My layout uses 36" radius curves on the main line to allow me to operate the MMI K Series locos that both my son and I own. Personally, I think locops of this size are outside Bachmann's Business Plan. Their direction seems to be "small end of town" locos and rolling stock and I think that is a good thing. We have at least two of everything that Bachmann have produced.
I think that with the Centenary of the War to End all Wars - World War I - coming up in a couple of years now would be the ideal for the Bachmann to be planning a range of trench locos based around the 2 ft gauge locos used in France on the Western Front. Baldwin 4-6-0T, Baldwin and Alco 2-6-2T and dare I say it a Hunslet 4-6-0T (though being an English prototype it might not be as popular with the wider market). Suitable military narrow gauge rolling stock could also be produced. What a great commemoration for such an event

It would be nice if we managed to get models released in previous years available here in Australia. I am still waiting on the 2-6-6-2, the long caboose and the 2-car rail car  amongst other things.

My local hobby shop places orders with the suppliers but the items never arrive. He likens opening up deliveries is like opening a Christmas surprise parcel - you never know what's in there!

Regards
Curator49

I know that the tender pictured is certainly not a Vanderbuilt tender.

I think the tender as pictured above is known as a "Whaleback" tender.

Regards
Curator49

We sometimes

We sometimes get a bit too serious about our hobby and take exception to some ideas put forward in fun. A friend of mine, who is an excellent On30 modeller building some highly detailed scenes has as his train crew and figures on the layout as orcs and dwarves which he makes and paints himself. His young daughter made an On30 layout (by herself - with some guidance from dad) for a local model railway show. Her train crew were all little teddy bears appropriately painted.

Another friend (a dedicated scale modeller) has a very detailed scale Queensland Railways layout in HO (HOn3.5) which has regularly been shown at model railway shows around south-east Queensland. One year he decided to have a bit of fun (on one day of a 3-day show) and populated his layout with Daleks (from the Dr Who television show). It got quite a chuckle.

As the Bachmann says when we are hoping for new model releases to be announced - "Anticipate". Not every model produced will suit all modellers. Some models released will be popular across the board. Some modellers will like it as it is while others will see opportunities to "kit bash" the model into something else.

There has been some mention above about MMI and "cancelled models". If you look at the Precision Scale Co website there is a "Coming Soon" tab which opens up into three categories. If you read the text that goes with each of these you will see what the PSC/MMI philosophy is on the production of their models. You can select each of these headings to see what model currently falls into what category. I have not seen any cancellations listed, rather there is a rearranging of the production schedule. Production of a particular locomotive however, is on the proviso they get sufficient orders for that model so a lack of orders may mean that the delivery time for that model may be moved to a later time. If insufficient orders are still not received then that model may never be produced (cancelled).

I can appreciate some people expecting (hoping) that Bachmann will release something new in On30 just before Christmas and then being disappointed.  I think we should all be grateful that Bachmann does support us throughout the year with some fabulous new releases. I don't know how many On30 modellers there are out there but as another person has commented on this forum that HO and N would be far more popular. Companies at any time and especially in the current economic climate cannot afford to release any new product only to find it only sells slowly leaving them with large amounts of capital tied up in the development, production and warehousing costs.

Regarding the lack of On30 at your local hobby shop. Have you asked the shop owners to get in a particular model? You may have to pay a deposit but that is only fair as there are some who will talk up about making a purchase only to renege when the item becomes available.

My local hobby shop in Oz does have a small amount of On30 but it is buried under the sheer volume of N and HO Scale items which are his main sellers. I regularly give him a typed list of my On30 needs and he will order these items in for me. Sometimes it is frustrating (we are still waiting for the rail bus that was released early last year) but the anticipation waiting for delivery can also be a good thing.

Thanks Bachmann we would be lost without you.

David Mewes

I have already made this suggestion on the Large Scale forum.
Please Mr Bachmann could you include the minimum recommended radius for your locomotives and rolling stock in the specifications when announcing new products and/or in the catalogue.

I would like to make a suggestion that information about locomotives and rolling stock (especially locomotives) that a recommended minimum radius for that item be included in the description.

Of the three Baldwin 4-6-0T's that came to Queensland for the sugar industry two, that had worked at Marian Mill, Mackay, were scrapped and the third lay derelict for many years at Racecourse Mill, Mackay before being purchased for preservation. It was subsequently rebuilt as a tender loco and works at a Gold Coast theme park.

The 2-6-2T Baldwin came to Fairymead Mill, Bundaberg from the Penrhyn Quarry, Wales where it had been named "Felin Hen" It was converted to an 0-6-2T about 1954 at Fairymead. The story is that the leading wheelset was used to convert a John Fowler 0-4-0T at the nearby Millaquin Mill into an 0-4-2T.

Curator49

Hi Bach-man

This is my first post to the Bachmann Message Board as up until a few minutes ago I had always read the messages as a "Guest". 

I too would like to support some models of WW1 60 cm gauge equipment. Besides the 2-6-2T's built by the likes of Davenport, Alco and Baldwin, there were 495 Baldwin built 4-6-0T's as well as various gas-mechanicals. Many ex-WD locomotives found their way into industrial use after the War. They were used in France (sugar beet railways), UK, USA (Fort Benning and other locations) and even Australia (Queensland sugar industry). We had one Baldwin 2-6-2T (later converted to an 0-6-2T), now in France and three Baldwin 4-6-0T's. One of these survives as a 4-6-0 at a Gold Coast theme park.

Regards
curator49