Seems to be mixed opinions from magazine reviews I have seen fron Hornby magazine saying its the best ever Express magazine must try harder especially on the chasis. What does everyone else think. As from memory the only major problem with the Heljan 47 was its width.
Chris
"Chris" wrote
Looks more like a 47 than the Heljan model, although I can't speak for the minutiae of the details. Someone told me that it was being criticised on RMweb for the windscreen wipers being too heavy!
Performance - had one that ran like a dog, but the others I've tested were pretty much spot on - certainly better than the 57s from Barwell.
John.
The first batch of 47's should have been reserved for club members.
(kim)
"kim" wrote
Why's that? And were they?
John.
Because being a member is supposed to confer some kind of advantage and because club members pay more for our models than most other customers.
Obviously not if others have got them before us. There's been no mention of a club edition in the club magazine so far.
(kim)
"kim" wrote
Well there you are; I didn't realise that Collectors Club members were promised the first release of EVERY new model. If that were the case then I know a fair number of retailers who would tell the manufacturer where to 'shove' their models.
The Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0s were also released in the last couple of weeks. Did CC members get the first issue of those?
John.
I didn't say we were but we should be.
Considering how little some retailers pay compared to how much club members pay I shouldn't think that would bother Bachmann's accountants very much. Also there is nothing to stop any dealer from taking out a member's subscription and acquiring a model that way.
No, and as I already commented in another thread I thought we should have been offered the weathered late crest version instead of some spivvy dealer.
(kim)
"kim" wrote
I think you delude yourself over the power of the individual consumer. Although I concede that the retailer pays significantly less for the models on their shelves, they generally buy in bulk and provide a significant shop window for the manufacturer's products.
Ask Hornby what proportion of their total sales is through the retail trade compared with their e-sales facility and I suspect you'll find the latter is hardly worth the effort.
And I would suggest that model should have gone to the general retail trade. I think there are some crass decisions being made by the manufacturers as to which locos to allow retailers to buy as limited editions, when the whole market place could result in many times the number of sales.
John.
Indeed. I was talking to a Bachmann rep the other day about the prospect of a class 108 in plain Blue - along the lines of the limited edition produced for one of the retailers (Model Zone?). He was somewhat irritated by the fact that it hadn't been put on general release, commenting that he could have sold van-loads on his patch .
Adrian
"Adrian" wrote
I must have had 20-30 requests for a plain blue 108 in my shop alone, so whilst Bachmann may have shifted 500 to Model Zone, my guess is they could have quadrupled that by making that model generally available.
I also hear a lot of resentment from modellers who simply will not pay inflated prices for limited editions like a plain blue 108, knowing full well that one will eventually be produced for general sale.
John.
I was rather hoping for a two-tone green 47 with built-in sound. Since there isn't one in the catalogue, I thought they might do one for club members instead.
(kim)
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