XChris

Here’s hoping that a Northern 321/9 can be made!

2 hours ago, Roy Langridge said:

Surely it would have to be Chinook ZA723?

 

Roy

No that one is in the next batch…

12 hours ago, Melton Works said:

This one, by any chance?...

Yeah that’s the one! I think it would make one heck of an Accurascale Exclusive…

I’ll be waiting for a certain Generator coach that I’m really hoping that AS will do in the next batch!

Placed my order, great loco and nicely in my era. Who can resist a Large Logo 37…

Well done to the SRPS! (&AS)

Also tells us that there’s another batch of 37’s due at the back end of 2025…

3 hours ago, adb968008 said:

afaik theres only one 31 run on the mainline for the past few years, 31128 and Accurascales already listed it.

…

 

any others ?

 

31128 has been the long standing one, obviously before that you had the DCR pair of 31452 & 31601. 31270 in its Reggie Railways livery as per current. You also had BR green 31190 on for some time, as well as fragonset livery for various running numbers, bright Wessex pink on 601, 31454 in its IC colours. 31110 traction magazine if you want to go closer to 2000.

Also of course various Yellow examples of course 31105/285 are being done by AS but was thinking 233/465/602 might have snuck in with Bachmann.

it could be just me being upset about there not being one for me, but I’m sure AS and Bachmann will announce more.

No Bachmann 31’s for me, unfortunately the Privatisation era has been forgotten, no DCR or modern mainline Pres models means no take up from me. Rather surprised to see the most modern one is the mainline one and that it’s an exact match to the AS one. I was hoping this would provide more variety in liveries but it appears that we have a few duplications. Hopefully the selection keeps others happy!

41 minutes ago, andyman7 said:

 

Hmm, well that certainly takes the 'blame Hornby for everything' approach to new heights...

 

Well I’m sorry but, they’ve proven they can deliver a new tooling to good standards, and the Flirt unit they are doing looks to be a of a great standard. However by not developing on what they have, which was the best (& only) tooled 31 on the market they have now lost that high end spec loco. They pumped out railroad models in all kinds of liveries but where was this in the higher spec model? No where to be seen and as such a void was created and now filled by AS & Bachmann am I wrong? If they had of updated the tooling and DCC circuits do you think there would have still been a gap for AS & Bachmann to try, I don’t think so, so yes it is Hornby’s fault and they need to learn use the high spec toolings or loose them with other manufacturers sniffing around, look at the 56 and the 60, Hornby’s is a good model. However cavalex’s 56 is better and I expect the 60 will be as well, if you leave a gap it will be filled. Build it and they will come (or buy it in this case!).

 @Covkid but if Hornby had of re-tooled or upgraded there 31 then they would have been getting rid of Mazak problems with a new release and then AS wouldn’t have had as much of an opportunity with the 31. I see your point and I agree that AS have a more streamlined business case and are able to probably provide better value for money on a detailed loco, but we can’t be sure because an RRP hasn’t been announced yet, although I do agree I think the price point of the Bachmann 31 will be higher than AS. That is life but if the model is the loco I want in the livery I want I’ll buy either, why because they have built it!

I have 3 AS ones on order through Accurascale/local shop, I will have to see what liveries and running numbers they announce if they do the right ones then I’ll buy them, if AS get round to them first I’ll buy there’s. Much the same as the 37’s. 
 

In my opinion the only people to blame for two new 31’s on the market is Hornby, if they had re-tooled and DCC Sound-ed there model we wouldn’t have had a gap which is now filled by two companies that obviously saw the gap in the market, makes you think what else from Hornby's range could go to another manufacturer…

Sorry if I’ve missed this earlier on in the thread, but when will the order book close on these wagons on the website?

Cheers

Chris

@nickb4141 personally I used the team up at Rainbow Railways, I’ve never been a fan of using the biggest retailers as I feel you loose a personal touch. I’ve shopped with rainbow railways for some time among other retailers and you don’t get lost as just a customer number. (Not attempting to bad mouth rails). 
 

I used them for my cavalex purchase of which I got 4 56’s from them, all sent next day delivery, received the day after a friendly phone call to confirm they were charging my card and they arrived the next day. Always helpful and always a pleasure!

6 minutes ago, norfolkchinaclay said:

Do Ultimate Model Railways have a telephone number? I cannot see one on their website.

 

 

I don’t think they’ve announced what it is yet, probably to be announced later on…

Can’t wait for my WCRC pair the arrive hopefully they get out to my retailer quickly after they arrive with you guys!

4 hours ago, NXEA! said:

37422 in the Collectors Club is still available, so unlikely I would say. https://www.Bachmann-collectorsclub.co.uk/site/search?q=37422
 

 

Thats because Bachmann seem to be picking the most awkward locos to model. 37422 in the condition is not possible to renumber accurately. Look at 47790 in DRS is not accurate for a renumber. They would sell more if they picked ones that can be changed and re-worked into others rather than one-offs.

1 hour ago, newbryford said:

 

I was referring to retooling previous releases.

Would that be the class 66, of which releases have disappeared and with Accurascale’s release looming there market share looks to be disappearing in the 66 range.

24 minutes ago, 37081LochLong said:

With my delivery of Cavalex class 56 from ultimate model railways today, the paperwork with the receipt was a short list of coming soon items from ultimate and one was "the upcoming class 60 (including our upcoming exclusive edition)" has that been mentioned in this thread before? If so I'll just go and curl up in the corner :)

So Ultimate Model Railways are having there own limited edition? So we have 60062 & 60081 for rails and now another for ultimate to look forward too…

1 hour ago, GMKAT7 said:

Good afternoon folks,

 

Another vote for a Class 185 unit in post -refurb livery from me.

 

Having been the Siemens project engineer for the refurb work I would like to own an 00 replica, as a memento of all the hard work.

DC only would be brilliant, don't need all the bells and whistles 😀

 

Cheers, Nigel.

With the 185, there are quite a few liveries now. So we’ve had the First Dynamic lines TPE (with and without First Branding) now the silver/blue TPE Livery (with and without First Branding). But there was at least one set in First barbie/swoosh style livery, you’ve had the dynamic lines Capital of culture, the poppy livery and Manchester pride one. Then the TPE liveries for Andy’s man club another poppy livery, Victoria cross hero’s and the Manchester Bee livery. Would be good to do some of those as exclusives and maybe charity editions like the 66’s we are seeing, but if AS didn’t do it then I doubt the charity’s would see a donation.

Quick question on these, I’m guessing that the couplings and front valances are the same as the Hattons ones?

Does anyone have a spare front valence (can be for coupler or not) for a DRS Plain Blue model or a central sandbox?

if you do have either of those spares, please drop me a message, cheers all!

Well this really has opened a tin of worms hasn’t it 🤣

Here’s my MU wish list;

170: 2/3 First Dynamic Lines, 1 Northern

185; 6-9. 2/3 First Dynamic lines, 2/3 Dynamic line debranded, 2/3 current TPE livery.

220/1; 3/4 Cross Country Livery, 2 Virgin

222: 1 7 car set EMT

313: T7 translator vehicles

319 : 1/2 Northern Blue

321: 1 Northern Plain Blue, 1 WYPTE

322: 1 Northern Plain Blue

333: 2 x WYPTE

325: 4 Differing mail liveries 

350: 2 x First Dynamic lines, 2 x TPE, 2x London Midland

390: 3 Virgin, (1/2 special liveries)

Obviously don’t release them all at the same time 😳😬🫠

I know that a lot of these you can already buy, However I do feel those ones are low hanging fruit (barring maybe the 390 and 350 but these are certainly not all singing all dancing models). The 170, 220/221 toolings are very old, and not even DCC ready and with the second hand sale prices of voyagers especially there has to be a demand for a new tooling. I own one of each of the old toolings but I’d be getting rid tomorrow for an all singing all dancing model. Other than the 185’s I think the rest are fairly niche unfortunately, there’s a chance a 321/9 or 322 would happen if demand for the units was great enough for other liveries (these units have had lots of liveries in there time). I think I’m unlikely to see a class 333 ever made, they have had a few liveries now (3 I believe) and been around a good 20ish years but only ever in the Leeds area which is limiting unfortunately.

Again though I share the feelings around Hornby making units, I have a TPE 802 on order but I can’t help feeling that actually it would be better if someone else made it… To leap to there defence the Stadler Flirt they are doing does look very good! Although it is of no interest to me. My hope would be they transfer those level of details to everything else now, we will see in time. 
 

I know Bachman are probably the favourites to do the 170, 185, 220, 221, 319 and 350 but they are certainly taking there time on re-tooling or creating a tooling or upscaling and then there is the question of if they can make it cost effective?

In the mean time, it’s seeing who else is after the same style units and building a better understanding of the market and what would go down well and how to do it, I think if you have a multigenerational unit (20+ Years of use), being able to release one unit for a region and era at a time would allow everyone who wants it to buy it then in a re-run offering a second one allowing funds to recoup for a second purchase, while maximising a tooling and production run would be a good idea.

I have some Class 180’s and 175’s on order as a modern image modeller, and young(ish) modeller I think it’s an interesting thought of what I want to see and what I want to pay for it. 
 

Personally I model what I saw when I used to go train spotting and travel on trains, so for me 2010-2018 is my era so I’ll always enjoy seeing stuff that did run in that time period being made. There’s a big gap in the EMU market especially late 1990’s onwards in OO. We’ve seen some southern units being made and now I think we are beginning to see people dip the toe into other areas and eras (Dapol 323’s among others). I think the greatest market is for those units that have had the longest time in service. Immediately I’m struck by 313’s, 507/8’s, 319’s, 321’s, 365’s, 455’s as such the investment in tooling these models would mean that they cover 30+ years of service allowing for livery changes and maximum spread over eras to suit more modellers and regions. I do see the appeal for things such as Electrostars as with a good tooling suite it might be possible to make all the variations and thus make the most from an investment from the tooling. This doesn’t appeal to me personally as it’s not my region but how many more people would model it if the units were available? I think the phrase “Build it and they will come” feels appropriate for the Electrostar family. 
 

In terms of price I feel that £500 for a sound fitted 5 car is probably the top end of the budget, however if it’s all singing all dancing then people may squeeze the pockets for it and we know that Accurascale do all singing all dancing but the IRM models are all very competitively priced as well.

I’ll stop rambling now, all of the above is opinion and not fact 🤣

1 hour ago, GBRf 66 The Flying Dustman said:

Not good all this motor lark with these 37s 92s and 55s it’s just something that should’ve been checked in the manufacturing process to make sure the motors where all good and not going to fail like they seem to be doing 

I’m pretty sure they didn’t choose to put a faulty motor into the models, I also think they had assurances from manufacturers regarding quality and failure rates. It’s unfortunate, I’m sure they will learn from it, and in the meantime the customer service and 24/7 helpfulness of the AS team can help get things sorted.

As someone who doesn’t have half of the Bachmann limited editions such as the TFL ones or 66720 or 66111 among others I would actually welcome AS doing these to there standard as I’d be able to get hold of them, I think the sale values on eBay show there is a demand and I like to see the bubble being burst on those trying to sell them for so much!

On 08/01/2024 at 18:46, ERIC ALLTORQUE said:

The coaches are due to end with us in late January, when we will QC them and then post them out to the masses...............off there news section.

Has @Accurascale Fran set you on as his common sense PA, each reply you save him gives you Accurascale points to use towards models 🤣

I’ve now got all 6 of mine, look lovely and I think when the Revolution Parr’s, Mullet’s and SuperTench’s arrive will look brilliant all together! I’m hoping there are some plans for some osprey’s in the pipeline…

I mean Bachmann have only released one modern one (2011+) and I’ve bought it, I’ll wait and see when they get round to doing some more for my era! Meanwhile there’s larger boxes with 37’s in everywhere because they’ve hit my era!