robmcg

Pleased to report that Jenni at Bachmann answered with an Email, with photos of the packs, advising that the A1 accessory packs are available for UKP 5 plus a bit for postage to NZ. No BR green versions though... but that only affects cab doors I think. What brilliant service! Why was I worried?

Pleased to report that Jenni at Bachmann answered with an Email advising that the A1 accessory packs are available for UKP 5 plus a bit for postage to NZ. No BR green versions though... but that only affects cab doors I think. What brilliant service! Why was I worried? They even sent pictures of the parts packs...

Thanks Pete, I expect to be drowned in A1 front lamps, steps and drain pipes in short order. Cheers.

Finally found a pic of the Hornby A1 and wonder why I never bought a blue version! Note front lights fitted... To be honest, is this R3206 (or R3098 for the BR green version) as good as a Bachmann version? In some ways it may be better. No cab droop, better detail around trailing truck... now, where do I buy one for 70 quid?

I shall have to investigate the various iterations of Hornby's 60163 but at least the standard? version with accessory pack has the three lights... from this model, R number not given in the Ebay ad.. edit possibly R3098 ? I can't believe I never thought of Hornby as a source of parts for a Bachmann model and and imagined trying to scratch build something! I had also forgotten how good the Hornby model is! aha on Ebay 4 quid plus post... Thanks again Mike. Isn't it weird how an answer was staring me in the face but I didn't see it!

Thanks for that Mike, I hadn't thought of the Hornby version as a source of parts, duh. I'm struggling to find a photo of a Hornby Peppercorn A1 with the 3 black electric front lower lights fitted, but one presumes they are in a detail pack... but not perhaps with Railroad versions? I shall keep looking. Also for a part number if it is available. Good point about the Hornby part like drain cocks being finer than Bachmann, too. Cheers.

Also on the subject of parts for older Bachmann models, I have today sent an enquiry via their 'contact us' service/repair form to see if they can help me find some detail packs for a few A1 Pacifics 32-552 and similar which I have bought second hand from Ebay and Hattons, but which lack the detail pack(s). It's the three front buffer lights which would be tricky to make from scratch. Here's hoping. There are many reports of excellent service from Bachmann so I will remain guardedly optimistic , having originally thought 'no chance'. Any other source for the front lights steps and cylinder drains and brakerods would be most welcome, Ebay seems not to list them for these models. Here is a recent Hattons purchase... 75 quid including delivered tracked to NZ Several of these A1 models appear to be selling at under 90 pounds second hand quite regularly which strikes me as very good value. Similarly V2s but that's another story, the DCC-ready versions being rather rare, and the new soon-to-be-released versions quite pricey.

Hi All, Apologies if this kind of enquiry has been covered elsewhere. I have recently been attracted to Bachmann A1 Pacific models which off the top of my head were produced c2001-on, and have bought a couple of excellent examples, at good prices around UKP70-80, 60156 and 60130, but neither came with the detail pack... containing the three front lower lights, as well as the usual steps and hoses, cylinder drains and brake-rods. Are these sold by anyone? I haven't asked Bachmann, thinking, quite possibly wrongly, that these accessory/detail packs from 15 years ago would be unlikely to be available new. Any wisdoms gratefully received. Cheers edit; I should add that I have a couple of more recent A1s by Bachmann and these came with electric front lights factory-fitted, and it does make the front end look better.

Remember these?

I hope the glazing for the rear cab window is separate as per the D11 but it's not a major concern, the apparent size of the window my be, they look a tad small in the photos of the new model exacerbated perhaps by the lining around the window glasses? These things can look so different in the flesh, digital photography being so cruel. I am looking forward to the new model, what I have seen so far is very impressive, and I have a feeling that even the very slightly overscale rods and motion will look ok... after all, I just took this photo of the 2008-produced pre-DCC version of 60865 and the factory-darkened rods came out well in the natural light of my living room... This is an un-retouched basic photo straight from the camera , of the 2001 tooling essentially, and the chassis was improved on c2012-on models . It makes an interesting comparison with the new model, as I have already said. Forgive me I am impatient for the lovely new model so I can photograph it! I am sure the new model will render the above to be rather crude by comparison/

Everyone has their own pet fobles or perhaps more accurately 'sensitivities' wen it comes to new models vs old. Including the recent DCC-ready chassis upgrade. Much as I like the old model the wheels and rods are pretty basic, but I've never had much of a problem with the boiler shape, the dome is far too flat and low, the new model wins for me because of better driving wheels mostly and great paint, as well as nice trailing truck and tender details, and it has a better chimney and dome, also the windscreen partially obscures the possily too small cab windows, in general it just looks great.

I couldn't resist a comparison between 60964 new tooling and 60865 old tooling, even though tenders and steam pipes are different, not to mention my lighting is pretty basic. not an exact comparison but interesting,

Wait for it folks, the rear truck wheels appear to be flangeless... or at least attenuated flanges... neat connection to tender though. by comparison to the old tooling, I haven't got comparable lighting but it's still interesting,

I think it looks irresistible Especially 60964 with duller valve gear... from Rails link, unaltered. I look forward to arrival in shops! November... arrgghh I can think of several aspects which could garner some criticism, but overall it looks truly excellent. For me the thick front frame extensions are just like the old model, but there are no frame/running board issues in example above. and the general effect is stunning. I wonder what the timeframe is for variations, as in steam pipes, double chimneys and so? Thankyou Rails and Locomotion. here is a slightly enhanced version just fun just tone and background etc will remove if necessary.

Sorry I thought it was public domain. I'll remove it

I know you requested that I do not post here again Gilbert but this lovely shot really does evoke the real thing, super modelling even if the extra tracks are in the imagination.. pic removed as copyright unclear Sorry.

Peters Spaes has had four R3918 in stock for over a week, at UKP291. No connection. A simple google search for Hornby R3918 brings it near the top of the list.

I forgot to add the class leader 60800... roll on the new versions. The new versions will have better chimney, dome and presumably scale diameter wheels, and various details finer , but the old one is still nice. Even if most are split-chassis.

I confess I have bought a couple of the old 1992 version models recently because they still look rather good to my eye and are very cheap! But I will have difficulty resisting the new versions. Just for the sake of comparison, you understand... What plethora of detail variations Bachmann may have to cover with new versions!

I have all three of the recent die-cast Hornby Dublo engines and enjoy them because they look great, are fine examples of short-run production, are beautifully packaged and represent the steam age beautifully. They also remind me of 1950s Hornby Dublo from my childhood, the best parts of it... like learning how to calculate the scale speed of a 1:76 model, in my head, with a stop watch or watch with a second hand, so that it the train was covering say 30 lengths of 3-rail track , about 30 feet, in 25 seconds... . 88ft/sec divided by 76 hmm about 1.2 ft/sec, near enough to a mile a minute, but the other kids at school didn't care, they were building Spitfires or whatever To characterise buyers of these models as collectors and imply that the motivation is profit is wide of the mark in my opinion. edited picture What joy!

I created one with photo editing of publicity photos... Gives the general idea, but I'm not sure if it will come with pony front detail, or full guard irons, and so on, also not sure if 60964 will be modelled this decade... will remove if required. Lovely colour, certainly! Reminds me of python-esque 'lovely plumage' parrots. I'm sure the reviews of 60847 in BR green with external steam pipes and 60845 in BR black with original steam chest will appear soon, and I look forward to them.

Yes that makes sense.

We have no evidence, and are unlikely to ever have any. Possibly the re-appearance of models for sale after being 'sold out' is pre-orders not being fulfilled, and people who pre-ordered but didn't buy after say two weeks lost their chance. Just guessing. Equally I have no idea of the numbers sold outside the UK but my 35011 was in the hands of a retailer at about the same time as release in the UK but no others have appeared locally here in NZ so far as I know... which increased my feeling that the models were rare.

While I am very happy with my purchases of the die-cast MNs and Duchess I do take into account their potential resale value, because at times I sell models in order to indulge in other things like living costs, thus I judged the 'limited to 500' to enhance that value. As to 'gloating' over the models , well, there is pleasure in owning something a bit special, and if some denigrate me for not running them, they are welcome. Here is my personalised 46252 in BR green.... instead of kit-bashing a model I 'photo-bashed' this in anticipation of receipt of a nice heavy die cast version which is in the hands of Royal Mail. photo edited, but I think pretty representative of R3918. Will remove if it offends.

So even though Hornby described the three current die-cast Hornby Dublo models as a run of 500 each they may well do extra production runs? I have no doubt that the tooling will be used again, but I had been under the impression that part of the appeal of these lovely models was their limited availability of particular versions and catalogue numbers. Maybe I'm old-fashioned and naieve.. For those with lingering doubts about the Hornby and Bachmann renditions of Brunswick Green here is the new R3971 35011 and a 2005 Bachmann A1 in very similar light. I personally think Hornby got it all a bit faded with Kings, less so with the A2s, and recent Bulleids aren't far off, but still not quite 'there'. The various Bachmann versions are generally darker with a touch more sheen on some models, but variations in lighting and cameras and computers are much bigger influences.