Bachmann 2013 Thomas range - Overview

So I may as well give my two cents on Bachmann's 2013 Thomas announcements. Not going to set out to be bias but I'll be as honest as I can.

HO scale:

The revamped Christmas set does look nicer than the previous one. I was never a fan of the original as Emily's coach seemed a bit strange to me. One thing I do not get is why they could not have modelled the tree akin to "Thomas and the missing Christmas Tree" where the tree is lying on a flatbed very similar to the one Bachmann had in the range.*

* - I'll explain later.

The idea of a Thomas model with factory fitted sound is nice, but I do wonder if it will actually sell. Why cough up more dollars for one model when you can buy one essentially the same for less? Interesting gamble from Bachmann but I do hold doubts over it.

Arry and Bert. Not much more to be said other than this one was obvious. By producing the parts for Diesel, it was obvious we'd see a few more pumped out. I'm happy for these two, namely as I've wanted to have models of them for a while. Big question here is will they have CGI faces or model era faces?

(For those of you wanting Oliver, I personally don't think you'll be seeing him now. From now on I can see characters with more appearances being made, such as Rosie, Whiff etc)

Troublesome Truck four is one to look out for. With no image to work from, I shall merely leave it like that and pray it's one of the classic era trucks/faces.

Jeremy is... interesting. Unless he's going to come back in Season 17 I doubt he'll actually sell. I can't even recall him in the show bar one special and one episode. Why not manufacture a more prominent road vehicle? You have the likes of Bulgy, Trevor, Elizabeth  Caroline and now even Butch and Flynn in the series who are far more suitable. Individually, I cannot see this one selling.

Large scale:

Toby. Not the character I was expecting but a good one regardless. If Emily is anything to go by Toby should be a very nice model to have in the range. Yes there is no sign of Henrietta but you all do remember when Emily's coaches were introduced into the range during the summer with no previous announcement? ;)

The rolling stock is nice. Would have been nicer to get a box van or similar but I won't complain. These two should give more variety to the range.

Back to HO scale, I mentioned Bachmann did make a flatcar. This is one product that has been discontinued, alongside the salt wagon and Gordon's coaches. Don't panic over these. Many retailers will still stock them until they run out. Perhaps these items just didn't sell too well to begin with? It's not something to worry about given they have all been part of the range for a good few years now.

Jack

Looking back, sorting things out and moving on

Well, I really need to get this off my chest, but as of late I've been lacking motivation to actually do much in the way of modelling. Having had the cost of converting my collection to DCC (£20 for a decent chip adds up when you're doing several locomotives) I've sold on a few items, including almost all of my OO9 items and a few others like the Jouef tank engine conversion. Along with this, I've also managed to get some room sorted for an actual layout so things look to be going up from here on.

Speaking of OO9, this doesn't mean I've quit Narrow Gauge. I'm merely going to scale up so I can get better detail, Skarloey and Duncan should be coming soon in the new year. It's not that OO9 is too small, it's just I want to actually have some models with decent chassis that I can rely on for long term running. The Ibertren I had under Skarloey has been replaced 3 times so far, and they don't come cheap!

One problem I've had is dwelling too hard upon the past. Even if someone has annoyed and/or upset me in the past, I've let it stick to me and get at me. Might as well just say I'm starting fresh for 2013 in terms of friends/enemies. There's just not a point in keeping up such immature petty hatred at the end of the day, something I wish I'd retrospectively realized at the time. If I've been nasty, harsh or downright rude to you, I am sorry.

So 2013 should be a good year after saying all that, along with Bachmann Duck I should get a good start at completing my desired collection. (TV series accurate models of all Characters seen between Seasons 1-5 and a few selected ones from other seasons.) Moving past that, I'll also be doing quite a few real locomotives and moving onto a few DJH, Agnoreia and other kits to keep myself busy.

Should be able to update soon!

Jack

8F Works Christmas Giveaway

Simply put, we're giving Railworks DLC out for free. Sounds good huh?

In order to win, simply "like" or "comment" on the relevant picture we post on the draw dates, and you will stand a chance of winning the DLC shown. You must also like the official 8F Works facebook page. It's that simple.

Head to the page today and like us in advance, as the draw will be held on these dates:

December 8/9
December 15/16
The December 22/23
December 25

As I've said, head there today, like us in advance, and wait for the first image to pop up. Be ready to like and/or comment on it, and you could win yourself a very nice prize!

Facebook.com/8FWorks

Moving on up!

Given how troublesome OO9 has been, I've decided to move all narrow gauge work up to 7mm scale. Whilst it may seem like a bit of a foul move, it's far easier to model at this scale.

First Skarloey loco to be built should be Skarloey, but I can't be certain.

Jack

Dusting!

Haven't updated this in a while.

Oops.

BoCo - Strip Down

I'm sorry for the lack of updates recently, but I'm afraid that I've been busy away from the modelling side of things. Work are posting me abroad within a few months (not badly paid either!) so I've been sorting that out as it keeps me going finacially. While I've still been doing things here and there, it's generally been delayed to a point where I need to restart it all.

Looking into the collection of models I've bought and made so far, it's obvious I needed to concentrate on one thing rather than several. Therefore, I've decided to make almost every character from seasons one to four, along with a few later additions. Those seasons in particular are the ones I remember the most, so it makes sense to replicate them exactly as I remember them.

First off, I've managed to start work on BoCo. I know it won't be 100% accurate to the TV series model due to the fact the sides are different, but it'll be a decent match for me and what I need it for. Luckily, I managed to snag a Hornby Dublo model for a decent sum, so I could do a model of a true fan favourite. Had I not been able to get this Dublo model, the Heljan one was tempting me but I feel it's far too detailed to use as a TV series model.*

* - Heljan do however make D5702 in RWS Livery, I have one and will supply pictures if anyone is interested. I'd say you could just give it a face and it'd be a great representation.

Using a mix of paint stripper and sandpaper, I got the majority of the paint off the body leaving it ready for respraying. I shall get newer pictures, but I've managed to get it in primer and a light green base coat.

In the meantime, I'll get around to taking newer photographs to show off the progress. Will post more soon!

Detour

Going to be taking a well deserved break from work for a week or so, which is needed after the past few months.

Have a random Derpy Hooves picture.

That said, I will be back soon :)

Jack

Confusion & Delay. Literally.

I know you're probably reading this saying to yourself it's another pointless post. If you actually take time to read this, I thank you.

Whilst I try and keep deadlines on modelmaking, it hardly ever works to plan. Sat typing this, juggling between ordering parts I need and designing components for the company, it occured to me that I need to stick to projects I have already started.

Too many builds have been delayed, it's time to rectify that.

General update and other things

Just writing this from my phone, so excuse the odd spelling mistake or two.

Today i've been planning out the best ways to film models. For years, a permenant layout was on the cards but with the locations I want to film, it would be impossible.

Being of perfect height, the majority of filming will be done on modified decorating tables, strengthened with new tops. Given the size of the models, weight is not a problem.

Speaking of models, I will not be starting any new builds until I have all others out of the way. Green Arrow is a high priority build, so he should be completed soon.

That's all for now.

Trainz Railroad Simulator? Pfft. Back in my day we had this...

This takes me back some years. I used to play the crap out of this, and getting a working copy again means I'm back at it.

Have a game play video whilst I bathe in nostalgia.

Jack

8F works. Now on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/8Fworks

Go give me a like. You know you want to ;)

Jack

Bachmann Duck in 2012 Range

All I can say is, it was inevitable.

Duck's face is almost a mirror to my own at the minute.

Original reveal, and I expect more news to come, can be found by clicking this link.

Jack

More bashing fodder?

Well, as soon as I get the Jouef 0-6-0 bash looking how I want it to, Hornby go and announce this.

The locomotive in question is a Sharp Stewart product. Suffice to say, I think i'll have a fleet of these 0-6-0s by the end of the year.

Jack

Duck The Great Western Engine - Planning it out

All I will say at the moment in time is the face and chassis are sat on my workbench, and the body is being worked upon. Body itself will take a while to do, as it'll be done in numerous parts, but it should leave me with a rather nice locomotive, regardless of manufacturers announcing it next year.

Jack

Incomplete Projects

Well, everyone has them. In fact, some have a few more than others do. Then I'm sat writing this whilst documenting projects I have started and still have left to do, most of which could have been done ages ago.

Yet another project I started but never completed.

The loco you see above is one such project of mine, from back in 2009. It's one that never got completed, and as such it's sat in it's box, where it's been since applying that British Railways transfer. The pugs are one small design, of a plethora of variants, that I would like to model a reasonable number of. Caledonian, North British and Great Eastern ones are in the "wishlist", but other things are further ahead.

I've got several OO9 locos and coaches that need attention. For example, Duke is ready to paint apart from the fact I've yet to drill his spectacle plates out, which is due to a bad quality casting, something I'm not too happy with. Then I have a few other locos, most of which I'm not going to reveal until they're complete, which also need adjusting and painting. Sometimes I wish they were all ready to run and all I had to do was lay track.

I've got numerous items of rolling stock to repaint and modify. The list comprises of a rake of closed vans that will become "The Flying Kipper", 5 or 6 cattle vans to form a train, 18 open wagons to become generic types and a few coaches which need new parts building or modifying before they can be used.

To add to that, I'm partway through adding DCC to my locomotives, and whilst it's a great thing to have the cost of it is somewhat eyewatering, meaning anything that isn't used regularly will remain simply DC. I've also set a few chips so the locos will go backwards instead of forwards, which needs correcting soon.

Lastly, there is the fact I've started on toying with my camera filming in HD, which really captures the models well in motion. If anything, it's far superior to the last one I had, which could only record in a VGA resolution. Hopefully I'll have something worth showing on YouTube soon.

Enough of this, time to get back to work!

Jack

Tramways!

Well, everyone has at least several planned out in their heads, as I have. Whilst many are out of the question, some of them would certainly be well worth looking into to.

Idea One: Large Tramway Museum

Preservation layouts. Something I love and hate with a passion. Whilst many are good and done well, I can't help but feel some just don't have the right stock to fit on the layout, ie having several big locomotives for a small station terminus isn't really that convincing. Throw a Austerity (pseudo British Railways livery or not) and a rake of multicolored Mark 1's onto it and it'll satisfy me.

As someone with a passing interest in trams, I've visited the museum at Crich several times and been thrilled everytime I go. The fact that there are so many examples on show, although most fit the feel of the line, helps to recreate a time when such vehicles were commonplace.

In model form, it's something you could do freelance. Perhaps even take inspiration from Blackpool or Beamish for a general feel of how to do it? Regardless, you could "prototypically" run trams from several areas and have a modern setting to it.

This is one I'm really looking at doing in the future, most likely in OO. (16.5mm track gives you just over 4ft as a track gauge, not too far off from the gauges many systems used.)

Idea Two: Wisbech & Upwell Tramway Preservation Group

Trams again! Although this time, it's fair to blame the late Reverend W Awdry for creating Toby The Tram Engine, a character who is an instant favorite. Inspired by a holiday, the Reverend managed to convince The Fat Controller to bring one to Sodor.

So far, this one could easily be done. I've got a already modified Dapol 04 body, which would simply need side skirts, and two K's J70 kits. I'm tempted by the Silver Fox offering, so I may compare the two and how they build. Stock wise, there is the old D&S coach kit range, comprising the four wheel and bogie stock, but I'd either bash Bachmann USA's Henrietta or create a 3D printed model.

I've enough reference material to start working upon this idea, and setting it a few years in the future may be the best bet. There is already a J70/Y6 replica underway, in the form of a rebuilt tram locomotive at the Nene Valley Railway, and one of the 04 locomotives is still in existence. You could easily have the preservation group using two locomotives alone, possibly in addition another loco (perhaps a Austerity or something similar) based on the line too.

One to wait for when I have more room, as I'd prefer to do a full blown scenic layout.

______

Well that's about it on the idea front for now, so I'm going to go and think them over. I could rather easily convert over to tramways altogether, but I've enough to do modeling wise right now.

Jack

Possible Series - Test Shots

Okay, so I know that fan series, based around the whole Thomas franchise, are commonplace. I do fancy having a go at one, however if I did it would have to be a high standard, as I have become quite a perfectionist! A few test shots are just below, nothing special but certainly adjusting the camera right in order to film perhaps not whole episodes, but extracts, and with realistic versions of the characters opposed to the toy-like creations of the Television Series.

Stepney - Purchased

So today I got the Bluebell Railway's famed locomotive in the mail, none other than Number 55, Stepney. Whilst initially looking at this model I was happy, but I later noticed it has a numberplate on the smokebox door and the splashers on the model are correct for an A1X, not the A1 that Stepney is. Small faults, but faults none the less.

It's a shame, because the model itself runs smoothly and is a fine addition to my collection, even if it has a few errors. Compared to the "Thomas" version that Hornby currently sell, the Dapol version is far superior. A fun fact that is useful is that the face from the Hornby version happily fits the Dapol model.

Pictures will be up tomorrow.

Jack

Another blog?

I know, it must be the fifth time I've set one up. I just never got the hang of it before, but now I have. Guess I'll have to update it with some modelling and the like soon though, to keep you all watching.

Jack