UK-outline plastic locos?

Fred2179G

Fred2179G

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It occurred to me when glancing at the Coffe Lounge one day that you UK guys are not well supplied with cheap, plastic steam engines. Where is the cheap plastic equivalent of Roundhouse Eng?
Here in the US we have Bachmann, USAT, and a lot of old Aristocraft locomotives to choose from. Even our narrow gauge is well supplied, with everything from the Bachmann Fn3 Spectrum locos to the humble 4-6-0s, the Aristo 2-8-0, and similar.
 
Not a lot - most of the UK outline has come from either the steam makers like Roundhouse (as you say) and Accucraft, which are inevitably expensive, or from small cottage industry suppliers in kit form.

Even if we go to Gauge 1 (which over here is 1:32) there are no cheap plastic offerings, or even expensive plastic offerings come to that :nerd:
 
We do not have the market in the UK to support the volumes injection molding requires. Nor enough the size of home or level of disposable income that is ideal for LS product to flourish. UK prototypes do not sell well outside of the UK, even without severing ourselves for a large nearby market. Bachmann tried with the US friendly EMD Class 66, those are going for £800 + now, near RH price point.

However the rise of produce on demand technologies, e.g. laser cutting (various materials), 3D printing and laser/ALPS printed decals, alĺied to resin moulding is changing all that. There are a number of suppliers now producing NG protoypes in 16 mm and 7/8th scales. The same is happening in other scales and gauges. OK, you have got to build them, they are electric not steam but they are at a price point much lower than Roundhouse/Accucraft. Remember Accucraft have produced a range of plastic rolling stock in 16 mm that are priced similarly to Bachmann's Spectrum offerings.

It will be interesting how this develops, especially once the Chinese get their heads around it. They did it with the short run resin market 25 years ago. I can buy a superbly detailed Ferrari 2023 Le Mans winner in 1:18 scale resin for £200. 30 years ago that would have cost £2,500 +, allowing for inflation. Max

20240614_122515.jpg
 
Binnie used to be prolific with 2ft gauge prototype rolling stock though he never got round to locs so far as I am aware but still producing wagon kits by his son I believe.
peterbinnie.com

peterbinnie.com

16mm scale model railway kits
peterbinnie.com peterbinnie.com
Not for getting wood that has seen the odd lazer cut locomotive and railcar product. Plus of course resin moulding.
 
ge_rik said:
I think 3D printing had filled that void in the UK. PDF Models springs to mind.

Pdf Models | 3d printed 16mm kits

PDF Models specialise in 3D printed 16mm scale kits
www.pdf-models.co.uk www.pdf-models.co.uk


Rik
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maxi-model said:
Boot Lane works is another that come to mind All Products | Boot Lane Works
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dunnyrail said:
Binnie used to be prolific with 2ft gauge prototype rolling stock though he never got round to locs so far as I am aware but still producing wagon kits by his son I believe.
peterbinnie.com

peterbinnie.com

16mm scale model railway kits
peterbinnie.com peterbinnie.com
Not for getting wood that has seen the odd lazer cut locomotive and railcar product. Plus of course resin moulding.
Click to expand...
But still, these are all cottage industries in reality - which bears out what Max was saying about volume and viability :nod::nod:
 
Minor correction:
The Class 66 is Aristocraft, not Bachmann.

They do go for a premium, these days.. I am a little surprised by the number that seem to have had very little use?

They seem to either have hardly ever been out of the box, or run into the ground.

PhilP

If anyone should know of a reliable source of wheels, motors, and gearboxes / gear-chain components, I would like to have details..
 
PhilP said:
Minor correction:
The Class 66 is Aristocraft, not Bachmann.

They do go for a premium, these days.. I am a little surprised by the number that seem to have had very little use?

They seem to either have hardly ever been out of the box, or run into the ground.

PhilP

If anyone should know of a reliable source of wheels, motors, and gearboxes / gear-chain components, I would like to have details..
Click to expand...
Part of the issue was that there was so little else in UK outline 1:29
 
Fred2179G said:
It occurred to me when glancing at the Coffe Lounge one day that you UK guys are not well supplied with cheap, plastic steam engines. Where is the cheap plastic equivalent of Roundhouse Eng?
Here in the US we have Bachmann, USAT, and a lot of old Aristocraft locomotives to choose from. Even our narrow gauge is well supplied, with everything from the Bachmann Fn3 Spectrum locos to the humble 4-6-0s, the Aristo 2-8-0, and similar.
Click to expand...

'Bachmann Fn3 Spectrum locos' - history for the last few years.

'Aristo 2-8-0' - gone these ten years or more.

'and similar' - yup, if you want a 1/29th scale UP FEF - $4000 and diecast metal.

So where are YOUR 'cheap plastic steam engines'?

Newbright?
 
Rhinochugger said:
Well, probably OK if you live on Sodor :nod: :nod:
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Most preserved steam railway lines over the last 40 years have at some point painted some old loco blue and popped a round bit of ply on the front with a scary face and had a regatta ! thats 40 years of history !

eastlancashirerailway-events-dowt-Thomas-and-family-V2-1707-2048x1366.jpg
 
tac foley said:
'Bachmann Fn3 Spectrum locos' - history for the last few years.
Click to expand...
Tac, they are not 'history'. You can still buy the 2nd version 2-6-0 and Bachmann is still making them, with the pnp socket in the tender. Similarly the 'industrial' 2-6-0, the various 0-4-0T and even the Lyn was reworked. While street price for the 2-6-0 is $600, it's still a bargain compared with an Accucraft.

LGB and Piko are producing those nice Moguls, etc., and the Forney.

Over here, we currently have a glut of hardly-used collections being sold. I speculate it's the baby-boomers who bought tons of trains 20 years ago and forgot to build a railway. Aristo 2-8-0s pop up regularly, hardly used, and I've heard it said that Bachmann isn't producing more of the old Aristo models as there are too many on the market.
 
Fred2179G said:
Over here, we currently have a glut of hardly-used collections being sold. I speculate it's the baby-boomers who bought tons of trains 20 years ago and forgot to build a railway. Aristo 2-8-0s pop up regularly, hardly used, and I've heard it said that Bachmann isn't producing more of the old Aristo models as there are too many on the market.
Click to expand...
same sales here, i think after spending £1000s on the locos in the first place they were scared to take them out in the UK rain so put them on a shelf or loft.
 
DickyC said:
Most preserved steam railway lines over the last 40 years have at some point painted some old loco blue and popped a round bit of ply on the front with a scary face and had a regatta ! thats 40 years of history !

View attachment 332989
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I have always loved the stories but for me, if I was going to model Thomas and his pals, it would have to be all or nothing.
 
In truth the Thomas range fits the bill but nearer to Gauge 3 track scale (63.5 for standard gauge) on 45mm but a full collection of UK stuff. A slop of paint, remove the fizogs accept wrong track gauge and you are good to go.
 
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