Quote from: Southerngooner on July 22, 2025, 12:07:22 PMHaving seen them at Chatham they do look lovely locos.....but not for my region! They are a world better than the Poole version. I just hope they pull well, they'd need to do 8 coaches at least.

Dave

Don't forget Dave, that some were drafted onto southern metals while the crank axle problems of the spam cans was being sorted

Regards,

Alex

I had thought of that Alex, but about 6 years outside my period. I could justify bone on  a through service though.....food for thought!

DAve

Just trying to spend your money 

All the best,

Alex

60845 is being advertised on eBay for immediate delivery, the others still seem to be a month or so away according to BachFar website.

Martyn

Quote from: martyn on October 22, 2025, 11:26:33 AM60845 is being advertised on eBay for immediate delivery, the others still seem to be a month or so away according to BachFar website.

Martyn

I was told that the boat containing the non-sound BR black V2s was due to dock on the weekend of 4th October, and the Bachmann Website shortly thereafter said they would be arriving in "the next 30 days". So taking those two bits of info together it seems entirely plausible to me that they are going to be on their way to retailers shortly.

Hopefully it means I'll be hearing from Kernow than mine has been shipped before too much longer!

Roy

BR Black V2s showing in stock at a number of retailers, so not long to wait now.

Cheers,
Alan

Kernow tell me that some are arriving in their Guildford store today, but the bulk will be arriving in Cornwall early next week. They think I should have mine in about a week's time, I suspect that timing will be similar for most of the "box shifters".

Roy

Arcadia is showing a black early emblem BR V2 under new arrivals.  I will be wanting a BR green one

Rails have the black 60845 in stock

Rails definitely do - as they hustled me one out in less than a day, even with budget shipping.

TLDR - this is a very nice model, a real improvement on even some of the recent superdetail models. Running seems sublime as with all these coreless drives, and no problems with (in some cases comically) low top speed of the recent diesels/electrics. Cab is a work of art with all its details picked out. The air under the very front of the boiler is sublime. Wheels and valve gear are infinitely better than the first tooling.

It'll be interesting to see if the model can run strongly enough also with the traction tyred rear drivers replaced with the non-tyred spares supplied.

There are definitely some areas that may want fiddling with - front steps are bent a bit forward, the tender-loco gap is simply enormous, the eccentric rod cranks lean the wrong way (Bachmann have a habit of doing this, common on OO models too), and the underside of the tender looks a bit empty (even on track) without any brake rigging, the cab fall plate does not fold away (down) like other Farish models, instead sticking up. The short chimney may want drilling out also as it's very obviously closed up.

But I'll wait a bit before I negate the warranty!

Cheers,
Alan

Thanks for the helpful summary @Dr Al I am hoping to get mine from Kernow sometime this week. Out of curiosity, is the tender-drawbar the same as the latest run of Black Fives with "proper" wires run/embedded under the drawbar instead of the previous sprung phosphor bronze arrangement?

I have been discussing with John at YouChoos, and while the decoder the sound fitted ones will come fitted with is according to the Bachmann website the Zimo MS590, John's recommendation would be the larger MS 581 if it would fit (24.9mm x 10mm x 4mm). If you get a chance would you be able to pop the tender top to see if it would work?

Regards

Roy

I see Tim at Arcadia has a black BR version.  He will be reserving a BR green one for me when they arrive.

I have just had notification from Kernow that my BR black V2 is on it's way, as I paid extra for next day delivery, all things being equal it should be here tomorrow. Non sound Next 18 chip is at the ready, I am looking forward to getting my grubby hands on it!

Roy

I'll be interested to find out if there's any way of shortening the loco - tender gap. It looks rather excessive for such a highly detailed model.

Quote from: Crepello on Today at 04:39:45 PMI'll be interested to find out if there's any way of shortening the loco - tender gap. It looks rather excessive for such a highly detailed model.

It does, but if the design is similar to the latest Black Five's drawbar it won't be straightforward. I'll take a look tomorrow assuming it arrives. It could be that fitting the cab doors will make it a bit less glaring.

Also interesting to note that Dr Al says the fall-plate is fixed, where the Bachmann blurb said it is movable: -

"Hinged and posable metal fall plate between the locomotive and tender"

Roy