News just in from Bachmann (email to dealers)
:
Due to unforeseen production issues that have arisen at the factory, the following items are being withdrawn from the Graham Farish 2015/16 range with immediate effect.
371-203 Class 44 44001 BR Blue Weathered
371-577 Class 45 45024 BR Blue Weathered
371-588 Class 46 D158 BR Green Small Yellow Panel Weathered
These products may possibly be re-introduced in future years, but until issues have been overcome it will not be possible to release products to market.
That is a bit of a shame.
Better make sure I get hold of one of the older ones before the price shoots up!
sounds much more like a specific issue with that model, maybe tooling failure for the chassis or something. The Chinese economy etc would affect all models not just the Peaks wouldn't it?
Best wishes
Simon
I'm with Jason----Cromford definitely needs a peak or three
Hello,
Very strange as my order at Hattons for some MK1 SO's has just been cancelled as "sold out" even though they are not expected according to the Farish website to Nov/Dec. Annoying as I ordered them in May...
I wonder if Farish have knocked these on the head too?
Perhaps with the peaks they will only be re-introduced once the chassis have been re-tooled as DCC ready and lights, as they say these may be produced in future years? I would have hoped by then the models would be updated.
Regards,
Paul
I was also hoping for DCC ready peaks by now..could be years by the sound of it....perhaps dapol could oblige..oh that would be decades going by the Class 33 and 50 development times....I`d pay more if they could just build them somewhere in the world...maybe even the UK..perhaps if we were prepared to stump up more we would still have Farish in the UK.. is it feasible to add lights as part of a DCC conversion of the existing DC models?
Perhaps they will do a retool and bring us a DCC-ready peak with sealed beam headlights (I'd like 45106 in green if anyone's listening).
Quote from: bridgiesimon on October 08, 2015, 06:23:16 PM
sounds much more like a specific issue with that model, maybe tooling failure for the chassis or something. The Chinese economy etc would affect all models not just the Peaks wouldn't it?
Best wishes
Simon
Either a problem with the tooling (which sounds most likely) or they have simply decided that the existing non DCC ready chassis is no longer what the Market demands. Either way it means I am relieved to already have a 44 and 45 (the second at a bargain price from Hattons about three years ago).
Roy
It was commented when they announced these models that they were perhaps the last non-DCC release by Farish, at least for diesels. Perhaps poor pre-orders has influenced this, and a production line problem is not considered worth resolving with the intended DCC ready re-tools on the (possibly distant!) horizon?
So where does this leave the Class 40 ?
Is the chassis not going to be common across all models, or are they planning to make separate ones
This is where I question the numbers game as I would have thought a Class 40 with DCC & sound provision would sell in big numbers. Maybe it's the body of the Peak's that has issues and not the chassis
Quote from: Parky on October 08, 2015, 07:54:39 PM
Is the chassis not going to be common across all models, or are they planning to make separate ones
At a guess I would agree with people who have speculated on a problem with the moulds - it sounds plausible. Hopefully Farish will take the opportunity to re-do the chassis and offer more variants - the sealed beam headlight seems very obvious!
The Chinese don't typically use a common chassis across models so I would have thought the 40 will be all new.
Cheers, Mike
Quote from: red_death on October 08, 2015, 08:32:29 PM
Quote from: Parky on October 08, 2015, 07:54:39 PM
Is the chassis not going to be common across all models, or are they planning to make separate ones
At a guess I would agree with people who have speculated on a problem with the moulds - it sounds plausible. Hopefully Farish will take the opportunity to re-do the chassis and offer more variants - the sealed beam headlight seems very obvious!
The Chinese don't typically use a common chassis across models so I would have thought the 40 will be all new.
Cheers, Mike
The 1COCO1 wheel arrangement was peculiar to the peaks, so the chassis wouldn't be suitable for anything else, n'est ce pas?
At TINGS Farish staff advised that the 40 was an all new chassis - yet to be started in earnest- Colin Albright noted the replacement head designer, as he is retiring, has the 40 has his first big project. Also noted get peaks while you can as spares etc!
Robert
Looks like acquiring a second hand 44 and 45 the other week was a stroke of luck then! :D
Just glad my dear old green 45, 45 and 46 are still going strong :sweat:
The Chassis is pretty bomb proof and apart from splitgearitus will stand the test of time. Adding DCC is a case of isolating motor from chassis and using chassis top screws - revrseing one as chassis connection points. IIRC Express models do suitable PCB bounted headlamp/lighting kits suitable for use as well, or perhaps a dapol setup might work.
Ben Ando showed how to reduce size of bogie sideframe widths to improve appearances so no real rush to re chassis. The body looks the part. It is the 40 that needs the makeover.
Robert
Quote from: steve836 on October 08, 2015, 08:48:51 PM
Quote from: red_death on October 08, 2015, 08:32:29 PM
Quote from: Parky on October 08, 2015, 07:54:39 PM
Is the chassis not going to be common across all models, or are they planning to make separate ones
At a guess I would agree with people who have speculated on a problem with the moulds - it sounds plausible. Hopefully Farish will take the opportunity to re-do the chassis and offer more variants - the sealed beam headlight seems very obvious!
The Chinese don't typically use a common chassis across models so I would have thought the 40 will be all new.
Cheers, Mike
The 1COCO1 wheel arrangement was peculiar to the peaks, so the chassis wouldn't be suitable for anything else, n'est ce pas?
Hi
So how would you classify the wheel arrangement on the 40 then?
The two locos chassis have slightly different bogie centres which could be accommodated into the chassis block. The bogie arrangement is identical so would only require new bogie sideframes. It would I believe be possible to design a chassis to cover both.
Cheers
Paul
Quote from: PaulCheffus on October 09, 2015, 08:21:19 AM
Quote from: steve836 on October 08, 2015, 08:48:51 PM
Quote from: red_death on October 08, 2015, 08:32:29 PM
Quote from: Parky on October 08, 2015, 07:54:39 PM
Is the chassis not going to be common across all models, or are they planning to make separate ones
At a guess I would agree with people who have speculated on a problem with the moulds - it sounds plausible. Hopefully Farish will take the opportunity to re-do the chassis and offer more variants - the sealed beam headlight seems very obvious!
The Chinese don't typically use a common chassis across models so I would have thought the 40 will be all new.
Cheers, Mike
The 1COCO1 wheel arrangement was peculiar to the peaks, so the chassis wouldn't be suitable for anything else, n'est ce pas?
Hi
So how would you classify the wheel arrangement on the 40 then?
The two locos chassis have slightly different bogie centres which could be accommodated into the chassis block. The bogie arrangement is identical so would only require new bogie sideframes. It would I believe be possible to design a chassis to cover both.
Cheers
Paul
You're right---- How could I forget the whistlers. They used to run past the bottom of our garden and I cabbed D202 from Liverpool St. to Norwich?
If it is down to poor orders, the fact that all of them are weathered may have contributed to this - a lot of people don't want them weathered and weathered models do tend to hang around in the shops for longer which might well influence shop owners when deciding what to order.
Re the Mk1 SO - I had an email from Hattons saying that it's been cancelled too. Presumably they just put 'sold out' on their site as they don't have a 'production cancelled' category.
Quote from: PaulCheffus on October 09, 2015, 08:21:19 AM
Quote from: steve836 on October 08, 2015, 08:48:51 PM
Quote from: red_death on October 08, 2015, 08:32:29 PM
Quote from: Parky on October 08, 2015, 07:54:39 PM
Is the chassis not going to be common across all models, or are they planning to make separate ones
At a guess I would agree with people who have speculated on a problem with the moulds - it sounds plausible. Hopefully Farish will take the opportunity to re-do the chassis and offer more variants - the sealed beam headlight seems very obvious!
The Chinese don't typically use a common chassis across models so I would have thought the 40 will be all new.
Cheers, Mike
The 1COCO1 wheel arrangement was peculiar to the peaks, so the chassis wouldn't be suitable for anything else, n'est ce pas?
Hi
So how would you classify the wheel arrangement on the 40 then?
The two locos chassis have slightly different bogie centres which could be accommodated into the chassis block. The bogie arrangement is identical so would only require new bogie sideframes. It would I believe be possible to design a chassis to cover both.
Cheers
Paul
The Peaks and 40s are also unusual in that the bufferbeam is attached to the bogie, not the body.
David,
Yes, I did notice that the proposed models were all weathered, and you are right about them not selling as well as pristine models. With the new 25's you can only get weathered ones easily now.
There are now no peaks on the Farish website. However the MK1 SO's are all showing still.
It may be a mess-up by Hattons, I will ask them and if no joy order them from someone else.
Cheers
Paul
Quote from: Mr PJ on October 09, 2015, 12:35:52 PM
David,
Yes, I did notice that the proposed models were all weathered, and you are right about them not selling as well as pristine models. With the new 25's you can only get weathered ones easily now.
Paul
Agree with this; I don't understand why Farish offer so many weathered models.
I may have imagined this but until recently I thought that the Jintys all had an availability date around November. They now have no availability date quoted. Have they slipped or am I imagining things?
Quote from: Thorpe Parva on October 09, 2015, 04:19:24 PM
Agree with this; I don't understand why Farish offer so many weathered models.
They are doing it with OO gauge as well at the moment. Given that the weathering is sprayed on as he very last part of the process, it's difficult to see why they can't just have half the batch weathered!
As a guess it is due to requests for weathered locos sadly the factory splurge in track colour not what is need - I guess people aspire to a factory application to match the likes of Mercig for an extra £ (not much) on the price.
Removing the splurge not always easy without heading for a full respray which also defeats the object! but of course it makes for a cheaper starting point when they get discounted.
cheers
Robert
Manufacturers weathering is sometimes done as a last step but sometimes done as part of the tampo printing process eg Dapol's lovely weathered silver bullets.
Right or wrong - Bachmann are firmly of the view that they provide weathered stock in response to market demand.
Cheers M
I wonder if there is a big problem with Chinese factories. I collect Atlas Dinkys and subscribed to the two new collections they are/were bringing out for the UK market. Having received the first one of each collection I then received a letter stating that the rest of the two collections were being withheld due to production delays and untill they have everything perfect.
Geoff
Quote from: geoffc on October 12, 2015, 10:15:34 AM
I wonder if there is a big problem with Chinese factories. I collect Atlas Dinkys and subscribed to the two new collections they are/were bringing out for the UK market. Having received the first one of each collection I then received a letter stating that the rest of the two collections were being withheld due to production delays and untill they have everything perfect.
Geoff
Some of the recent partwork stuff is being made in the Indian subcontinent. Bangladesh is the new Guangdong.
There was a recent post on RM Web about a Bachmann coach where the tooling was broken beyond repair. Maybe the 44, 45 and 46 tools are similarly damaged.
Note this is pure speculation and the two things may be completely unrelated.
Quote from: Ian Morton on October 08, 2015, 04:53:23 PM
News just in from Bachmann (email to dealers)
:
Due to unforeseen production issues that have arisen at the factory, the following items are being withdrawn from the Graham Farish 2015/16 range with immediate effect.
371-203 Class 44 44001 BR Blue Weathered
371-577 Class 45 45024 BR Blue Weathered
371-588 Class 46 D158 BR Green Small Yellow Panel Weathered
These products may possibly be re-introduced in future years, but until issues have been overcome it will not be possible to release products to market.
After reading all the posts, Only the peaks and 25/3 are the remaining models with the non DCC ready chassis and working lights, it seems pointless releasing the Peaks amongst a range of other items that are DCC ready.
Hopefully next year's announcements will see DCC ready Peaks and a 25/3 in the catalogue before Dapol or DJM consider doing them, although if the latter 2 did announce them, then it's fair game if they are DCC ready like everything else popping up.
As discussed on another forum, I had a rather heated discussion with Bachmann at this years N Gauge Show
There are serious local issues with the factory in China, and they had hoped to have it resolved by the end of this year
They have had to revise production of many models, not just Farish
Timescales have slipped so a more basic range is now produced
This is quite obvious when you look at what has been released this year compared to previous, compared to demand
Equally, if you think price rises were bad this year, wait until next year!
Maybe they will consider bring production back to the UK if China is getting problematic.
Quote from: Ditape on October 27, 2015, 07:07:08 PM
Maybe they will consider bring production back to the UK if China is getting problematic.
I doubt it will get that bad, I seem to recall reading that UK produced locomotives to current specifications would retail in the region of £250 /£300 a pop
Quote from: Ditape on October 27, 2015, 07:07:08 PM
Maybe they will consider bring production back to the UK if China is getting problematic.
I think you'll find that Bachmann/Farish is a Chinese-owned Company.
hmm might give up on this N gauge lark and pursue my looking at O gauge. Fed up with these supply games
Quote from: Parky on October 28, 2015, 05:32:15 PM
hmm might give up on this N gauge lark and pursue my looking at O gauge. Fed up with these supply games
I'm not sure that you will find things any better in O, in fact considerably worse if Heljan are anything to go by ie very limited batch production and single runs!
Cheers, Mike
I don't know if Bachmann are quite that unresponsive to demand.
The Mk2a Blue/grey TSOs have pretty much sold out now, but most suppliers have them available for pre-order, which indicates another batch should be on the way, at some point at least...
As for the Class 25/3s I pointed out to the people who do the wish-list poll 4 weeks ago that this was the biggest missing gap of for 2mm diesels at the moment (though obviously joined by the peaks now!) in the N gauge market - but they said it was too late as the agenda was already set - but might be added in 2016. Probably doesn't help getting new models on the market when manufacturers aren't getting the information about what is really wanted in the first place, particularly when in this case the chassis is already available (albeit only half a dozen later body-style 25s had the boiler water tanks).
Cheers,
Paul
It's been several months since I've read this forum and I just saw this thread.
This is no surprise to me at all. In fact - I'm not sure if it was here or at RMWeb - but over a year ago I opined that they would axe this release of Peaks. I'm pretty sure they were part of the 2013-14 catalog and the RRP was around 90 quid - something ridiculous considering the primitive mechanical specification. The factory weathering was a minus in my book, too.
I agree with others that it makes no sense to keep producing the Peaks with the old non-DCC friendly chassis given that it was now unique in the Farish range.
I hope the existing body tools for the 44/45/46 are still OK - all the multiple toolings (I think I counted 7 unique body variations altogether once) really are quite good. I'm hoping Farish keeps the body and simply retool its attachment points to fit a new chassis, much like it retooled the majority of the old Poole bodies to fit the first gen BachFar split-frame chassis.
When is the new Class 40 due? Next Autumn? Once it is done I'd expect the same chassis to be used for the Peaks but even using the existing body the Peaks would need new bogie tooling (which actually would be a good thing given how over-wide the current ones are). So maybe new Peaks in 2018-19 or 2019-20?
I really liked the original model (wide bogies aside) and have bought more than a few since 2006. Interestingly I bought 3 of them from Hattons pre-owned within the past two months, each for less than £35 because they allegedly were broken and wouldn't run, but the problem was only split gears! I expect secondhand prices to rise now.
OT, but I've had a go at fitting Peak bogies to a Cl 40 chassis. They do fit and even though they aren't real 40 bogies, they look extremely good actually (the buffer beams line up right with the nose ends), The only catch is that there is a little interference with the 40 water tank which requires a bit of trimming to the inner ends of the Peak bogies and I haven't been able to bring myself to do that.
Matt
Quote from: oreamnos on November 25, 2015, 12:45:48 AM
It's been several months since I've read this forum and I just saw this thread.
This is no surprise to me at all. In fact - I'm not sure if it was here or at RMWeb - but over a year ago I opined that they would axe this release of Peaks. I'm pretty sure they were part of the 2013-14 catalog and the RRP was around 90 quid - something ridiculous considering the primitive mechanical specification. The factory weathering was a minus in my book, too.
The models quoted at the start of this thread are in the 2014 catalogue in a very over-weathered looking state.