I was very surprised to see Bachmann have decided to produce a model of the Class 13 based on their newest Class 08 tooling:

https://tinyurl.com/4fn2p8w6

Apart from the astonishing costs (well not that astonishing once you realise two powered and chipped chassis are included, but that surely was a choice driven by ease of tooling), this is a niche a "fleet" of locos as you could hope to find.

Yes there were three rather than a single unit, but they never left Tinsley and did one job all their lives.

Just when I think all obscure prototypes have been covered....

Skyline2uk

Yep, not sure what to make of that one!

Hi

Actually one did leave Tinsley on part of a Woodhead rail tour.

Would love one in N but I'm guessing that's unlikely.

Cheers

Paul

Olivia's Trains used to do a class 13. Depending on the era, either the Hornby 08 or the Bachmann 08 were used. The BR Blue versions use the Bachmann 08 as donor models, whereas the BR Green versions use the Hornby version, and there were resin castings made to modify the slave body, as well as removal of the drive mechanism in the slave unit.

The modifications plus the respray had quite a big price tag back then (£275 in 2014). A new RTR version is great, but it begs the question "How many will buy it?", because as @Skyline2uk says, its pretty niche! It is at an undiscounted RRP of £400 (DC) to £569 (DCC sound and auto uncoupling, which I imagine would be essential in this model).

Mind you, the class 02, 05 and 07 shunters are also pretty niche, and they have been done.

Bob

A big surprise to me as given the small size of the class and very limited sphere of operation. Definitely an unusual model and a very niche one, so unsurprisingly being produced in "limited" numbers even in OO. OK, much of tooling for the 08s can be reused, especially the chassis, but it seems clear there is a fair bit of new tooling too, and few compromises. Most likely one for collectors predominately I would think, of which there are arguably a larger percentage amongst the OO community than N, and I would suggest that it is one of those models that may "work" in OO but is just too niche for the smaller N market.

Roy

Not that I'd be after one but maybe something that could be shrunk for the EFE range

Quote from: Newportnobby on October 03, 2025, 11:48:51 AMNot that I'd be after one but maybe something that could be shrunk for the EFE range

I can't imagine Bachmann or EFE trying a Class 13 in N. It's already flagged to be a low volume production run in OO.

I've not looked at the design of the current Farish 08, but in OO the Bachmann cab was removable, making the OO modifications relatively easy for Olivia's Trains. I'd think that someone good at 3D printing could easily replicate the Slave body parts while retaining the weight of the body for drive purposes. You would have to use just the one DCC chip in the Master unit and hard wire the Slave unit to the Master.

Has anyone done a class 13 conversion in N at all?

Bob

Quote from: Bob G on October 03, 2025, 12:07:29 PM

Quote from: Newportnobby on October 03, 2025, 11:48:51 AMNot that I'd be after one but maybe something that could be shrunk for the EFE range

I can't imagine Bachmann or EFE trying a Class 13 in N. It's already flagged to be a low volume production run in OO.

I've not looked at the design of the current Farish 08, but in OO the Bachmann cab was removable, making the OO modifications relatively easy for Olivia's Trains. I'd think that someone good at 3D printing could easily replicate the Slave body parts while retaining the weight of the body for drive purposes. You would have to use just the one DCC chip in the Master unit and hard wire the Slave unit to the Master.

Has anyone done a class 13 conversion in N at all?

Bob

The cab is removable (a plastic injection moulding that just clips on) once removed there is a representation of the cab desk but the cab is otherwise clear, so in theory I suppose it would be possible to produce a moulding or 3D print representing the "cab" area of a "slave" unit, couple two together with a semi permanent link and through connect pickups, I suspect performance would be much improved too with the 12 wheels picking up too  but this is not on my list for further exploration  ......

Hmm, only last night I was fiddling with a non-running GF Poole metal bodied one which will remain, alas, not working. Looks like it may have a use now!

Quote from: Bob G on October 03, 2025, 12:07:29 PMHas anyone done a class 13 conversion in N at all?

Take the cab off the one 08, remodel it a bit with plasticard. There's really not a lot else to do as that's basically what they did with the real ones other than ballasting them a bit. Given the way the current one works I would today be inclined to 3D print a replacement module for the removed cab and have it just attached to the existing cast nose. I can well imagine that this is all Bachmann have to do but in plastic


It's actually easier than doing an 08/9.