[rb277170]

Nice to see they've taken our advice and gone for a prototypical Caledonian livery rather than that hideous 70s red and white scheme (the one shown in catalogue)

They look quite good. If I remember correctly these were originally modelled on Caledonian Coaches (although appearing in LMS , Southern and GWR liveries in 70s). Think they were based on Grampian stock - although these may have been 12 wheelers.

However now they've gone to expense of revamping Caley coaches- how about a nice Dunalastair to pull them?

Russell

 

[rb277170]

QUOTE The Hornby Maunsell coaches have been out a week , and we are busy discussing release of some 45 year old toy "representations" of CR coaches in preference

I'd argue we need to move on and focus on today

Could it be that there is a high and frustrated demand from Scottish modellers ? The only crumbs we've got are a 45 year old loco and some tarted up Caley coaches on a Mk1 chassis. Compare this with the Southern stuff coming out our ears which per Bachmann are not moving off the shelves as fast as they might.

Simon Kohler once remarked that there was a proportionately higher number of modellers north of the border- how about backing this up with a decent Scottish loco. I don't hold with the limited prototype theory- if its a nice loco like a Caley Dunalastair or a Reid Glen- it will make its own market and stimulate its own demand. (Triang did it 45 years ago with the Caley single after all!)

Russell

 

[rb277170]

Thanks Gary. I appreciate the research you did on the numbers. I've got Pats various volumes of Triang etc too.

The Caley basically came about because it could utilise the Lord Of The Isles chassis. It was hardly representative of Scottish motive power. Its uses were limited. A more typical Scottish loco would sell more. Also , although it did appear in red in 83, the Caley 123 did not have lots of alternative versions/liveries .

A more widespread prototype, and amongst these I would rank 4-4-0 Dunalastair,4-4-0 Reid Glen, 0-6-0 Class 812 , 0-6-0 Jumbo and finally J35/J36/J37 0-6-0 family, would sell more. As they were all long lived, these could be produced in Pregrouping,grouping and BR liveries. The J37 lasted to the diesel period. There's a famous pic taken by Derek Cross showing one of the last ones with a Class 37 in 1967.

The quantities you quoted for Britannia were from the heyday of the 60s. These days all models sell less and I'm sure a Scottish model of the types suggested above could hold their own in terms of sales against something like a Southern Q1. Certainly I believe they would be sufficiently different to be appealing in their own right for those who may not necesserily model Scottish Railways, more so than a Clan, which looks pretty similar to a Britannia.

Anyway I'm convinced next years Hornby models will be a new tooling HST(which is why the Lima tool has mysteriously become badly damaged - no point retooling the Lima one if a new one is coming next year) and a T9 as Hornby again panders to the vocal Southern faction. Maybe I should write a letter to Alex Salmond to correct this Southern bias!

Russell

 

[rb277170]

Well said Pedro!

Ravenser- A D11 would do fine. However , remember Scottish ones had to be cur down to fit the loading guage. Lots of nice Scottish Names for a D11. Although they were basically black.

Still pressing for a Dunalastair though!

Russell

 

[rb277170]

QUOTE QUOTE
Did the Rebuilt Scots make it to Scotland?

Yes, they certainly made it to Perth and could be seen in Glasgow/Edinburgh.

However if a weird , ugly and geographically challenged prototype like the Q1 can be successful then the beautiful swan that is a Caley Dunalastair IV has got to have more potential.

Caley Blue, Rich LMS Maroon,LMS Black,BR Early Crest Black

Lovely- I'd buy all 4!

Might actually be a better candidate for Bachmann - as they'd produce it at a more reasonable price than Hornby!

Russell