MRDBLUE17

The RHTT sets were great to see today and not long to wait till they arrive either. Chatting with Dave this morning and seeing the factory production versions has made my mind up to order the weathered set for water jetting so I can model the Cumbrian Coast circuit. I was waiting to see the difference between the clean and weathered ones and they will match my weathered pair of 66’s perfectly. cheers Mark

Hi everyone, Having had the opportunity to see the Hattons 66’s up close today at Model Rail I personally think they look great. The level of detail achieved is excellent and the colours look very good and I would describe as fresh from works. The new sound project from Bif to go in them with Rail Rumble will be the best sound yet in a Model too. Cheers Mark

Back in 2012 I spent 8 months out on secondment and my journey back home North would usually mean I’d pass the southbound EWS/DB working of Car wagons from Mossend which was a solid 92 working around Beattock. Usually a red or Beastie stickered machine up front but a couple of times a 67 was tucked in behind including one of the royal ones. Even saw a pair of 92’s on one occasion. Ideal for my Bachmann car wagons. The silver bullets in recent times on the WCML with GBRF 92 and 66 behind make for another very modeleable train too. all the best Mark

I’ve put my order in for a dozen to recreate the trains to Workington with pairs of 37’s or a 60 in the early 90’s. The PGA looked a superb wagon just sadly not for my modelling needs so I’m looking forward to this release. Thanks to Paul Bartletts wonderful wagon photos there are even several shots taken at Workington. The all over black one is also a contender. Get your orders in so these get made please! thanks Mark

Hi Kev, they look superb. Very nice work on those. Cheers Mark

Hi Dave, Huge Congratulations on your awards, very well deserved. Superb layout and inspirational modelling as always. Well done Mark

Just because competition has brought about the price coming down on the 66, this will impact on returns and profit that can be invested into new models, potentially has the impact on prices across the range too. Competition can be perceived as good to the consumer but in the long run won’t be good. There are plenty of wagons and coaches that could be made instead. Margins are tight, costs are rising doesn’t matter what you are retailing there isn’t a lot of money to be made so both retailers and manufactures will feel it where prices come down.

If I were you I’d shop around for the regional models anyway. I go to Crafty Hobbies in Barrow in Furness and got my DRS 47 at a very good price. Many of the smaller shops offer great service and don’t have an issue giving the best prices to regular customers. Cheers Mark

Still I bet George your music must sound good if your nice friend Mr T has given you some good speakers? Whois choice of music will it be for travelling to Kendal? Mark

Hi Dave, Superb videos, great to travel round the layout and coming into the station was excellent. That’s some investment in rolling stock. I’ve had a look at the BOC tanks and they do look rather nice. Hopefully see you at Glasgow? All the best Mark

You paid £5 to George for a name check! Lol! Cheers Mark

Hi Peter, What a perfect way to start with a 31! That second photo of it stabled is super. I came across a photo on Flickr the other day that reminded me of your layout I was searching for images of the RF grey 47 Bachmann announced as I want one and there was an image from around 1985 I think when it had just been painted and was put onto a train along the North Wales Coast with the train loco. Just like those workings you have modelled. All the best Mark

Hi Leon, I really liked your last layout but your new layout whilst different looks superb. The blending of scenery into the back scene has been very effectively done. It captures the look of lines to coal points very realistically. I like the last photo just showing how it fits the space. Looks great to me. All the best Mark

I’ve just finished my Chinese! Just to keep this moving downwards! Shame I can’t make Kendal, they always put on a good show so hope you all have a good time and will see you all at Glasgow. Cheers Mark

Hope this may be of some minor use to anyone. Wild Boar Fell Cheers for sharing those photos. I’ve ordered 3 Mk 2’s to renumber a couple. I’ve converted quite a few MK1’s into WCRC from normal maroon ones with a few more to do. Thanks Mark

The 66 discussion is interesting. Hornby putting out a few is a great move for them as it will appeal to a lot of trainset Modellers who will be able to get a sound fitted model in the latest liveries - only good for the hobby overall to gain new interest especially after the popularity gained through GMRC on TV last year. In my collection I’ve got more 66’s than I need with a dozen EWS/DB, then Freightliner, DRS, and several GBRF models. I do plan to get 3 Hattons models with Bifs sounds as I do think it will be better, newer technology, more detail in the tooling but the space for the big speaker will make this stand out as well and this will give me a super detailed option for my layout. I’m not rushing to sell off what I have in fact I’ve only offloaded 1 Freightliner 66 ever. I do like the Biffa model and could see the Bachmann version appealing purely on price and it will match the rest of the GBRF models I have so makes sense. Mark

Thanks Colin, Very helpful. So far I’ve found it to be a really good package to use for my business and my accountant said they were working on the right solution so hopefully will be reasonably straight forward. Cheers Mark

It certainly is another consideration - there’s still details tbc which won’t suprise you from speaking to my accountant. I use VT transaction currently as this is a good accounting package and straight forward to use on the business laptop but this will also need to change update with the digital changes. There also seems to be a focus on annual VAT returns which if you are on and don’t plan for could lead to serious problems. A local butchers chain shut before Christmas due to unpaid VAT. It soon adds up - take 1/6th off your takings, then deal with your costs. All good fun Mark

Hello everyone, Firstly thanks to Andy and Phil for providing these useful updates on here about Bachmann and then for taking time to put up all the release information. Even better most are showing respect and keeping things positive. I was expecting less from Bachmann this year with the factory change etc which must have been a massive disruption for them and with current finances personally would allow me to still get what I would like. Still over 400 items is a lot and surely something for most people. I’m looking forward to the EWS 37/7 being a particular favourite still to come and Freightliner 90. I would also like the 2HAP in NSE. From today’s news my first surprise was the 009 Diesel, especially the photo being taken at Almond Valley heritage centre in Livingston. A great place to take the kids locally. A very interesting addition to the range and I’m sure will be popular. WCRC 37669 will be ordered, and the MK 2 in WCRC livery is also very welcome. I’ve already done several MK1’s from Bachmann coaches to go with them. The BRA in weathered,patch painted condition looks good as well, as does a couple of new FNA’s ( you can’t have too many flasks!) I was hoping Bachmann would have done the DRS 2F’s and the 158 in Saltire livery and my money would have been on a WCRC 57/3 after 2mm range getting one. The only dilema really is which Saltire 2F’s to get. I think there’s a really good range of announcements from the big and new enterprises last year and into this year already. Despite everything else in the economy our hobby can’t be doing that badly which is encouraging to see. Thanks Mark

Hi all, I’m really getting fed up of these types of moans on here. You’ve tried twice in 3 years, did you not think to follow up in case he never got it or even that the reply from him got lost in your system? Tim is a really decent guy who has worked very hard to get his business where it is and his quality of work and materials used are the very best I’ve seen. Never known him not to reply or follow up. Just think before posting things like this it does no one any good. Mark

Hi Chris, yes will be at Glasgow all 3 days. See you there. Cheers Mark

Hi Peter, Glad you had a good time back here. 33008 looks great. It’s about the only 33 I can recall seeing up close in all the years I spent during school holidays in the south. It appeared on a charter with a pair of 37’s at the other end on the Ham goods a long time ago. Early 90’s. Cheers Mark

Hattons have announced that they will be supplying retailers with their own products which is great news as my local model shop told me they can now order Hattons products in for me. Best to check with your shop of choice and see if they can for you. Does it really matter if these things slip by a couple of months? Hattons Dave communicates news on here really rather well they have announced and delivered products in quick timescales and we are getting Models that many probably didn’t expect to see in RTR form. We should all be a lot more positive that there are lots of new and varied things being produced from both the big and newer manufactures as despite rising costs and difficult trading conditions our hobby is still doing fairly well. Mark

Hi Jools, If you drop Rainbow Railways an email - they did me a set of transfers for a full VTEC set of coaches so might be able to make that an easier job for you. Cheers Mark

The LNER set is straight forward as they are doing the full set of 9 coaches to go with the power cars from what I can see. Great to see this again as last time on the VTEC there were less so a few need renumbering to make the full sets. This livery certainly sold very well last time. Cheers Mark