Legend

Thanks for the tip off Jon. I know that MV means motor vessel but whats a TSMV? Long and the short of it is that the model concerned is the Bute of 1953-1978, and so would fit a lot of transition era layouts in her Caledonian Steam Packet buff funnel, which changed to Calmac Red in 1973 I think.Her sister ships were Arran and Cowal , fondly known as the ABC ferries This is not to be confused with the current Bute which is one of the Calmac ferries on Wemyss Bay- Rothsay run Its my period, might speculate on the mag. Wouldn't have seen it without your note .Cheers!

Is the price guaranteed? Just thinking three years is a long time. Bachmann have had two large increases in the last year and possibly more to follow before this loco arrives. There's a lot that's changed from inception to final delivery, as yet unknown, of this model

Further to my morning report, gorgeous day here in Sweden just north of Stockholm. OK its probably only 15/16 deg but sunny.Birds are chirping, everything else so quiet. Have just had a little walk out of the office down past a nice housing estate (everything so tidy, not a trace of litter)to the lake . Someone has possibly requested I go jump in it, but sensibly I've returned to office for yet more lean manufacturing!

God morning from Sweden. Looks like a beautiful bright morning here

Back in hotel I've had a chance to look out the Simon Kohler information. It was from MREmag on Monday and he was talking about "The National Collection in Miniature" brand. It would have uniform packaging and it's own brand and packaging style.

Simon Kohler makes reference to Locomotion NRM brand. I think it was over on MREmag . Looks like its his intention to develop specific branding for the range of models in NRM so you will no longer have Bachmann boxes but something relating to NRM/Locomotion . Given they now seem to be developing the brand in its own right, I'd be surprised if they gave permission for others to make models in the collection. Looks like they are going to commission models from various suppliers (the last two announcements APT-E and Stirling Single are clearly with Rapido) in the same way probably as Hornby uses its various suppliers or Hattons use DJ Models and Oxford, as with their latest hopper. In article with David Haarhuus of Bachmann in BRM I got the impression that Bachmann were not looking to do further commissions as they jhad been a distraction from manufacturing for the main range. I can't remember the exact quote and I'm out of country at moment but there is definitely a reference to commissions in that interview Interesting times , it looks like we are seeing another supplier emerging (Locomotion/NRM)with profits ploughed back into the museum. Just hope they keep premiums reasonable

Oh I like competitive pricing. Try explaining that to ,Bachmann with their 15. -20% increases year on year. It's just like some companies would like you to believe their prices are entirely down to cost and are costed to the penny. Oh we need to increase prices because it costs more for simulated teak or that livery has several tampo passes, whereas the reality as demonstrated by Hornby is they get as much for it as possible, ie £10 less than Hattons

Because they think people will buy it at £159.99 if they didn't it would be priced lower! Isn't the Hattons one around that price? Duh if I read the header at the top of the page I'd have found out the Hornby model is priced to come in £10 less than Hattons. Surprise surprise. No doubt it's costed to the penny. What cynical.......moi?

Precisely. Presumably the people who refer to videos with boxes being opened actually watched it without fast forwarding. Actually I too don't see the point of spending 5 minutes getting it out the box but I defend the enthusiasm of the DVD makers who want to show you this and all other aspects of their new model. If you are bored or think you are above this sort of thing just fast forward or pass on . It's really easy to do! Thanks to Jenny for that video I personally found it more useful than a mag review. Watching it run is clearly something beyond the mags

Id say "value for money" This one is too rich for me, but believe it or not I do actually see how you could get to this price. Fairly limited use. Everyone seems to want one but very few can actually use it on a layout. Therefore this is going to appeal to collectors mainly. The drive train will be complicated whether it is an 4-2-2 , 0-6-2 or 4-4-0 and these fine bogey frames (is that the correct term for the splashers over the bogey ). This is going to be a really tricky model to get right.

What surely you meant Reid Atlantic

Funny I'm thinking Carly Simon now..........

Thanks Ian, yes as you know I'm one of the more critical ones re Bachmann pricing. Without going into that again, I think Hattons have got to stop their price promises unless they have a clear undertaking from the manufacturer that they will get it at a certain price, which I believe is not forthcoming from Bachmann at the moment .

I feel sorry for Hattons in a way getting all this negative publicity. I've never had anything but outstanding service from them , whether its Airfix, Die Cast or Trains . However I think their price promise has been ill thought out, and perhaps an email or a paragraph in their news letters might at least explain why they've had to take this action. Of course we don't know what contractural terms they have with suppliers. However they did honour their price on my Bachmann Porthole coaches, even though the retail price had gone up considerably. But possibly Hattons had ordered at old price from Bachmann and Bachmann honoured it (don't know?) . Could it also be that Bachmann withdrew from sale the missing brake 3rd (is that the one?) and are only now releasing it at higher price , which would explain why the price can't be honoured on that one. I don't know but seems plausible. I think the price promise started when increases were 3-5% per annum. Its conceivable that they could safely have absorbed such increases in their retailers margin. However , as we now know Bachmann from July 2014 have had 2 increases of 15-20%(a lot more in some cases). At the same time Hornby have increased their prices to trade and reduced retailers margins. You cannot absorb that level of increase from Bachmann or small increases from Hornby on the now smaller retail margin. The result will be selling models lower than cost and inevitably the retailer going bust. We really do not want that, it would certainly not be good for the hobby or the staff and owners of Hattons! They really need to issue a statement to clarify things and stop this price promise thing, if they haven't already done so. The LB&SCR Atlantic from Bachmann is a case in point. There is no way on earth this is going to arrive at that price(we cant even predict when it will arrive, probably another 2 15%pa increases away!). I can see it being double price quoted! It is a shame that because of this price promise its Hattons getting all the agro, while the manufacturers who are whacking massive increases through (where else have you seen 15-20% twice in the year 2014/2015) or changing terms (lower retail margin)seem relatively unscathed.

I think Andy has cleared this up per the above. That GNR C1 just looks superb!

Well that's good news. Sorry if I muddied the waters earlier . As these limited editions have to command a surcharge for the commissioning party (understandably) they must be more expensive than main range models. With Bachmanns prices escalating by at least 20% per annum I wondered if this had more or less ended the collaboration. The C1 although announced after Bachmanns 2014 large price increases would have been conceived before it,as samples were available at launch, and referring back to post#364 there must have been some negotiations on price. Thanks for clarification I'm looking forward to my LNER one

Have I missed something? There seems to be an assumption that Bachmann will be involved in the next Locomotion/NRM release. I thought that the Atlantic was the last as were there not issues over the price the model was offered at? I seem to recall that Locomotion restricted it to £180 but the feeling was Bachmann wanted more. I note that Rapido have since been the favoured manufacturer by Locomotion

Thanks for looking it up Oz. I think your research does show that Hornby have not yet produced a single chimney, late BR Collett tender version. Am I wrong in thinking this would actually be the most popular version? It would need to be a better green than they have in the Hall which still looks too waxy for me.

We'll pricing getting a bit beyond me, but I just wish we could have a bulk standard, single chimney, Collett tender, BR green version

Very nice.Cant wait for my LNER version to arrive,seems to be the least mentioned of the models. Hopefully that doesn't mean it's still a while away.

Yes people who have memories of the 1980s TV series often don't know that the Railway Series did start back in 1945, 70 years ago! This must mean as the Rev Awdry initially wrote them for his sick son , his son must be at least 72/73!!!!! I think he went on and wrote some books after his father stopped in the 70s. And as others have commented above there were various illustrators , some of whom the Rev Awdry didn't agree with in their representations. As a child of the 60s I grew up with these books. The initial small hardbacks were priced 6/- (30p). The softbound versions appeared in late 60s at 3/- and "The Three Railway Engines" was the first of the books I had. To me they were beautifully illustrated ,and increased my vocabulary .Even now my vision of post war Britain in the 50s and early 60s is coloured by these books. I still think some of the rolling countryside in Peco Backscenes is very similar to the scenery in the books! A simpler time perhaps. I'm sure its rose coloured spectacles and things are better now! I still think the Hornby TTTE will be their rehashed existing range, but you never know this delay may mean they are developing something new.

Wow! Every now and then you press a new button on RMWeb and a new world opens up. I clicked on the Shenston Road header at the top of the page and have literally been blown away by this layout. The quality is truly superb. With several pictures you have to sit back and say is that really a model? I think also, it takes me back to my early days of interest in railways. I was never a number collector but was always on lookout for railways and trains. I'm visualising the drive from Middlesborough to Redcar with chemical and steelworks and this just takes me right back there. Glimpses through the buildings and advertising hoardings of trains. I'm going to have another close look at this layout tonight I do like the large buildings at the back of the station. Can you tell me the source of these. I particularly like the steel framed structures at the Wolverhampton end of the station . Again thanks for posting.

I'd take it back Colin. Mine runs perfectly smoothly from a crawl. So the behaviour yours is exhibiting is not typical. Just watch they are not sold out before you get to return it. Good luck!

Actually my Olton Hall didn't. Looks like the Radial is coming in at £99.95 . Seems reasonable to me for something that must have a fairly low slung motor and custom chassis. Not one for me but definitely support Oxford Rail all the way if it brings out more like it. Again it's all about value for money. I can see how a bespoke model like this would cost that much. Nor far off a Bachmann E4 at £93 discounted.

Isn't that because Bachmann restrict the discount retailers can give to 15% for new models for a period, I can't quite remember 12 weeks?so price naturally gravitates to 15% discounted rate which I assume is £93