Bachmann Branchline Mk 2f coaches

MODEL Bachmann Branchline 39‑650DC Mk 2f First Open E3418, BR blue/grey PRICE £79.95 ◆ AVAILABILITY Bachmann stockists

Some manufacturers will make compromises to help reduce costs. Bachmann set out its stall last year (MR238), saying that it would produce the best and most innovative models possible but that, in a manner of speaking, you’ll be buying a Rolls-royce at Rolls-royce prices. Don’t expect Rolls-royce quality for the price of a Kia. The new Mk 2f range has been, arguably, one of the most eagerly awaited models from Bachmann. But as engineering prototypes revealed last summer suggested, they would also benefit from Bachmann’s new philosophy. Mk 2f First Open E3418 arrived in the Model Rail office and, as promised, it’s bristling with technology. But more on that later… Let’s start with how it looks. The Mk 2f is a very different beast to the Mk 2a, which forms Bachmann’s current Mk 2 family. The air-conditioning equipment is a readily identifiable change, but the Mk 2f was built around the Mk 2b body, introduced in 1968. These were longer (66ft over the body ends rather than 65ft 4¼in) and the doors were built into the ends. Air-conditioning ended the use of ventilators in the windows and the resulting large, uninterrupted glazing made the Mk 2f a very modern-looking coach, particularly when the blue/grey livery was freshly applied. Bachmann’s Mk 2f really captures the style of a new Mk 2f coach. The model compares very well with photographs and drawings in Michael Harris’ British Rail Mark 2 Coaches: The design that launched Intercity. The ends are beautifully captured, featuring a blend of curving lines from the roof and sides (the latter also feature moulded door hinges). There are no vents along the roof and the clean lines are interrupted only by the evaporator vents and access panels (with separately fitted handles). The side vents over the doors are all present and correct too, and the gutters are nice and subtle. The roof panels were subtle on the real things, but Bachmann has elected to model the Mk 2f with a completely flush roof. End handrails are also wire. Door handrails are moulded but are so good that, at first glance, they also appear to be separately fitted components.

CLEARLY SUPERIOR

The glazing is excellent throughout. The windows are flush and there’s no prismatic effect. They really show off the interior, which comprises simple moulded boxes to represent tables and moulded chairs. Harris’ book describes the typically tasteful 1970s colours used for First Class: orange seat covers, ginger and orange carpet, hessian bodyside panelling and white end bulkheads! The only detail lacking from Bachmann’s model is the hessian – it was blue. The underside of the Mk 2f was in complete contrast to the clean lines elsewhere on the vehicle. There is a mass of battery boxes, brake gear and vacuum tanks, and the air-conditioning equipment. Our review sample depicted First Open E3418. It was fitted with Temperature Ltd air-conditioning equipment, and Bachmann’s attention to detail even extends to the correct single-fan unit on the underside. Those vehicles fitted

with Stone’s equipment are easily identified by the twin-fan units. All the underbody equipment is really well moulded and, equally important, it feels secure! E3418 rides on ‘B4’ bogies, which Bachmann has modelled well. The brake blocks are aligned with the wheel treads and the springs and dampers are picked out in red and blue paint. The only downside is that from some angles you can see the shiny metal contact strips that feed power from the wheels (on isolated axles) to all the electronic gubbins inside. BR’S blue/grey livery is well produced and has a pleasing lustre. The white lining between blue and grey is crisp, as is the yellow ‘First Class’ stripe above the windows. The Inter-city branding, the ‘1’ on the doors and the coach numbers all appear to be of the correct weight and typeface. The lettering on the ends is all present and correct and all but the smallest lettering is legible to the naked eye (it’s all legible under a magnifier!). Photographic evidence online suggests that the gangway doors ought to be a shade more yellow to achieve the distinctive ‘putty’ colour. The Mk 2f weighs in at 174g. It performed well on our test track and coped well with tight sectional pointwork, even at speed. NEM coupler pockets are fixed on the usual sprung cam arrangement, now found on most modern coaches. There’s one thing to bear in mind though: on our sample, the coupling height on the Mk 2f worked well with Mk 2as but was much lower than Bachmann’s Mk 1. This could be problematic if you want to include a Mk 1 catering vehicle in your train. But what of the technology mentioned earlier?

FIRST CLASS FEATURES

Some may find a recommended retail price of £79.95 per coach a little high, but consider this: the Mk 2f features nearly everything you’d find on a locomotive. It just doesn’t have a motor. For a start, it comes Dcc-fitted. That’s right, there’s a DCC decoder inside the coach to control the lighting. You can switch the saloon lights on and off at the touch of a button. You can, if your coach has them, control the central door locking side lights too. Each coach also comes with tail light. Fibre optic strands carry the red light through to a socket at each end. Inside your ‘bag of bits’ – again, akin to a locomotive with bufferbeam pipes, electrical fittings and dummy couplings – you will find little oil lamps or modern battery lights. These press into the sockets so you’re not stuck with a lamp that you can’t remove. The best bit is that you don’t have to have DCC to enjoy these lighting functions. On analogue, the interior lights will get brighter depending on track voltage and the tail lights will activate depending on direction of travel. There’s also a switch underneath so you can change to a constant red for an oil lamp or a flashing one for a modern battery unit. Bachmann will undoubtedly take stick from some who feel that features such as these are unnecessary on a coach. They may not be cheap, but these Mk 2fs are some of the best ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge coaches ever produced – the fact that they’re bristling with technology is just the icing on the cake. Top marks to Bachmann. We can’t wait to see the DBSO version…

They may not be cheap, but these Mk 2fs are some of the best ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge coaches ever produced