Bachmann Announces New NRM Loco Options

[pedromorgan]

Today Bachmann Announced that in colaboration with the National Railway Museum, they are going to produce a OO scale model of Midland compound

Details of the unvailing can be found here
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...mp;#entry212381


Peter

I have written the review and It will be put in the review section but incase you cant wait, here it is.




I just got back from the NRM and took some decent pictures of the new Midland compound.
The more time I spend with this model the more I think they have made a good choice of prototype. When I heard what they had chosen I will admit to being a little disappointed. It’s never been one of those locos that makes me go ‘wow!’ but it is certainly a very beautiful loco with an unmistakable outline that’s instantly recognisable.

As I gave my ticket to the inspector on the way back from York the guard looked over and said “oah a Midland compound!”. That to me says it all. For the record, he was very impressed with the detail and we had a short discussion about the remarkable advances our manufacturers had made over the last 10 years!

I am also seeing details that I never even knew about. From the front buffer beam to the rear of the tender, what is seemingly a very simple loco is full of detail that will defiantly set it apart from the re-released Hornby version.
Upon removing it from the box it’s very clear that the model has the same DNA as the City of Truro model Bachmann released 2 years ago. The tender coupling arrangement and wires are identical. The model couples nicely and closely.



Starting at the front the buffer beam is fully lined with the MR lettering in the correct place! Be careful of the brake pipes when removing it from the box.
The front lamps, while not working are fully lined. It’s a nice touch that stands out.
The works plates below the smokebox look even finer than the ones on the City that I already thought were remarkably good for a ready-to-run model.



The wheels are lined which also seems to make the chassis stand out. The front splash guards are provided in a packet of details to be added by the modeller.



Because of the very high boiler on these locos, they leave the inside valvegear very exposed. On the model the space between the frames is flat with a couple of lines to represent the motion. Its ok but there is no WOW factor there. Its not going to instantly go around putting all those beautifully kit built loco’s to shame. It would have been nice to have something more in there. There is potential for modellers to build a new chassis with full inside motion if they so desire. P4 would be difficult as the splashers are quite thick. The top half of the model would make this worthwhile for those that have the skills.

The vast majority of the pipework is added but a couple of the very small copper pipes are moulded on. That’s fine by me.
Moving back to the driving wheels the brake gear is very nicely done. I am sure someone could squeeze EM wheels in there and probably P4 if they desire. It does show up the OO/16.5mm problem though. It’s a bit like having open splashers. Suddenly the wheel seems quite a long way back.

One thing I have noticed is that the motion seems to be lubricated with a red grease. A big bugbear of mine used to be Bachmann over lubricating everything with a Teflon grease that lead to stiction problems with slow running.
The safety valve is a nice model in its own right.



Moving to the cab the sides are decorated with the finest printed crest I have ever seen. I would love to know how many colours there are in there! Its got to be at least 5 I think!



Backhead detail is even nicer than the City of Truro. Perhaps not quite as fine as some of Hornby’s offerings but pretty close! Note the printed dials!



The tender is equipped with a 21 pin plug and is obviously designed for DCC sound. It’s nice that the manufacturers are giving this much more thought. The instructions are also far more helpful than they used to be with proper instructions for removing the bodyshells.





The designer (whose name I really should have written down!) also designed the City of Truro model and I can tell that he has given some more thought to representing the underframe detail. It almost feels like the lack of distinguishing features on the top half has meant that he spent more time working on the bottom half of the loco!

The metal turd in the tender that was fitted to the City has gone from this model. There is a plastic moulding in there instead. This was the only thing on the City model that I thought should have gone in the “must do better” category! It’s still not perfect but covering it with some real coal is a very easy job. I haven’t been able to find a good picture of the fire iron stand over the top of the tender but the moulding looks a little thick. Maybe someone will produce an etched brass one. I am sure it would be a very simple detailing task. The tender sides do seem a bit on the thick side but I am guessing that it’s at the limit of plastic injection moulding.

On the back of the tender the lamp irons are all there and as are the makers plaques denoting the tender type and capacity. It’s a nice touch that could so easily have been left off.



Overall, I would say that the livery and paintwork has made what is a fairly basic prototype, really stand out. This is a very pretty loco that would look at home on many layouts.



The model runs smoothly. It will benefit from some running in. slow speed running was not great but I expect that to change after running in.

When I wrote about the City of Truro, I wrote about a duty that the model manufacturers have when it comes to producing a model from the national collection. Models of NRM loco’s come around so infrequently that we could easily be waiting 20 years for a replacement if there is something wrong with it.

These loco’s are icons of our railway heritage. And have a special place in the hearts of railway enthusiasts. I really consider it a matter of respect for the collection that when a loco like this is produced it is done properly. I don’t want to see penny pinching and I don’t really want to hear commercial excuses. If a manufacturer takes it upon itself to produce one of the engines that’s privileged enough to stand in the great hall of the NRM then they should take it upon themselves to get it right.

With the Midland compound it cannot be escaped that it’s a pretty simple engine. There are very few curves and angles to get wrong.
Both on the model and on the prototype, the detail in this loco is really in the paintwork. On examining this model, it’s obvious to me that Bachmann have gone the extra mile to make sure they live up to the high standards that us rivet counters hold them to.

The model will be available for pre order from the NRM shop on the 11th of October. Priced at £140, I feel this is a bit steep for day tripping impulse buyers. But, if you want a midland compound then there is a fine model waiting for you at the NRM.
There is also a Platinum edition (500 will be made) with a fancy plinth priced at £170 if you are that way inclined!

My sincere thanks to go Graham Hubbard and Bachmann UK for the review model.

[7113]

A very nice looking model, although not one which I will be rushing out to buy. Looking at the photos I have to admit to being suitably impressed with the crests an plates etc.

Many thanks for taking the time Peter.

Regards

[TonyDaly]

Thank you for the excellent review Peter. £140 is perhaps a bit steep,maybe if the front lamps lit it might make it more palatable in that we feel we might be getting a little extra ? That & the high postage that the NRM charge make it unlikely I will be rushing out to buy it. Still I hope it does well for them.
Maybe I'm just being picky in my old age

[neil_s_wood]

Looks very nice Peter. Thanks for the excellent review.


Cheers

Neil

[60134]

With the Midland compound it cannot be escaped that it’s a pretty simple engine

How did you manage to say that?

Excellent review Peter, for which, I am sure, MRF readers are very grateful. Talk about getting the news out quickly!

I agree about the inside motion. The drive to the third cylinder ought have been represented in some way. If Fleischmann managed to put TWO cranks and connecting rods between the frames of their DB BR18, surely it is time a British manufacturer bit the bullet and tried with a loco like this?

60134

[pedromorgan]

How did you manage to say that?

He he! it was a VERY long day!

[pedromorgan]

Another slightly useless fact... the NRM editions have approximately a 2 year gestation period. So I think we can assume that the next one will have already been started! It meant that the people sitting in that room already knew what the next one was going to be and the people showing us around the drawing office had probably already provided a wealth of material!

I did ask Dennis if he had already booked the room but he wouldn’t comment!
I also tried to bribe the archive staff but their price was too high!

But please don’t start guessing yet!!

Peter

[Mercator II]

Excellent review & pictures Peter, many thanks for sparing your day to make the trip

So you get to keep the model ? if so how do you get invited to one of these launches!!!

[pedromorgan]

Yes. Although I did have to take a days holiday from work and spend £60 getting there!

The forum was invited to send a representative and nobody else could go!

Peter

[jukebox]

Another slightly useless fact... the NRM editions have approximately a 2 year gestation period. So I think we can assume that the next one will have already been started! It meant that the people sitting in that room already knew what the next one was going to be and the people showing us around the drawing office had probably already provided a wealth of material!

I did ask Dennis if he had already booked the room but he wouldn’t comment!
I also tried to bribe the archive staff but their price was too high!

But please don’t start guessing yet!!

Peter

Well they've done a Blue one (Deltic), a Green one (Truro) , and now a red one (Compound), so that leaves ... oh, stop it!

[Capt Jango]

Thanks for the write up . It looks like a little beauty to me - puts my current Compounds to shame - need to start saving !

Graham

[7113]

so that leaves ... oh, stop it!

A yellow(ish) one

Regards

[pedromorgan]

I am desperatly trying to think of something yellow in the national collection!?? umm

http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/Locomo...=All&ipp=96
http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/Locomo...=All&ipp=96
Rocket?

Peter

[spet0114]

Not to mention...

http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/Locomo...7&pageNo=13

[7113]

Peter

For yellow(ish) you could read "improved" locomotive green

Regards