Bachmann Autumn 2025 Releases

[End2end]

https://www.bachmann.co.uk/category/bra/autumn-2025

I've checked through the new products and apart from maybe one of the thatched cottages there's nothing there for me.
Thanks
End2end

[Bigmet]

I am in for an accurate and heavy Stanier 8F - when it arrives - in about a year if the announcement proves accurate. Bachmann made a very good job out of its 'cost down' descendant, the Riddles WD 2-8-0 austerity build of WWII: mine are still running reliably after 25 years regular use, alongside the O1, O2, O4, 9F, V2, K3, pacifics galore, on ECML freight, and provision of the occasional 8F on this route now should have an equally classy model to the others

It's also encouraging that Bach have rolled out a tender loco, these have been thin on the ground among their OO introductions recently.

[Bigmet]

Does the lack of interest in this announcement suggest that Bachmann should return to their previous declared policy relating to OO: don't duplicate any existing at least halfway decent model: NEW SUBJECTS are what's required, and there are scads of them never had a model available...

[Phred]

Bigmet wrote:
NEW SUBJECTS are what's required

Agreed, a slightly different edition of an existing model may appeal to people who 'know their trains' but for mug punters like me it seems pointless to buy another loco that looks pretty much the same as what I already have on the shelf.

[Bigmet]

Agreed, a slightly different edition of an existing model may appeal to people who 'know their trains' but for mug punters like me it seems pointless to buy another loco that looks pretty much the same as what I already have on the shelf.

Bachmann 'get away with this specific duplication' as far as I am concerned, much as they did when launching Blue Riband and duplicating various of the very poor items in the then current Lima and Hornby ranges, with models that still hold their own today.

The Stanier 8F is one of the last long term Hornby survivors, only lightly worked over in the move to China; and has it all for weakness as a model: inaccuracies on both loco and tender body, very clumsy mechanism intrusion into what should be airspace between boiler underside and frame tops, ineffective for traction, as supplied won't haul a full load of 60 wagons. Sir William's very neat freight loco design deserves better, and I feel sufficient of the steam loco purchasing segment will appreciate the improvements and act on it. Wait until you see it!

But on a general note - steam era subjects with no current standard RTR OO model please.

[Mike Parkes]

To make matters worse with the Hornby one the latest ones have a moulded on smokebox dart, a simplification that belongs back a few decades. The 8F has been a low hanging fruit for sometime for someone to have a go at and given their is recently tooled 8F in the Farish range it follows Bachmanns stated objcective of tooling the same models in N and OO. Conversely I hope someone else has a go at a V2 as Bachmanns latest OO effort, aside from the loco-tender coupling, is woeful in terms of the cab / smokebox joint meaning apple green ones in particular look weird with the wide black band in front of the cab

[Bigmet]

...I hope someone else has a go at a V2 as Bachmanns latest OO effort, aside from the loco-tender coupling, is woeful in terms of the cab / smokebox joint meaning apple green ones in particular look weird with the wide black band in front of the cab

Considering how Hornby and Bachmann have been left largely uncontested in the matter of Doncaster wide firebox designs, and generally avoid treading on each other's toes,: you almost wonder if there is some kind of RTR OO 'Minimal Overlap Doncaster Wide Firebox Treaty' ?

Bachmann's difficulties with the cab / firebox / running plate interface fits has been with us since the Pepp A1 of 2001, yet the only three way duplication is in age order of tooling: Bachmann (ex Trix), Hornby, Dapol, with the A4.

(Dark horse tiptoeing toward joining in, Clark Railworks offering the Riddles WD 2-10-0, with its decidedly Doncasteresque round top wide firebox arrangement.)

I'd rather something all new in RTR OO from the Doncaster stable personally, there's never yet been a P1 if 'going large', though I would favour a J6...