Jump to content
 

Roy L S

Members
  • Posts

    1,720
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Recent Profile Visitors

1,110 profile views

Roy L S's Achievements

1.6k

Reputation

  1. A 124 would be a very interesting choice. I think I am right in saying Dapol released 2 car OO sets based on the original Trix tooling but with a new power bogie, it was probably a fair few years ago now and I would think they are pretty rare. The issue in any scale today though would be potential sales v's the cost of tooling for and producing it correctly as a 6 car set which I would think marginal at best, but probably prohibitive (RRP £500 plus?).
  2. Yes indeed, that is what I mean - oops!
  3. Roy L S

    New GF V2

    I have seen them up close in the cabinet and they are very impressive indeed, but haven't had one in my hands so that is even more encouraging. I have the money for my two pre-ordered sound fitted ones ready and waiting, but I suppose an extra three months or so does bring with it the prospect of accumulating enough additional cash for a third one!
  4. Urinal cakes....so the delightful smell of a public convenience as well as sound, I think that a new pinnacle in realism is on the cards.... 🤣
  5. Roy L S

    New GF V2

    According to the Bachmann website, delivery of all variants previously mooted as for Dec 24/Jan 25 has now been pushed back to March/April 25... I had hoped I might have mine for Christmas, and while admittedly in the grand scheme of things it is not a matter of life or death, it is still rather disappointing 😒 Roy
  6. Looking at the trailer, that definitely looks like a narrow gauge coach/van in the background behind Richard, and my feeling is that the Winter announcements will major on narrow gauge, so I very much doubt we will see anything completely "new tool" for N , and to be fair N has done pretty well from Farish and EFE already in 2024 with the V2 and Class 41 still to come. Diesels: - In terms of upgrades, my money would be on the Class 37 with sound next, but as it is the BR Green ones that always sell out fastest leaving many more recent liveries on the shelf (and in some cases discount bins), I would personally focus on those and BR blue ones first were I Bachmann. Bachmann are very aware of the "missing" green 47s following the sound upgrade, but from what I was told there won't be any more of any description for a while, but we may see progress on the 69 possibly. Electrics: - Seeing the extent to which many 90s plus some of the EMUs have been discounted and put in "bargain bins" followed by an official Bachmann promotional discount, suggests that sales have not been all that great across the board, so personally I doubt we will see anything more for a while. Not trying to be controversial in saying this but sadly numbers don't usually lie - I would love a first gen 2Bil or similar. Steam: - Interestingly nothing in the promotional Bachmann discounts so presumably they are selling acceptably well without - not a huge surprise as choice is still quite limited. I was told there is certainly more new tool steam in development, but following the V2 announcement in August I doubt we will see anything more until mid- 2025 at the earliest. In terms of upgrades for sound, the WD Austerity and Duchess stand out... Rolling stock: - Possibly recently announced EFE stowage van shot down to N, but that's about it. Scenecraft: - I see these as padding out announcements to an extent but doubtless there will be some. I have seen mention of as sound fitted toilet block and have visions of one on a layout at an exhibition where the sound of running water has spectators rushing for the nearest facilities 😁. Yes, I know, I need to get out more.... Roy
  7. Don't Bachmann also do an LNWR Precedent 2-4-0?
  8. I wandered past the RevolutioN stand at The Great Electric Train Show yesterday and was drawn in to take a closer look. Lots of nice looing models on display in a number of scales and while almost everything is outside my chosen modelling era, I was drawn to the forthcoming 1938 stock underground trains. The first thing to say is that compared to typical British N models we might be used to they are truly diminutive, then taking a closer look, the moulding quality and level of detail is really impressive but what blew me away was the decoration which is exquisite - if you squint, on the front of the 4 car set you can even see the destination legibly - I recall it was "Morden via Bank" truly tiny, but all there! Lovely models which by dint of quirkiness alone are bound to do well but if they run as well as they look then I think Revolution will be on to a real winner.
  9. Taken at the Great Electric Train Show yesterday, with apologies for the poor quality images (taken on my phone through the glass) here are some pics of what I assume to be production versions of the TT120 J50. it looks a very competent little model indeed, albeit I didn't see one being run anywhere so can't comment on performance. As an aside, there were A3s/4s on sale at less than £100 at the show, but not everything was so heavily discounted. Roy
  10. At risk of stating the obvious, but just to check - you aren't using 9 inch radius set track curves or points are you? The Brits and the A3/A4 are designed to negotiate R2 (10.75 inches) as an absolute minimum so if you are using 9 inch, that is the issue and it is not the locos.
  11. Very interesting insight into things as they were then with most manufacturing still at Margate, something that was not to last many more years. Interesting to note that some predictions have borne out, some less so. The advent of DCC sound and development of DCC to include use on phones and tablets has arguably improved the appeal to younger people but the trend away from them certainly did remain even if anecdotally it may have stabilised more recently. However the prediction of a move towards the adult collector market and consequently higher spec models has certainly been borne out by reality. Laughable with hindsight that the trackmat was seen as the "radical" solution to encourage younger people into the hobby!
  12. Only Hornby will know the true reason, what concerns me is the scale of the discounts at Rails - an A3 or A4 for under £100, coaches half price and even a sound fitted A3 for (If I recall correctly £130) discounts approaching 50% in many cases. Rails won't sell them as a loss/break even so it would appear to be Hornby taking a massive hit. It could be to entice people in as you suggest, but that was the purpose of the heavily discounted sets at launch, so how effective it might be now will be interesting to determine. Time will tell.. Roy
  13. The simple truth is that we don't know precisely what is behind these huge discounts, it could be an over estimation of demand and too much stock, and a need to shift it for cashflow reasons, it could be a "flash sale" to entice new people in to have a go with Tt120 ( as the very cheap Easterner sets did at initial launch) but what I do reflect is that nobody gives up margin if they don't need to and if demand were suitably strong surely they wouldn't have to, and especially not to the extent we are seeing?
  14. Via the fastest Pedolino about an hour and a quarter I think from memory, depending on intermediate stops. A fairer comparison to the Chiltern services which tend to serve a range of different stops along the route might be the London Midland Desiros which run via Northampton and from my recollection of travelling to Birmingham from Leighton Buzzard tended to take closer to two hours. Even 68s and M3s tend to make a number of stops along the route, so will never compare in terms of the fastest journeys via Avanti West Coast (or whatever they are called these days!).
  15. Ah, OK you changed at Banbury and didn't go on a direct train to Birmingham. I was going to say, Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street usually takes around 2 hours depending on the train. Agreed. Cross-Country is a nightmare, with slow and overcrowded trains..
×
×
  • Create New...