2025 Models

[Sun Chariot]

Well I’m getting that one.

Just one?

I'm having to be very restrained this year, as bigger financial outlays take precedence.

 

[Class15]

Just one?

Absolutely no way I am spending £400 on two, and I have a DRS 68 anyway, so can’t see the point of getting a more-or-less identical loco. It’s 88010 I’m after due to the special livery.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Absolutely no way I am spending £400 on two, and I have a DRS 68 anyway, so can’t see the point of getting a more-or-less identical loco. It’s 88010 I’m after due to the special livery.

Once you get it, I'd love to see a photo of it coupled with your existing 68.

 

[xotGD]

Are you any handy at making models as Parkside have one in their range? (it's probably the next on my list of ones to make)

Alas my model making skills are lacking. Everything would be covered in glue - me included! I have picked up a couple of kit-built wagons that others have made and then sold on eBay.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

After a few blue E61x and 740xx, I reckon Bachmann should go "Rule 1" with 'em in NSE, RES and Civil Engineer Dutch.

Finally someone has announced an Electrostar. Looks an excellent specification and they are seeking expressions of interest, so if you want one then please do express your interest.

Accurascale/ Rails 'Electrostar' Gets The Green Light!

Accurascale and Rails Of Sheffield are pleased to announce that we are looking for expressions of interest to produce newly tooled Electrostar EMUs in OO Gauge.

railsofsheffield.com

I think this deserves its own thread given that:

a) the amount of research and development work going in
b) they'll be released in 2026...

 

[cj_1985]

I’m not sure there would be any point in Hornby re-tooling the 142 when Realtrack have a new version on the way.

Personally I’d like to see someone do a Caledonian Sleeper 73/9, anybody will do…

On the 73/9 front, I can highly recommend the JBModels 73/9... available as conversion or as a DIY kit. (I opted for the conversion, and both a GB and a CS 73/9). Worth every penny, and the production has been improved since

JBModels

JBModels. 1,188 likes · 54 talking about this. Scale model builder and designer. Full commission work on all types of modelling and 3D printing services.I can design any bespoke part using Fusion 360...

www.facebook.com

 

[GatwickDepress]

Revolution has announced their K-type all-steel Pullman carriages in N scale are now available to pre-order. Engineering samples expected in April or May. Tempted by the modern VSOE carriages, myself.

Order books for their OO scale Class 320/321s and N scale Electrostars are expected to open soon too.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Order books for their OO scale Class 320/321s and N scale Electrostars are expected to open soon too.

Oh lord... looks like either selling the wife or filing for bankruptcy... :

 

[Sun Chariot]

Not 2025 releases per se but Rails has a 75% discount on Hornby's APT-P trailer car packs. £119.99 down to £29.50.

https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/bargains?filter.v.price.gte=0&filter.v.price.lte=600&filter.p.m.custom.Scale=OO+Gauge&filter.p.vendor=Hornby&sort_by=price-ascending

 

[Class15]

Not 2025 releases per se but Rails has a 75% discount on Hornby's APT-P trailer car packs. £119.99 down to £29.50.

https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/bargains?filter.v.price.gte=0&filter.v.price.lte=600&filter.p.m.custom.Scale=OO+Gauge&filter.p.vendor=Hornby&sort_by=price-ascending

This won’t help shift them much as the actual sets aren’t in stock. Not much use in the coach packs!

 

[Sun Chariot]

This won’t help shift them much as the actual sets aren’t in stock. Not much use in the coach packs!

Or the canny souls will snap up the coaches and wait for the sets to come back in stock.
Alternatively, we can model the scrapped cars at Booths or Crewe Works

 

[4COR]

This won’t help shift them much as the actual sets aren’t in stock. Not much use in the coach packs!

Ah, sounds like good old Hornby planning. Where coaches come in sets, make it such that you don't have the right number of all of them... (Worse that you'd have a surfit of the trailer packs compared to the ends!)

 

[Class15]

Once you get it, I'd love to see a photo of it coupled with your existing 68.

Here we go!

(I know they are side by side in the second shot, but I liked that shot anyway)

 

[Sun Chariot]

Those look sublime @Class15
Second photo, is that class 06 hauled freight about to hand over to some DRS super-power...

 

[Class15]

Those look sublime @Class15

Thank you!

Second photo, is that class 06 hauled freight about to hand over to some DRS super-power...

Haha the layout isn’t big enough for that kind of move! The 06 set is also new as £96 for a train set was pretty decent!

 

[Trainlog]

From the quarterly announcements, I got the 64xx pannier tank in the Western rambler set a couple of years ago. It is a nice loco and it was what got me interested in N gauge, however, I am starting to see similar problems with reliability that Sams trains has faced on his one.

If Graham Farish was going to continue making more GWR steam locos, I reckon the 2251 class loco would be a good next loco to produce as their 0-6-0 tender locos are very good and have the ability for tender pickups aswell.

 

[37114]

O gauge rolling stock news is pretty underwhelming. Just some novelty advert Dapol vans plus the previously announced DMU drive end trailer from Heljan isn’t it?

Yep, plenty of DMU classes to go at still but I imagine Heljan and Dapol have plans. A class 108 would be an obvious one.

Personally I will buy a centre box class 37/0 later this year, I am also hoping they will announce an ex split box 37/5 so I can do 37518 in RF Metals.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Heljan's OO class 104 DMU. Does any of you know its launch month? Pre orders still show its release "estimated Q2 2025".

 

[Ted633]

Heljan's OO class 104 DMU. Does any of you know its launch month? Pre orders still show its release "estimated Q2 2025".

Latest info on RMWeb says early Summer. Gather they had issues with electronics and wriring, hence the delay.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I hadn't noticed Accurascale's exclusive of 37418 in its Loram Rail colours. A bit garish & completely wrong era for me; but I do think it's been splendidly reproduced:

Class 37 - Loram - 37418 - Exclusive

37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach Loram Rail Stored by EWS at Motherwell in April 2005, No. 37418 was purchased by preservationist Steve Beniston from Toton at the end of 2007. The former No. 37271 (built as D6971) initially spent a year at Allelys’ yard at Studley, before moving somewhat...

www.accurascale.com

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I hadn't noticed Accurascale's exclusive of 37418 in its Loram Rail colours. A bit garish & completely wrong era for me; but I do think it's been splendidly reproduced:

Class 37 - Loram - 37418 - Exclusive

37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach Loram Rail Stored by EWS at Motherwell in April 2005, No. 37418 was purchased by preservationist Steve Beniston from Toton at the end of 2007. The former No. 37271 (built as D6971) initially spent a year at Allelys’ yard at Studley, before moving somewhat...

www.accurascale.com

I'll wait for the Class 44 from Heljan

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Bachmann made a surprise announcement today...

A class 66. Just what the market needed...

In their defence it does look a great model with plenty of features... but no doubt that will be reflected in an obscene RRP, this being Bachmann.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Bachmann made a surprise announcement today...

A class 66. Just what the market needed...

In their defence it does look a great model with plenty of features... but no doubt that will be reflected in an obscene RRP, this being Bachmann.

Groan!

 

[Iskra]

My current Bachmann EWS 66 is a fantastic model, although the lighting is a slight disappointment. The sound on the current 66 is fine too. So I won't be looking to upgrade there.

I think Bachmann did need to improve their sound, so I'm glad they've done it, but this is an odd model to implement that improvement on since they aren't a locomotive class that many would rate highly in the thrash charts.

I am in the market for a GBRF example in the future for Caledonian Sleeper purposes, but I'm in no rush at the prices quoted.

Good to see some progress, but I'm more interested to see the improved specs used on other locomotive classes in the future.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

I assume Bachmann's thinking is that their current model is now showing its age, so they need a better one if they want to compete with Accurascale. The 66 is probably one of the few locos where there is a sufficient market for two high-end models - and there are loads and loads of liveries to go at.

I think Bachmann did need to improve their sound, so I'm glad they've done it, but this is an odd model to implement that improvement on since they aren't a locomotive class that many would rate highly in the thrash charts.

Hey, they are great for those who are connoisseurs of that EMD two-stroke 'washing machine on spin cycle' sound as they start to move!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

My current Bachmann EWS 66 is a fantastic model, although the lighting is a slight disappointment. The sound on the current 66 is fine too. So I won't be looking to upgrade there.

I think Bachmann did need to improve their sound, so I'm glad they've done it, but this is an odd model to implement that improvement on since they aren't a locomotive class that many would rate highly in the thrash charts.

I am in the market for a GBRF example in the future for Caledonian Sleeper purposes, but I'm in no rush at the prices quoted.

Good to see some progress, but I'm more interested to see the improved specs used on other locomotive classes in the future.

As a general rule anything post-privatisation is a no-no for me, but if I can manage to find a GBRf 66 for a reasonable price that I can turn into 66738 I'd go for it. No way I'll be paying whatever Bachmann want for this new one though!

 

[43055]

Bachmann made a surprise announcement today...

A class 66. Just what the market needed...

In their defence it does look a great model with plenty of features... but no doubt that will be reflected in an obscene RRP, this being Bachmann.

'That's just the delayed turbostar'......does that mean the new 170 is not far off then.

 

[GatwickDepress]

You wait years for an Electrostar and two show up at once!

Revolution Trains have opened the order books for their Electrostar in N scale. With the early bird discount, DC models are £284.95 and DCC sound models are £384.95. As per usual for Revolution, there are multiple numbers available per unit with differing destinations and liveries.

• In Southeastern blue, you have the choice of 375906 (London Victoria – Ramsgate) or 375920 (London Cannon Street – Ramsgate).
• 377501 in First Capital Connect Livery or 377510 with Thameslink branding (both Bedford – Brighton).
• For the Southern 377, it's available as 377118 (Brighton - Portsmouth Harbour), 377101 (London Victoria-Brighton), 377214 (South Croydon - Milton Keynes Central), and 377210 with Thameslink branding (Brighton - Bedford).
• Gatwick Express 387, you have 387204 (Brighton - London Victoria), 387201 in debranded GatEx livery (Kings Cross - Ely), and 387205 also in debranded GatEx (Paddington - Newbury).
• Great Northern 387 with either 387124 or 387127 (both Kings Cross - Kings Lynn).
• Finally, for the Great Western Railway 387, you have your choice of 387152 (London Paddington - Cardiff) or 387133 (London Paddington - Didcot).

Specification:

• Injection moulded plastic body and bogies with separate detail parts and metal weight. Where appropriate wire handrails/piping.
• Wheels to NMRA RP25 (code 72) standards.
• Inner couplers have electrical connectors in kinematic mounts to allowing close coupling and power transfer / DCC signal transmission throughout the train.
• Low-profile mechanism with coreless motor, Next-18 DCC interface (single decoder needed) and factory-fitted sound speaker.
• Minimum radius 262.5mm
• Driving cars to have a choice of dummy Tightlock or Dellner couplers in kinematic NEM sockets with standard N gauge couplers separate in the box to allow for multiple running (or loco haulage).
• All cars feature switchable dimmed white interior saloon lighting, with capacitor for flicker-free operation.
• Driving cars feature directional white led headlights with switchable day time and night time running and red tail lights. Head and tail lights are independently switchable for multiple working for both DC and DCC operation.
• DCC controllable Central Door Locking lights
• Pantograph camera light (387s only)

Definitely picking up a few to go with the 313s that should be arriving soon.

 

[trainswitheddy]

I must get a pre-order for their 180 in. Just unsure whether Hull Trains or GC...maybe both

 

[Class15]

You wait years for an Electrostar and two show up at once!

Revolution Trains have opened the order books for their Electrostar in N scale. With the early bird discount, DC models are £284.95 and DCC sound models are £384.95. As per usual for Revolution, there are multiple numbers available per unit with differing destinations and liveries.

• In Southeastern blue, you have the choice of 375906 (London Victoria – Ramsgate) or 375920 (London Cannon Street – Ramsgate).
• 377501 in First Capital Connect Livery or 377510 with Thameslink branding (both Bedford – Brighton).
• For the Southern 377, it's available as 377118 (Brighton - Portsmouth Harbour), 377101 (London Victoria-Brighton), 377214 (South Croydon - Milton Keynes Central), and 377210 with Thameslink branding (Brighton - Bedford).
• Gatwick Express 387, you have 387204 (Brighton - London Victoria), 387201 in debranded GatEx livery (Kings Cross - Ely), and 387205 also in debranded GatEx (Paddington - Newbury).
• Great Northern 387 with either 387124 or 387127 (both Kings Cross - Kings Lynn).
• Finally, for the Great Western Railway 387, you have your choice of 387152 (London Paddington - Cardiff) or 387133 (London Paddington - Didcot).

Definitely picking up a few to go with the 313s that should be arriving soon.

Ooh now the GWR one might just be in range for me here! Certainly a more attractive price than the accurascale!