My 2023 Railway Modelling Year including My Favourite Model of the Year and Honourable Mentions

[@lucysblade]

I’m very impressed with HM7000 both for ease of use and value for money.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing. While I moan about the profiles, it's only because I want to use the system across more of my locos for those same reasons.

[@stephendavies6949]

Very good summary of the year. It's good to see/hear people like yourself calling out the pricing policies of the Big Boys. I would agree that the stand-out model of 2023 was the Accurascale Class 37. Along with Dapol - and to a certain extent Rapido - Accurascale are prodding Bachmann & Hornby into becoming more realistic in their approach to pricing (eg, the heavy recent discounts offered on Bachmann 37s). I do think Hornby are taking some steps to make the hobby more accessible via their Railroad Plus offerings, especially when the discounts being offered by the likes of Kernow are taken into consideration: new (albeit using venerable Lima tooling and often difficult to DCC fit motors) locos for under £70 has got to be a positive move. Thanks for all the infotainment in 2023. Happy New Year, and I look forward to enjoying more intelligent content from you in 2024.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Stephen. Yes, there's nothing like some competition to keep everyone honest. I looks I have a busy 4-6 wks of content ahead due to some carry over from last year.

[@DevonGeorge85]

Totally agree with you on the HM7000. It's great cost effective way to get DCC control. I've had little if any issues with my TXS sound decoder's and the app. It's great that I can run a HM7000 fitted loco on our DC club layout. The sounds are a touch basic with the use of generic sounds over different profiles with really only the whistles being unique, but it's a budget system at the end of day.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. Yes, I love it from the control perspective even if there is some compromise on the sound. At ~half the price of an ESU equivalent I can live with the trade-off given the cost of having sound in every model.

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

I am impressed with HM7000 and Bluetooth control . The sound quality is much better than TTS and is great value. My sound fitted Accurascale 37 is my best purchase.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for commenting. Glad to hear both of these are working out for you. By coincidence, my next video includes a TXS decoder on an Accurascale Class 37.

[@hotdogpilot6319]

Thanks for all your hard work, Happy New Year.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that and Many Happy Returns.

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

Very enjoyable

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@petertate8366]

Great video Eugene, have to agree the Accurascale 37 is my favourite model of the year for quality and price.All the very best to you and yours for 2024. Looking forward to some more in depth reviews on your superlative channel .😊😊😊😊😊

[@RedShedNick]

Totally agree Peter cannot wait for the next batch!

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Peter and Many Happy Returns for 2024.

[@RedShedNick]

Most enjoyable Eugene, Accurascale hands down for me, its the 37all the way, cannot wait for tbe bext batch to arrive and to be reviewed by your good self. Ah nearly forgot more Dapol 59's soon we hope! Allthe very best for the New Year cheers Nick.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Nick. Yes, I have one coming from the next batch as well.

[@RedShedNick]

​@@EuviRailCant wait!

[@James-ih4gz]

You should come on a rpsi tour in Dublin this year if possible be great to see you on one of the trips should come up around march

[@97SEMTEX]

Succinct, accurate and fair as always Eugene! Your videos were a huge source of information and Entertainment for me in 2023 and informed probably 80% of my buying decisions of the 2023 year. This goes without saying but I am confident that 2024 will be no different. Have a good New Year!

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that and Many Happy Returns.

[@thestocktonflyer4059]

Excellent video eugene. Have a great new year. And keep up the good work 👏

[@EuviRail]

Thank you for that and Best Wishes for the New Year in return.

[@Mitche01]

I managed to get an Accurascale 37 (051) and the latest plux22 Bachmann 37 (043) at the same price as the Accurascale. Both for £169. This reinforced to me the good value that Accurascale can achieve, but I am not a fan of the roof access for the decoder, in the metals livery I have on the Acc 37, there is a clear light grey line visible. Overall my favourite model this year was the Revolution trains General Inspection Saloon in BR, Pre "Caroline" livery. And...Happy New Year!

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. The Revolution Trains model is nicely detailed so I can see your choice there. As you flag, the roof access doesn't work for everyone. I've had a number of locos with it over a number years so I'm desensitised to it at this stage but I can see where you are coming from. Thanks for sharing and Many Happy Returns.

[@user-js3mp4pg1h]

This was my first year in the hobby and I found the HM7000 system to be an economical way to add digital control with sound to my locos. Most of my locos are steam though and it is not as easy or possible to add these decoders to them. Mostly they can fit into the tender, but there can be a compromise on the size of the speaker housing which can affect the quality of sound. Also, I have found the profiles available disappointing as I run GWR locos and surprisingly there are no profiles for Kings, Castles etc. I would like to keep using the system and am hoping that Hornby can bring out smaller decoders.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing. Yes, unfortunately, there remains some glaring gaps on the profile side. This will improve over time but it's definitely frustrating in the interim if you are lacking coverage for the models that are most important to you.

[@user-js3mp4pg1h]

Just noticed there will be a King Class in Q3 and Hall Class in Q4!! Lucky me.

[@kristianlack9195]

My highlights have been getting my hands on some (heavily) discounted newly tooled Bachmann Class 37s and 47s. They are brilliant models but obviously the RRP is ridiculous. Couldn't recommend them enough though in terms of the design, durability and playibilty of the factory sound fitted versions.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Kristian. I covered the re-tooled Bachmann Class 47 last year and it was a top model alright. An extremely smooth runner.

[@breintonjunction791]

Hi Eugene, not to sure on the 37 two of my four has gone back to Accurascale in November still haven’t had any correspondence from them weather they’ve received them or when there coming back and having running problem with a third one now not to good my Deltic and 92 still run perfectly cheers Al

[@EuviRail]

Hi Al, sorry to hear of the bother you are having. I had a bit of that with both the Class 55 and 92 but my two 37s have been trouble free. From the review comments there have definitely been a few other folks who've had problems as well though the 55 and 92 were more problematic based on the feedback for those. Accurascale are usually good with feedback on returns so definitely worth prompting them. Which specific 37s were a problem for you? From what I've seen they may not all have been created equal. Thanks for commenting and I hope you get sorted soon.

[@breintonjunction791]

@@EuviRail Hi Eugene, thanks for the reply the 37s in question are 37402 Steven Middlemore 37610 HNRC , 37043 Loch Lomond just starting to play up now & 37607 DRS sand pipes are starting to catch on rail joints I’ll leave it till next Monday to chase them up cheers Al

[@EuviRail]

@@breintonjunction791 Thanks Al, two others called out issues with Loch Lomond in the comments of my original review which is why I asked the question. I was wondering whether the failures were linked to certain batches. I had a couple of returns with the Class 92 but my two 37s appear to be fine. I don't have any of the ones you or others have flagged which tends to point to specific batches having a greater prevalence. I'm sure Accurascale will get you sorted one way or another but there is a hassle and time factor involved which you could do without.

[@BlackCountryLad]

Very good review of 2023, newbie question can a Accurscale class 37 with sound be controlled with the Horby DCC system.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks. If controlling via DCC then yes - I use the Hornby eLink + Railroad SW all the time. If you mean Bluetooth via a HM7000 TXS decoder, the answer is also yes - with some limitations on the lighting. I have this on my layout at the moment and a video is coming on this.

[@James-ih4gz]

You should look into the w 1 rebuild its brillant runner and very beautiful i got the blue version. It looks like bigger mallard

[@James-ih4gz]

I think top dcc chip is still esu dcc chips like 94 euro for the chip and sound. Maybe the still the top dcc system is z21 since its what i use. in are model club have variety of dcc set ups. For dc operation only id say guagemaster is one the vast very smooth operation compared to the dc controller given by bachmann or hornby

[@johnlevey9935]

After my class Accurascale 92 which I have been very pleased with I have been put off Hornby and Bachmann purchases purely on price and comparatively poor value. I collect Inverness class 37 “stag” models and unfortunately Accurascale have only done the Eastfield large logo models. So! In 2024 I am eagerly awaiting my swallow version of Avocet which I used to watch from my office window overlooking the WCML during its initial trials through Warrington. Also awaiting Rapido Jones goods and class 041/081 from Murphy along with 201 class.

[@johnlevey9935]

Sorry. 141 and 181 from Murphy.

[@EuviRail]

@@johnlevey9935 Thanks for sharing John. I'm much the same on Hornby and Bachmann though recent discounting has helped for some of the Hornby Models.. The Plux 22 socket and cost of the new Bachmann's has put me off. The last update on the MM website is from 2021. I hope Paddy Murphy is doing Ok, quite apart from the models. Will be interesting to see if Accurascale pick up the rights to the MM models over time....

[@johnlevey9935]

@@EuviRail thanks for your reply. Murphy and Irish Railway Modellers/ Accurascale ? Interesting! Sad to see Hattons folding news today. I always found them expensive on used items but they were great on the new stuff. Seems the market is getting expensive with premium quality items being beyond the budget of many.

[@paulbarnard5636]

Thank you for your review over the past year I run oo gauge in the garden modern and steam mostly steam I brought the hornby Platinum jubilee class 43 and a set of coaches I must add mit they are very dear but they run Perfectly I all’s o I’m in to hornby HM 7000 getting on very well with it and hornby elite plus 12 DC I run mostly hornby I’m on KZbin Paul barnard Daws Heath garden railway oo gauge kind regards Paul

[@EuviRail]

Thank Paul. Just subbed on you channel. Incredible stuff. How does your track hold up from a rust perspective? - unfortunately where I live a model canal system would probably make more sense that a railway. Unless you have a free warehouse, the garden is the only place you can get the scale of what you have implemented. It's excellent.

[@paulbarnard5636]

@@EuviRail thank you for your reply all tracks are Nickel silver Peco Code 100 I live in Essex each track is separate so can run DC DCC 12 votes and HM 7000 and allso hornby live stream kind regards Paul PS happy new year

[@paulbarnard5636]

@@EuviRail thank you for your reply all tracks Nickel silver Peco code 100 I live Essex each track is separate so can run DC DCC HM 7000 on any track all so hornby live stream. My dear wife Pass away 2 years ago my railway has been. A life line to me kind regards Paul. PS happy new year

[@EuviRail]

@@paulbarnard5636 Many Happy Returns Paul and and I'm sorry for your loss. There is no doubt that this hobby can be totally consuming - in a positive way, not to mention the large modelling community out there. I'd love to do something in the garden railway wise but have some construction work pending so will wait until after that. It opens up a whole new world of opportunity.

[@paulbarnard5636]

@@EuviRail thank you for your support I’m looking forward to to hornby are bringing out this year as I’m hornby man kind regards Paul

[@theeventhorizon-valebridge9512]

I pretty much agree with your rundown Eugene, apart from your first choice for model of the year. This is because, although an excellent model, there is still the serious flaw that is plaguing all Accurascale locos, namely the persisting issue of their failing faulty motors, which just keep on conking out after a short period. There are still the deniers out there but I've had a dozen new Accurascale locos and the failure rate is about 75% . Given a little more time I expect that to be higher still! Their customer service is their saving grace! The external directional lighting on this model, their class 37, is also a huge let-down too as it isn't bright enough or even visible at times due to being so far recessed. There are also some weird lighting faults reported and experienced by me where the directional lights either don't come on at all or behave intermittently! Accurascale are not quite there yet so my first choice has to be the continuing series of Bachmann class 37s in all their livery iterations, which are now being discounted at up to 45% - 50%, widely at 35% - 40% making them cheaper than Accurascale's 37 and with better lighting and a better, more useable sound file. Only Bachmann's lack of EM1 speaker is the downside, but the sound is still very good. I very recently picked up a 35-306SFX for £189 from a MRD sale so Keep your eyes peeled! Your channel is one of my highlights every year so huge respect and kind regards, Julian.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Julian, another person in the comments has had issues across 3 models. Did your models come from the first or second batches that landed. Loch Lomond for example seems to have had a number of failures? I'm suspecting they had issues on the first batch that dropped and perhaps took some actions to screen out failures on the 2nd run where my 2 came from and which I haven't seen as many issues from others. The viewing angle of the lighting is a bit of an issue alright and I can see it on both of my models. Head on is fine but at an angle it can be hard to see if the light is one or not, particularly in brighter lighting. That's an absolutely incredible price for the 35-306SFX. I've seen the re-tooled Class 24s with sound at this price but not a 37. Definitely worth keeping an eye out!

[@theeventhorizon-valebridge9512]

@@EuviRail Yes, it was a good price. I always maintained/guaranteed, and still do, that if people stop paying silly prices the retailers/manufacturers will stop charging silly prices. They pushed the price envelope too far for most and now many people only buy when the 30%+ discounts appear, and quite right too. Pre-ordering is the next habit to change as it is again causing the prices to remain high.. This I feel, is the single biggest cause of over-inflated pricing with certain manufacturers; manufacturers whose products are in high demand and in short supply, or have a long wait from announcing to actually distributing. They use the "pre-orders" trick to make sure their retail prices stay high. I'm afraid to say Accurascale do this. The eBay market then goes mental when the models are sold out upon release! I've noticed Accurascale always hold plenty back for random batches to be sold on their website if you keep an eye out. Don't bother with their so called "stock alert" system that you can sign up to. The notifications of new stock available are sent out hours, even days after they list the stock, so it's always sold out again by the time you get their notification email! I discussed this with them but they wouldn't acknowledge the issue, just made really pathetic excuses! Accurascale's models are reasonably priced, but not well priced. They are still too expensive. Because they came to market on the back of Hornby and Bachmann's massive increases over recent years they just seem good value in comparison. They are not. £225 is the right price for a top quality sound fitted loco. There's nothing to them really, certainly not the engineering and mechanisms to demand the high £270+! As for their continuing failing motors issues, for me has occurred on every single batch and of all their classes. Some fail within an hour's use, some after a few months. When peter Dixon's YT channel Torridon Road dealt with the problem and how to fix it, Accurascale said they'd send the footage to the factory in China to demonstrate to them the issue. This was only a couple of months ago so the motor issue is still a live, ongoing problem. Regards Julian

[@theeventhorizon-valebridge9512]

@@EuviRail Hi Eugene, have you watched Charlie Bishop's latest video (5/1/23) on his YT channel Chadwick Model Railway on problems with Accurascale's class 37 yet? It will help change your mind on the number one best release of 2023! I keep saying it, Accurascale's models have various serious ongoing problems! Regards Julian