ACCUCRAFT UPDATE

[freelander]

Just read an e-mail from a well know supplier that Accucraft are to discontinue with Leader, Caledonian, Lawley and Peveril anybody know if this is true ?

freelander

[benchmark]

That would be a pity. I really liked the Caledonian but it only seems to come in 45mm.

[Endless, Nameless]

That would be a pity. I really liked the Caledonian but it only seems to come in 45mm.

It's a fairly close scale model of a 3ft gauge prototype- it wouldn't fit on 32mm without drastic surgery which would rather ruin her looks.

I'm not particuarly suprised by Leader & Lawley, both have been for sale for some time & think have been sitting on dealer's shelves of late- I've seen some significant discounts on both.

Caley is a model of a unique prototype, is only available in 45mm and being a fairly long wheelbase is a bit fussy on tight curves & rough track- I get the impression it's sold well considering but most people who want one & have somewhere suitable to run it will already have one.

Peveril is a bit more of a suprise. I wonder if we'll see a different Beyer Peacock in it's place.

I think Accucraft are going to continue to move more into making close to scale models of prototypes instead of expanding the generic range much further.

[bungle80a]

Lawley has been a bit of a flop.

Really? I have found it to be a beautifully proportioned loco, highly reliable with good pulling power. I guess if its disco'd that will stop it from becoming too common and increase the value of my loco!! :p LOL!!

[Gremlin]

I don't think Mortimer is coming back but hopefully a new saddle tank. That's what I was told on the Accucraft stand at the show.

[AFGadd]

I think Mortimer is a beautifully proportioned Saddletank, that looks even better in the "flesh" than in photos. I'd like to see it back....

I do sometimes wonder if these "Build a loco on the Accucraft Chassis" competitions aren't in someway a subtle way of getting design ideas?

[Matt]

Lawley has been a bit of a flop.

Really? I have found it to be a beautifully proportioned loco, highly reliable with good pulling power. I guess if its disco'd that will stop it from becoming too common and increase the value of my loco!! :p  LOL!!

Agreed, same with the Superior, it was a very good loco, but once everyone who wanted one had bought one, there was not much point in producing them any more.

[andysleigh]

leader going already. shame

[Gremlin]

They must tell people different things, gets folk talking and raising thier profile. The easy option would be Mortimer again and nothing wrong with that, I like it.

[ferrysteam]

I always liked Mortimer and could never understand why they stopped making it ...........Allan.

[Narrow Minded]

Ah, gone, but not forgotten



A real workhorse of a four coupled loco!

[ferrysteam]

That lining and addons certainly make a difference.....A very handsome machine.

[Matt]

If the Mortimer is coming back, I might dig deep in my pockets and get one.

[Endless, Nameless]

I always thought her saddle tank was a little on the small side.

I wouldn't say Lawley was a "flop", you see plenty around- which is probably why it doesn't sell so well anymore.

[dougrail]

Hmm. Some mixed thoughts on this, as a newly-enrolled member of the House Of Accucraft™ and all...[that's right. You heard it here first...yours truly has levelled up...]

Firstly, business. I notice that three of the four axed are set prototypes. Leader, Pev and Cale. Set prototypes do seem to have a limited market - look at Roundhouse and 'Tom Rolt'. TR did not sell as well as the  'freestyle' types such as Lady Ann, Katie etc. Because 1)strict prototypes would likely appeal more and mostly only to the fans of that particular railway and 2)the freelancers allowed each garden railway owner [the Controller, in their own imagination] to make their locomotive unique  -bopth for personality and for the character of the line. A strict prototype diminishes this. Small wonder then that prototypes aren't a popular alas.


Secondly, returnees. I see the Mortimer is on the cards and a lot of people seem to like it. For me though, it's too squashed and trying to be a 'type of all sorts' - and on an 0-4-0 chassis, somewhat ungainly. To my eyes anyway. I would have thought that the Edrig or Caradoc would have made it back - Edrig especially were seemingly very popular, being the Accuraft 'step up' from mamods and Janets [generic 0-4-0, simple to use,open cab for access etc]. Ohwell. Perhaps they but sleepeth?

Lastly - Leaders. It's a shame these became so bargain basement or unpopular. However, they are at the moment an excellent window for bottom-end /novice steamers! As for prototypes, there are so many derivatives that they could have bcme anyone's - not just the KSLR, or Corris TR's....


Ohwell. I may well indeed own one of the very last Maroon Leaders then!*


*For the time being. Bought by me...but destined to be owned by someone else.

[ferrysteam]

Better than money in the bank I would say and good fun.....

[ferrysteam]

I think Lawleys problem is having a full cab.I think it looks really nice but to get the full potential from it it needs RC.Personally I dont like RC that's why I prefer Wrekin...

[Narrow Minded]

That lining and addons certainly make a difference.....A very handsome machine.

All the handiwork of Sir Haydn and his Berry Hill Works (You can see a double-page spread of his work in this months Garden Rail) - he also "ironed out" a serious dent in the smokebox where the loco had suffered a fall under its previous ownership

[MuzTrem]

Set prototypes do seem to have a limited market - look at Roundhouse and 'Tom Rolt'. TR did not sell as well as the  'freestyle' types such as Lady Ann, Katie etc. Because 1)strict prototypes would likely appeal more and mostly only to the fans of that particular railway and 2)the freelancers allowed each garden railway owner [the Controller, in their own imagination] to make their locomotive unique  -bopth for personality and for the character of the line. A strict prototype diminishes this. Small wonder then that prototypes aren't a popular alas.

Not neccessarily, one quite frequently sees "prototype" engines turned out in freelance liveries. This Roundhouse Argyll is one of my favourite examples:


There's nothing to stop people doing the same with "Tom Rolt", although I suppose it is expensive relative to other four-coupled engine like the Basic Series or "Billy" and "Katie". Then again, it is one of Roundhouse's cheaper "prototype" models - only Russell and Charles are cheaper at present - so it ought to be popular with those looking to take a step up from freelance models. Perhaps its small size counts against it? I've yet to see a 45mm gauge example...

[dougrail]

Set prototypes do seem to have a limited market - look at Roundhouse and 'Tom Rolt'. TR did not sell as well as the  'freestyle' types such as Lady Ann, Katie etc. Because 1)strict prototypes would likely appeal more and mostly only to the fans of that particular railway and 2)the freelancers allowed each garden railway owner [the Controller, in their own imagination] to make their locomotive unique  -bopth for personality and for the character of the line. A strict prototype diminishes this. Small wonder then that prototypes aren't a popular alas.

Not neccessarily, one quite frequently sees "prototype" engines turned out in freelance liveries. This Roundhouse Argyll is one of my favourite examples:


There's nothing to stop people doing the same with "Tom Rolt", although I suppose it is expensive relative to other four-coupled engine like the Basic Series or "Billy" and "Katie". Then again, it is one of Roundhouse's cheaper "prototype" models - only Russell and Charles are cheaper at present - so it ought to be popular with those looking to take a step up from freelance models. Perhaps its small size counts against it? I've yet to see a 45mm gauge example...

I did say 'likelly' - there are always exceptions to the rule Cheers for the photo, thast is a nice little beast.

As for me, I'm picking up a GWR livery Caradoc tomorrow