nickb4141

The Bachmann Spares website is still very slow and refuses to load - shame as trying to buy a few bits! Hopefully it will sort itself out!

I still think it’s far more likely to come from Heljan, going by their O gauge announcement of a Class 153. They have quite a few models that are, (or are planned to be,) produced in both O and OO, for example the class 25/3, 35, 45 and 47 to name a few. Why go to the bother of researching a model in O gauge and not release it, where there’s an opportunity for a better model and a (much bigger,) market for it in OO?

Another excellent looking model! I’m pleasantly surprised how good these are, considering Andy said these were Railroad standard models when Hornby first unveiled their TT range. I’m sitting on the fence at the moment, but if this is the standard to expect, I could be very tempted to give TT a go!

This looks a hundred times better than the Dapol N gauge offering, which just looks wrong around the front windows and undersize headcode box. Hornby deserve some credit for this! Hopefully a class 37, class 47 and perhaps a 101, 108 or 117 DMU might follow on this, to the same high standard?

Thanks for the update Ben and glad to hear they’re still going ahead!

Hi Charlie, Any news on this? Are they still going ahead? Nick

I’ve looked on Kato’s main site and cannot find anything regarding 9 car sets. They are producing a couple of new GWR 5 car sets, but nothing on 9 car versions. Does anyone have anything concrete regarding the 9 car sets, as it all seems a bit unsubstantiated rumours at the moment (and I’d obviously love to be proved wrong!) Anyone?

I think Bachmann are just a lot more switched on as to where the market has been going in the last 20 years. In that respect, they’ve capitalised on the growing importance of the diesel & electric market and have introduced new tooling for the class 37 & 47 to compete head on with the likes of Accurascale and the new generation of model companies. Hornby on the other hand, have chosen to concentrate on predominantly steam based and increasingly niche items, which are quite often finding themselves in the bargain section. Their diesel & electric models are rapidly becoming obsolete by the introduction of much better models, at better value for money. To date their class 31,50,56,60 have all been (or will have been,) surpassed better models, with,no doubt,others to follow. The only models they still ‘lead the pack’ with are the 08,HST,67,87 & 91,755, IET and 4VEP, however some of these are probably on someone else’s radar (including the 153 DMU, rumoured to be announced soon). If Hornby don’t pull their finger out, their D&E range faces becoming obsolete!

Yes, but probably a lot less differences than there are in a tooling suite of a Class 37 or Class 47 or a Black 5 or 9F. Certainly nothing insurmountable with models produced nowadays.

The differences between the 119’s and 120’s are pretty minimal. BR outsourced the cross country DMU design to GRC&W, as Swindon didn’t have the capacity at the time. The major difference was the cab ends, with GRCW using the standard ‘Derby’ ends and Swindon works using their own cab design. Hornby could possibly also use their Hawksworth coach model, as one was added to some of the Class 119’s to increase their capacity in the early days, with the inserted Hawksworth coach painted in BR Green to match the rest of the unit. I’m sure the 755 will be a lovely model, it’s just I fear it won’t do much to revive Hornby’s fortunes.

The fact that it’s a first generation DMU as opposed to a contemporary DMU is irrelevant. The point I was making was that Hornby have a knack of choosing items of limited appeal, rather than items that have a wide geographic spread and multiple liveries and therefore greater appeal. The 120 DMU is continually high up in the wish lists each year, but has been ignored for more niche items. The same could be said for some of the steam items they have produced, which often end up in the bargain bins!

I think Hornby have always made some strange choices, the latest example being the 755 Bi-mode. One livery and a very restricted operating area, suggest these might be heading for the bargain bin pretty quickly. Had they released a Class 120, (with the potential for a Class 119, with a tooling slide for the front ends,) they would have had at least four different liveries to produce and they have worked in England, Scotland and Wales from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands! The 120 also features high up in the wish lists! Surely releasing something with more liveries and a wide geographic operating area is a safer bet commercially? It isn’t rocket science! Hopefully now a certain someone has left the company, we might see some better decisions made, not just concentrating on personal steam favourites. Hornby do release some cracking models and I’m sure even the most hardened Hornby haters wouldn’t want to see them disappear.

Hi Charlie, What is the current state of play with the 142’s? Have a few on order, so wondering when I’m likely to get my mitts on them? Nick

Totally agree! Producing a 153 could be financially very risky for Realtrack, when Heljan have already done most of the legwork and could have it up their sleeves already. Personally, as much as I’d love a new 153, I’d like to see Realtrack release a Heritage DMU, for example; Gloucester 100, Park Royal 103, Gloucester 119 or Swindon 120. Failing that, a TPE Class 185 would make sense and with them now operating in 6 car formations, an excuse to buy two, would help the numbers stack up.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Heljan release an 00 gauge 153, after their forthcoming 0 gauge 153. The response to the engineering sample has been very positive, so would seem a waste not to go down the 00 gauge route, particularly, as you quite rightly say, the Hornby version has quite a few drawbacks.

Has anyone heard any news on when the 9 car sets are likely to appear? It’s all gone very quiet? Thanks in advance, Nick.

A ScotRail Saltire set with the new revised tooling would be a shrewd move, bearing in mind that the previous releases were of the original tooling and all current sets in operation are of the revised window layout to accommodate the disabled toilet. To be honest, I’d expect these to sell out faster than some of the heritage liveries suggested, judging by the prices second hand ScotRail 156’s sell for on EBay.

Will everyone who pre-ordered a pendolino receive them before they are available at retailers? I pre-ordered an Avanti 11 car, but haven’t received or heard anything yet. Nick.

I ordered four class 156’s (and paid in full,) 2 years ago, but still haven’t received anything, yet I can now buy them from Rails! So yes, not that impressed!

Same here! I’ve paid for five 142’s, so slightly alarmed to here orders haven’t been taken yet - my money’s been taken!

Class 142 & Class 143 supposably in the ‘same’ Tyne & Wear PTE livery; Class 142; https://flic.kr/p/dzrTkn Class 143; https://flic.kr/p/6m6oJF If you compare to the yellow ends, the 142 is lighter and the 143 noticeably darker.

The colour on the 143 looks spot on to me. The T&W PTE livery was more of an orange/yellow colour on the 143’s, whereas on the 142’s, it was a much lighter yellow. Strange how this came to be, but if you look at pictures on Flickr you’ll see what I mean.

Hi Ben/Arran, I just wondered if you’d thought about accommodating an alternative Derby end in the 120 tooling? Then you could produce a Class 119, (bodysides were identical) The 119’s, despite being Western units, were surprisingly widespread in their lifetime ( I’ve seen photos in the Newcastle area and even Whitby!) Looking forward to the 120 by the way! cheers, Nick

I’d also like at least two, three car 144’s - so probably more than 10 of us out there! 😁

Hi Charlie, I’d also buy two of these, if they were available! cheers, Nick.