N Gauge News Diesel & Electric Poll

[Mark]

The prospects of a 71 and 74 haven't exactly been given a boost either.

Hattons currently have the Hornby OO Class 71 reduced from an RRP of £206 to £89. Doesn't indicate a particularly high demand for this loco, even in the more popular gauge...

Go ahead ... kick a man whilst he's down ....   

[martyn]

The prospects of a 71 and 74 haven't exactly been given a boost either.

Hattons currently have the Hornby OO Class 71 reduced from an RRP of £206 to £89. Doesn't indicate a particularly high demand for this loco, even in the more popular gauge...

This sort of backs up my theory of why a number of Bachmann models haven't made it to N.

Martyn

[pinball]

Really interesting exercise Tom, thank you very much for taking the time to do it. 

A little disappointed that 1st gen Southern 3rd rail electrics haven't fared better
Mark

I have said this before (and I still wonder if I am a bit demented in suggesting this) but if Peco or similar produced factory made 3rd rail track, I wonder if that would be a gamechanger. There are plenty of fantastic modellers who have a done an outstanding job of modelling the 3rd rail, but I wonder how many people would be interested in 3rd rail trains if there was an easier way of getting 3rd rail track.

[Steven B]

but I wonder how many people would be interested in 3rd rail trains if there was an easier way of getting 3rd rail track.

I suspect it won't make much difference - my guess is that most Dapol class 86, Farish 90 and Revolution 92s won't run under overhead wires.

I think the bigger problem is the the limited range of third rail units. The 4-CEP as produced by Farish didn't get far from Kent until later in their lives (and after refurbishment). Add in some variation like a 2-EPB or 4-EPB and I'm sure interest will increase.


Steven B.

[pinball]

I expect you are probably correct. Although one of the reasons I didn't even consider buying AC locos is because despite being interested in them - overhead wires look an absolute pain to model, and I wondered if other people had similar thoughts about both overheads and 3rd rail, and it puts them off modelling these regions a bit. So hence the models don't sell as well, even if people are interested in the traction.

I do wonder if that is part of the reason why Western Region, Southern away from 3rd rail land, and Scottish region layouts seem to be popular choices for people to model even when we are talking from the 70s to the present day in terms of era, the major absence of electrification - as well as the scenic options these areas often afford.

[Bob G]

The prospects of a 71 and 74 haven't exactly been given a boost either.

Hattons currently have the Hornby OO Class 71 reduced from an RRP of £206 to £89. Doesn't indicate a particularly high demand for this loco, even in the more popular gauge...

Not strictly true.
1. The RRP is bizarrely inflated to current prices but the model dates from a 2017 production run, and was about £130 new then.
2. The model they are selling off is the BR Blue pre TOPS version - less demand for this version than the TOPS version.
3. On EBay the model resells well, especially the green version.
4. I have two DJ Models 71s which I think have a much better look and performance than the Hornby one (of which I have one version). The DJModels ones I paid £125 for the Kickstarter 71009 in 2017 (with a promise of a good price on a Class 74 the following year, ho hum) and last year I paid £100 for the Kernow weathered limited edition 71008. The Hornby 71012 I bought secondhand for £92, which I think is a fair price, all in all.
5. The renumbering of locos in OO seems not to be so popular than in N, because there are often sufficient livery re-runs to not make it worthwhile (I have three TOPS class 71s, for example).

Going back to N gauge for a while...
I've just fitted two Class 70 Bulleid Boosters to Farish 31 chassis and so I have got my fill of Class 70 electrics, and @Mr Sprue is in the process of crafting a Class 71, and that will do me fine, when it comes along. I already have BHE versions of a Class 71 and 74, so no rush there.
I think the SR 1950s-1980s modellers are so used to hacking Worsley Works sides to make their EMUs that they don't feature as much as e.g. the Thumper does in this Poll, because (a) that's a DMU and (b) it got further into WR territory.

Just my thoughts
Bob

[Kaput]

The Class 71 situation in OO is a bit of an odd one.
First you had the duplication with the Hornby and DJ Models versions.
Then in typical Hornby fashion they done a second batch of theirs while the first batch was still on shelves.

Hardly a surprise they are in the bargin bin now sadly.


Would be nice to see a 71/74 in N but I hold out little hope.