G-BOAF

One mystery is why Bachmann did not produce a main range VT 47 which would have gone so well with their Mk2f coaches (aside from the FOs). They did produce one years ago with the old tooling, and they have produced another recently as a Club exclusive, which is hardly mass market to inspire sales of the coaches. In reverse of course they issue a DRS 47 in the main range and DRS coaching stock as Club only models. Furthermore, BOTH VT 47s (old and new tooling) were rebuilt to 57s, so not particularly long lived in that livery (and useless for modelling as 'debranded' charter locos, unless renumbered). Very very strange choice and lack of coherence between coaching and loco releases.

The actual light mouldings/light pipes will come out once the interior connectors are removed. it would then be a relatively easy task to fill the hole and sand flush. i.e. no need to cut and sand the actual CDL light.

a) did not the declassified FOs effectively still retain the first class interiors and seating capacity, just downgraded? b) those FOs converted into high density opens (which ended their days with Anglia) had a very different interior to a TSO, mainly airline seating. On that note, have any of these High Density vehicles survived in charter/heritage use (not that this would be much fun), or were they all scrapped?

me too on the Riveria front. There are NOT a lot (any) of the Intercity Swallow TSOs, indeed there has always been a huge shortage even from first release. Not surprising sine even a representative (rather than prototypical) rake will need more TSOs than anything else.

a) I didn't see that post (not had time to read everything) b) doesn't he work for KMRC, or has he moved to Bachmann/EFE?

Except for the Aug-September stuff (Jinty, TEA etc, all existing tooling) which is already 4-5 months from 1 May!!!

I thought the whole point of the quarterly announcements was that items were relased during that quarter!!! It seems that this is a 3/4 announcement!!! I strongly suspect that this model is derived from the Hattons CADs or however much further they got with their project. It looks identical to the Hattons CAD.

Interesting that the guards handrails on the BSO appear to be separate fittings and not moulded. This IS a nice upgrade and something that lifts the model a little.

I do like the van area cage in the BSO, similar to that employed in the Mk2fs. Something that really lets down the otherwise excellent BSK and BCK (though not impossible to model oneself with a bit of work)

There are circuit boards for the chassis available from Bachmann spares. The problem is body lighting. The second batch of Mk2fs have only had lighting boards sold with body shells. The first batch had boards sold on their own. However I don't know if these first batch of boards contain the LEDs for the CDL lights; I suspect not but perhaps someone can confirm. This means that while I can upgrade to lighting you won't have CDL. And if u want CDL u will have to buy a complete illuminated shell which may negate your original bargain! However you will have tail lights working with the first batch boards since the internal tail light channels are part of the CDL detail fitted internally (note that non-dcc non CDL coaches do not have the fibre optic internals for tail lights and neither are these available as spares on their own afaik.

I'm going to guess given the MK1 tooling announcements that we will see IC railtour white roof BCK and a TSO to go along with FO and RBR. (Also with more widespread maroon and B/G variants) Will also guess a bso microbuffet if tooling allows although this could be held back for a second wave. With the new Mk1 announcement I'm hoping there won't me any more Mk2fs but these are definitely due another batch. Will await being proved wrong or right tomorrow, along with other surprises

I really don't see what was wrong with the previous small electronics plug and wire between loco and tender. Could be tucked up neatly and ended up looking like hoses anyway. It also enables prototypical drawbar size and location (the best I've seen this done is on the 7mt and 9F. The only problem is if you need to separate loco and tender and are cack-handed enough to damage the pins/dislocate the wires. Then again I've performed this operation tens of times and never had a problem - using the Hornby tool, sometimes a screwdriver to lever a bit more, and a lot of care. But this should really be a rare event.

I respectfully disagree. I've run tpos and Pullman's in mixed rake with the original mk1s and they really look fine. Body side profiles match as do u/f and bogie detail (even on Pullman's with a different c/w bogie tooling that incorporates pickups)

Interesting question as the latest MK1 top stowage vans have additional detail in terms of underframe steps and Eth detail lacking in the original release. It would be nice to think these coaches could be suitably equipped. But could also understand Bachmann wanting similar standards to the original range for consistency. From the looks of the EP it might be a one piece body shell rather than the separate sides and integral ends/underframe of the original releases

Excellent on all counts. FO much needed for my railtour rake (surprised its taken them this long, but I can imagine a WCRC example or two will be in this first batch). RB similarly as additional kitchen will be very useful. Intercity Charter (White Roof) would indeed be very striking). Also would hope for a BFK at some future point. But also glad to see that they are still investing in expanding the excellent Mk1 range.

I really hope something can be done about the Chimney, with a completely un-prototypical join between diecast and plastic one third of the way up. I really don't see why a plastic chimney can't be fitted flush on top of the smokebox, with a suitable sized lug/peg securing it in. Having dismantled a number of Hornby and Bachmann models, a commendably fine chimney flange is achieved while sitting flush onto the top of the smokebox (no recess needed). This really detracts from the elegance of the model. If Bachmann could do it a number of years ago on the C, I don't understand why it can't be done here. It seems a bit un-rapido-ish to have such a compromise.

Some decent shots on youtube by Class47Peter (not normally my kind of reviewer, far too liberal in his glue use imho). The lamp brackets actually look quite good once fitted with no bigger plug or hole than would be expected with a separate lamp iron being well fitted into the model. So that's encouraging.

I'm finding equally challenging in quality. The only advantage of Bachmann, is there is normally stock available to send back for a return (TPO and a Class 47 both being recent examples where it has take 2-3 attempts to get one without decoration flaws). Accurascale by contrast, with so many models sold out on pre-orders is an unknown amount of time under repair....

Further interesting quote is "The Group will strive to explore new sales opportunities and manufacture high quality products with competitive prices to sustain its business" I sense the group will struggle in this strategy if Accurascale are selling a 37 for £170 and Bachmann's almost identical version is £245!

For some reason I thought the booklet was only for the sound decoder. but I presume the non-sound decoder is basically set up to operate the non-sound functions in the same way. That makes sense.

Just received a Lokpilot decoder programmed for the 37. WAs a bit disappointed it did not come with a specification booklet and a functions list? I presume the booklet can be downloaded from ESU but is there an online Accurascale function list?

But be ware that some have the Stones A/C unit (2 fans) and others have Temperature ltd (1 large fan); from what we know thus far, Bachmann have only tooled up Temp ltd (meaning a future production run is restricted) and any repaint from a RFO needs to be of a similarly equipped prototype (6701 for example has Temperature ltd). It does appear however that the RLO conversions were not done to as high a quality in terms of plating the windows; the plating is much more visible than on most RFOs. Good source of pics here: https://coaches-library.weebly.com/mk2f---rlo.html

Would at minimum need a new interior tooling, which may be worthwhile if a whole series of CS/IC mk2 sleeper day vehicles is being done. Or indeed might have already been tooled up. Some on here will doubtless know the extent of the tooling, but won't be at liberty to say.

Are there any CV changes on the Loksound V5 that can be done to make the lighting direction independent of the motor direction? Basically for shunting/shuttle work I want to leave the headlights on when the loco is going in reverse for short distances, as would be prototypical with the driver not changing the lights every time they go in reverse.

Rails and Kernow reporting in stock. Looks mighty fine... Except for only being able to run it on a Cattle Train (given headlamp code) forward, and a stopping passenger when running tender first! What on earth were Hornby thinking....? EDIT - noticed rear lamp position.