Class 37 Wars!

6934 Views 22 Replies 14 Participants Last post by alibuchan, May 27, 2007

Gary

Discussion Starter · May 21, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

Model Rail magazine have signalled that they will no longer be tolerant towards new models which they consider do not come up to scratch.

In a comparison between the Bachmann and ViTrains Class 37's the ViTrains scores a lowly 5/10 for value for money and body shape with Bachmann scoring 9/10 on both counts.

On build quality ViTrains scores 6/10 and Bachmann 9/10.

The only area where the ViTrains model comes close is on Decoration where it scores 7/10 to Bachmann's 8/10.

Overall Bachmann gets 52/60 and ViTrains 36/60.

In the Model Rail news section ViTrains have stated that their next models will feature several improvements to fit and finish in response to customer requests.

With the Bachmann example being just an extra £5 and with a detailed fan assembly and opening doors and a body shape that meets with the approval of hardened Class 37 fanatics it does seem that ViTrains may have to do more than minor improvements to fit and finish to catch up with Bachmann. ViTrains do have a European production facility and whilst this may be a factor in the decision making process for a lot of people it stands for nothing with the folk at Model Rail magazine who simply look at models and make comparisons on their technical merits.

If future models from any company do not come up to scratch then submit them for a Model Rail review at your peril!

Happy modelling
Gary

PS The Class 37 has been a significant model for Hornby over the last 40-45 years in the way that the Class 08 has been. It would not surprise me at all if Hornby entered the Class 37 wars with a brand new super detailed model in 2008/09.

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alibuchan

· #21 · May 26, 2007

I already took the bullet and got one of the Transrail Big T 37's today and what a super loco. It runs nicely and looks the part I sood it next to my EWS ViTrains offering and it is easy to spot why bachmann have been doing it for a while then shape looks better, less parts for me to stick back (although one of the nose ariels ahs managed to dettach itself from its position on top of the nose.

Sould the bachmann version have cab lights at both ends or just the end that the dirver sits at? as mine only lights up the driver end.

Alistair

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ashleyh

· #22 · May 27, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

Hi Alistair

I bought the Transrail one today, and it's cabs light up at both ends at the same time.

This is the case on straight DC or with DCC. With DCC the head and taillights come on with F0, and the cab lights come on with F1.
It would have been perfect if you could use 2 function keys to switch on the cab lights individually, but at least you can control them seperately from the main lighting.

Hopefully yours just has a loose connection inside, I have yet to open mine up, as I only got it at a show this afternoon. I was going to wait for the sound version, but I was just too tempted to have the cab lightinmg and opening doors!

Regards
AshleyH

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alibuchan

· #23 · May 27, 2007

looks like i will have to open mine up then and check for loose conections and see how much room there is for a sound decoder!!

Alistair

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