Hattons are producing a range of OO 4 & 6 wheel coaches.

the designs, paint schemes and types will be useful for N Gauge scratch builders / weetabix/farish conversions!





https://www.hattons.co.uk/genesis?utm_campaign=Project%20Genesis%20-%20LNER%20focus&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NYpWm7&_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJucm9iaW5zb25AY2l4LmNvLnVrIiwgImtsX2NvbXBhbnlfaWQiOiAiSkdRZVhoIn0%3D

But they're OO gauge...?

 

 

But the colour schemes are useable on N?

these would be very useful to all gauges not just 00 so hopefully in time they will produce these in N AND O  it may not suit the purists but for the casual modeler , scratch builder ,and people that just like to run trains it does fill a gap would look the part even if not strictly correct for companies it does come down to cost  ,but then N gauge track is a compromise ,like fictional setting . personally if they were available in n then i would get a set to compliment my other roiling stock no question , lets see how they do in 00  ,will ask hattons at the great electric train show this weekend.

I'm hopeful that maybe some of this Hattons enthusiasm filters down into N gauge. They've set the bar high by going for a Beyer-Garratt, here's hope they push on and get stuck in.

I'm interested to see how these go.  It is fair to say that they are already creating some rather divided opinions - some people are very happy that pre-grouping RTR coaches are going to be available and others are pointing out that generic coaches (which might not represent any real coach) is completely the opposite to the way the market has gone for the last 30 years.

From a manufacturing point of view I completely understand why Hattons have taken the view that producing generic 4/6 wheel coaches makes sense.

Cheers Mike

Quote from: red_death on October 09, 2019, 11:16:54 AM
I'm interested to see how these go.  It is fair to say that they are already creating some rather divided opinions - some people are very happy that pre-grouping RTR coaches are going to be available and others are pointing out that generic coaches (which might not represent any real coach) is completely the opposite to the way the market has gone for the last 30 years.

I tend to find myself aligning with the second point of view. If they aren't models of specific coaches how can they be described as "Pre-Grouping" or anything other era for that matter?

I am sure there will be those happy enough with the products and that's fair enough, I just reflect on how, even in N Gauge, there has been such a drive towards authenticity and a resultant ditching of the generic models that preceded what we have now, even going as far as those beautiful Birdcage coaches.

Maybe the next step, given authenticity doesn't seem that important to Hattons will be a commission of some self-assembly Lego coach kits complete with crayons to colour them in the livery of choice?

Roy

Thank God they couldn't be bothered with any accurate models.  That would have seriously threatened my commitment to N gauge

I can see why they've gone with the generic approach and I'd be quite happy with that (plus if I want to model a specific coach, there's bound to be one of them that's a decent starting point to modify into it). What's worrying is that if they're going for the more casual approach and appealing to those of us that want to run trains that just about look right rather than being technically accurate to the originals then I would have thought they'd have designed to an RRP more akin to Hornby's Railroad models rather than that you'd expect to pay for a highly detailed, highly accurate model of a specific coach.

[edit] And I know, it's entirely likely that the RRP *is* after they designed it to not be as expensive. Which makes it scary just how much this hobby is going to cost.

I think for me that's the crux of it. I can see that a generic model is quite a useful thing, even as the basis for a conversion, but the pricing is certainly premium. I presume the lit ones will work on DCC without addition of a decoder, that just adds controllability. That puts them into eye-watering territory.

Quote from: njee20 on October 09, 2019, 02:11:16 PM
. I presume the lit ones will work on DCC without addition of a decoder, that just adds controllability. That puts them into eye-watering territory.

Nope, they will apparently have a Next 18 socket - ouch!

Yes, I realise they've got a socket, but presumably that just adds controllability (ie you can turn them on and off under DCC), given it's not a pre-requisite for use I presume without a decoder they'll just work in the normal way - ie variable on DC, and always on on DCC.

The idea of having to add a decoder to each coach is mildly terrifying!

Quote from: njee20 on October 09, 2019, 02:56:01 PM
Yes, I realise they've got a socket, but presumably that just adds controllability (ie you can turn them on and off under DCC), given it's not a pre-requisite for use I presume without a decoder they'll just work in the normal way - ie variable on DC, and always on on DCC.

The idea of having to add a decoder to each coach is mildly terrifying!

Indeed it is! It doesn't mention anywhere in the covering blurb (that I can see) that they will operate on DCC without a chip, but maybe that is taken as a given and hopefully you are correct.

Roy