With all the doom and gloom of Covid behind us I think we need to reflect on what has been delivered in N over the last year. I'm a steam era modeller so can't be sure about the more modern stuff, but in terms of steam we've had the Sonic Prairie, and now in short order we have EPs of the V2, GW Mogul and confirmation from Dapol (via Adam on this forum) that the long awaited Bulleid (note correct spelling Mick!) Light Pacific is not far behind. That's more than we've seen in many a year. There have been many reissues from Bachmann, and the upcoming SECR wagons from Rapido.  As far as modern stuff goes I think we've had the Revolution 59, Dapol 144 EPs, the 350/450 EMUs and several bits of rolling stock.

I consider this to be a nice speed of progress, not as barmy as the almost monthly announcements in the early 2010s, and not as bad as Covid era timings, when things quite naturally went south. I like the idea of not knowing about things until they are at EP stay, as in the V2, as this means there is much less time from announcement to delivery. Hopefully this can become the new norm now that production seems to be getting back to some kind of normality.

I'm sure there will be some out there who like to moan, but I can't see too much to fret about. Yes, some models do end up being defective, such as the Rapido 28 and Conflats, but they in particular seemed to have learnt from this. Sonic's recent Prairie has had a few issues, but the fixes found on this forum seem to have cured a lot of them, and we have a significantly better model than the old Farish one. Yes, you could argue that these mods shouldn't be needed, but this is the first model to my knowledge that has plug and release pony trucks with electrical pick up, at least in UK N, so we are moving forward and sometimes this results in teething problems. Yes, some have had poor running, but like all other models you do get bad examples in batches, just as you did in real life. As long as the dealer network provides a good back up then we are OK. We have to accept that cost issues preclude pre-deliver checks on every model (and please let's not have a repeat of the long discussions over this. If you don't like it then you don't have to buy stuff....) and on the whole models are of a much higher standard and quality than we have ever had in N.

I believe we should be positive about where N is headed. Long may it continue!

Dave

My wallet and I can't argue with what has been said in the OP. This year seems to be particularly draining on my funds but that's mainly 'cos manufacturers are bringing out what I want for my modelled era/location. I actually enjoy the shock of BachFar announcing things that will be with me within 6 months rather than the gestation period of 3 (or more) years which tends to be the norm.
However, I do have a concern that the good times are happening when folks are at their most vulnerable as regards what their money has to be spent on. All too often we hear the 'eat or heat' debate and, though I in no way want to bring politics into this, there's no avoiding money for many is very, very tight.

Completely agree Dave. I think we've had a bumper couple of years to be honest. I get rather frustrated by a lot of the constant moaning you see on here and FB about N Gauge and the hobby in general. We've never had so many manufacturers making such a range of quality, detailed models. We've had several re-runs from Farish and Dapol which is nice, and Farish seem to be working through their fleet adding sound upgrades.

I'm looking forward to the new Moguls and Bulleids arriving in the next few years.

Mick

While I am sure that there are some people who are struggling, I don't see that reflected too much when I go out. A lot of the pubs I've visited recently, both here in Norfolk, but also in Pembrokeshire, Suffolk and other haunts, have been busy with people dining out which must be some kind of barometer. Shops too seem busy round here, and there are always people in the model shops I frequent who are buying stuff. Yes, life got stretched under Covid and then with the cost of living issues, but state and private pensions have both risen while prices have begun to fall. I certainly feel better off this year than last, and I don't hear many gripes from our friends or the many guys at Men's Shed. There's room for cautious optimism I think.

Dave

The second hand market is dire at the moment. I'm not sure if that's 'cost of living' related. Again we've had the boom times of covid, and perhaps it's inversely proportional to the quantum of new releases, but it's telling that models which have previously sold well are now going for much smaller sums. I keep seeing sound fitted Pendolinos around £350, which feels insane for an 11-car train with £200 of decoders.

Dapol still have one or two little surprises up our sleeves. 

88 please! 

I really am not qualified to comment here, living where I do, but when I was there last year, I didn't see a lot of people struggling.

Just sayin' like. 

Ooh Adam, you little tease!

Dave

But still no Southern 4-6-0, OK we do have suitable coaches - Dapol's Maunsells - but only the Schools, N class 2-6-0 and the Union Mills T9 to pull them - for those of us modelling pre WW2  but no Nelson, Arthur, H15 or S15 unless you go for the Langley S15 or BHE N15 Arthur plus a bit of hacking and kit bashing.

Quote from: Southerngooner on July 21, 2024, 10:24:49 AMAs far as modern stuff goes I think we've had the Revolution 59, Dapol 144 EPs, the 350/450 EMUs and several bits of rolling stock.

Also the LMS twins and the Brush type 4 in XP64 livery (if they can be considered "modern").

I agree with all the points in Dave's original post.

Ian

I'd forgotten the Twins, another long term want for many.

As for Southern 4-6-0s Mike, I think you'll have to wait a long while for more than one of your four options. I'd like to think a King Arthur or Nelson might be a goer, but the H/S15 is a bit specific to the ex-LSWR area. At least @RBTKraisee has done the KA as a 3D print which negates the use of old whitemetal kits and old chassis......plus there's all the produce of @JimSan which has given me two Boosters and a P, neither of which I thought I'd ever get in N. Add in the Q from @Pedanticmongrel and the W from Rue d'Etropal and I'm personally very happy with recent developments across the board.

Dave

I wouldn't say quite a "bumper" year for N, but (1) things are definitely improving along with a bit more balance in terms of modern versus steam and first generation diesels/rolling stock and (2) we are as yet only just over half way through  2024!   

A couple of stand out announcements for me are the LMS "Twins" which seem to have gone down really well, and the recent V2 announcement which is a "must have" model for me and many others. The V2 EPs shown last Wednesday look very promising indeed already, with maybe just a couple of final tweaks to assembly and hopefully finer front steps on production models, but that's what an EP is for after all, to evaluate the overall look, the fit of parts and also test the chassis. This is a loco I really hoped for, even as an undecorated EP it is light years away from the 2004 model and I can't wait to see the deco-samples in Bachmann's Quarterly update on 7th August.

It remains to be seen what the rest of the year will bring, Adam has reminded us of the GW Mogul and Battle of Britain EPs arriving, plus tantalisingly a couple more surprises, longer term there is also the 120 DMU from Revolution Trains.

So "bumper" or otherwise I would say it is definitely a good time to be modelling in British N for sure.

Roy

Quote from: Roy L S on July 21, 2024, 03:07:39 PM, longer term there is also the 120 DMU from Revolution Trains.

So "bumper" or otherwise I would say it is definitely a good time to be modelling in British N for sure.

Roy

I asked the nice man about the 120 DMU when I was at Aly Paly last March.  His comment was vague and my impression was that they are still at the earlier stages of development.  I sensed nothing before c 2026 but I might (hope?) I am pessmistic on that.

I would be ordering a green and a blue version for my layout Cromarty - I can run it from steam through to blue era.  The 120 would appear on the daily train from Aberdeen, avoiding Inverness by the top curve.

So for now my adapted Minitrix Mk 1s with BHE driver ends will keep running.  Obviously in no way accurate but the impression is reasonable.  They are based on an article in the NGS Journal c10 years or more ago.

Is it a bumper year.  Well certainly better than some if you include, and are excited by, all announcements of things in the pipeline.  Not sure I make enough use of my "current" V2 to justify the cost of this new one. It is one choice for both the Aberdeen and Fish trains on Cromarty.  Apart from my Twins in Green (with the possibly incorrect orange/black lining?) which are magnificent, a modest year for me.  I am trying to restrain my Rule 1 purchases!!  But the Twins were too good not to have!   My mate Alan has them in black (thank you to Tim at Arcadia as always) .  We ran them all at the club last week.  Black and green together.

What would really tempt me would be a J36 and a Glen!  And possibly some earlier (pd 1 and Pd2) LMS corridor coaches.  But probably both too specialist for our manufacturers.  I suggested the Craven DMU to Revolution but they rules it out.  Well I have my BHE kit version.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that we also have Sonic's Newton Chambers car transporters to look forward to in BR maroon and blue/grey.  These are interesting and significant models of a never been made before N gauge item (yes, I know they are not locomotives). 

According to the Rails website, these models are due Q4 2024, but I do not know how accurate this is.

Ian