I am a southern electric fan and think the model is great especially as it requires just one decoder but for the price £500 plus is beyond reason for me.
Take into consideration inflation, rising labour costs, rising transport costs, hundreds of hours of Rnd, sampling, checking and packing, and not forgetting that the retail shops have to take a cut too, and that price doesn't seem too bad. I'm sure if there was no retailler involved the price would be 20/30% cheaper, but that would mean no more model shops!
I purchased a Bachmann 31-424SF (4TEP) sound fitted variant (very heavily discounted) and I can see why! The rigid drawbar connection is a real pain. So awkward to couple together. I usually run all my locos and coaching stock using "Hunt" type magnetic couplings and sadly - there is no other alternative to use on the 4TEP because of the electrical continuity needed for the lights to function. It's either "Hunt" couplings and no lights, or the rigid drawbar couplings and lights. Also, the DCC decoder is highly visible inside the driving end. Quite disappointed to be honest.
They look nice, however the fact the decoder is visible from the outside without any disassembly is an issue. Also sad they haven't adopted a more modern way of coupling, as these powered bar couplings are not only hard to fit and then move the unit about once coupled, but they don't allow for more lighting functions or multi-vehicle pickups feeding the chip... And why the upping of the RRP again? I paid £250 for my green 4BEP a couple of weeks ago, which is the top end of what I would pay for a 4-car unit.
No thanks, for that money they could at least provide an accurate lighting suite. All it needed was separate functions for the blinds and high intensity lights so that you can run it with illuminated red blinds at the rear. Even on the non HI models like the blue/grey unit you can't have a red blind illuminated at the rear. Its not like they can't do this, as proven by the lighting suite on their class 117.
I remember buying these sets at model zone the week they went bust, they where selling them off for 69 pounds each a bargain, I got three ,never thought they reach over 500 pounds, far to much money, I am pleased I got them then, and to day still fresh and mint in their boxes
£550 tripped of the toungue so quickly. Wow. When i set out in modelling bavk in mid 70s, I bought a Lima King and two 45xxs, and an Airfix 61xx, and got change from £100. They were the best of the time, ready to run. I'd hate to be setting out now., much as I like the standards.
From an online calculator: £100 in 1970 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £1,907.63 today, an increase of £1,807.63 over 53 years. The pound had an average inflation rate of 5.72% per year between 1970 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 1,807.63%.
So in effect, that £100 would get you no less than three top-of-the-range 4-CEPS for the same price as all that old Lima stuff. This is what I don't get about people moaning at prices - you aren't getting ripped off, you are buying a well-made luxury good that totally trumps anything from the 70s.
What a pity wages didn't keep up to that rate then. Only once in my life have I had a take home pay of £1000, with masses of overtime. When I was made redundant in 2016, aged 60, my basic pay was £7.40 ph. That's why every thing sounds so expensive relatively. I absolutely agree about advances and quality though.
hahaha🤣🤣🤣 550 pounds🤣🤣🤣🤣 i know for a fact i will not be getting one of them🤣🤣🤣🤣 550 quid hahaha funniest thing ive heard for a while🤣🤣🤣the way it was said with a straight face was worthy of a oscar🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Totally agree 500.50 way over priced .Bachman are getting like horny.pricing the modeller out.modellers are turning away from these two and moving to accurascale.we’re the models are far more detailed and sold at a reasonable price,
It’s Bachman not bark man! It’s German and not London. When your spine hurts do you tell GP your bark hurts? Think about pronunciation before you speak. If you can’t pronounce correctly then don’t speak.
I remember buying the first batch of original CEP units for £99 and never paid more that £120 even for the Model zone all over blue new from shop.
I am a southern electric fan and think the model is great especially as it requires just one decoder but for the price £500 plus is beyond reason for me.
Take into consideration inflation, rising labour costs, rising transport costs, hundreds of hours of Rnd, sampling, checking and packing, and not forgetting that the retail shops have to take a cut too, and that price doesn't seem too bad. I'm sure if there was no retailler involved the price would be 20/30% cheaper, but that would mean no more model shops!
I remember riding in a 4CEP train as a boy!! I MIGHT build a layout in the back of my loft on which I could run mostly this type of train.
I purchased a Bachmann 31-424SF (4TEP) sound fitted variant (very heavily discounted) and I can see why! The rigid drawbar connection is a real pain. So awkward to couple together. I usually run all my locos and coaching stock using "Hunt" type magnetic couplings and sadly - there is no other alternative to use on the 4TEP because of the electrical continuity needed for the lights to function. It's either "Hunt" couplings and no lights, or the rigid drawbar couplings and lights. Also, the DCC decoder is highly visible inside the driving end. Quite disappointed to be honest.
They look nice, however the fact the decoder is visible from the outside without any disassembly is an issue. Also sad they haven't adopted a more modern way of coupling, as these powered bar couplings are not only hard to fit and then move the unit about once coupled, but they don't allow for more lighting functions or multi-vehicle pickups feeding the chip...
And why the upping of the RRP again? I paid £250 for my green 4BEP a couple of weeks ago, which is the top end of what I would pay for a 4-car unit.
£500.50 pound not on your nelly though i could afford it let have reality check he Bachmann's prices are getting out of hand
No thanks, for that money they could at least provide an accurate lighting suite. All it needed was separate functions for the blinds and high intensity lights so that you can run it with illuminated red blinds at the rear. Even on the non HI models like the blue/grey unit you can't have a red blind illuminated at the rear. Its not like they can't do this, as proven by the lighting suite on their class 117.
I remember buying these sets at model zone the week they went bust, they where selling them off for 69 pounds each a bargain, I got three ,never thought they reach over 500 pounds, far to much money, I am pleased I got them then, and to day still fresh and mint in their boxes
£550 tripped of the toungue so quickly. Wow. When i set out in modelling bavk in mid 70s, I bought a Lima King and two 45xxs, and an Airfix 61xx, and got change from £100. They were the best of the time, ready to run. I'd hate to be setting out now., much as I like the standards.
Yeah but £100 in 1975 is worth £740 in todays money?
From an online calculator: £100 in 1970 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £1,907.63 today, an increase of £1,807.63 over 53 years. The pound had an average inflation rate of 5.72% per year between 1970 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 1,807.63%.
So in effect, that £100 would get you no less than three top-of-the-range 4-CEPS for the same price as all that old Lima stuff. This is what I don't get about people moaning at prices - you aren't getting ripped off, you are buying a well-made luxury good that totally trumps anything from the 70s.
What a pity wages didn't keep up to that rate then. Only once in my life have I had a take home pay of £1000, with masses of overtime. When I was made redundant in 2016, aged 60, my basic pay was £7.40 ph. That's why every thing sounds so expensive relatively. I absolutely agree about advances and quality though.
hahaha🤣🤣🤣 550 pounds🤣🤣🤣🤣 i know for a fact i will not be getting one of them🤣🤣🤣🤣 550 quid hahaha funniest thing ive heard for a while🤣🤣🤣the way it was said with a straight face was worthy of a oscar🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Totally agree 500.50 way over priced .Bachman are getting like horny.pricing the modeller out.modellers are turning away from these two and moving to accurascale.we’re the models are far more detailed and sold at a reasonable price,
It’s Bachman not bark man! It’s German and not London.
When your spine hurts do you tell GP your bark hurts?
Think about pronunciation before you speak. If you can’t pronounce correctly then don’t speak.
Go outside and smell the fresh air. You have too much time on your hands.
Wibble meter ☢️🌡️🧨💥 😅