Midland brake van

[NHY 581]

Picked up one of the new Bachmann Midland brake vans yesterday ( BR grey, w/o duckets ).

 

Lovely model and at last a nice Midland brake van. However, and before I continue I am not a rivet counter, I was disappointed when I opened it up and examined it properly.

 

I know Bachmann had to attach the chassis some how, but why are we left with two clearly visible grey 'tubes' as you look through the windows at either end.

 

I do not want to sound picky or sound ungrateful but it really does spoil an otherwise lovely model.

 

Rob

[Stevelewis]

I had  not  noticed  that  on  mine  until you mentioned  it,  It  will just  have  to  be  a  big flue  for  the  chimney!!

[davefrk]

Mine don't have that fault.... but then I built mine from Parkside kits. Much more satisfying.

 

Why are Bachmann working through the Parkside catalogue?  Laziness

 

We want different, well researched new stuff not just poor copies of popular kits.

 

Dave Franks.

['CHARD]

Is that the G-scale version?

 

I can see your point, and this design feature does smack of die-cast buses of yore, maybe it's even about designing down to a price (or Design Clever if you will). 

 

However, I can live with it, as from normal viewing angles and distances, what the eye can't see my rivet gland can't palpitate over.

[clecklewyke]

As so often, Mick Jagger has the answer - "Paint it (them) Black".

 

Ian

[NHY 581]

As so often, Mick Jagger has the answer - "Paint it (them) Black".

 

Ian

Quite. It's not rocket science really, is it?

But it is still there, be it black green or pink.

 

What I am getting at is that this is a lovely model of a very appealing prototype. Surely a bit more foresight could have sorted this out. Why should I have to dismantle the model to sort it.

I mean you can't even pop a guard in, unless he peers around these pillars.

 

Yes it could be painted black.Yes you could pretend it's the stove pipe. I have no doubt people could build a better one from the Parkside kit, given time, skill etc, etc.....but to have two whacking great pillars just inside the glazing at each end just seems......well, dull really.

 

Rob

[Stevelewis]

Mine don't have that fault.... but then I built mine from Parkside kits. Much more satisfying.

 

Why are Bachmann working through the Parkside catalogue?  Laziness

 

We want different, well researched new stuff not just poor copies of popular kits.

 

Dave Franks.

All very  well  But  some  members  dont  have  either  the  time  or  ability  to  build  kits,

 

Are  you implying  that  Bachmann  products  are poor  copies of  'popular' kits?

[Strathyre]

When I was a Secondman at Eastfield I often heard some drivers refer to their guard as "a £@*^&% tube!!!" so maybe Bachmann just took it a bit too literally!

 

(with apologies to any present or past guards out there, your colleagues from the past gave as good as they got from their colleagues on the footplate!!!)

 

Paul

[br2975]

Really Gunnie, you've got too much time on your hands.

.

I usually run my brake vans at the end of a train, so the wagons (or light engine) block the view through one end, and I'd have to lay my head on the tracks to see in the other end - but generally they're viewed side on.

.

I think Bachmann should be congratulated, after all they've modelled a really rare prototype - I never knew the Midland had any 4'1.1/2" gauge brake vans.

.

Ever the stirrer

.

Brian R

[NHY 581]

Really Gunnie, you've got too much time on your hands.

.

I usually run my brake vans at the end of a train, so the wagons (or light engine) block the view through one end, and I'd have to lay my head on the tracks to see in the other end - but generally they're viewed side on.

.

I think Bachmann should be congratulated, after all they've modelled a really rare prototype - I never knew the Midland had any 4'1.1/2" gauge brake vans.

.

Ever the stirrer

.

Brian R

Look, I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't have laid my head on the tracks....Now I know it's there.

As for time, if I had any I would have built the perfect Parkside kit wouldn't I....

 

But thanks for the observation.....xxx

 

Gunney

[stewartingram]

How about a teeny bit of modelling?

1. Remove body from chassis

2. Remove offending plastic 'tubes'

3. Replace body.

 

I haven't yet seen the model, so I can't comment on the method of fixing, but I would imagine a drop of glue would suffice.

 

Stewart

[davefrk]

All very  well  But  some  members  dont  have  either  the  time  or  ability  to  build  kits,

 

Are  you implying  that  Bachmann  products  are poor  copies of  'popular' kits?

 

Yes but if one doesn't build anything one won't get any better at it..... Even a hour a week would produce something eventually.  It's called 'railway modelling' afterall.

As regards poor copies, there's been a few recently from Hornby, Bachmann etc. for example - Blue Spot fishvan, LMS CCT, H/Magazine Stove, all of which have had a slagging off.

 

Sorry, just me lamenting the loss of modelling skills and/or the will to do it.

 

Dave.

[NHY 581]

Railway modelling represents many things to many people.

Some may spend a lifetime building everything from scratch in an obscure scale to achieve what they want. Others will just open boxes and run them.

For myself I am happy to build kits, if I need to, to run alongside the RTR stuff.

However time is a huge factor. Take out work, family and sleep what you have left is precious little. I agree, an hour here and there will give results. However my whole point here is Bachmann appear to have taken the easy way out.

This is a real mix. A model well up to and perhaps surpassing current standards apparently let down by a method of assembly dating from the 70's.

 

As for lamenting the loss of modelling skills, Dave, come on now mate. That's a bit of a sweeping generalisation surely. You only have to look elsewhere on this forum to see some great modelling.

As for the will to do it, we are back to the time thing.

As I post this, I am quietly re painting some Bachmann scene craft buildings in the only bit of spare time I have this week.

 

Rob

[gwrrob]

How about a teeny bit of modelling?

 

1. Remove body from chassis

 

Agreed but I'd hope it removes easier than the same firm's toad body does.

[Stevelewis]

Yes but if one doesn't build anything one won't get any better at it..... Even a hour a week would produce something eventually.  It's called 'railway modelling' afterall.

As regards poor copies, there's been a few recently from Hornby, Bachmann etc. for example - Blue Spot fishvan, LMS CCT, H/Magazine Stove, all of which have had a slagging off.

 

Sorry, just me lamenting the loss of modelling skills and/or the will to do it.

 

Dave.

I know  exactly   what  you  mean,  there  are  less  and  less people   actually  building  models  these  days, you only  have  to  look for  example at DJH  who  are  producing  RTR 0 gauge  alongside  their  kits.

 

Me  personally I do not do much modelling  these  days  except  for track laying  and  scenery,  I used  to  but  that  side  of the  Hobby does not appeal these days,  I just  had to remind  myself  of  some items  i had  built in 7mm  some  years  ago  and  dug  out  some  photos (taken long  before  the  digital age!)

[br2975]

Railway modelling represents many things to many people.

Some may spend a lifetime building everything from scratch in an obscure scale to achieve what they want. Others will just open boxes and run them.

For myself I am happy to build kits, if I need to, to run alongside the RTR stuff.

However time is a huge factor. Take out work, family and sleep what you have left is precious little. I agree, an hour here and there will give results. However my whole point here is Bachmann appear to have taken the easy way out.

This is a real mix. A model well up to and perhaps surpassing current standards apparently let down by a method of assembly dating from the 70's.

 

As for lamenting the loss of modelling skills, Dave, come on now mate. That's a bit of a sweeping generalisation surely. You only have to look elsewhere on this forum to see some great modelling.

As for the will to do it, we are back to the time thing.

As I post this, I am quietly re painting some Bachmann scene craft buildings in the only bit of spare time I have this week.

 

Rob

 

Rob

 

Give me a ring, get in the car, pop out to the suburbs and I'll make you a nice cuppa - we can talk this over, and send my office to sleep ..... Oh ! sorry, they're already asleep after my talking about the differences between 'OO' - 'OO Finescale, EM, P4 and S4!

 

Brian R

[NHY 581]

Rob

 

Give me a ring, get in the car, pop out to the suburbs and I'll make you a nice cuppa - we can talk this over, and send my office to sleep ..... Oh ! sorry, they're already asleep after my talking about the differences between 'OO' - 'OO Finescale, EM, P4 and S4!

 

Brian R

Will do. In on Thursday and Friday. Will bring Bachmann chip with me. Milk one sugar.

 

Rob

[Garethp8873]

Here's a few shots I took a few days ago of the Midland Railway Brake Vans in LMS Grey and Bauxite liveries alongside two kitbuilt examples I own. I am very impressed by them but as I said elsewhere, the fact that Bachmann claims that these are Midland Railway examples when actually they are LMS built examples is rather misleading. Despite this minor issue they are superb brake vans to the RTR scene!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[steveb860]

This thread has made todays issue of Model Railway Express Mag !!

['CHARD]

...but as I said elsewhere, the fact that Bachmann claims that these are Midland Railway examples when actually they are LMS built examples is rather misleading.

 

Hmmm....  Is it really so misleading?  They are MR 'pattern.'

 

To me that's like saying I'm going for an English later, when I actually mean going to an Indian or a Chinese restaurant, but because the staff were born here the cuisine can't be called by those names. 

[NHY 581]

This thread has made todays issue of Model Railway Express Mag !!

 

Oops.....Took that rather badly, didn't he?

I suppose I should be reporting to the boot room for a damn good thrashing at the hands of the school bully.....

 

Look. Let's say we are not talking about what I still say is a fine model, of a humble brake van.

What if Bachmann had chosen the same method to assemble a coach or the forthcoming Southern non passenger stock. Big tubes visible through the windows.

 

Would we still be saying " No really this is fine. ..pretend it's the stove pipe "

Er, no. I think not.

Why should this be any different ?

 

For the record, I will be buying a couple more. They really are that nice........but....

 

Right. Off to the boot room. I have an appointment with Grayson.

 

Rob

[gwrrob]

Take it with a pinch of salt as I don't think John Cherry is a big fan of RMweb.He's always moaning about something on this website.

[NHY 581]

Take it with a pinch of salt as I don't think John Cherry is a big fan of RMweb.He's always moaning about something on this website.

Indeed. Never thought of myself a some sort of use though.

 

Rob

[Nile]

I'm with you Rob. My first thought on seeing the pillars was of Triang coaches. And why two pillars? One in the middle would be much less noticeable.

[clecklewyke]

All joking  aside, I think Dave Franks has identified a real problem. I certainly don't want our foremost wagon kit manufacturer going out of business because Bachman and the like are copying their most popular designs - thus providing competition on the cheap by omitting the need for research while reducing Parkside's sales. The market's not big enough for treading on each others' toes in this way.

 

I suspect there's little that can be done - I don't think copying a design is illegal? I don't expect you can copyright a model of a real wagon?

 

Ian