Bachmann Ready to run Quarry Hunslets.

[B.Meldon]

You can reserve your ready-to-run Bachmann quarry Hunslet, 'Alice', 'Britomart', 'Nesta' or 'Dorothea' on the Hattons web site:

009 http://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000592/1000640/OO9_Narrow_Gauge_Steam_locos/prodlistbyscaleandtype.aspx

.....as well as the GVT and black Ashover 'Bridget' versions of the Baldwin 4-6-0.

Brian Meldon

[Michael Melton]

Call me wishful, but Hattons statuses on the Hunslets says they are at the decorated sample stage.  ???
http://www.hattons.co.uk/projectupdates

Antics also says Delivery April 25th.

https://anticsonline.uk/N425/N1598/N1553_OO9-gauge-ready-to-run-rtr-locos/index.html


Is this an error? It seems really early unless they've had it in planning for a while.  If not, my wallet better prepare itself.   :laugh:

[garrywhiting]

Call me wishful, but Hattons statuses on the Hunslets says they are at the decorated sample stage.  ???
http://www.hattons.co.uk/projectupdates

Antics also says Delivery April 25th.

https://anticsonline.uk/N425/N1598/N1553_OO9-gauge-ready-to-run-rtr-locos/index.html


Is this an error? It seems really early unless they've had it in planning for a while.  If not, my wallet better prepare itself.   :laugh:

My view, for what it's worth, is that both statements are, shall we say, "misleading".

The Baldwin was announced 4 years ago and maybe available soon, to expect the quarry hunslet anytime before 2020 seems to me over optimistic,  all we have had from Bachmann so far is the announcement supported by photographs of the real locos.  I think it may well be next year before it even reaches the mock-up stage.

Garry

[rod335]

I have NO inside knowledge here but I do think there might be more going on than we realise. Although everyone goes to great pains to tell us that there is no tie-up between Bachmann UK and Bachmann US, clearly there is as the new Bachmann UK slate wagons are the same product as marketed by Bachmann US. Now we know Bachmann US are introducing 'Rusty', their catalogue shows it as a 2018 release with a retail price of $135. It seems to me just possible that the basic chassis for 'Rusty' could be used for the Hunslets with the addition of flycranks and siderods. The wheelbase would be a pretty good compromise, being between those for the Velin and Penrhyn Large Quarry classes, can we really see Bachmann doing different chassis for all these locos? So that would just leave the bodywork to be done, not the most involved part of the design process and one which does not really need to be mechanically tested. I think May this year is still highly unlikely but I do think they might still be here a lot sooner than many are expecting.

[Michael Melton]

I agree.  With Bachmann US making Talyllyn coaches, I think we may see RTR Talyllyn stock soon.  

Of course, I am not too hopeful of a 2018 release of the Hunselts, as I have found dundas.co.uk to say the slate wagons are due in 2019, despite their tooling already existing.  It was confirmed by a USA Bachmann rep that they went to the Talyllyn and measured everything there (even Tom Rolt).  I find it strange they measured Tom Rolt, as he doesn't exist in the Thomas world.  While it may be in the RWS as Ivo Hugh, I don't see Bachmann USA making a RWS character.  That leads me to believe there is something going on!

Back to the Hunslets, I agree with Garry that they are misleading.  I'll eat my hat if it turns out to be true, but Bachmann usually takes 2-4 years to release new toolings of products.  For example, the new J72 and crane!

[rod335]

They also lazered all the WHR/Nog locos at the same time. But who knows what they will produce?

[danny]

Potentially the market for Tom Rolt could be more limited as well, since it is a relatively new loco so couldn't feature on pre- or early preservation layouts. Surely Douglas could be a good choice because as well as Talyllyn and Thomas versions, they could do military livery as originally operating at Calshot, and a few industrial liveries as it is basically a standard industrial design.
Danny

[Jim Flynn]

Myself, I tend to think there is quite a bit of collaboration going on between Bachmann Branchlines (UK) and Bachmann US. As Bachmann US has been involved in N scale for decades, and has developed and released remarkably well detailed and excellent running N scale locos (steam in particular), I would think Bachmann UK would make use of that small scale expertise, as opposed to trying to 're-invent the wheel".

I would guess the parent company (Kadar?) would have some say in the process, and would be inclined to encourage the of use talented people already well versed in the smaller scale.

As the US releases are actually to OO 1/76 scale verses HO 1/87 scale, perhaps the idea is to get as much mileage out of the Thomas connection over here 1st, then release non Thomas items in the UK.

Just some thoughts.

Jim F

[Stan Williams]

Just keep your powder dry, I think a lot of people will be excited with Bachmanns plans for UK narrow gauge.

Just a pity the rtr never arrived 15 to 20 years ago.

Stan.

[danny]

For UK non-industrial NG prototypes I think there is always going to be a bit of a problem with how specific vehicles are to a particular line.
Danny

[stevebar]

"Antics also says Delivery April 25th."
Yeeeees.   But what year?    The release of the Baldwin has become farcical.  This year, next year, sometime, never.

[rod335]

Review samples of the Baldwins are already here. I was running one last Saturday.

[Pete Williams]

Lets hope they are not so long in production as the Heljans, if they are, the chances are that I'll be long gone before you ever see one.

[stevebar]

Today I received the Bachmann Baldwin 4-6-0 that was ordered a very long time ago. I ran it on an oval of track. All OK. Then I tried to couple it to some rolling stock. It doesn't couple to Peco RTR rolling stock. The coupling on the loco is too thick to allow the loop on the rolling stock to engage. I had a similar problem with the Heljan 2-6-2 I received last year and was returned on the same day that I received it, after waiting literally years to get it.  The press had been saying that the item had been "developed in conjunction with Peco".
These locos are not cheap, but the makers release items that are simply not fit for purpose.
I feel that i'm being taken for a mug.

[Mark Shenstone]

The 4-6-0 has NEM coupler pockets correct? Change out the factory fitted couplers for Peco style ones. Problem hopefully solved.

Should we have to do such a thing? No but it sure beats the alternative.