BachFar Autumn 2025 Announcements

[Newportnobby]

Be prepared to be underwhelmed.........

https://tinyurl.com/4cxv99ne

[NOE 544R]

Noticing a trend of "NGS Exclusives" suddenly flooding the market a number of years later under general release from Farish... Inspection Saloon, Queen Mary brake vans and now car flats.

On this occasion it's great news, as I need more so finally a purchase this year for me. 

But somewhat disappointing for the society and paying the privilege to be a member. This is my only gripe, but it'll be short lived.

I'm assuming there's a tooling agreement between both, or maybe the society selling off the rights. But why not do re-runs?

Yes, there is also an argument we wouldn't have them at all - so pick a side 544!

Nice one Farish, but NGS - surely this is just going to damage the "perks" of membership?


Quick edit - any recommendations on which Carflat is suitable for 1965 - 68 please? Thank you!
 

[port perran]

Looking forward to the GWR 150. That'll go nicely with my GWR IET and 158.
And a new Castle  to add to my fleet.

[PaulCheffus]

Noticing a trend of "NGS Exclusives" suddenly flooding the market a number of years later under general release from Farish... Inspection Saloon, Queen Mary brake vans and now car flats.

On this occasion it's great news, as I need more so finally a purchase this year for me. 

But somewhat disappointing for the society and paying the privilege to be a member. This is my only gripe, but it'll be short lived.

I'm assuming there's a tooling agreement between both, or maybe the society selling off the rights. But why not do re-runs?

Yes, there is also an argument we wouldn't have them at all - so pick a side 544!

Nice one Farish, but NGS - surely this is just going to damage the "perks" of membership?


Quick edit - any recommendations on which Carflat is suitable for 1965 - 68 please? Thank you!

Hi

I believe this is part of the agreement with Bachmann that the items will be added to their standard range after a period of time.

Cheers

Paul

[Newportnobby]

Quick edit - any recommendations on which Carflat is suitable for 1965 - 68 please? Thank you!

The bauxite ones are era 5 (1957-1966) and the blue ones are era 7 (1972-1982) so I'd plump for bauxite*

*Dates quoted for 2020 Farish era references

[Suffolk Rob]

On exclusives, my understanding is that a commission with Bachmann by a society or retailer carries an exclusivity period rather than total exclusivity. We saw the same with inspection saloons and I guess it's reflected in the quotes Bachmann give. Not an issue any more as the NGS has dealt with factories direct for more recent rtr.

By no means a bumper announcement but good to see further wagons getting the NEM coupling upgrade and, of course if you were after a Castle or 150 in those liveries it's spot on. Hopefully there's another announcement in a few weeks with 2-3 Farish or EFE new tool items with EPs in the flesh at TINGs

As an aside, there seems to be an awful lot of multiple units from various manufacturers recently arrived or imminent with Transport for Wales as a chosen livery. Is it that popular a modelling subject or has there just been more variety of DMU rotating through Wales in the recent past?

[Bob G]

Noticing a trend of "NGS Exclusives" suddenly flooding the market a number of years later under general release from Farish... Inspection Saloon, Queen Mary brake vans and now car flats.

I'm assuming there's a tooling agreement between both, or maybe the society selling off the rights. But why not do re-runs.

Nice one Farish, but NGS - surely this is just going to damage the "perks".

When the NGS does an agreement with Bachmann there is always a period when the NGS has exclusive sales. After that period the moulds and rights all revert to Bachmann. If we didn't have that agreement we couldn't afford to bring these models to market in the first place.

Bob

[Bob G]

Quick edit - any recommendations on which Carflat is suitable for 1965 - 68 please? Thank you!

The bauxite ones are era 5 (1957-1966) and the blue ones are era 7 (1972-1982) so I'd plump for bauxite*

*Dates quoted for 2020 Farish era references

There were some bauxite ones on the NGS website recently. Snap them up and help out your Society.

[NOE 544R]

Thanks all for the insights to why they appear in the range - understood thank you!

Thank you for the help with era's too!

544

[NeMo]

Noticing a trend of "NGS Exclusives" suddenly flooding the market a number of years later under general release from Farish... Inspection Saloon, Queen Mary brake vans and now car flats.

The exclusives are only exclusives for a limited period. Five years or whatever. That's the deal, and ultimately, Bachmann (or Dapol) get a return on their investment beyond what they sell to the NGS. I can't remember the details (it's been a while since I sat in on Committee meetings!) but that's the basic story.

To be honest, I'd prefer the NGS focus on developing new, innovative products rather than maintaining a back catalogue. It's nice when they do re-runs with new numbers, but ultimately, I think NGS members appreciate new products more than anything else.

When I saw the Bachmann announcements my feelings were mixed. On the one hand, the Victorian tenement piece would be perfect for use on a Ranelagh Bridge-style fueling depot. Similarly, I'm glad to see the clay hoods back, and while not exactly cheap, they're at least more affordable than the ones sold on eBay and the like. The NCB hopper and LT flat wagon also provide some interesting possibilities for people who aren't modelling the BR mainline.

On the other hand, Bachmann are still pricing themselves out of the 'impulse purchase' or 'pocket money' markets -- and ultimately, I think that just makes the hobby expensive and inaccessible. They need to create some products that children can afford with pocket money, or those on limited incomes can afford with a bit of saving up. Peco and Dapol both manage to produce wagons that retail £10 or less, and Dapol have locos for under £100. I'm not sure what Bachmann think will grow the hobby or if they even care to.

Cheers,

NeMo

[Newportnobby]

Thanks all for the insights to why they appear in the range - understood thank you!

Thank you for the help with era's too!

544

If you're a member of the NGS they're a fiver cheaper than Rails (bauxite item NGSR0571)

[JTR4472]

Well, at first I must say I was quite excited! But then I looked at the prices. £150?!    I honestly would have picked up the Castle class, but it's crazy for a locomotive like that to be priced at that in my opinion. Once people are selling it for cheaper and sales occur, then I might pick some up.

[Bob G]

Well, at first I must say I was quite excited! But then I looked at the prices. £150?!    I honestly would have picked up the Castle class, but it's crazy for a locomotive like that to be priced at that in my opinion. Once people are selling it for cheaper and sales occur, then I might pick some up.

They were £149.95 when first introduced in 2017, I believe. If you want to do hyperbole, try the Dapol WC/BB. Only been waiting 12 years for that one.

If you don't want a Castle at those prices, wait. I picked up Tiverton Castle secondhand at TINGS for £84 in 2022. I could afford a £20 late crest tender from Bachmann Spares to change it to a post-1956 loco.

Bob G

[Roy L S]

Well, at first I must say I was quite excited! But then I looked at the prices. £150?!    I honestly would have picked up the Castle class, but it's crazy for a locomotive like that to be priced at that in my opinion. Once people are selling it for cheaper and sales occur, then I might pick some up.

When I saw the RRP I actually thought it very fair for a model of that quality, and as has been pointed out, it is very little different to the price when first released some years ago. Most retailers will automatically apply the maximum initially allowed 15% discount from arrival in stock so they will immediately be available for about £127.50 after discount.

If you want a true comparison of value, the Graham Farish A4 "Falcon" from Poole days and one of their last releases in the late 90s (getting on for 30 years ago) in 1999 it had a RRP £89.95, using the Bank of England's inflation calculator that works out at £172 as of June 2025.

So in comparative terms allowing for inflation, the Castle, a far superior model to that old Poole A4 in every way conceivable in fact has a RRP that is £22 cheaper.

Suddenly the Castle's price starts to look far from crazy to me...

Roy

 

[Portpatrick]

Well, at first I must say I was quite excited! But then I looked at the prices. £150?!    I honestly would have picked up the Castle class, but it's crazy for a locomotive like that to be priced at that in my opinion. Once people are selling it for cheaper and sales occur, then I might pick some up.

When I saw the RRP I actually thought it very fair for a model of that quality, and as has been pointed out, it is very little different to the price when first released some years ago. Most retailers will automatically apply the maximum initially allowed 15% discount from arrival in stock so they will immediately be available for about £127.50 after discount.

If you want a true comparison of value, the Graham Farish A4 "Falcon" from Poole days and one of their last releases in the late 90s (getting on for 30 years ago) in 1999 it had a RRP £89.95, using the Bank of England's inflation calculator that works out at £172 as of June 2025.

So in comparative terms allowing for inflation, the Castle, a far superior model to that old Poole A4 in every way conceivable in fact has a RRP that is £22 cheaper.

Suddenly the Castle's price starts to look far from crazy to me...

Roy

A very revealing comparison, especially applying the Bank of England produced inflation indices to older prices.  I have been known to do this myself - somewhere I have RPI indices going back to my A level Economics days namely the early 1970s. It happens that none of this release is of interest to me.  I have decided that I will be placing an order for the new V2 on Arcadia as soon as they are released.  My current version will then be on the club sales stand at our next big show in May 2026, unless ABC models takes a fancy to it before the show opens.