Bachmann Class 121
◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Bachmann Branchline 35-526 Class 121 W55025, BR blue/grey ◆ PRICE £154.95 ◆ AVAILABILITY Bachmann Branchline stockists
I’ll make no bones about it: I’m a huge fan of the 36 diesel railcars from Gloucester RC&W and Pressed Steel (later Classes 122 and 121 respectively) and I’ve acquired numerous models ever since Lima introduced its ‘OO’ take on the subject, some 40 years ago. That Lima model has since joined the Hornby range and has received a modest chassis update. As a big fan of these railcars, it is inevitable that I have several Dapol ‘OO’ gauge Class 121s and 122s, which are the first railcars produced to 21st-century standards. Given that Dapol was well on with developing its railcars, it was a surprise that Bachmann Branchline announced competing models in the same scale.
Bachmann’s railcar arrived in the Model Rail office in early March, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, particularly to see if it offered any improvement over the Dapol model.
My first impression of Bachmann’s model are influenced by my familiarity with the Dapol product. It’s well-equipped for the latest in digital technology, lighting and sound, has a raised floor-line to cover the extensive electronics mounted on the chassis. It is heavy and drives on both bogies from a centrally placed motor. Prop-shaft alignment and lubrication seems to have been an issue, and certainly a re-test of mine after two years’ in storage revealed some issues with free running.
Compared to the Dapol model, Bachmann’s model is featherweight. Weight and ‘substance’ has always tended to reflect quality, and in this instance that works against first impressions of the Bachmann model.
It shouldn’t. Bachmann’s ‘121’ may lack heft but it certainly doesn’t lack anything else and the moment I put it on my layout for a test run, I warmed to it.
The review sample represents W55025 in refurbished condition and carrying Rail blue and grey livery with full yellow ends. Despite my extensive photograph collection, this particular vehicle in this livery seems to have eluded me, probably because it was allocated far down in the West Country at this time, working the Cornish branch lines. Indeed, the Bachmann model appropriately carries Newquay and Par on the destination blinds.
Bachmann’s motor and drive system is located at the car’s brake end but does not intrude much into the ‘van’ area of the body. Instead, there’s a bulge under the floor, which is hidden by the chassis details and the final-drive and gearbox mouldings.
For the first time that I can recall, there is bogie bolster and under-floor frame detail above the bogies. This is an important area on a DMU because the bogie
frames were quite slender and there was a visible gap between the bogies and the floor. Bachmann has got this just right.
There are other goodies on the chassis, too. A full complement of footboards and steps are present, there are guard irons on both bogies and the classic ‘cut’ buffers with their straight edges are lightly sprung. However, the pièce de résistance is surely the very flexible speedometer connection between the leading axlebox and the solebar.
BODY BEAUTIFUL
Moving above the solebar, the character of the Pressed Steel body has been beautifully captured. The clear glazing allows an unrestricted view into the cab where the driver’s seat and main controls are picked out in colour.
It seems almost churlish to point out that the unit is depicted stationary. When the driver left the cab, he would take the two control levers with him as a safety measure. Bachmann has modelled the control desk without the controller handles, but then there’s no driver present in the cab so this is quite correct.
The interior detail shows up well, in this case being a one-piece moulding in blue plastic.
Separately fitted details on the body include windscreen wipers, corner steps, lamp irons, exhaust pipes and the handrails adjacent to the cab and brake van doors. The cut-out beneath the inward-opening guard’s door is present, as is the security mesh on one of the ‘van’ windows.
As one would expect from a Bachmann product, the Rail blue/grey finish is neat and subdued. Correctly positioning the grey is a recurring problem for manufacturers, but Bachmann has got it right this time. The BR logos and limited amount of lettering are neat and legible but the lifting point markings have not been applied to the solebars.
Figuratively, the Bachmann model has all the bells and whistles you might expect of a modern Class 121 model. Standard tension-lock couplings are fitted in NEM pockets on both bogies and phosphor bronze pick-ups are fitted on both bogies.
True, it does not come with on-board digital sound, but it is equipped for easy soundfitting. A Plux22 decoder socket and factory-fitted speaker make the installation of top-notch sound easy.
What about lights? A quick test run showed that the model has directional white/red marker lights, interior saloon lighting and cab illumination. As supplied all these are ‘on’ the moment you apply power using an analogue controller. However, Bachmann has listened to those who don’t like running, for instance, with cab lights on because it’s normal practice to run with them off.
A row of no fewer than six switches are provided on the underside, just inboard of the trailing bogie. These switches give analogue users maximum possible control over the lighting of the railcar. True, you have to turn it upside down to operate the switches, but if that bothers you, then you really do need to switch to DCC.
What else is there to say? Ultimately, this is a strong contender for Model of the Year 2020. Full marks to Bachmann! (CJL)