Newportnobby said... Time was I'd have purchased the latest issues of the green class 24, 25 and 37 in addition to those I already have, along with a nice green 'City of Edinburgh' and the late crest Ivatt 2MT but sadly unexpected expenses on the home front and the anticipated release prices of these locos means none of them will be bought.

He very likely speaks for many of us. Some say we must get used to/accept these higher prices. However the level of increase and year on year rises are bound to either freeze some people out of buying, or to a varying degree curtail their level of purchases.

As I said in a post some weeks back, I'm glad I purchased so much prior to the ongoing price increases. I have become focussed on my "round to it" drawers, taking a fresh look at those projects not started, or half finished.

Quote from: newportnobby on March 01, 2016, 09:54:25 PM
Time was I'd have purchased the latest issues of the green class 24, 25 and 37 in addition to those I already have, along with a nice green 'City of Edinburgh' and the late crest Ivatt 2MT but sadly unexpected expenses on the home front and the anticipated release prices of these locos means none of them will be bought.

Similarly I would have had my eyes on Nunney Castle for my preserved GW layout, but as there is no DC option, and the DCC one is expected to be £219 I won't be having one of those either. I'm all for new tech, but it's such a shame that these models are focussing so heavily on the new technology whether you want it or not that they are pricing out those of us who don't have the deepest pockets.

If you wait 6 months or so after a new model is out you can usually find it much cheaper, or just look out on ebay. still expensive but cheaper than the brand new just released prices.

I only pre order items i really really want and don't want to miss out on and for other items just wait a while or hope for reduced prices at tings or other shows.  prices for second hand items seem quite high now as well though. it can be an expensive addiction / hobby.


Tim

I concur with NPN, the anticipated prices will make me much more selective regarding any future purchases. Pretty pleased my layout is well stocked for both Big-4 or BR green diesel ops.

Another triumph of outsourcing/offshoring comes to fruition...

On the plus side it's beginning to make my excursion into O gauge kit-building look financially sensible.

In terms of this years releases it does seem to me that Bachmann have deployed the shrink ray and shrunk some of 2015's OO catalogue liveried diesels.

We see a Colas 37 and 70, a London Underground 20 amongst other things.

It makes sense that they are consolidating with.............
I wonder what Dapol will hit back with???

Quote from: richard.ferraro23 on March 01, 2016, 10:54:18 PM
Similarly I would have had my eyes on Nunney Castle for my preserved GW layout, but as there is no DC option, and the DCC one is expected to be £219 I won't be having one of those either. I'm all for new tech, but it's such a shame that these models are focussing so heavily on the new technology whether you want it or not that they are pricing out those of us who don't have the deepest pockets.

Ouch, I could use that too, come to think of it, but not with a DCC/sound tax.

Hello all,

Browsing the Farish site I noticed a couple of modern wagons that might appeal....

377-103 is the popular JGA wagon in pale grey VTG livery, while 377-731 is the SPA open wagon in Network rail yellow.

cheers

Ben A.

Quote from: railsquid on March 01, 2016, 11:56:25 PM

Quote from: richard.ferraro23 on March 01, 2016, 10:54:18 PM
Similarly I would have had my eyes on Nunney Castle for my preserved GW layout, but as there is no DC option, and the DCC one is expected to be £219 I won't be having one of those either. I'm all for new tech, but it's such a shame that these models are focussing so heavily on the new technology whether you want it or not that they are pricing out those of us who don't have the deepest pockets.

Ouch, I could use that too, come to think of it, but not with a DCC/sound tax.

There are three non-DCC sound fitted Castles in the catalogue with a RRP of £139.95.

Quote from: johnlambert on March 02, 2016, 07:08:34 AM

Quote from: railsquid on March 01, 2016, 11:56:25 PM

Quote from: richard.ferraro23 on March 01, 2016, 10:54:18 PM
Similarly I would have had my eyes on Nunney Castle for my preserved GW layout, but as there is no DC option, and the DCC one is expected to be £219 I won't be having one of those either. I'm all for new tech, but it's such a shame that these models are focussing so heavily on the new technology whether you want it or not that they are pricing out those of us who don't have the deepest pockets.

Ouch, I could use that too, come to think of it, but not with a DCC/sound tax.

There are three non-DCC sound fitted Castles in the catalogue with a RRP of £139.95.

Yeah, I've been looking at those, but as Nunney is one that is actually in preservation and one I've seen I have a little bit of a soft spot for it. I will probably end up getting the non-DCC GW livery, but then re-numbering and re-naming. A non-DCC Nunney would have saved me the trouble. Hehe. On the other hand I do like that they quietly posted the livery samples for the other Castles yesterday and the GW one is shirtbutton rather than crest, looks really smart and will go nicely with my Shirtbutton Collett coaches.

Quote from: richard.ferraro23 on March 02, 2016, 08:04:38 AM

Quote from: johnlambert on March 02, 2016, 07:08:34 AM

Quote from: railsquid on March 01, 2016, 11:56:25 PM

Quote from: richard.ferraro23 on March 01, 2016, 10:54:18 PM
Similarly I would have had my eyes on Nunney Castle for my preserved GW layout, but as there is no DC option, and the DCC one is expected to be £219 I won't be having one of those either. I'm all for new tech, but it's such a shame that these models are focussing so heavily on the new technology whether you want it or not that they are pricing out those of us who don't have the deepest pockets.

Ouch, I could use that too, come to think of it, but not with a DCC/sound tax.

There are three non-DCC sound fitted Castles in the catalogue with a RRP of £139.95.

Yeah, I've been looking at those, but as Nunney is one that is actually in preservation and one I've seen I have a little bit of a soft spot for it. I will probably end up getting the non-DCC GW livery, but then re-numbering and re-naming. A non-DCC Nunney would have saved me the trouble. Hehe. On the other hand I do like that they quietly posted the livery samples for the other Castles yesterday and the GW one is shirtbutton rather than crest, looks really smart and will go nicely with my Shirtbutton Collett coaches.

Don't worry there is bound to be be aftermarket body swapping

Ah the agony of choice!

I thought the DCC first Castle would remove an option for my next purchase, but seeing the non-DCC ones puts that choice right back.

Have fancied a "Rule 1" steam loco for a while, Castles being my favourite.

Skyline2uk

Quote from: OwL on March 01, 2016, 11:24:49 PM
In terms of this years releases it does seem to me that Bachmann have deployed the shrink ray and shrunk some of 2015's OO catalogue liveried diesels.

We see a Colas 37 and 70, a London Underground 20 amongst other things.

It makes sense that they are consolidating with.............
I wonder what Dapol will hit back with???

Why couldn't they have done that with the older 2EPB instead of, or even together with, the brand new tooling 319, which doesn't 'go' with the existing EMU stock available from the same stable (4CEP)? I could have a few 2EPBs, and even try bashing a pair into a 4EPB...

Quote from: shandy on March 01, 2016, 10:54:48 PM

Another triumph of outsourcing/offshoring comes to fruition...

To be fair Bachmann Europe is a subsidiary of the Chinese operation, and the manufacturing has always been done there so not a case of outsourcing/offshoring unless meaning that Farish was previously UK made.

Reflect that for the quality of models we are now seeing they would still cost significantly more were they made in the UK and that's assuming you could find and retain a workforce willing to assemble all the tiny parts.

Roy

Quote from: johnlambert on March 02, 2016, 07:08:34 AM

Quote from: railsquid on March 01, 2016, 11:56:25 PM

Quote from: richard.ferraro23 on March 01, 2016, 10:54:18 PM
Similarly I would have had my eyes on Nunney Castle for my preserved GW layout, but as there is no DC option, and the DCC one is expected to be £219 I won't be having one of those either. I'm all for new tech, but it's such a shame that these models are focussing so heavily on the new technology whether you want it or not that they are pricing out those of us who don't have the deepest pockets.

Ouch, I could use that too, come to think of it, but not with a DCC/sound tax.

There are three non-DCC sound fitted Castles in the catalogue with a RRP of £139.95.

I think £219.95 RRP (so say£190 ish at usual discount) is a steal for a DCC sound loco. Even to do your own, a chip and speaker will set you back about £90, add to that the discounted price of a non sound Castle say £110 and it probably costs more (Pay someone to do it for you, significantly more).

In starting to move towards DCC sound myself I have definitely reached the conclusion that less is more, a loco is doing "something" even when not moving, for example my 37 just sitting there lumpily ticking over is so cool. I can see I will end up with fewer locos and my next layout will have a fairly simple track plan, all balanced by what each loco brings to the party.

In saying this I do acknowledge that cost will be a significant factor for many making my points above pretty academic and I would say if you want something simpler and cheaper steam wise, look no further than Union Mills.

Roy

Quote from: Roy L S on March 02, 2016, 10:16:48 AM
I think £219.95 RRP (so say£190 ish at usual discount) is a steal for a DCC sound loco. Even to do your own, a chip and speaker will set you back about £90, add to that the discounted price of a non sound Castle say £110 and it probably costs more (Pay someone to do it for you, significantly more).

I don't think the question is one of value, rather it is about only providing the expensive option and not giving customers a choice. This was the problem with the Peco 2251, the Lenz decoder it included was regarded as being a good chip and the cost of the loco was less than that of a comparable loco plus separate chip. The problem was a large number of modellers didn't want DCC at all and resented paying a premium for an extra feature that they couldn't use.

Now in Farish's case it is not quite as bad as that as DC-only Castles will still be available. However I have to agree that Nunney Castle in the proposed livery is a nice choice and one that I might have gone for in addition to a normal BR liveried Castle. However I have no plans on spending an extra £80 (before discounting) for a feature that I have no intention of using. Even if I do make the leap to DCC, I won't be using sound as it sounds gimmicky to me.

Maybe after-market body-swapping will be the way forward after all.