RTR Model(s) of the Year

[GroupC]

What would be everyone's winner of a hypothetical "Model of the Year" award be? We can have categories for loco's, coaches and wagons, plus anything anyone else would like, the only criterion being that the nominated items have to have been released by the manufacturer in 2014. No prizes, just kudos.

[BobB]

I think it was actually released more than a year ago; but down here I've only just got the Dapol working semaphore signal (actuallay upper quadrant home). An exquisite model, better than most OO gauge versions.

[Zunnan]

Locomotives is easy, the 4F gets it hands down. The 25 and the 37/4/5 are nice but don't really make you second look them, and the Duchess is a bit of a let down thanks to that second hand bogie and crap cab glazing meaning they need some work to look right; did Dapol actually get anything out this year other than reliveried old models? I think the only new coach to appear this year is the Farish CCT so that gets it by default, if the Dapol Mk3 was this year its a desperately needed model but a complete hash up of one tooling to fit too many variations, nowhere near as good as the CCT. Wagon wise the Polybulk will probably get it, but my vote would go to the Covhop.

[Chris]

No contest for me - the new Farish 37/4 - my favourite loco and in the new DRS livery, superbly done. The 57/3 is a close second though.

[austinbob]

Has to be the Farish Duchess for me, despite the arguments about bogies.

[Ben A]

Hi all,

Of powered models, I'd like to say the Brighton Belle (certainly, that has arguably the best paint job) but as a model overall I think I'd have to give it to the 25 which has real cuteness factor.  The 37/4 - while a nice model - is let down by the coupler pocket and bogie ride height, while so far I haven't had a Dellner-fitted 57 to play with.

The 4F looks like a nice model but I don't know enough about steam locos to judge it fairly.

In terms of rolling stock, the Polybulks and CCT have it, though I suspect if Dapol's Falcon and Mussel engineers' wagons had made it out before the end of the year they'd have been in the running too...

cheers

Ben A.

[Greybeema]

Definitely the Brighton Belle for me. 

Great model superbly engineered of a new subject.  Bit of a risk as it's an EMU and people don't tend to buy them.

So well done to Hornby/Arnold for producing the model.  And better still for delivering it roughly when they said they would...

[talisman56]

Brighton Belle here, too. And I don't know whether it was released this year or not, but I bought one this year, so I nominate the Farish Fairburn 2-6-4T...

[Skyline2uk]

I have only seen them behind glass but I would vote for the new Farish Polybulks as they seem to be really pushing the bar for an off the shelf piece of rolling stock.

Yes they are pricey, but anything that makes me seriously think about straying outside my era code for the first time in a decade has to be good.

Skyline2uk

[Roy L S]

Locomotives is easy, the 4F gets it hands down. The 25 and the 37/4/5 are nice but don't really make you second look them, and the Duchess is a bit of a let down thanks to that second hand bogie and crap cab glazing meaning they need some work to look right; did Dapol actually get anything out this year other than reliveried old models? I think the only new coach to appear this year is the Farish CCT so that gets it by default, if the Dapol Mk3 was this year its a desperately needed model but a complete hash up of one tooling to fit too many variations, nowhere near as good as the CCT. Wagon wise the Polybulk will probably get it, but my vote would go to the Covhop.

It's the 4F for me too, it is an exquisite model which raises the bar for detail and runs like a Swiss watch. I also agree that the Duchess did not quite live up to expectation, it runs well but seems to me the odd corner has been cut here and there - not something I would expect on a loco whose RRP is near £150.

For Diesels the 25 is my choice -  a fine model, building on the excellent 24.

Rolling stock, nothing that stands out massively, but probably the CCT.

Roy

[port perran]

This is all a matter of personal choice but I love the Class 22 and 52 (were they both 2014  releases? - time passes so quickly).

[Chetcombe]

This is all a matter of personal choice but I love the Class 22 and 52 (were they both 2014  releases? - time passes so quickly).

Completely agree (assuming they are both 2014 releases). In particular, the weathered versions of both classes are exquisite.

[d-a-n]

The Farish Duchess has to get it despite the vocal few pedants boo-hooing about a bogie and a bit of tiny glazing...

[Newportnobby]

The Farish Duchess has to get it despite the vocal few pedants boo-hooing about a bogie and a bit of tiny glazing...

Bit harsh on those who want the maximum bang for their buck, especially when you think these models are due to rise up to 20% in price each year for the next 4 years

[JBQFC]

for me it has to be Dapols large loco 56 a loco i have wanted since i started modeling 25 years ago