Hornby/Bachmann 2010. Any ideas?

Can't understand Hornby doing a 4VEP EMU After Bachmann only just brought us the 4CEP. Surely it would have been wiser to bring out one of the many 2 car Units the S.R. had in service in 50's/60's. Certainly a very conservative approach taken on new tooling for 2010 but that's not surprising. However; they could have done more on re-names of existing models like the Schools. So far they haven't released one of what I would call the tastier names of this class.

 

Its about time Hornby concerntrated on the Southern freight/mixed traffic classes. They have not released a re-livery of the Q1 in about four years, so its probably about time we saw them producing the S15, or even the H15 (plenty of variations to keep the collector interested, and Britain's first true 4-6-0 mixed-traffic design). A few LBSCR designs would be very welcome, as would some SECR 4-4-0s. As you can tell, I'm biased, but the opportunities are there, as is a fair proportion of the tooling. If Hornby release four new designs each year, then they might as well choose one from each company, so that we are all happy...

 

With EMU's exploding onto the RTR scene you'd think track with the juice rail readily attached would be a good seller for the ham fisted among us.

 

How about a Beattie Well Tank? SR seems to be craze with Hornby & Bachamann. Also like to see a GWR 42xx & Gresley 01 or a Q6

 

You mean like this?

http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/page/28/Warship_Limited_Editions

90 quid a go, but well worth it it seems.

 

Bachmann have done very little for the Southern fraternity in recent years, with only re-issues of the Lord Nelsons and the N class, both of which are getting on a bit.

 

Thought id already left my post to this but i cant see it....So here it is again...

Id liek to see :-
1) Beattie Well Tank
2) GWR 42xx
3) Gresley 01

i like the idea of the Fowler 7f that would be very nce indeed

Cheers
Jon.

 

Kernow are getting Dapol to make them a model in OO gauge.

Regards,

Dan

 

Nice one sounds great, but will wait till i see it in the flesh before purchasing.....

Jon.

 

A model of Black Five 44767 would be different, unusual, completley different and interesting to see modelled as it has outside Stephenson Link Motion. What does everyone else think?

 

I think it would be a bugger to fix if you ever had to undo anything for maintnence!.

 

Old news they told us about at the end of November. What other Loco's are coming though?

 

I think this falls into the classic "Well I'd buy one" catagory. You have to ask yourself:

1. How much would it cost to design, tool up and manufacture the valve gear for what is essentially a 'one-off' loco?
2. How many of that loco would Bachmann sell?
3. Would it be different enough to the standard Black Five for the non-railway enthusiast market (still by far the biggest buyers of model railways) to notice the difference from a Walschaerts valve gear fitted Black Five and therefore buy it in sufficient numbers?

I think the answers would be:

1. More than we think.
2. Not that many, perhaps a few hundred, tops.
3. No

Therefore, when it comes to economies of scale for a mass-manufacturing company like Bachmann, I'd say it's a non-starter. The only way they would do it is if the loco's owners commissioned it as a one-off - thereby they pay for the models up-front and it's them, not Bachmann, who take the financial risk.

 

Incidentally, I think Hornby's 2010 programme is very conservative. The 4VEP screams 'me too' (a 2BIL or 5BEL would have been stunning , seeing how lovely the company's latest Pullmans and Maunsell carriages are!), the Hawksworth carriages and retooled B17/28xx are long overdue. While the L1 is interesting, it's a bit left-field (I certainly hadn't seen it mentioned on a 'wish list' anywhere). And let's gloss over the pointless re-release of the Limby Class 33 and 40, given the vast superiority of the Heljan and Bachmann versions, respectively.

Personally I hope Bachmann announce nothing and put all their energy into delivering already-announced products like the Class 105, the 03 and the lonlg, long, long overdue re-release of a maroon Warship!

PS. As far as I'm concerned, the Bluebell can charge what is jolly well likes for their limited edition. Nobody is MAKING anybody buy it, so what's the problem? You can't be 'ripped off' if you make a free, conscious decision to buy something, whatever the price - it's a contradiction in terms! If you think something is worth it, you buy it. If not, you don't.

Nobody is ripping anyone off. If someone wants a black Stepney and a blue Maunsell carriage at less than £150, why don't they do a bit of actual modelling and do a repaint on standard models?