Well said!

I've not had any running issues with my Accurascale locos thankfully, but I've definitely got the DCC lighting function issues. That seems to be a problem for anyone not running the Accurascale custom programmed ESU decoders. I've got two more Accurascale locos on pre-order -- and same as you I'm not cancelling them, but I'm concerned about what electrical problems they will bring with them.

Are the DCC issues by any chance sound cutting out?

@@ILikeTransport They become unresponsive to control in the most random ways. I've had them start up on their own, play random sounds and cut out sound entirely. Worse is when they go unresponsive while running so I'm unable to stop without turning off track power. Mine were bought as DC models but I bought the sound decoders from Accurascale. I'm hoping the 31s will behave being as they're sound fitted out of the box.

@@Simon-Davis How bizarre, I've not heard any such issues or experienced it. I'd suggest you contact Accurascale about it if you haven't already, I found them to be very helpful with an issue I had of sound cutting out.

@@ILikeTransport I did...apparently my track voltage is too low, should be between 18-20v. Which is odd as I use a beefed up system which runs my outdoors railway that pumps out a track voltage of 19.2v at 8A. They are the ONLY models which act up out of 80 locomotives across 00, H0 and G scales...but to be sure I've tested them on the club layout using NCE powercab, Gaugemaster Prodigy and a Roco Multimaus, and they don't run right with any of those controllers either.

I wouldn’t necessarily say that, as that would mean that locomotives that were not preserved won’t be made, and Rapido have tons of steam locos that have been released or are on the way, and they seem to be selling well! Don’t forget as well that a few years ago Bachmann released the Midland 1P, and most of those sold out on preorder! They also did the 94XX and V2, which were in their main range, but their were versions that were exclusive to Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield. Honestly, releasing stuff in their standard range is probably better than making exclusives, as it means that they can supply more retailers, and Bachmann really seem to be in favour of helping retailers, which is great! On a more personal note as well, I don’t live in the UK, but I do have a semi-local model shop that has an online website, and they stock Bachmann Branchline, Dapol, Heljan, Oxford, and Rapido models, and when I buy my models, I always get them there, as international shipping is extremely expensive, so if Bachmann do make exclusives, then those who live international (and believe me lots of people in other parts of Europe, as well in Australia, New Zealand and North America model British railways) are not really able to buy these exclusive models, unless they want to pay ludicrous prices to get models into their respective country. Also, if you see a model in a shop, your usually more likely to be tempted to buy it, as usually things look nicer in person than in product listings, or at least that’s what most others have told me/I find myself. I know others will have different opinions on this, but I really don’t think it makes much sense to do exclusives…

@@modelrailfan37 indeed they do tend to find their way to the main range, what I meant is more that they seem to be seeking to do those models that involve a tie in with someone more often than just producing something straight into the main range. More will be announced later in the year either way so we shall have to wait and see what they come up with. Wouldn't be too shocked if we see something quite out of left field come along, rapido announced the Jones goods, maybe bachmann will suprise with a caledonian single to compliment or a midland single to compliment their offerings from that railway.

@@HamStrains I’d love to see the Caledonian Single, even though I model the LNER, I probably wouldn’t be able to resist that and pick one up. The only tricky thing with the singles is none of them made it into BR ownership, and I think it is hard for companies to justify releasing steam locos that didn’t make it to BR condition (minus industrials of course, but even so, many of them would have been private owned, and near BR’s network), as a ton of people model that era. We did get the Precedent and Stirling Single though, and Hornby used to make the Caley 123, so never say never! I’d also really like to see Bachmann, or Rapido, or someone like that make the Caledonian 439, one’s preserved, it went to BR ownership, and is one of the more popular Scottish locomotives (at least from what I’ve heard, most likely because ones preserved), yet nobody has made a model of it for some reason 🤔

@@modelrailfan37 439 is probably more likely a better long term investment in terms of range of liveries and numbers that could be offered over time for sure. Another one people are probably eyeing up or have been for a while is a T3 given that beasts recent overhaul and return to steam, plenty of awareness of it and people who would want a model of it at this point. Also whoever tools up a new 8F next would be missing a trick in not doing the little bit of extra work to do some of the overseas examples, just like bachann did a few special editions of austerity 2-8-0s in various foreign schemes that were fairly well received.

@@HamStrains ya I think 439 would be a really good idea, as well as the T3, the T3 having just returned to steam and all. I actually suggested to both Bachmann and Rapido that they should make these, as they do sorta seem like two companies that would most likely make these models, as recently most of Bachmann’s steam locomotives have been of relatively early prototypes (minus the V2), and that seems to be about the only thing Rapido have been doing (not a complaint of course, I’m super excited for most of Rapido’s new projects!). Overseas versions of the 8F would be a good idea, but part of me wonders if we really need a new 8F? The Hornby one isn’t that bad, it’s very overpriced given its age and the fact that it doesn’t have as many features as most newer locomotives, so honestly if the price wasn’t so high on the Hornby 8F, or they upgraded the model a bit, then I don’t think we need a new one. Then again, it is a popular locomotive, so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is working on a new one right now!

Yep, it’s always a good idea to wait for discounts, especially if you have a feeling something won’t sell!

I was expecting with a 69 already announced, a 56 would be an obvious candidate. I honestly wasn't expecting a 31...

@@DongitsModelRailway we don’t really need a 56 though, Clavax just released a new one, and there’s nothing wrong really with the old Hornby one.

@@modelrailfan37 I agree ... but that statement could just as easily be said of the 31, too.

@@DongitsModelRailway yeah, true. Bachmann didn’t know that though (presumably) when they started tooling for the 31 (ie: Accurascale had not announced theirs yet)

If Bachmann had updated the tooling for that 57ft Suburban with a flushglaze panel, or updated the underframe with close couplers (perhaps using the Mk1 BG as a template) then it'd have been worth doing as a "budget option". But when you can pick the literal same model up second hand in good condition in quantity for less than half the price of the latest run from the same tooling, and in enough quantity to build full trains, the people who are after the budget conscious option are better served by the second hand market. There's plenty of stuff Bachmann could usefully re-run though, that isn't competing with it's own previous production runs. Mk2F TSOs in Blue/Grey or InterCity liveries. FFA centre cars. Porthole seconds, composites and brake seconds in Maroon. All of these are nigh-on impossible to find and when one does turn up, it goes for stupid money. Why do they not re-run the obvious stuff like this?

@@DongitsModelRailway that’s a really good point!

Yes, it does genuinely appear to take that long. I'm still waiting for the release of a Bachmann model that was first shown in the 2014 catalogue. Ten years later and ... we haven't seen it yet. They were getting a reputation for unreasonable delays, and the solution was ... to announce things later, not to make things faster. This isn't a Bachmann specific issue -- It's not uncommon for a model to be announced more than two years before delivery, and yet the announcement includes images of EPs. That means just to go from EP to shipped product is >2 years.

Just out of interest, what is the model you've been waiting ten years for?

Class 171 DMU in Southern livery. It was in the catalogue for about four years, was not released at the time, and is now ... not listed anywhere. The assumption is that a Turbostar refresh is still coming, likely now based on the design of the updated 158.

Timing here is interesting, as the Heljan project has been public for a long time -- the first announcement I can find is in 2019. The EP was first seen Jan 2021. But it's coming to market now, in early 2024. That's five years in public development and three years between EP and delivery. Bachmann announced their updated 47 August 2021, with it arriving to market in 2021 also. They probably had EPs already when Heljan first announced they were working on it. Had Bachmann been public with their EPs when they first arrived, the chances are that Heljan may have not decided to work on an updated 47, or would have quickly abandoned work on it (which they did with TT:120). But as Bachmann kept quiet, Heljan kept working, and by the time Bachmann went public, Heljan were too far along to pull the plug.

The main issue I see raised is about the shape (and particularly the depth) of the cab side windows. This has been a complaint since new - when it first launched there were people comparing it unfavourably to the Lima shell in terms of shape in this area.

I saw that video before it was removed. I'm pretty confident I know why they filed that strike, and It's not about the footage of the uncoupler.

@@DongitsModelRailway where there's drama to be milked for views in a sensationalist way you'll find Sam. If there is none, he'll create some anyway.

@@HamStrains ever hear of the smother brothers?