That's also made me remember that we've had the Sonic Vanwide, Peco's new range of opens and vans, plus the SECR Dance Hall brake from Farish, in the pre-blue grey eras....plus the Revolution 128.

Definitely a good year!

Dave

Revolution 128 was last year, surely? Or do you mean "the last 12 months"?

Thinking more about it I personally don't really think it's been particularly 'bumper'. It's been good, I think the hobby is in good health, but nothing 'bumper'. The only new releases I've bought were a 68 and a 60, both basically just new liveries (technically the 60 had an upgraded chassis). 

Several new Dapol HSTs are imminent too. Including the much anticipated Blue Pullman complete set.

Yes, I think it's a bumper year too !

@njee20 Yes, I was actually thinking of the last twelve months. If what we have had delivered isn't "bumper" then I do wonder how much you expect to get from manufacturers in twelve months!

Dave

Quote from: Southerngooner on July 21, 2024, 08:49:58 PM@njee20 Yes, I was actually thinking of the last twelve months. If what we have had delivered isn't "bumper" then I do wonder how much you expect to get from manufacturers in twelve months!

Dave

Actually, I don't think I'd want too much more - you have to afford the stuff after all, and as I get the impression N is more of a "running" than a "collectors" scale then when a good workaday loco comes along you need several of them, not just one show pony for the display case.

Ironically I've just cancelled my pre-orders for the Newton Chambers car carriers as I'm tired of the long delays between announcements and repeatedly pushed-back delivery dates. Also because I've decided to stop ordering items "to encourage new manufacturers" - I'm only buying what actually fits my modelling period. And that's just as well because now I can redirect the money to a couple (at least) of V2s which I can be more confident will appear in a reasonable timescale thanks to Bachman's new announcement policy.

To me "bumper" implies somehow exceptional. Like I say it's been good. But I think we've just had a decent number of items. About what I'd expect, and what would be good to continue with.

Any year brings multiple re-liveries and what not. I'm not sure if we've had many post-1990 new tooled items have we (selfishly it's all I really pay attention to, and that's stretching my window extensively!).  Revolution FNA-D which has just landed. Farish MXA. Not too sure what else.

So yeah, good. Nothing exceptional.

Edit: both 59s of course, forgetting those!

I think its been a very good year. The range of stuff available has increased. For me the Sonic prairie filled a big gap. I'm just waiting for the new 66s to appear and my world will be pretty much complete. I can't help feeling N gauge is getting towards the point where most of the locos that are likely to sell well have been covered or are under development. The only gap I can see is for a king which would have to be double chimney to interest me. I just hope all the new stuff has sold well enough to provide the manufacturers with a return on their investment.

Quote from: Portpatrick on July 21, 2024, 05:26:33 PM

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.

As far as Revolution Trains 120s (and indeed their K Pullmans) are concerned, while definitely of interest to me, the vague timescale and consequent lack of clarity on when order books will open has made me re-evaluate and I have discounted them as priority purchases. Definitely ones to watch in the longer term but personally I am unlikely to commit money to any more of the "early bird" offers.

In a similar vein, given the long delays from originally given delivery dates I am unlikely to be putting "non refundable" deposits down on any more Sonic products unless it is something directly suiting my modelling era/location or an absolute "Rule 1" must have. I have bought at least one of each Sonic loco so far to support Sam, but going forward I am of the same thinking as Richard T.

On the other hand, if the Farish V2 deco samples live up to expectation as I hope to be the case, as soon as orders are being taken, depending on liveries offered I will be in for at least two BR sound fitted ones - I just hope there is a sensible spread of choices in the first batch as I won't be tempted by LNER liveries.

Reflecting on the state of things further, a good year (last 12 months) if not "bumper". However I think it is definitely the case that things are in a very good place for N generally with more manufacturers entering the fray, and even as far as known models in development goes there looks to be a good pipeline covering all key modelling eras. This should mean a continued flow of products coming through at a sustainable (and from a modellers' cash flow perspective) affordable pace. I think this is actually better than "bumper" to be honest as oversupply helps nobody.

Roy

I am already tempted by a V2 in LNER livery 

Quote from: joe cassidy on July 22, 2024, 10:38:09 AMI am already tempted by a V2 in LNER livery 

I am sure a fair few people will be, especially "Green Arrow" in apple green as currently preserved.

My personal wish is for a late crest green BR one with the later outside steam pipes. The original Farish V2 was I believe even tooled for this variant but it never got produced.

After that a black one in early crest BR livery would be the icing on the cake, and looking at the recent OO V2 liveries would seem very likely.

Roy

Quote from: Chris Morris on July 22, 2024, 06:20:45 AMI think its been a very good year. The range of stuff available has increased. For me the Sonic prairie filled a big gap. I'm just waiting for the new 66s to appear and my world will be pretty much complete. I can't help feeling N gauge is getting towards the point where most of the locos that are likely to sell well have been covered or are under development. The only gap I can see is for a king which would have to be double chimney to interest me. I just hope all the new stuff has sold well enough to provide the manufacturers with a return on their investment.

A King would be nice, but once again I am going to raise a paw for the NBL D600....

Quote from: Foxhound on July 22, 2024, 01:40:33 PMA King would be nice, but once again I am going to raise a paw for the NBL D600....

Yes, a King and a D600 are top of my want list, as well as a 10xx County.

Quote from: Ensign Elliott on July 22, 2024, 01:46:17 PM

Quote from: Foxhound on July 22, 2024, 01:40:33 PMA King would be nice, but once again I am going to raise a paw for the NBL D600....

Yes, a King and a D600 are top of my want list, as well as a 10xx County.

I would almost certainly buy all three of those.

Certainly the last 12-18 months have been amazing for N gauge from what I can see, probably push it out to 2 years when the 90's were unveiled prior to TING's 22. Since then we have seen quite substantial new models from all manufacturers and reruns of some of the popular items - 12 months ago you would have struggled to get a blue and grey coach of any description and now we are not short, except maybe Mk2 and mk2A stock but always this announcement .

Long may it continue, I am sure there will always be demand for new tooling, its down to the manufacturers to find the right model to increase sales of older models as well as new models. Would doing a King increase demand for another run of Castles and Hawksworth from Farish for example? As modellers look to build GWR Main line layouts.

Would a SDJR 7F (top of my wishlist) see modellers scramble to get Farish Mk1's in maroon or even want another run of Green stock to be able to model the old Slow & Dirty?

Quote from: Roy L S on July 22, 2024, 07:48:51 AMOn the other hand, if the Farish V2 deco samples live up to expectation as I hope to be the case, as soon as orders are being taken, depending on liveries offered I will be in for at least two BR sound fitted ones - I just hope there is a sensible spread of choices in the first batch as I won't be tempted by LNER liveries.

Don't worry Roy - I'll buy the LNER liveries. Between us we'll make the production run viable.

I agree, oversupply helps no-one.

Revolution K Pullmans - well at least Revolution have a "progress checker" on their website and, from what I've seen, by the time they open the order books they usually have a decent idea of delivery timescales. So, yes, just keeping an eye on them.