Model Railway Imports "Trade"

[Steve C]

British railway modellers in Canada and the USA may be interested to
know that one of the largest North American stockists of British
railway models, track, accessories, kits, modelling supplies, and books
has resumed business following the death of founder Harold 'Madg'
Madgwick in early 2006.
Model Railway Imports is now based in St. Catharines, Ontario, and is
owned and operated by Steve Ciazynski, lifelong British railway
enthusiast and modeller.
The full product range, ordering and contact details are available on
our website: www.modelrailwayimports.com

[Wolf]

Post by Steve C
British railway modellers in Canada and the USA may be interested to
know that one of the largest North American stockists of British
railway models, track, accessories, kits, modelling supplies, and books
has resumed business following the death of founder Harold 'Madg'
Madgwick in early 2006.
Model Railway Imports is now based in St. Catharines, Ontario, and is
owned and operated by Steve Ciazynski, lifelong British railway
enthusiast and modeller.
The full product range, ordering and contact details are available on
our website: www.modelrailwayimports.com

I note you have Hornby Thomas products. I was under the impression that
Bachmann has exclusive Thomas rights for North America. H'm.

In my experience, Bachmann Thomas tends to be better than the Hornby
product. OTOH, the two ranges are not equivalent, each including items
the other doesn't have.

[Christopher A.Lee]

Post by Wolf

Post by Steve C
British railway modellers in Canada and the USA may be interested to
know that one of the largest North American stockists of British
railway models, track, accessories, kits, modelling supplies, and books
has resumed business following the death of founder Harold 'Madg'
Madgwick in early 2006.
Model Railway Imports is now based in St. Catharines, Ontario, and is
owned and operated by Steve Ciazynski, lifelong British railway
enthusiast and modeller.
The full product range, ordering and contact details are available on
our website: www.modelrailwayimports.com

I note you have Hornby Thomas products. I was under the impression that
Bachmann has exclusive Thomas rights for North America. H'm.
In my experience, Bachmann Thomas tends to be better than the Hornby
product. OTOH, the two ranges are not equivalent, each including items
the other doesn't have.

And different scales as well - 3.5mm vs 4mm.

[David Westerman]

Post by Christopher A.Lee

Post by Wolf
In my experience, Bachmann Thomas tends to be better than the Hornby
product. OTOH, the two ranges are not equivalent, each including items
the other doesn't have.

And different scales as well - 3.5mm vs 4mm.

Two points worth clarification (or perhaps not!)

The Bachmann Thomas range is NOT 3.5mm / ft. whilst I accept that it is
impossible to quote the scale of a fictitious loco. The Bachmann Thomas and
Percy are virtually the same models as Stuart and Greg in the British
Bachmann Digital Starter set (and also 2005 and GWR 311 in the Junior
range). Greg/Percy/311 is a quite nicely proportioned but very basic generic
0-4-0 industrial type and the buffers match up with 00 gauge rolling stock.

Stuart/Thomas/2005 is an absolute abomination with the front buffer beam
much lower than the back one and lacking substance below the smokebox end
running plate. The cab is much higher than a Bachmann Jinty but the overall
length is also much shorter. I have to say that in my opinion, the Hornby
Thomas (based on the LBSC E2) is a much better likeness of the
character/machine on the TV.

I had expected the USA Bachmann Hogwarts Express to be superior to the
Hornby versions but the finish is nowhere near as good even though they have
the advantage of having a Hall class model available to base it on. Once
again, this is OO and not HO.

Regards,

Dave W

[Christopher A.Lee]

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:07:48 -0000, "David Westerman"

Post by David Westerman

Post by Christopher A.Lee

Post by Wolf
In my experience, Bachmann Thomas tends to be better than the Hornby
product. OTOH, the two ranges are not equivalent, each including items
the other doesn't have.

And different scales as well - 3.5mm vs 4mm.

Two points worth clarification (or perhaps not!)
The Bachmann Thomas range is NOT 3.5mm / ft. whilst I accept that it is
impossible to quote the scale of a fictitious loco. The Bachmann Thomas and
Percy are virtually the same models as Stuart and Greg in the British
Bachmann Digital Starter set (and also 2005 and GWR 311 in the Junior
range). Greg/Percy/311 is a quite nicely proportioned but very basic generic
0-4-0 industrial type and the buffers match up with 00 gauge rolling stock.

I had assumed Bachmann sold the same Thomas stuff in the UK as the US,
which is proportionally smaller than the imported Hornby, as HO is to
OO.

[John Turner]

Post by Christopher A.Lee
I had assumed Bachmann sold the same Thomas stuff in the UK as the US,
which is proportionally smaller than the imported Hornby, as HO is to
OO.

Hornby have *exclusive* rights to the 'Thomas' range in the UK, and Bachmann
cannot legitimately market their 'Thomas' range here although I do know some
retailers have imported the latter (and the Bachmann Hogwarts Castle) from
the USA.

John.

[Christopher A.Lee]

On Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:29:56 -0000, "John Turner"

Post by John Turner

Post by Christopher A.Lee
I had assumed Bachmann sold the same Thomas stuff in the UK as the US,
which is proportionally smaller than the imported Hornby, as HO is to
OO.

Hornby have *exclusive* rights to the 'Thomas' range in the UK, and Bachmann
cannot legitimately market their 'Thomas' range here although I do know some
retailers have imported the latter (and the Bachmann Hogwarts Castle) from
the USA.

In the USA the Hornby Thomas stuff was sold as grey imports for a long
time before the Bachman versions appeared. The latter are definitely
HO, being proportionally smaller than the former.

Post by John Turner
John.