Instead of being a wishy-washy dope, this time I pre-ordered.

Hopefully everything will be on schedule and in good running shape.

https://www.themodelcentre.com/372-113sf

So happy to see this and even better its a new variant of 37. I will definitely be ordering some of these, better get some overtime in

So pleased to see these released at long last.

Something doesn't look quite right with them though. It could be angle of the photos but the fuel tanks look a bit small and there's still a sizable gap between the body and bogies. Overall they don't appear to have the 37 "look".





I wonder if the new sound fitted chassis will fit the non sound bodies released a few years ago.

I don't know where the Berwick Middle School is but it's going to be somewhere in South Lanarkshire!   

how much of the tooling is new?

is it a completely new chassis?

it does still seem to be sitting a bit too high but maybe that's not the final version

Quote from: bluedepot on August 05, 2026, 11:56:29 AMhow much of the tooling is new?

is it a completely new chassis?

it does still seem to be sitting a bit too high but maybe that's not the final version

Hi

The usual reason for the larger gap is so it will go around sharper curves than the prototype. It is possible to lower the body on the chassis with the older versions if you have more generous curves so it might be possible on these.

Cheers

Paul

Hopefully green ones to follow and hopefully spit head code box versions as well 

Craig

Quote from: Ensign Elliott on August 05, 2026, 11:34:27 AMSo pleased to see these released at long last.

Something doesn't look quite right with them though. It could be angle of the photos but the fuel tanks look a bit small and there's still a sizable gap between the body and bogies. Overall they don't appear to have the 37 "look".

They've not corrected the ride height issue of the previous iteration of the tooling - that's why the tanks sit too high (and body/bogie gap is too large).

It can be clearly seen in Bachmann's own video - the buffers are sitting higher than the adjacent 24.5ton wagon (admittedly, assuming this is correct, but it likely is).

Disappointing, but perhaps deliberate to save money and also have them match older iterations of the 37.

I'd like to also see the running - top speed etc has been absolutely abysmal on recent designs using the gutless (in terms of RPM)small coreless motor that's in the 90, 158, 60 and new 47s - none of which I've been at all mechanically impressed with. The flywheels too, on these, are a joke.

Cheers,
Alan

Quote from: PaulCheffus on August 05, 2026, 12:15:29 PMThe usual reason for the larger gap is so it will go around sharper curves than the prototype.

This is a poor excuse - lowering the body (which I've done on 20+ of these) does not hinder them going round right down to 9" curves (i.e. tighter than Bachmann's recommended minimum R2 10.5").

Cheers,
Alan

Doesn't help that it looks like it's got a drainpipe glued to the end of each nose. If they can't make that detail fine they should have omitted it - it looks ludicrous.

Otherwise apart from the height still being screwed up it doesn't look too bad.

it leaves the door open to revolution or rapido to make a correct height 37 maybe...

it's not the end of the world of course, but if it's really a band new tooling you'd expect it to be better than the previous 37s.

i think maybe they have used the old chassis and body dimensions as a starting point?  i suppose they want the old bodies to fit the newer chassis with speaker... who knows...

It is good to see this - hopefully some 37/4s will come in time.

Quote from: jamespetts on August 05, 2026, 04:30:00 PMIt is good to see this - hopefully some 37/4s will come in time.

I am still waiting for an intercity version of the 37/4's its the missing link for West Highland modellers

Quote from: eddief83 on August 05, 2026, 04:32:16 PMI am still waiting for an intercity version of the 37/4's its the missing link for West Highland modellers

I'd like this too!

As for the ride height etc, looks exactly like previous production runs to my eye. It looks ok when running on a layout when it's well below eye level so I could live with it. But yes I can see why others were hoping it would be corrected on a future tooling.

I wonder who supplied the sound project? There are a few for the 37 and they vary in character quite a bit.

Quote from: Ensign Elliott on August 05, 2026, 11:34:27 AMSo pleased to see these released at long last.

Something doesn't look quite right with them though. It could be angle of the photos but the fuel tanks look a bit small and there's still a sizable gap between the body and bogies. Overall they don't appear to have the 37 "look".





I wonder if the new sound fitted chassis will fit the non sound bodies released a few years ago.

Hmmm... Having seen that picture of model v's prototype the body-bogie gap is a bit jarring on the eye. If memory serves they got round the issue on the Deltic by using slightly undersize wheels.

It does though suggest that although the 37/7 body is new tool, bodies from earlier 6 pin 37s may fit the chassis without needing to be modified - it will be interesting to find out.

However, while I would very likely have committed to a BR green one had it been offered in the initial batch, I have no interest in a 37/7 so unless/until one is available, the body gap issue is not something I will need to agonise over if it is indeed as bad as the picture suggests.