QUOTE (cattlecreep @ 16 Jan 2008, 14:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>....however given a close comparison with Bachmann's EWS 37411 and BR 6826 which have differing points and shapes within themselves! who's to say Vitrains have or have not got it right? The livery is superb,it's slow running is as good as Bachmann's and it has more detailed parts,it also hase lights
Well done Vitrains....I'll be buying more.
I think the whole issue of body shape is to say the least rubbish!! I have looked at so many prototype pics and found lots and lots of differences,so how can the models be faithful to the real thing
Whilst the new Bachmann 37 has one or two points of critism, unfortunately the ViTrains version has a list of them.
The shape issues are mainly to do with the curve of the roof (flattened, I think?) and the appearance of riding too high on their bogies, made worst by the too sharp angle of the tumblehome. This also reduces the depth of the body sides from top to bottom. To my eyes the result looks more like a body plopped on top of the chassis, where as the Bachmann model gets the proportions about right.
The windscreen area is another point of contention too, many thinking that ViTrains have cocked up both the height and angle of the windscreen. Certainly there's something not quite right about the look, so I tend to agree with this view..
Bachmann haven't been totally successful here either (my main critism with their version), but it's interesting that if their 37's windscreen glazing is removed, it looks more or less spot on. The method of modelling glazing and window frames is the problem here and it's not confined to this model or Bachmann either IMHO.
There are other negative points too.
The ViTrains 37's buffers and their mountings look ridiculously flimsy and not like the real thing.
Moulded handrails, plus there's some printed body detail which those into stripping and respraying might not approve of.
Rivet counters also report some incorrectly placed detail like grilles and panels.
You mentioned lights. Well the ViTrains ones are a total bodge, poorly implemented.
The light bleed through the ends is one of the worst seen on any model for years. There are various reports of how to tackle this problem, but the best answer is to remove the lot, light guides etc, and fit a decent lighting kit instead.
Despite the motor only driving 4 of the 6 axles and the fitting of those dreadful traction tyres, the Vitrains model is reported as a very smooth and reliable runner.
Bachmann have had some quality control problems in this area with one of their 37's (Drive shafts coming adrift from the flywheel). Not all of them are affected though.
So close and yet so far then?
Although much better than the awful Hornby and old Lima models, the ViTrain 37 falls just a bit short in too many departments.

I think the whole issue of body shape is to say the least rubbish!! I have looked at so many prototype pics and found lots and lots of differences,so how can the models be faithful to the real thing
Whilst the new Bachmann 37 has one or two points of critism, unfortunately the ViTrains version has a list of them.
The shape issues are mainly to do with the curve of the roof (flattened, I think?) and the appearance of riding too high on their bogies, made worst by the too sharp angle of the tumblehome. This also reduces the depth of the body sides from top to bottom. To my eyes the result looks more like a body plopped on top of the chassis, where as the Bachmann model gets the proportions about right.
The windscreen area is another point of contention too, many thinking that ViTrains have cocked up both the height and angle of the windscreen. Certainly there's something not quite right about the look, so I tend to agree with this view..
Bachmann haven't been totally successful here either (my main critism with their version), but it's interesting that if their 37's windscreen glazing is removed, it looks more or less spot on. The method of modelling glazing and window frames is the problem here and it's not confined to this model or Bachmann either IMHO.
There are other negative points too.
The ViTrains 37's buffers and their mountings look ridiculously flimsy and not like the real thing.
Moulded handrails, plus there's some printed body detail which those into stripping and respraying might not approve of.
Rivet counters also report some incorrectly placed detail like grilles and panels.
You mentioned lights. Well the ViTrains ones are a total bodge, poorly implemented.
The light bleed through the ends is one of the worst seen on any model for years. There are various reports of how to tackle this problem, but the best answer is to remove the lot, light guides etc, and fit a decent lighting kit instead.
Despite the motor only driving 4 of the 6 axles and the fitting of those dreadful traction tyres, the Vitrains model is reported as a very smooth and reliable runner.
Bachmann have had some quality control problems in this area with one of their 37's (Drive shafts coming adrift from the flywheel). Not all of them are affected though.
So close and yet so far then?
Although much better than the awful Hornby and old Lima models, the ViTrain 37 falls just a bit short in too many departments.