/12/2023 at 15:41, Wickham Green too said:

Intriguing !

To be fair, the bodies might have dated back to the 19th century but the chassis certainly didn't.

very triggers broom!

Just need 56.042 with its class 58 bogies now!

I have finally succumbed & ordered a class 56.

I have to go for my second livery choice as strangely my favourite choice isn't modelled. Why no large logo on an earlier loco without aluminum trims? They looked much neater & better.

1 hour ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

I travelled on them every day. They were never dirty. 

 

 

 

Phil Richards - Wiki

 

They lasted longer than most SR units, 1930s to mid 1980s, they worked over an extensive area and were painted in a variety of liveries. If it wasn't for war then the LMS Third Rail Electrification would have happened elsewhere such as Manchester, Birmingham and London. 

 

Liveries? LMS Crimson, BR Crimson, BR Green, BR Blue, BR Blue/Grey. That's five off the top of my head. 

 

Also don't forget we had mainline electrics before the SR did!

 

L&Y in 1904.

 

 

 

Jason

Class 503 1938-1985 = 47 years

Class 405-415

Last were withdrawn in 1995, so 1951-1995 = 44 years but . . intermediate trailer cars were ex class 405s TSOs that replaced the class 415 compartment stock and most of these dated back to 1946 - 49 years but odd earlier examples persisted to late on.

All of these coaches were rebodied 3/4-SUBS from 1911-1935 many of which were converted from steam hauled stock dating back to the 19th century.

Liveries applied SR Green, BR Green, BR blue, BR blue/grey, NSE  so comparable.

Units numbered in the 100's though!

45 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Evidence to the contrary.

 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rossxpres/36236639984/in/photostream/

 

Anyone who thinks that is dull and boring needs to get out more. Probably one of the best looking multiple units ever.

 

 

 

Jason

Agreed but these travelled more & have more livery options

Some Mk1 buffets / full BGs to supplement the Mk2bc rakes would be a good addition. Whilst available elsewhere the range is very narrow, dated and prevents some regions being able to create a full rake. EG - no WR blue / grey buffet cars and minimal BG availability

There has been no update for a while on these!

Website says (20/10/2023) - https://www.accurascale.com/blogs/news/nice-2c-progress-mark-2c-decorated-samples-revealed

"With the Mark 2b coaches now almost complete and due to ship from China very soon (look out for an update there in the next week or so!)" and delivery Q4 2023 yet they are still shown as in production!

Any updates for us?

Well, a class 323 from Dapol

https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/Dapol-announce-new-class-323-emu

We just need the AS Electrostar now!

4 hours ago, PieGuyRob said:

In the 100th year or century since the grouping they have announced or produced, the buckjumper (eastern region) and the gwr thing (western region), so it only stands to reason that their announcement will be, LMS or southern......

or BR 9F?