nickb4141

I totally agree with everything you say. I cannot see why a 314 in C&C would sell less than the 313 in Southern, Heritage B&G, Silverlink or Urban Lights livery and certainly would expect it to outsell Network Rail, which like the Heritage B&G are one-off liveries. N gauge forums rarely have this many people being vocal, so the fact that so many have already mentioned this in less than 24 hours, surely suggests there is something in what we are saying? I’m a big supporter of Revolution models; I have 3 Pendolinos, 4 Caledonian Sleeper packs, a TPE Mk 5 set and have recently purchased 3 class 92’s, which I think are fab. I just want the project to succeed and think they are making a big blunder excluding C&C, the livery worn by all units for the longest period of time and suitable for anyone modelling 1997 onwards? At least putting it up for orders would seem the most pragmatic approach, rather than flatly refusing to do it when there is obvious demand for it?

I understand why the Revolution guys want to limit the choices of liveries to make projects more viable, but I think excluding Carmine & Cream which for the vast majority of units was the current livery, they have unintentionally made it harder for the 314’s to reach the MOQ’s required to make them possible. I know they have gone by what liveries sold for the 320, but the circumstances are very different in that only 5 314 units received the Saltire livery and where the most recent liveries normally sell very well, they have effectively excluded a large proportion of potential buyers. I am really gutted to be honest as they look fantastic

I do understand what you’re saying about offering too many liveries and splitting the MOQ’s required. However, if you model the current scene (or even the last 20 years, which a lot of modellers do,) you’re excluding the most common livery and one which has been around since 1997. If it was a one off or niche livery, I could understand it’s exclusion, but if the Southern, Heritage B&G, Silverlink and Urban Lights liveries are all viable, it does seem a curious decision to exclude C&C for the 314’s, which is one of the longest lasting liveries? Sorry, I don’t want to come across as difficult, (I love your products and have many more on order,) but I do wonder if you’re shooting yourselves in the foot by this livery exclusion. I hope you will reconsider, so I can buy a couple!

Totally understand where you’re coming from, but the 314’s are a slightly different case to the 320’s in that the Carmine & Cream livery has been the the most common livery for the last 23 years, so it seems strange to exclude the livery that most wore for the longest period of service. The 320’s were different in that the Saltire livery was applied to the whole class and quite a few years ago, whereas it was only applied to just 6 units of the class 314’s. It’s a little bit like releasing a class 47 and not doing it in BR Blue. Please could you reconsider, as would love a couple of 314’s looking at those CAD’s

Let’s hope so as these will make a nice companion to the excellent class 92’s.

All the 314’s were delivered in Blue & Grey livery from new in 1979. The Strathclyde Orange and Black livery was first introduced in 1986, but it would have taken quite a while to repaint all units, so B&G livery would be appropriate if you modelled the 1980’s period.

It’s a very strange decision to exclude the Carmine and Cream livery, as it was worn by all of the class from 1997 to when most units were withdrawn in 2019/20, so represents well over half of the units lifespan. I’m hoping these are offered as I won’t be able to justify one with the 20 year timescale of my layout, which would be a real shame as 5he CAD’s look fantastic!

Very interested in the class 314, but very surprised that you aren’t offering this in Blue & Grey or the Carmine & Cream liveries as these were a lot longer lived than the Saltire livery that was only applied to a handful of sets? Is there no way you can put these on the ordering list when you open it and see if you get enough orders? Failing that, it would make sense for these liveries being exclusive retailer options, as these were a lot more mainstream than the 313 Heritage Blue & Grey or Network Yellow liveries?

Very exciting announcement, but as an N gauge modeller I really hoped you would have announced this in both gauges, especially as you’ve just (deservedly,) won N gauge retailer of the year!

Thanks both - found it now n a separate link in google, (wasn’t showing under Projects drop down on web home page )

I’ve just been on the Revolution website and maybe it’s me, but I can’t see any mention of the class 313 & 314 on the site? Is this project still going ahead or has it been cancelled?

I agree on the N18 improvements to their range, but the pace of these changes has still been slow compared to the changes Dapol have achieved with their range. Dapol have also released new liveries this year and my credit card had taken a bashing. Re; Hattons, I really do believe there is a business case for a high spec class 66, and having done the design work on the 00 version, this spreads their investment cost. I know they won’t be everyone’s preference, but they have a huge presence all over the country, so anyone modelling the last 20 years can justify at least one. They are after all, the modern day equivalent of black fives and class 37’s and 47’s. The models that you say ‘came to naught’ are considerably more niche and you wouldn’t expect to be mainstream ‘year after year sellers’.In the same way, Heljan could probably do a N gauge version of their forthcoming 0 and 00 gauge class 47. As I said, I wasn’t criticising Bachmann and I want them to be successful and invest in N gauge future products. I do however,question their strategy approach at the moment. N gaugers have been starved of much product from them in the last couple of years and the lack of product to buy compared to a few years ago will be reflected in their sales in N gauge and might well influence their views on future investment. Yes, there are products still to be introduced and hopefully this will help improve the situation, but if others jump in and steal mainstream safe sellers, it’s going to affect their business. Revolution aren’t as small as they were (I’ve already spent this year over 3k with them). There’s no reason they won’t continue to grow and maybe update some of Farish’s older items in time. Ditto Rapido. The (constructive,) point I was making is they maybe need to be more bullish in their approach like Hornby and Heljan have been and give the customer what they want. Had they announced new liveries at least, I would have been putting my pre-orders in this morning, but as a very loyal customer of Bachmann, I can’t buy what isn’t there! I sincerely hope that the ‘floodgates are going to open’ at some stage this year with new products, because I want them to survive and prosper.

Totally agree! Not sure who is making these decisions? Probably the same who released the Mk2 BSK in Blue & Grey, but not the TSO (which go for huge prices if they ever appear on eBay!) All in all, a very strange announcement!

I do think by not announcing new items, Bachmann are opening themselves up to new manufacturers stealing their share of the market. I agree that the Farish class 66 is starting to look dated and maybe Hattons might consider scaling their 00 model down to N gauge, for such a ubiquitous prototype with such obvious large sales potential. It’s very interesting how different the main suppliers are operating their respective businesses. Bachmann, on the one hand, seems like it’s going into retreat, whereas Hornby and Heljan are announcing numerous new lines and fighting back against the new manufacturers nipping at their heels. I’m not criticising Bachmann, as they make some fantastic products, but I do question their current business strategy.

Normally all the posts that say ‘nothing for me’ and ‘I won’t be needing my wallet this year’ really bug me every year.....but this time, with a grand total of 6 new items....they may have a point!

Hi Steven, Yes, checked that and can’t see anything amiss. I think these couplings are very ‘hit and miss’ It’s just frustrating the way that they ignore all correspondence to them - I’d imagine they’ve realised there are some issues and find it easier to ‘bury their head in the sand’ rather than try and resolve the issues.

Hunt Couplings sell these as a Dapol HST set, so I think it’s fair to assume they would be suitable. Ive had no reply from Hunt Couplings to my emails, which I thought was rather rude of them and not great customer service. I’ve relooked at how they are fitted and can’t see any issues, so all I can surmise is that they sound like a good idea, on paper but are not fit for purpose, so would warn others thinking of buying these to maybe test a couple of them before committing to four HST packs that I purchased! An expensive mistake unfortunately.

I can’t ever see the Farish class 87 being competition for a state of the art Revolution offering. Their model dates back to the Graham Farish Poole era, with a very dated moulding, no lights or DCC provision. I also doubt very much they would go to the expense of research and tooling for a model they can’t ‘up-scale’ to their Bachmann 00 gauge range, in view of Hornby’s existing excellent model. I think we N gauge modellers deserve a model of the 87 to modern standards! After all, if there’s a market for the class 92, surely there must be at least a similar, if not greater demand for an 87?

The other obvious omission in N gauge is the class 87, which has a multitude of liveries and has been popular for Hornby in 00 gauge. The class 90, I would assume Farish will do at some point, seeing how well it has done in 00 gauge for Bachmann, but the 87 seems strange that it hasn’t been done already, particularly when the class 92 has been done and talk potentially a class 89 before it? Maybe it’s just me!

The silhouette on the email I received last night looks remarkably like a class 185 DMU, which would make sense to produce as a companion to the Transpennine Mk5 coach sets and (possibly,) a Kato Transpennine liveried IET set? Maybe just a coincidence, but with 3 liveries and a fourth potentially in the offing when the 15 surplus sets are transferred and also the potential to produce in 00 gauge, it makes a lot of sense! Here’s hoping anyway!

I've just fitted one of my Dapol HST sets and mine constantly derail on curves, which is very disappointing as everyone seems to rave about these couplings. I’m not sure if anyone knows if there is a minimum radius these will operate on? I’ve checked the website but can’t find any info. I also emailed them, but they have, (so far,) not replied. I’m assuming these are only suitable on very generous radii, but if anyone does have any info, it would be very gratefully received!

Any plans to offer these wagons in N gauge?

Does anyone know what’s happening with the release of Dapol’s 121 & 122 O gauge DMU’s? I appreciate everything going on in the present times, but these seem to have dropped off the radar, to the extent I could be forgiven for thinking I dreamt these had ever been announced! Not meant as a criticism at all - just someone who is very eager to get his hands on quite a few of these!

Great video, but Farish 319 announced last year?! I think it was a bit longer ago than that! :) (looks like its a great model though)

All seems to have gone quiet with these again. Did Dapol have any update on these at Telford, does anyone know? Thanks in advance for any info :)