nickb4141

23 hours ago, woodenhead said:

Don't they say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

Whilst we all expect Accurascale to enter N gauge, I would guess Cavalex might be a little reticent with their HAA seeing as they were usurped with the OO HAA and the class 91/Mk4.

 

If you want to model something now and you can obtain Peco CDAs - why not, you can always sell them if something better comes along, otherwise you might have a long wait.

I do agree with you. I just wanted to check if the Peco CDA’s were inaccurate or not, as I’ll need 20-30 wagons, so I would probably have to take a big hit to sell them on Ebay, if something better does come along! 
 

I wonder I’d Accurascale are more likely to go down the TT route than N, but that’s just a hunch, so who knows? Only time will tell!
 

37 minutes ago, Steven B said:

 

First I've heard of the Peco CDA (and presumably the HAA) being the incorrect length. Where's it been said?

 

Steven B

I’m pretty certain it was a comment made on here about the length not being correct and their CDA’s looking ‘odd’ in the eyes of the person who posted it. To be honest, it was the first I’d heard this said, but it did make me wonder? 
 

I need a lot of these for a future layout project, but I’m still undecided as to whether go for these, or wait and see if Accurascale or Cavalex consider shrinking their excellent HAA families down to N gauge.

I’m surprised neither of them has considered this yet, as the current N gauge varieties are very long in the tooth (the Peco wagons have got to be at least 30 years old,) and a long train of CDA’s or HAA’s etc , would work well in the ‘space saving’ gauge.

Have Bachmann said whether these have better detailing compared to their existing Mk1’s? Or are they produced to exactly the same spec? I appreciate there have been some minor upgrades recently (end steps and bogies etc,) but it’s quite unusual to have something ‘new’ made to the same tooling standard as something 25 years old (if that is the case). I just wonder how they will compare to , for instance, Accurascale’s recent Mk2B coaches? All that said, it’s great to see more types added! 
 

Have Cavalex announced anything beyond the class 60 in the pipeline? 
(Class 60’s look amazing B.T.W)

Anything new announced by Accurascale at the MWL show?

Did Bachmann ever offer a DCC fitted range of Mk1’s? I don’t remember them - how long ago were they produced?

Is the CDA retooled in any way? I’ve heard people say the Peco CDA’s are not the correct length, so not sure if this has been corrected or whether I just wait in the hope that either Cavalex or Accurascale shrink their 00 models down to N gauge!

13 hours ago, TrainsRule88 said:

I would guess they didn’t do a Wessex one because the tooling for the interior is incorrect. All of the Wessex class 150/2s were 2+2 seating with some tables and the model tooling is for 2+3 seating. 

To be honest, I very much doubt it was for that reason, as the interior tooling on Bachman’s 150 is wrong for most of their own recent releases. They really should have tooled new interiors when they did the tweaks to the bodies for the disabled toilet window alterations (especially so when you consider the high price tag these units have!)

If anyone is going to Model World Live and manages to find out anything about the 120’s, please can they let the rest of us know on here please - thanks!

Thanks for the heads up Fatadder. I’ve added my contact details to the inform when back in stock section, so hopefully they might run some more of these. 

How far off are the 142’s now Charlie? 

On 21/04/2024 at 20:54, The Fatadder said:

Have a look at Rainbow Railways if you are after a Wessex 150.  They’ve just released one.

Looks very nice, but already out of stock! Surprised Kernow Model Centre never did this as a limited edition. 

Apologies if this issue has already been answered within this thread (I’ve had a quick look and can’t see anything).

Ive just fitted 4 HM7000 21 pin sound decoders in 4 Hornby HST power cars and although they seem to work fine on Hornby’s Bluetooth app, when trying to read them on my Z21, I just get the following options;

1. absolutely nothing  - the program address screen just times out and nothing is shown.

2. a decoder read of 3, but then when trying to run as loco 3 in the control Panel, the loco doesn’t respond to any functions (ie after switching on functions F0 & F1 the lights and sound on the loco don’t respond at all?

3. an error message saying CV read error? 
 

I’ve tried switching the track wires on the Z21 from Program track to Main Track, but this makes no difference?

Im baffled as I fitted some other HM7000 21 pin sound decoders last month and they worked fine on the Z21! 
 

If anyone has any ideas how to resolve this, they would be very gratefully received! 
 

Thanks in advance, Nick.

14 hours ago, wombatofludham said:

Aaaanyways...

How about this for a mad idea to have a discussion about at the next brainstorming over a few Liffey Waters...
...a Class 150.  With a few adaptations.

Hear me out.  The 150 seems to be the railway equivalent of last night's curry smell, and are not going anywhere soon.  The Bachmann model, whilst nice, has a few compromises and none of the three car sets, both the original prototype and the Centro and GMPTE 150/1 and 150/2 three car lash-ups have been made (although I have modified three three car lash-up sets and am happy not to have through lighting).

Now, the prototype units had a full intermediate car, and also had recessed drivers doors, so, with a different cab end slide, and another body tooling for the motor car, you could chuck out an NIR 450 class.  That would be a good tribute to NIR's make do and mend design, which combined used English Electric diesel engines salvaged from scrap 70 class, some bomb damaged 80 class and possibly the odd spare from the Southern, bolted to second hand Mk1 underframes onto which were welded Class 150 style bodies, kitted out with PEP style low back seats, at a time when getting any money for trains was virtually impossible given the stranglehold Ulsterbus had on public transport funding at the time.  One of these yokes even carried the Queen across Belfast at one point, Lord only knows what she thought of that.

Of course, there are more differences than the cab ends between the 450 and the 150 but oh, the joy, if you decide to progress a 450 when you announce you are planning a Castle Class, only for the fans of those poncey green painted things that took posh people to Cornwall, to collectively whine when it turns out to be an NIR DEMU.  Northern Irish humour at it's best, naming the cut and shut 450 class after Castles.  The only sort of Castle I like given my main line experience with those 4-6-0s resulted in two partially cancelled railtours when they developed tummy ache after being fired with something other than Welsh finest champagne coal.  

Joking and pithiness aside, I can't help thinking that the 150 could be worth a punt despite the Bachmann offering.  Price wise you would probably be competitive, they are widespread, have worn a paintbox worth of colours, have lasted from BR early sectorisation to now (and are knocking on for the same age as the trains they replaced) and if the tools were cleverly designed could also get the NIR 450 out on the back of the Sprinter, I can't help but think there is room for a competing model.  And before the "why do you want more duplication" team start, to be honest, Bachmann's pricing would leave room for Accurascale to come in with a better detailed product at a similar price without the compromises some of the Bachmann models have due to the way they were designed.  I would like many other units but given their longevity, colourful liveries, widespread use and possible crossover potential with the Ulster Castles subject to details etc, I have a strange feeling there could be a market for a better 150.

I totally agree with you. Widespread use and a myriad of liveries. I’d also add to that, the Class 950 Ultrasonic unit as well - 3 liveries and it has operated EVERYWHERE on the UK network, so everyone would have an excuse to operate one! 

I can’t help thinking the Class 185 DMU in both 00 & N gauges would suit Revolution perfectly. Only two main liveries, which you seem to prefer than offering multiple versions. It complements your N gauge Mk5 TPE sets, Pendolinos and forthcoming 175’s and 180’s in various locations across the North.

Requests for the 185 crop up very frequently (see Accurascale’s new model request thread). Accurascale (rather bizarrely,) have discounted tooling them, as the potential transfer to Ireland for re-gauging didn’t happen.

I think the biggest obstacle to them being produced seems to be the ‘Chinese Whispers’ that another manufacturer is already working on them! 
 

This seems to be the case with various multiple units at the moment - Electrostars, Class 120’s, 313/314/315’s, 153’s all have rumours floating about (as did the 320/321’s for seemingly ages, before Revolution took the plunge and announced an 00 version).

So how about it Revolution? 

On 21/03/2024 at 08:37, Accurascale Fran said:

 

Hi @scottrains29,

 

We did semi-seriously look at doing the 185 a few years ago when there were strong rumours that Irish Rail were going to buy a pool of them and regauge, but they opted for more 22000 ICRs instead.

 

I may be wrong on this (I wasnt the project manager and it was a few years ago) but the 185s are longer than other members of the Desiro family car wise, so it's hard to spin off a family from them).

 

Cheers!

 

Fran 

Hi Fran,

That’s a shame that you’ve decided against the 185 - they seem to be cropping up in quite a number of posts on here. If Hornby can justify tooling the Flirt DMU’s, which are restricted to a much smaller geographical area and only have one livery, the 185 would seem commercially sound. Apparently the Flirt DMU’s have been selling well on pre orders, according to my local model shop, so maybe there are a few more multiple unit fans out there, than we are given credit for. 

On 19/03/2024 at 14:22, The Black Hat said:

I think you could be right. Accurascale would be a good choice to undercut Bachmann again with the release of something like the Turbostar - which Electrostar option... 

Other DMUs to consider I think would be:
 

Voyager/Meridian 220/221/222
Class 185 - with Desiro options
All singing all dancing IEP - 800/801/802... etc
110
HST... 

I would agree with everything on your list apart from the IEP’s. Hornby’s model, whilst a bit overpriced, is still a good model and I’d rather Accurascale tooled some of the missing DMU gaps, than duplicate a perfectly good model. 

I would also add the class 195/196/197 DMU’s which have a lot of generic similarities in the design.

On 08/03/2024 at 20:14, wombatofludham said:

Without working at Barwell or Margate, no one will know for sure if units sell in expected quantities for the respective companies.  However.

1) Hornby have retooled their lemon flavoured 4-VEP.  When he announced this unexpected rabbit out of the hat (surprisingly not holding his nose given his kettle fetish) Simon Kohler actually said, on video, that the prices some of their previously poor output were fetching second hand meant it was worth the investment in a retool to address the lemony issues (I paraphrase but I distinctly remember the comment because I'd been saying much the same on this 'ere forum).  If units were slow sellers, they would have spent the money on yet another green tea urn.  When the duff first production run of 4-VEPs regularly sell on Tatbay for north of £200 given the Bay of Tat is the closest thing we have to an open and free market, that also is enough circumstantial evidence to suggest demand for units is strong.

2) Despite the comments on here about pricing, Bachmann have gone ahead with the retooled 4-CEPs in refurbished, rebuilt 1980s condition.  They have also recently released the 2-HAP.  The retool for the CEP would have cost several hundred thousand pounds as all four coach bodies required a retool, although they didn't have to tool up new underpinnings.  If they were getting feedback that the existing CEP models were sales lemons, they would have decided to spend that money elsewhere and given they are in competition for production slots with other companies in the Chinese owned group if the units were not selling, they would have used the precious slots for some other purpose.  They didn't, went ahead with the release and did so despite some price blowback.

3) Dapol have announced a Class 323 unit which no-one was expecting, and Revolution have given in to lobbying to upscale their N scale 321.  Neither of these companies can be considered big enough to "take a punt" on a risky venture, they must expect to be able to make a commercial product.

Cheap sales items a decade or more ago in some retailers is no evidence of slack sales today.  Serious six figure plus sums being spent by companies, none of whom can be considered business suicidalists and who need to make every penny count, is to my mind a better indication of the sales potential of electric units.  That Bachmann can launch the renovated 4-CEP at prices in the region of £500-600 having all the sales data of the original CEP models suggests they see a market that will give enough return on investment, and a hard nosed business decision to produce the model to me trumps any spurious pointing to past occasional sales reductions as "proof".

Well said! 👏 

On 26/02/2024 at 22:08, Adam1701D said:

OO Sales are three to four times those in N, so some of the liveries that didn't make the cut originally may well do so this time!

Don’t disagree with you on that Adam, although not sure the Revolution guys see it that way, hence there are more livery options in N gauge for the Class 175’s and 180’s than there are for the 00 gauge versions! 

19 hours ago, Kris said:

120 has been picked up in n gauge by revolution.

 

Yes, but frustratingly, not in 00! They seem to be under the impression that another manufacturer is looking at it in 00, but whether this is true or just ‘Chinese Whispers’ , who knows?

Another vote for a Class 185 DMU! It seems to be getting requested as much as the Class 120 DMU has for the last few years, but strangely none of the manufacturers seem to have picked up on either…yet!

8 hours ago, NBL said:

To those commenting, it's your responsibility to inform the retailer if your card has changed since pre-ordering.  Not the other way around 

 

Take some responsibility.

 

 

In your opinion!

I’m not sure many people on here, would think the same way as you.

At the end of the day, if a customer is giving you their business, most model shops (thankfully,) have the common courtesy of contacting the customer if there is an issue with the card. Rails did this, but only by email, and almost a week after the models were released! 

Bear in mind, the order was placed two and a half years ago and, like a lot of people, I have multiple credit cards, so I don’t always remember which card has changed details since then! It was a genuine oversight.

I paid a £30 deposit in May 21, so I don’t think it’s being unreasonable to expect my choice to be reserved for me.
 

So why on earth, do you think I should ‘take responsibility’ for that?! 
 

I sincerely hope you don’t work in any industry that is customer-facing, as charm is not one of your strengths, is it sunshine?! 😜

 

2 hours ago, APT Fan said:

 

I pre-ordered mine about the same time and I'd be absolutely gutted if I missed out after waiting two and a half years. What I didn't like about pre-ordering with Rails was the lack of communication when pre-orders are arriving / arrived. I waited two years for the Bachy 47 and then one day I just had an email to say that payment had been taken and it was on its way, luckily I was in that day and my card hadn't changed which is a good possibly after two years. My experience with other retailers is that they give you a courtesy call to confirm the details and then to sort out payment and delivery. I know some retailers complain about being messed about with pre-orders but I thought Rails took a deposit? Do you lose the deposit if they cannot supply what you've pre-ordered and decline their 'alternative'? 

Rails sent me an email to say they couldn’t process my credit card late last Saturday, which I didn’t see until after they closed (they have my mobile number on file, but didn’t think to ring me) In the meantime, they sold out of the sound version online so I purchased a non sound version, as everywhere I looked was selling out. I sent an email reply to say what I had done and I got a reply on Monday morning to say they wouldn’t be refunding my deposit and I ‘well and truly had my legs slapped’ for doing this and as a gesture they would offer a gift card for the £30. I told them this was taking the mickey and eventually they relented and refunded the £30 deposit. They didn’t acknowledge the fact that they’d taken over a week from the 56’s arriving to contact me or the fact that they didn’t hold the version I pre-ordered. They also saw fit to sit on my order for five days before sending next day delivery, eventually arriving today. The moral of the story is Rails do what works for them, definitely not the customer! 

1 minute ago, RBE said:

Hi Nick, no the none sound fitted locos do not have a speaker pre installed. The speaker and chip are part of the extra price paid for the sound version. The fans do operate yes however we are currently in contact with ESU as to whether they should operate on DC.

 

Well will keep you updated when we know more. 

 

If you ordered a sound version then Rails should be able to swap the loco for the one that you ordered!

 

 

Thanks for your very speedy reply! Rails were not very helpful at all this week. I felt like I’d been told off by the Headmistress in one of their emails!  I was a bit peeved to say the least, as had preordered a sound fitted model two and a half years ago, but my credit card had changed in that time and in the week that they took to contact me after the 56’s were released, they had kindly sold my sound fitted version to someone else and are now showing they’ve sold out! I’ll order the Class 60 elsewhere! 😆

I wonder if anyone can help with a couple of questions re the model I received today. I pre-ordered a sound fitted Colas 56 from Rails in May 2021, but they managed to cock up my order and I’ve got an analogue one instead! 
 

1. Does the analogue model come with a speaker pre fitted? I’ve had a quick look through the manual, but strangely it doesn’t seem to mention DCC sound fitting? 
 

2. The fans appear to be non operational? Is this just on the analogue models (I’m sure I read the model had operating fans, but I could have got that wrong!)

Thanks in advance, if anyone knows the answers!

Cheers, Nick