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Why isn't there a rtr u1 Garratt?

3149 Views 26 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  Ravenser
If enough people harass the management at Hornby or Bachmann, do you think we might be able to get them to produce a model of this loco? I'd have one. Anyone else want one?
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If you can get around 5,000 people together you can commision one yourself.
QUOTE (poliss @ 6 Dec 2007, 15:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If you can get around 5,000 people together you can commision one yourself.

Commision? How? From Who?
Hornby or Bachmann et al. Just like Modelzone have specially commisioned items. It would cost a fortune though.
Id have one too ........ Garratts have some special about themselves...................
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Only another 4,098 to go.
QUOTE (poliss @ 6 Dec 2007, 16:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's 4,998 :)

Don't you want one then? C'mon, you know you do:)
I'll have one if it's in n scale.
2
I've seen this subject raised in Model Rail magazine, according to the manufacturers they would have to sell 5000 at around 500 each to break even, they doubt there would be sufficient interest to justify the production run.

(same goes for the Blue Pullman, boo
)

In the same article in model rail I heard of an Australian version, it was retailling for around the 500 mark, possibly a bit too expensive a model to then carve up to make it 'British'!
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Neil Wood ran a poll on this subject a few months ago, as I remember the concensus was yes it would be nice, a few of us would certainly buy one but it wasn't going to happen. I think this was because the cost would make it very unattractive and it' uses would be severely limited.

Regards
Well if Bachmann keep ignoring my pleas for a Caprotti version of the Standard 5, you ain't got a 'cat in hells chance' mate!
To put a damper on other peoples ideas, what people poll for, and what they buy are two different entities, in reality polls are a waste of time.
Paul M.
I've longed after a U1 for over 20 years. Would love a RTR one. I'd love to take Michelle Pfieffer to dinner too.
I've as much chance of getting either....
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QUOTE (BRITHO @ 7 Dec 2007, 02:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Neil Wood ran a poll on this subject a few months ago,

As was mentioned then, it does seem strange that the smaller, divided Australian market can support one, yet the larger, more homogeneous UK market, plus ex-pats, can't.
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Are there many South African or East African modellers? That's where most Garrets were used.
Yes, we did a poll and a thread on how many people would realistically buy one and after a month or so the result was around thirty. As said above it does say a lot that someone in Australia has put their own money into doing this and has made it a succesful business venture. I find it interesting that no entrepreneur in the UK has bothered when they have a market at least four times bigger for the product.

Garratt poll thread

Eureka models NSWGR Garratt review
QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 6 Dec 2007, 21:16) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>As said above it does say a lot that someone in Australia has put their own money into doing this and has made it a succesful business venture.

Could the reason be that, relatively speaking Garratts were more common on Australia ?
So where do we find a rich Garratt fan?
QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 7 Dec 2007, 09:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Could the reason be that, relatively speaking Garratts were more common on Australia ?
Quite possibly on a per capita basis, however I think South Africa would be the winner on a per capita basis.

QUOTE So where do we find a rich Garratt fan? Why not try Keith Waterman?
as far as mass productin goes, the U1 is the most difficult. for a start there was only ever 1 of them. if you do the LMS garrett then you get 30 and with slight alterations you can have all 33 (the first 3 had fixed bunkers, the other 30 had the rotary bunker).
Also its extrtemly difficult to fit a mech in the lner garrett. i know this sounds strange, having a massive loco with such little space, but try it sometime! i have done the LMS garrett and the biggest thing i could fit in was 2 DS10's which are frankly crap.
the LNER version is much worse because of all the air under the watertank. people will expect it to pull like crazy, but motor size is a real issue.

Peter
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